Appraisal Support Research Articles

Effectiveness of cooperative and competitive gamification in mobile fitness applications among occasional exercisers

ABSTRACT Physical activity (PA) is critical to health, but PA level declines dramatically in young adulthood. This study aims to compare the effectiveness of different social gamification designs (i.e. cooperation and competition) in mobile fitness applications among occasional exercisers among young adults. A mobile fitness application featuring competitive, cooperative, or individualistic gamification was designed and their effectiveness in promoting PA behaviours and socio-cognitive factors among occasional exercisers was compared through a four-week (i.e. one week for baseline and three weeks for use) field experiment involving 49 participants. The participants used one of the gamified applications with one or more friends in daily life during the experimental period. The results showed that cooperation and competition stimulate different types of social support: cooperation improves companion support, whereas competition improves appraisal support. Both gamification significantly increased daily steps in the first week, but after three-week usage, the increase of the cooperation groups reclined, whereas that of the competition groups was maintained. The application usage in cooperation also declined significantly after three weeks, while that of the other two conditions did not change significantly. The current study provided insights into gamification design for occasional exercisers among Chinese young adults.

Perceived Social Support and Parental Emotional Temperament Among Children with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder.

This research examined how the emotional temperaments of parents of children with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder correlated with their perceptions of their children's social support from friends, teachers, and families. Additionally, the parents' emotional temperaments in terms of their association with children's low and high perceptions of family support were examined. The study included 50 children with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, 40 neurotypical control subjects, and their parents. The Symptom Checklist-90-R was used to analyze the parents' psychopathology. The parents' affective temperaments were assessed using the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego-auto questionnaire version. The children's perceptions of their support from their families, peers, and teachers were evaluated using the Social Support Appraisal Scale. Mothers' depressive (r = -0.419, P = .002) and anxious temperaments (r = -0.338, P = .016) were inversely correlated with perceived social support from parents among children with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder. Mothers' hyperthymic (r = 0.443, P = .001) and cyclothymic temperaments (r = 0.310, P = .029) and fathers' hyperthymic temperament (r = 0.371, P = .008) were positively correlated with perceived social support from parents. Regression analyses revealed that perceived social support from friends was predicted by paternal low cyclothymic and high anxious temperament. They also showed that inattention and mother's general psychopathology predicted perceived social support from family. Perceived social support from teacher was predicted by hyperactivity, maternal low cyclothymic temperament, and paternal high anxious temperament. While parents' depressive and anxious temperaments were associated with low perceived social support from family, hyperthymic and cyclothymic temperaments were associated with increased perceived social support from the family among children with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder.

Social Cognition and Other Determinants of Perceived Social Support in Individuals With Serious Mental Illness.

Social support provides protective effects for those with serious mental illness (SMI), but these effects may be attenuated by factors that hinder positive perceptions of support. Improved understanding of social support and its determinants may hold relevance for clinical interventions and provide avenues to promote recovery and improve functioning. The present study is a cross-sectional, correlational analysis investigating the relationships among social cognition (Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test-Managing Emotions subscale), social anxiety (Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale), negative symptoms (Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms), and perceived social support (Interpersonal Support Evaluation List) among individuals with SMI. Data were analyzed for 59 participants from a psychosocial rehabilitation treatment study at a public, urban academic-affiliated medical center in the Midwest. Bivariate Pearson correlations revealed statistically significant associations among perceived social support and social cognition (total perceived social support, p < 0.05; appraisal support, p < 0.01), negative symptoms (appraisal support, p < 0.05), and social anxiety (self-esteem support, p < 0.05). Further, multiple linear regression revealed social cognition remained a significant predictor of perceived social support ( p < 0.05) when controlling for social anxiety and negative symptoms. Overall findings suggest a correlative relationship between social cognition and perceived social support. Conclusions, limitations, and future directions are discussed.

English language teachers’ views of WhatsApp affordances for language learning

This study addresses the pressing need for a deeper understanding of the potential role of WhatsApp in the teaching and learning of English in the context of a foreign language at university level. Specifically, this study explores English language teachers' views on how WhatsApp can be integrated into the teaching and learning process to support the development of language skills and performance. To achieve this, data was collected through semi-structured interviews from 30 English language teachers during the second semester of the academic year 2021/2022 at a university in Saudi Arabia and it was analyzed using a thematic approach. The findings revealed that all the teachers in this study have an avid view of their experience with WhatsApp: it facilitates and supports the development of speaking and writing skills; it promotes informal learning and interaction, encourages the exchange of information, and offers emotional, informational and appraisal support to students. By understanding the potential of WhatsApp for language learning, this study hopes to contribute valuable insights to practitioners, aiding them in developing effective teaching strategies that can leverage the affordances of this digital platform. By harnessing WhatsApp's capabilities, teachers can enhance language learning outcomes and create an environment conducive to student engagement and success.

Intermediary organizations as supporters of residents’ innovativeness and empowerment in community-based tourism

Despite the importance of intermediary organizations in promoting community-based tourism, little is known about how different types of social support from intermediary organizations assist residents’ capacity building, such as their innovativeness or empowerment. To address this research gap, this study collected survey responses from 353 South Korean residents participating in a government-supported community-based tourism initiative and examined via structural equation modeling the relationships among social support (i.e. emotional, instrumental, informational, and appraisal support), resident innovativeness, and resident empowerment. All four types of social support had positive impacts on resident innovativeness but instructional and informational support (i.e. functional support) overperformed emotional and appraisal support (i.e. psychological support). On the contrary, when resident empowerment was considered as an outcome, only emotional and appraisal support were direct positive antecedents. The findings indicated the deviating roles of the four social support types in promoting residents’ capacity building, which policymakers should also take into consideration.

Appraisal Support Dynamics for Protestant Clergy and Their Spouses on Marital Satisfaction in Dagoretti South Sub-County Nairobi, Kenya

Purpose: The aim of the study was to examine appraisal support dynamics for protestant clergy and their spouses on marital satisfaction in Dagoretti South Sub-County Nairobi, Kenya.&#x0D; Methodology: This study employed an explanatory sequential mixed method design. The study used a sample size of 273 protestant clergy and their spouses, chosen using a simple random sampling technique for quantitative, and 12 participants who were purposefully selected for qualitative, low and high performance on levels of marital satisfaction. The ENRICH Marital Satisfaction Scale (EMSS) and the Scales of Perceived Social Support were used to collect quantitative data, with the former having a reliability coefficient of 0.834 and the latter of 0.954, respectively. The researcher used both standardized questionnaires and an in-depth interview guide questionnaire to obtain data. Descriptive analysis and thematic analysis were used to examine the data. The data was presented in form of tables. SPSS version 23 for the social sciences was for inferential analysis.&#x0D; Findings: The results of this study showed a small but statistically significant negative correlation between appraisal support dynamics and marital happiness. The dynamics of appraisal support had little effect on marital happiness. Couples whose feedback-giving styles are more combative tend to report lower levels of happiness in their marriages. On the other hand, this could mean that accessing appraisal support is difficult for protestant clerics and their spouses because of their positions in society as religious authorities who are expected to showed highest standards of moral values, which could further strain their relationships.&#x0D; Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study was anchored on The Family Stress Theory which was propounded by McCubbin &amp; Patterson in 1983. The study recommends that the protestant clergy and their spouses set up peer to peer support groups that will enable them to overload their marital challenges. This study recommends that the counselling psychologists board should develop a clergy centered psychotherapy that elevates appraisal support in areas of marital relationship.

Social media use in adolescent girls with depression: The relationship between social media use purposes, lack of social support, and cyber victimization

Objective: Our study examined the relationship between purpose of social media use, perceived social support, and cyberbullying&#x0D; among adolescent girls with or without major depressive disorder (MDD).&#x0D; Patients and Methods: Fifty-two adolescent girls aged 13-18 years with a diagnosis of MDD were recruited. The control group consisted&#x0D; of 51 adolescents who were matched for age and gender. The adolescents completed a sociodemographic form, the Childhood&#x0D; Depression Inventory (CDI), the Social Media Attitude Scale (SMAS), the Cyberbullying Scale (CBS), and the Social Support Appraisal&#x0D; Scale for Children (SSAS).&#x0D; Results: Social media use was significantly higher among adolescent girls with MDD (P

Parents' Support With Independence In Online Learning For Preschool Children (4-6 Years)

Background: Parental support with independence in online learning for preschool-aged children (4-6 years). Support is needed in the form of emotional support, informative support, instrumental support, appraisal support, or awards. This study aims to determine parental support for independence in online learning for preschool-aged children (4-6 years). Methods: This study uses a design non Experimental with the Correlational research design and through the approachCross Sectional. The sample of this research is TPA Alfassalam students totaling 30 respondents with techniqueTotal Sampling. Respondent data collection uses a questionnaire in the form of a Google form link. Data were analyzed using the Spearman level test. Results: The results showed that almost all respondents (83.3%) had parental support in the good category, while the level of independence for most (73.3%) was in the good category. The results of the Spearman rank analysis show that p-value = 0.000 with a = 0.05 and the value of the Coefficient Correlation (r) is 0.742, including the level of the strong relationship and the direction of a positive relationship where the better parental support, the better the child's independence in online learning. Conclusion: There is a relationship between parental support and independence because many parents are broad-minded. Therefore, optimal parental support is needed so that children are always enthusiastic about learning online and that it is useful when they grow up.

I Am More than HIV: A Qualitative Exploration of Factors That Can Strengthen Resilience Among HIV-Positive Gay Men in Australia

IntroductionHIV-positive gay men continue to experience stigma related to sexual orientation and HIV status. Although resilience toward such stressors can be achieved, limited Australian research exists that examines how resilience is strengthened toward these dual stigmas.MethodsA total of 20 men from Melbourne, Australia, participated in semi-structured interviews between March and October 2019 to explore ways in which they manage such stigmas.ResultsReflexive thematic analysis identified two primary themes: (1) “intrapersonal control,” which relates to individual mind set and lifestyle changes that participants utilized to strengthen resilience; (2) “systemic change,” which includes participants’ needs for better public health messaging. Findings show resilience was enhanced when proactive approaches to sexual orientation, HIV health appraisal, lifestyle changes, and social support were made. Further, outdated HIV awareness campaigns and a lack of current messaging regarding HIV transmission in the wider community were identified as inhibiting resilience development and promoting stigma among gay men.ConclusionThe results from this study show ways that Australian gay men strengthen their resilience through both intrapersonal (e.g., self-awareness, reappraisal, and self-efficacy) and external resources (e.g., education and public awareness) and how health care providers and social policy makers could better support the men to achieve this.Social-Policy ImplicationsFindings suggest that targeted public health responses are required to compliment the advances made in biomedicine and viral suppression.

The Buddy intervention: designing an additional support system for the last year of life. Qualitative insights from triangulated interviews and focus group discussions

AimHealth and social care structures available for the last year of life care are still not always adequately used. Palliative care, for instance, is still provided late in the disease course, contradicting early integration. We therefore aim to define elements of a possible complementary support concept based on specific experience to help facilitate death at home.Subject/methodsQualitative triangulation of data was conducted from countrywide individual interviews (patients and relatives, n = 45) and focus group discussions (health and social care professionals, n = 22), in Germany. Data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed within a framework analysis. Using Bradshaw’s sociological construct of needs, qualitative data sequences were converted into needs and sorted by the theory of social support.ResultsInformants described having needs in emotional, informational, appraisal, and instrumental dimensions. Unmet needs for information were frequently reported, affecting all other need dimensions. To address these concerns, informants expressed a need for someone proactively providing emotional, appraisal, and instrumental support, such as organizing respite support, giving feedback on care provision, and validating caring relatives.ConclusionWe assume an impact of insufficient information about care options on instrumental, emotional, and appraisal needs and help-seeking actions, increasing the risk of inpatient death. Proactive support is required to address patients’ and families’ needs, connecting the existing care structures. A “buddy” for the last phase of life serving as a low-threshold contact person with real-time knowledge to support patients and families could be one model to support and guide patients and their families and enable dying at home, if possible.

Major depression, substance use, and resilience among female adolescents in institutional care

ABSTRACT Objective This study compared female adolescents in institutional care (AICs) diagnosed with major depression (MD) or substance use disorder (SUD) with those who were not. In addition, we examined the protective effects of resilience, coping skills, and social support on SUD and MD. Methods Participants included 49 female AICs (11–18 years) and a control group of 49 girls of similar age. Psychiatric diagnoses were made using the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL). In addition, participants completed self-report questionnaires: Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders Child Version (SCARED), The Child and Youth Psychological Resilience Scale, KIDCOPE, Social Support Appraisals Scale (SSAS), Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI). Results AICs were found to have more psychopathologies than the control group. Higher resilience, SSAS-friends scores, and more positive coping styles were associated with lower CDI scores in AICs with MD. CDI and SCARED scores were higher, and SSAS- family, friends, teacher scores, and positive coping styles were lower in the AICs with SUD. Conclusions Resilience, increased social support from friends, and positive coping styles showed negative relationships with MD and SUD in AICs. Social support from teachers and family was negatively associated with SUD in AICs.

Interpersonal Support Domains Associated With Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Among Older Black and White Adults.

Objective: Older adults experience numerous changes in their social networks and social environment that may worsen preexisting posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. This study tested whether tangible support, appraisal support, belonging support, and self-esteem were associated with trauma symptom burden among community-dwelling older Black and White adults at baseline and over 12 months of follow-up.Methods: This study used data collected from a randomized controlled trial for depression prevention in adults 50 years of age or older who had subsyndromal depression (2006-2011). Two hundred forty-four participants (including 90 older Black adults) were randomly assigned to a problem-solving therapy arm or an active control arm. The Interpersonal Support Evaluation List (ISEL) was administered at baseline and 12 months later. Linear regression analysis was used to examine associations of each of the ISEL dimensions with DSM-IV-defined PTSD symptoms at baseline and over time, with control for well-established correlates of PTSD including depression, anxiety, and sleep quality.Results: Participants were a mean (SD) of 65.6 (11.0) years of age, and 71% percent were female. Belongingness support was the only dimension of interpersonal support significantly associated with PTSD symptoms at baseline (β = -0.192, t = -3.582, P < .001) and 12 months later (β = -0.183, t = -2.735, P < .01). Regression models accounted for a large proportion of variance in PTSD symptoms. The association between belongingness support and PTSD symptoms did not vary by participant race.Conclusions: A strong perception of belongingness to family and/or friends was associated with fewer PTSD symptoms at baseline and over 12 months. This observation generates the hypothesis that behavioral interventions which directly target and modify interpersonal support may benefit both older Black and older White adults who have experienced trauma.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00326677.

PLS Analysis: How Family Support Affect Students' Self-Confidence in Completing Thesis

A student's success can not be separated from a final project called a thesis as a determinant of student graduation in college. However, in the process, students often face various obstacles and challenges. To overcome this, students need to have high self-confidence. In increasing self-confidence, the role of the family is required as the main factor that encourages students to succeed. The purpose of this paper is to determine the influence of forms of family support in the form of informational support, instrumental support, appraisal and reward support, and emotional support on the self-confidence of 58 students of the Islamic Guidance and Counseling Study Program class of 2018 UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta who are working on a thesis for students. The data analysis method used is Partial Least Square (PLS). Partial Least Square (PLS) is a component or variant-based Structural Equation Model (SEM) model. Partial Least Square (PLS) is a variant-based Structural Equation Model (SEM) model.The results of this study state that 46.7% of students' self-confidence variations in completing a thesis are influenced by family support while the rest is influenced by other factors. In addition, emotional support has a significant effect on student self-confidence in doing a thesis with a p-value of 0.000. Thus, it can be concluded that emotional support becoming the form of family support that played the most important role in increasing student self-confidence. The results of this study will later be used as suggestion for students’s family and also for counselors in modifying behavior to increase students’s self-confidence.

Faktor yang Berhubungan dengan Kemandirian Lansia di Desa Tamilouw Kecamatan Amahai Kabupaten Maluku Tengah

&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;The independence of the elderly is caused by limited physical activity and a reduction in the role of the body which can no longer function fully as a result of requiring good physical health status and also support from the family. To find out the factors related to the independence of the elderly in the village of Tamilouw, Amahai District, Central Maluku Regency. This study uses a quantitative descriptive design, with a cross-sectional approach. A sample of 69 respondents was selected by purposive sampling technique. The research instrument used a questionnaire and the KATZ index to see the independence of the respondents. Data processing uses the chi-square test with a significance level (p- 0.05). This study identified the variables of physical health (p. value = 0.192), family emotional support (p. value = 0.041), family information support (p. value = 0.000), family instrumental support (p. value = 0.004) and appraisal support (p. value = 0.018). Physical health factors are not related to the level of independence of the elderly while factors of emotional support, information, instrumental, and family assessment are strongly related to the level of independence of the elderly.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt; &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Socio-economic status, psychosocial factors, health behaviours and incidence of dental caries in 12-year-old children living in deprived communities in Manaus, Brazil

ObjectivesThis study examines the relationships between socio-economic status, psychosocial factors, health-related behaviours and the incidence of dental caries amongst 12-year-old schoolchildren living in deprived communities in Manaus, Brazil. MethodsA longitudinal study involving 312 children aged 12 years was conducted in the city of Manaus, Brazil. Baseline data including socio-economic status (number of goods, household overcrowding, parents’ schooling, family income), psychosocial factors (sense of coherence [SOC-13], social support [Social Support Appraisals questionnaire]) and health-related behaviours (frequency of toothbrushing, sugar consumption, sedentary behaviour) were collected through structured questionnaires. The number of decayed teeth was clinically assessed at baseline and one-year follow-up. A hypothesised model evaluating the direct and indirect pathways between the variables was tested using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling. ResultsThe incidence of dental caries at the one-year follow-up was 25.6%. Sugar consumption (β = 0.103) and sedentary behaviour (β = 0.102) directly predicted the incidence of dental caries. A higher socio-economic status was directly linked with lower sugar consumption (β = -0.243) and higher sedentary behaviour (β = 0.227). Higher social support directly predicted lower sugar consumption (β = -0.114). Lower socio-economic status (β = -0.046) and lower social support (β = -0.026) indirectly predicted the incidence of dental caries via sugar consumption and sedentary behaviour. ConclusionsIn the population studied, sugar consumption and sedentary behaviour are meaningful predictors of the incidence of dental caries amongst schoolchildren living in deprived communities. Indirect pathways of lower socio-economic status and low social support with dental caries incidence via sugar consumption and sedentary behaviour were detected. These findings should be considered in oral interventions and oral health care policies to prevent dental caries amongst children living in deprivation. Clinical significanceSocial conditions, social support, sedentary behaviour and sugar consumption directly influence dental caries in children.

The Relationship Between Social Support and Family Functioning Among Married Multiple Sclerosis Patients in Iran with the Mediating Role of Spiritual Experiences and Moral Foundations.

When a married family member suffers from multiple sclerosis (MS), the collective physical and psychosocial well-being of the family is impacted and much of the burden is on the healthier spouse. The purpose of the present study was to determine the contribution of psychosocial support from spouses, friends, and others in overall family functioning in respect of Iranian patients with MS, considering the mediating role of spiritual experiences and moral foundations. Spouses of patients with MS were chosen through the judgmental sampling method. The research instruments comprised the Family Assessment Device, Social Support Appraisals Scale, Daily Spiritual Experience Scale, and Moral Foundations Questionnaire. Data analysis was done through the path analysis technique. The subjects comprised 220 spouses of MS patients. We found a significant relationship between family support path and overall functioning mediated by the variable 'spiritual experiences', the root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) value being < 0.001. Similarly, the relationship between spiritual experiences and moral foundations had a significant effect on overall family functioning (RMSEA < 0.001). After eliminating insignificant relationships and estimating fit indicators, the modified (adjusted) model indicated goodness of fit with data. This study found, for the first time in the Iranian community, a significant effect of family support focused on spouses of MS patients compared to the support from friends and others, with regard to family functioning. The mediating roles of spiritual experiences and moral foundations were confirmed. Further studies are suggested to delve into the role of family support for MS patients in developing countries.

The elderly's experiences: family support and participation in the integration of health services

Background: Higher life expectancy in Indonesia alarms the government to become more serious in enhancing the implementation of community programs for elderlies. The programs are intended to improve the life quality of the elderlies. Integration of health services for the elderly program that is well-implemented will make it easier for elderlies to Purpose: To determine the relationship between family support and the active participation of elderlies in attending integration of health servicesMethod: This correlational study was performed using a cross-sectional approach on 30 elderlies as respondents who were purposively sampled. Data of this study were collected using questionnaires which were then analyzed in a univariate analysis using frequency data. Bivariate analysis was also carried out using the chi-square test. Results: Most of the respondents actively participated in the program (76.67 percent). They are aware that they are vulnerable to health problems because respondents have good family support (53.33 percent). In particular, they rated good emotional support (66.67 percent), good facility support (73.33 percent), good knowledge and information support (46.67 percent), and good appraisal support (46.67 percent).Conclusion: The data analysis indicated the presence of a correlation between family support and the active participation of elderlies in the integration of health services for the elderly program in Ende Regency.Suggestion: Public Health Center needs to raise awareness of the reluctance of elderlies in attending the integration of health services for the elderly. It is necessary that health workers visit and approach the family of elderlies in order to improve the elderly's health and quality of life.

Association between gender role attitudes and social support from mothers and paternal involvement in childcare

Objective Paternal involvement in child-rearing is an action goal of Healthy Parents and Children 21 (Tier 2), and should be actively promoted. Clarifying the related factors may contribute to countermeasures for promoting paternal involvement in child-rearing. This study aimed to examine the association between fathers' gender role attitudes and social support from their spouses (i.e., the mothers of the children) and their involvement in child-rearing.Methods We obtained the data of fathers involved in childcare (aged 25-50 years; all full-time workers) through an internet research company. The paternal involvement in childcare scale (11 items, 4-point scale, e.g., "taking care of children," "cooking") was used as the dependent variable. The independent variables were gender role attitude ("Husbands should work outside the home and wives should take care of the home," 4-point scale) and social support from the mothers of the children (including appraisal, emotional, and instrumental support). The control variables were father's age, mother's employment status, number of children, the age of the youngest child, children going to nursery school or kindergarten, use of childcare services, self-evaluation of low economic status, work hours on weekdays, and marital relationship satisfaction.Results The data of 360 men were analyzed (mean age 36.8 years, standard deviation 5.6). The results of the multivariable regression analyses with interaction terms are as follows: gender role attitude was significantly associated with childcare (β=-0.103) and housework (β=-0.125); appraisal support was significantly associated with childcare (β=0.142) and housework (β=0.199); and the interaction between gender role attitude and instrumental support was significant (β=0.176), indicating that, in individuals with a high gender role attitude score, a higher level of instrumental support was related to a higher childcare score (β=0.242).Conclusions Fathers with egalitarian gender role attitudes and those who receive appraisal support from the other parent are more likely to participate in childcare. In addition, fathers with traditional gender role attitudes who receive instrumental support from the other parent may tend to participate in childcare.

Empat Aspek Dukungan Keluarga Mampu Meningkatkan Motivasi Pengobatan Pasien Kanker Dalam Menjalani Kemoterapi Dan Radiasi Selama Pandemi Covid 19

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused chronic diseases patient such as cancer survivors vulnerable to death, on the other hand, cancer treatment programs must continue to prevent cell metastasis. The study aimed to prove the effect of four aspects of family support on increasing the motivation for completing chemotherapy and radiation therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a correlation study with a cross-sectional approach. Samples were cancer patients living at the Indonesian Cancer Foundation, East Java Surabaya Branch who met the inclusion criteria set, which amounted to 50 people. The instruments used are the Family Support Scale (FSS) and the Treatment Motivation Questionnaire (TMQ) which have been tested for validity and reliability. The linear regression test found that all aspects of family support had a significant effect on treatment motivation. Informational support (r = 0.387, p = 0.005), emotional support (r = 0.386, p = 0.006), instrumental support (r = 0.372, p = 0.008), appraisal support (r = 0.367, p = 0.009). Four aspects of family support can provide enthusiasm and motivation for patients to continue carrying out cancer treatment in a pandemic situation 19.

Identification of subgroups of children in the Australian Autism Biobank using latent class analysis

BackgroundThe identification of reproducible subtypes within autistic populations is a priority research area in the context of neurodevelopment, to pave the way for identification of biomarkers and targeted treatment recommendations. Few previous studies have considered medical comorbidity alongside behavioural, cognitive, and psychiatric data in subgrouping analyses. This study sought to determine whether differing behavioural, cognitive, medical, and psychiatric profiles could be used to distinguish subgroups of children on the autism spectrum in the Australian Autism Biobank (AAB).MethodsLatent profile analysis was used to identify subgroups of children on the autism spectrum within the AAB (n = 1151), utilising data on social communication profiles and restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped behaviours (RRBs), in addition to their cognitive, medical, and psychiatric profiles.ResultsOur study identified four subgroups of children on the autism spectrum with differing profiles of autism traits and associated comorbidities. Two subgroups had more severe clinical and cognitive phenotype, suggesting higher support needs. For the ‘Higher Support Needs with Prominent Language and Cognitive Challenges’ subgroup, social communication, language and cognitive challenges were prominent, with prominent sensory seeking behaviours. The ‘Higher Support Needs with Prominent Medical and Psychiatric and Comorbidity’ subgroup had the highest mean scores of challenges relating to social communication and RRBs, with the highest probability of medical and psychiatric comorbidity, and cognitive scores similar to the overall group mean. Individuals within the ‘Moderate Support Needs with Emotional Challenges’ subgroup, had moderate mean scores of core traits of autism, and the highest probability of depression and/or suicidality. A fourth subgroup contained individuals with fewer challenges across domains (the ‘Fewer Support Needs Group’).LimitationsData utilised to identify subgroups within this study was cross-sectional as longitudinal data was not available.ConclusionsOur findings support the holistic appraisal of support needs for children on the autism spectrum, with assessment of the impact of co-occurring medical and psychiatric conditions in addition to core autism traits, adaptive functioning, and cognitive functioning. Replication of our analysis in other cohorts of children on the autism spectrum is warranted, to assess whether the subgroup structure we identified is applicable in a broader context beyond our specific dataset.