Difficulty Coping Research Articles

Shear Tests on Subassemblies Representing the Single-Anchored Connection between Precast Concrete Wall Panels and Reinforced Concrete Frames

Many deformations occur in old RC structures, and the method of reinforcing them using PC members standardized and manufactured in the same mold has difficulty in coping with all deformations (construction error); as a solution to this, overlapping anchor shear connections consisting of three concrete segments have been proposed. This study proposes a special connection for strengthening existing reinforced concrete (RC) framed structures that are more than 30 years old with precast concrete (PC) members. The proposed overlapped anchor connection consists of two anchor groups installed in three concrete segments, which can accommodate deformation by adjusting the height of the concrete connection segment. In this study, the unique shear behavior of the overlapped anchor connection was investigated by analyzing the shear resistance of the single-anchor connection with one post-installed anchor and one cast-in anchor. Eleven specimens of anchored connection models were constructed and push-out tested, and the experimental parameters were analyzed. The shear strength of the single-anchor connection was calculated using a proposed design formula based on the American anchor design code, and the shear strength ratios of the experimental shear strengths to the calculated values were 0.93 on average. The proposed design formula can predict the shear behavior and expected effects of the proposed connection even in differing designs.

Resource parents during two pandemics: navigating racism and COVID-19

ABSTRACT The emergence of COVID-19 created a global health crisis and impacted children and families, disproportionately affecting minoritized communities. Simultaneously, protests and anti-racist uprisings against police violence occurred worldwide. This mixed method study examined how a group of racially diverse resource parents navigated these two pandemics. Resource parents (N = 527) in Los Angeles County were surveyed about concerns related to COVID-19, racial injustice, and the sociopolitical climate. Quantitative findings revealed that increased difficulty coping with COVID-19 was associated with the increased reported impact of events surrounding racial injustice. Qualitatively, resource parents expressed a concern for children and stress, anxiety, and fear.

The Relationship between COVID-19 Phobia and Health Cognitions and Psychosocial Factors

Objective: The study aimed to determine the levels of corona-phobia experienced by individuals in a broad population representative of Turkish society, and the correlation with health cognitions and psychosocial factors. 
 Material and Method: This descriptive, cross-sectional, and correlational study was conducted with 1620 participants who lived in different regions of Turkey. Data were collected using an information form, the COVID-19 Phobia Scale (C19P-S), and the Health Cognitions Questionnaire. 
 Results: The mean age of the participants was 34.13±10.90 and 62.8% of them were female. The mean score of COVID-19 phobia score was 51.84±13.53 and health cognition was 60.17±9.61. COVID-19 phobia was significantly related to cognitions of difficulty coping with illness, medical services adequacy, the awfulness of illness and the likelihood of illness. The factors influencing the C19P-S of participants were, being female, having a chronic illness, having too much impact on daily life, difficulty coping with illness, awfulness of illness, and likelihood of illness. 
 Conclusion: It is recommended to plan interventions to increase public awareness of COVID-19 and to reduce corona-phobia. These interventions should be especially about the negative impact of corona-phobia on people with a chronic illness and women’s mental health.

The Implementation of English Medium Instruction (EMI) at the Public Secondary Schools in South Sulawesi Indonesia: Students’ Voices

This article presents analysis and discussion of research data focusing on the students’ attitudes and perceptions of EMI program implementation strategies in the secondary schools level in South Sulawesi Province. Three Public International Standard Schools that run EMI and non-EMI Programs were selected as sample of the study. The data has been drawn from student questionnaire responses and student group interviews. Seventy seven (77) EMI students and 84 non-EMI students completed the questionnaire. Eight students from each school were selected as focus group interview participants. The data from questionnaire was analysed using SPSS Program, and the data from focus group interview was analysed using NVivo software. The study found that the Chi-square test result suggests that in these three schools, EMI and non-EMI programs have significant differences in their preferences (p=0.000). EMI students preferred the EMI program and non-EMI students preferred non-EMI programs. Futhermore, the students said they experienced difficulties studied in the program. Despite the fact that students experienced difficulties in coping with the new learning situation in the EMI program, the majority felt satisfied with the program because they realised there were some benefits. The students interview responses also highlighted three factors detracting from EMI program implementation: lack of teachers’ language support; lack of English environment in the school; and bilingual learning materials. Detailed findings will be presented and their implications discussed.

ACADEMIC STRESS TENDENCIES IN ADOLESCENTS

Stress is part of the human experience. However, adolescents who are facing a period of development will face various pressures and problems that occur in their lives, especially problems and demands for their academics. Adolescents who find it difficult to face these demands will experience problems in psychological and physical problems, of course, this will affect lifestyles and behaviors that endanger their physical and psychological health. The purpose of this study is to describe and analyze various literatures regarding the phenomenon of academic stress in adolescents. The method used in this study is a literature review, by obtaining 500 data taken from google scholar and crossref databases through the Publish or Perish application and then filtered according to the topics to be discussed. The results of this study indicate that adolescents are vulnerable to academic stress due to the difficulty of coping with the academic and learning demands.

The impact of coping behaviors on perceived competence and social anxiety in the everyday social engagement of autistic adolescents.

Individuals who cope well with challenges may engage in social situations more successfully. We examined how well autistic adolescents coped, depending on how competent they felt and how much anxiety they experienced during social activities. We included 133 individuals (82 autistic, 51 neurotypical) between the ages of 10 and 16 years. Participants carried a mobile device that prompted them seven times a day for 7 days to record what they were doing, how competent they felt and how much anxiety they experienced. We used the Coping Inventory to understand how well participants coped with environmental challenges and met their needs for growth. Autistic adolescents were more likely than neurotypical peers to feel anxious while doing activities with adults. Autistic adolescents who had more difficulty coping with challenges were more likely to feel anxious when doing leisure activities with peers. Interestingly, autistic adolescents who coped better with challenges tended to feel less competent in social situations. However, those better able to meet their needs for growth tended to perceive their social competence positively. These findings can help practitioners develop strategies and programs to reduce the negative social experiences of autistic adolescents by helping them cope better.

Association between sense of coherence and health and well-being among older survivors of a natural disaster: a prospective outcome-wide study

We examined whether pre-disaster Sense of Coherence (SOC) mitigated the impact of housing damage on health and well-being of older survivors after the 2011 Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. A panel survey was conducted in a city located 80 km west of the epicenter seven months before and three years after the disaster (3594 respondents). Among respondents with lighter property damage, higher SOC was inversely associated with mental distress (coefficient − 0.29, 95% CI (confidence interval) − 0.39, − 0.19, p < .01), unhappiness (coefficient − 0.33, 95% CI − 0.43, − 0.23, p < .01), low expectation of mutual help (coefficient − 0.17, 95% CI − 0.27, − 0.07, p < .01), and weak community attachment (coefficient − 0.20, 95% CI − 0.30, − 0.11, p < .01). Conversely, among those who experienced housing loss, higher SOC was no longer protectively associated with health and well-being. Loss of generalized resistance resources due to serious damage led to difficulties in stress coping.

The Role of Guidance Counseling Teacher and Parents in the Learning Process of Children with Special Needs of Slow Learners

Slow learners is a condition in students who cognitively have a capacity below the average normal child and are not included in the disability category, but slow learner children also have difficulties in coping with academic demands in regular classes. Slow learners do not have problems related to independent and social behavior, it's just that the IQ test or intelligence of students ranges from 70-90. For this reason, it is important for teachers and parents to take part by maximizing their role in the learning process of slow learner children. This study uses a qualitative method through literature study by collecting sources that are literary and used as a reference in this research. The aim of this research is to find out and understand things related to slow learner children and the role of guidance and counseling teachers and parents in these children. Meanwhile, the results of this research can be a reference regarding the effectiveness of guidance and counseling teachers and parents who take part when there are students who have special needs of the slow learner variety.

Reliability and validity of the Chinese post-discharge coping difficulty scale-parent form in parents of premature infants: a multicenter cross-sectional study.

The measurement of the coping difficulties of parents of premature infants after discharge provides objective data for nurses to prepare infants for discharge. However, no Chinese scale has been developed to measure parents' coping difficulties after their premature infants are discharged. To translate the parent version of the Post-Discharge Coping Difficulty Scale (Ped-PDCDS) from English to Chinese and test the reliability and validity of the Chinese version in parents of premature infants. A multicenter cross-sectional study of 356 parents of premature infants was conducted. The scale was symmetrically translated. Validity was evaluated in terms of content, construct, discriminant, and convergent validities. Reliability was assessed in terms of internal consistency, split-half reliability, and test-retest reliability. The Chinese Ped-PDCDS finally contained 11 items. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses results showed that the Chinese Ped-PDCDS had three dimensions, and the convergent and discriminant validities of the scale was satisfactory. The overall reliability, split-half reliability, and test-retest reliability of the scale was 0.85, 0.92, and 0.84, respectively. The Chinese Ped-PDCDS has adequate psychometric properties, and is an easy and appropriate instrument for measuring parents' difficulty in coping with premature infants.

'I think it affects every aspect of my life, really': Cancer survivors' experience of living with chronic pain after curative cancer treatment in England, UK.

To explore cancer survivors' experiences of living with chronic pain after curative cancer treatment in England, UK. A qualitative study using telephone interviews with adult cancer survivors experiencing chronic pain after curative cancer treatment. Interview data was analysed using a reflexive thematic approach [1-3]. Nineteen participants: 14 female, 5 male, mean age 62.4 years, 1.5-48 years since cancer diagnosis, eight tumour groups represented. Six participants (31.6%) developed chronic pain more than ten years after completing cancer treatment (range 0-25 years). Five themes were generated which highlighted the experience of chronic pain after cancer treatment for cancer survivors: 1) 'Hear me… believe me…. Please'. Survivors felt that they had not been listened to when they tried to talk about their chronic pain after cancer treatment, nor at times, believed. 2) 'Expectation versus reality'. Survivors had anticipated returning to pre cancer quality of life yet living in chronic pain prevented them from doing so. 3) 'They don't understand…. We don't understand'. Cancer survivors did not feel informed or prepared for the risk or reality of chronic pain after cancer treatment and this compounded the difficulties of coping with and managing their pain. They felt health care professionals lacked knowledge and understanding of chronic pain after cancer. 4) 'Negotiating the maze'. Cancer survivors encountered unclear and limited pathways for support, often bouncing from one support team to another. Identifying and accessing services was a challenge, and the responsibility of this was often left to the survivor. 5) 'Validate my pain, validate me'. Palpable relief and benefit was felt when health care professionals diagnosed and acknowledged their chronic pain after cancer treatment. Cancer survivors can feel ill prepared for the risk of chronic pain after cancer treatment and can experience challenges accessing support from healthcare professionals and clinical services.

Associations between patient-reported functional disability and measures of physical ability in juvenile fibromyalgia.

Juvenile fibromyalgia (JFM) is a chronic condition characterized by symptoms of pain and fatigue and is associated with sedentary behavior and functional disability. Adults with fibromyalgia exhibit deficits in physical fitness as evidenced by lower aerobic capacity and physical endurance, but it is unknown whether these impairments are apparent in adolescents with JFM. Furthermore, the extent to which functional disability and pain interference relate to measures of physical fitness has not been investigated in a pediatric pain population. During a baseline assessment for a clinical trial, 321 adolescents with juvenile fibromyalgia (M age = 15.14, 85.2% female) completed measures of pain intensity, fatigue, JFM symptom severity, functional disability, and pain interference. They also completed 2 validated fitness tasks: (1) the Harvard step test, which assesses aerobic fitness, and (2) the 6-minute walk test, a simple submaximal test of endurance. We examined associations among self-report measures and fitness assessments using bivariate correlations. We then employed hierarchical regression analyses to determine the unique contributions of physical fitness assessments to self-reported functional disability and pain interference. Results indicated that youth with JFM exhibited deficits in aerobic capacity and physical endurance. However, physical fitness explained negligible variance in functional disability and pain interference beyond that accounted for by pain, fatigue, and JFM symptom severity. Scores on available functional disability measures may reflect perceived difficulties in coping with symptoms during physical tasks rather than actual physical capability. Rigorous and sensitive assessments of physical fitness and endurance are needed to determine whether rehabilitation interventions for pediatric pain improve physical functioning.

Autism and Employment Challenges: The Double Empathy Problem and Perceptions of an Autistic Employee in the Workplace.

High unemployment rates are found among autistic adults. Difficulties with social functioning in non-autistic workplaces can be significant barriers to employment success. Autistic social functioning challenges in non-autistic spaces have traditionally been attributed to assumed impairments in Theory of Mind (ToM). Alternatively, the Double Empathy Problem (DEP) posits that autistic social challenges arise not from assumed impairments within the autistic person but instead from mutual misunderstandings in the autistic/non-autistic social interaction. The purpose of this study was to compare the ToM impairments explanation of autistic social functioning with the DEP, within the context of autistic employee social functioning in a non-autistic workplace. This study compared autistic and non-autistic participants' ability to accurately interpret the behaviors of an autistic employee at work. A sample of 254 participants (173 non-autistic and 81 autistic) read a vignette about a hypothetical autistic employee having difficulty coping in the workplace. Participants answered open-ended questions regarding their interpretation of the employee's behavior and emotional state. A significantly greater proportion of autistic participants (50.7%) accurately interpreted the behavior of the employee compared with non-autistic participants (31.2%) (χ 2 = 8.65, p = 0.003). Autistic participants with the highest behavior interpretation scores had significantly higher mean self-reported autism traits scores (M = 26.8) compared with autistic participants who scored lowest on behavior interpretation (M = 19.3, p < 0.001). The opposite relationship was found for non-autistic participants. Results from this study contribute to evidence supporting the DEP, shifting the paradigm of autistic social functioning away from a deficit model and toward addressing mutual misunderstandings in the autistic/non-autistic social interaction. The pattern of findings between neurotype groups by behavior interpretation abilities on an autism traits measure points to mutual misunderstandings as a clash of neurologically different social cultures. Addressing the DEP in the workplace would contribute to removing barriers to successful employment for autistic adults.

The emotional support plan: Feasibility trials of a brief, telehealth-based mobile intervention to support coping for autistic adults.

Autistic adults may have difficulty coping during stressful periods, which could make them more vulnerable to depression and anxiety. We designed the emotional support plan (ESP) to help autistic people find ways to cope in stressful situations. Thirty-six autistic adults created an ESP and answered questions about their opinions of the ESP. Most autistic adults found the ESP to have a positive impact on them and many would recommend the ESP to another person. Feedback from autistic adults suggested ways that we might test the ESP in future studies. Overall, autistic adults in this study found the ESP to be useful and a worthwhile intervention to study more in the future. While more research is clearly needed, we hope that the brief nature of the ESP will make it helpful for autistic people who are trying to handle negative feelings during stressful life events.

Reconceptualizing emotion regulation and coping strategy usage in eating disorders research: The utility of a regulatory flexibility framework.

Emotion regulation and coping strategies are often conceptualized in eating disorder (ED) research as inherently adaptive or maladaptive, and successful regulation is often defined as greater overall use of adaptive strategies. However, recent empirical work outside of the field of EDs challenges this categorical conceptualization of strategies, demonstrating that adaptiveness is determined by the ability to flexibly implement and adjust strategies based on contextual demands (i.e., regulatory flexibility). Despite evidence that emotion regulation and coping strategies are best conceptualized in terms of flexibility in the broader literature, few ED studies have adopted this model. We review the current conceptual framework of emotion regulation and coping strategies used in ED research and present regulatory flexibility as an alternative approach to conceptualizing these strategies. The lack of research on regulatory flexibility among individuals with EDs limits our understanding of the role of emotion regulation and coping difficulties in ED risk and maintenance. Adopting a regulatory flexibility model of strategies in EDs may extend knowledge of the role of emotion regulation difficulties in the development and maintenance of EDs. We highlight the potential utility of investigating regulatory flexibility and present recommendations for future research on regulatory flexibility in EDs. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Research on emotion regulation and coping strategy usage in eating disorders often view regulatory strategies as inherently adaptive or maladaptive. However, recent studies support defining strategies in terms of flexibility. Adopting a regulatory flexibility model of strategies in eating disorders research may advance knowledge of the role of emotion regulation difficulties in the development and maintenance of eating disorders, ultimately enhancing prevention and treatment efforts.

Daily living activities' performance by male diabetics with sexual dysfunction in South Africa.

Sexual dysfunction (SD) is a common complication among men living with diabetes (MLWD), which adds to stresses induced by medical condition. Effect of stress on their daily living activities has been only poorly described. This study aimed to explore the behaviour and challenges of MLWD experiencing SD in respect of daily living activities. Five clinics in Senwabarwana in Limpopo province. Qualitative approach and phenomenological exploratory design were adopted to collect data from 15 male participants selected from five clinics using purposive homogeneous sampling. One-on-one interviews were conducted using voice recorders, and field notes were taken of non-verbal cues. Unstructured interview guide with principal question enabled instructive probing to be conducted. Data were analysed using eight steps of Tesch's inductive, descriptive and open coding technique. Participants reported stressful experiences, difficulty coping with diabetes and its accompanying complication of SD that led to fear of losing their wives. They indicated that as a result of stress and difficulty in coping with the condition, they were engaged in less physical activity than before their diagnosis. Sexual dysfunction is prevalent among male diabetics and often feel stressed and worried about losing their wives. They struggle to cope with conditions to the point where they are less capable of performing tasks than they were before diagnosis. These outcomes are critical issues that should be addressed in any diabetes treatment strategy.Contribution: Support-based collaboration of healthcare providers with spouses and revision of South African diabetes management strategy to incorporate healthy coping strategies are recommended.

Cultural adaptation of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy for trauma-affected children in China.

Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) developed in the United States is one of the most widely used interventions for children with posttraumatic stress disorder. However, little information was provided about the cultural adaptation process when it was used in other countries. It was seldom adopted in East Asia. Furthermore, few studies adapted TF-CBT as a school-based intervention. This study was aimed at exploring the cultural fitness of TF-CBT in China and documenting the adaptation process. In the present study, feedback from stakeholders, including seven mental health practitioners, ten caregivers, eight school staffs, and forty-five children, was collected through focus groups or individual interviews. The adaptations were made for TF-CBT based on these people's feedback. The results showed that it was necessary to make adaptations of TF-CBT. Even though most of the core components were culturally appropriate, some culturally specific factors were found, including the resistance to parental involvement, the lack of children's intentions and abilities to seek support, the difficulty in children's cognitive coping, and the strong stigmatization toward TF-CBT in communities. The present study made corresponding adaptations. It developed an adapted version of intervention "power up children's psychological immunity" based on TF-CBT. The new version of intervention included seven group sessions and three to five individual sessions. Cultural adaptation is crucial to promote the acceptance of TF-CBT among stakeholders, including trauma-affected children, caregivers, school principals, class teachers, and mental health practitioners. The adapted intervention may promote the implementation of it in China. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

An enhanced multiobjective bacterial foraging algorithm for the compaction parameter optimization of earth-rock dams

Compaction parameters can act as key decision variables. However, there is a lack of research on the optimization of compaction parameters considering quality, time, and costs. Existing algorithms have difficulty coping with this highly complex and nonlinear problem. To address this issue, an enhanced multiobjective bacterial foraging algorithm is proposed for searching the optimal compaction parameters of earth-rock dams. The cost and time are taken as multiple objectives, and the compaction quality is considered the main constraint because it must meet a certain standard. Then, the enhanced multiobjective bacteria foraging algorithm (EMOBFA) is proposed, which integrates multiple intelligent components into the fundamental single-objective bacterial foraging algorithm, including chaotic mapping, an adaptive step, a rotation learning strategy, and quantum computing. This further improves the speed and accuracy of the state-of-the-art multiobjective optimization algorithm. Finally, multiobjective test functions are used to compare the EMOBFA with commonly used multiobjective optimization algorithms to verify its generality, power, and scalability. A real-life large-scale water conservancy project in Southwest China shows that the proposed EMOBFA has realized the optimization of compaction parameters in the prior control of rolling construction.

Ağrının Psikolojik Kökenleri

Pain is an experience affected by psychosocial and neurological factors. Pain, which is felt from time to time in different parts of our body, can be a situation that people have difficulty in coping with. In this review, pain has been tried to be explained from different perspectives such as psychodynamic approach, object relations theory, cognitive approach, behavioral approach, neurobiological approaches, object relations theory, cognitive behavioral theory, psychoanalytic theory. Psychological factors and coping styles in chronic pain are explained. Research on pain, the origin of pain, different perspectives on pain, and chronic pain and the psychological origins of chronic pain are also included in the study. It is thought that this review study can be a source that can be used in reading about the origins of pain. Key Words: Pain, Origins of pain

Managing children's and adolescents' medical complaints amid parent conflict: Strategies and tools for professionals

AbstractChildren and adolescents who are having difficulty coping with stress often present with complaints of physical discomfort. Effective treatment approaches exist for many of these issues. Among high‐conflict parents, however, children's medical issues can become another canvas for conflict, with parents focused more on blaming one another for the child's distress than on options for assisting the child. Professionals can be drawn into the conflict to such a degree that they overlook essential steps for addressing and managing these issues. The authors present a research‐informed model for managing medical and psychophysiological issues amid parental conflict.

Duality of roles: understanding the work performance of teaching mothers on modular distance learning in the first Districtof City Division of Santa Rosa, Laguna

Teaching is hard to perform specially during this trying time of the COVID 19 pandemic. Much more if the teachers themselves as performing dual roles as both teacher and mothers. This qualitative phenomenological study determined how teachers who are also mothers hurdle their dual roles and the factors that affect performance as a mother and teacher. Fifteen (15) purposely selected participants comprised the sample for this study. The participants were selected along the following inclusion criteria namely, an elementary school teachers in Santa Rosa Laguna, mothers with or without husbands or partners, have children of school-age and also attending home-schooling through virtual learning and other alternative learning modes, have expressed difficulties in coping with stressors in performing roles due to several factors of economic and psychosocial in nature and with teaching experience of not less than three (3) years; and under the implementation of modular distance learning. From the interpreted meanings nine (9) themes emerged as follows: (1) The Need to be Creative and Innovative; (2) Positive and Negative Sides of Technology; (3) Adapting to new Emerged Teaching Strategies is not easy; (4) Own Children need not be Sacrifice; (5) Compliance with the School Requirements; (6) Economic Condition and Teacher-Mothers Challenges; (7) Performing Dual Roles is Stressful; (8) Balancing Role as Teachers and as Mothers; and (9) Teaching is more difficult to Perform. On the whole, the results of this study can serve as basis for finding alternative solutions to unburden the mothers in their situation; provision of support to teachers in maintaining their effective professional qualities; consideration in upgrading salary of teachers; creation of stress management program; enhancement of teacher’s self-worth; and improvement in teachers’ practice and time management.