Dimensions Of Life Research Articles

Beyond the battle: A cross-sectional study on cancer-related fatigue and predictors of quality of life in female adolescent and young adult survivors.

The study delves into the intricacies of cancer-related fatigue (CRF), the quality of life (QoL), and other demographic variables of female adolescent and young adult cancer survivors (AYACS) in the landscape of Kerala, India. The cross-sectional study included 288 female AYACS who were selected through purposive sampling and completed self-reported questionnaires on CRF, QoL, and demographic and clinical data. Statistical analyses were applied, including correlation, one-way ANOVA, and regression. and discussion: The temporal dimension is particularly interesting, as individuals three to five years post-treatment report heightened CRF and QoL scores. Furthermore, the research unveils the pivotal role played by predictors such as marital status, educational attainment, and employment status in shaping QoL. Marital status and education emerge as positive predictors of well-being. The study unveils compelling insights into AYA cancer survivorship, revealing a profound impact of CRF on the quality of life dimensions. The role of spirituality, sometimes affecting social connectedness, adds intrigue. The findings provide insights into the complex world of female AYACS, compelling researchers to ponder the significance of addressing CRF and tailoring rehabilitation systems during the critical post-treatment phase, with recognition of gender-specific challenges.

Felicitous Life with an Emphasis on Islamic Teachings

A felicitous life has always been the concern of the Islamic society and the present paper aims to explore the documents of Islamic teachings that refer to this issue. The research seems necessary to determine the basic dimensions of life to become operational. In this regard, the present paper tries to study Islamic teachings related to felicitous life and describe and examine its important dimensions using descriptive and analytical methods. By searching the two concepts of "life" and "felicity" in Islamic teachings, the materials related to the basic aspects of a felicitous life can be identified. Islamic texts (verses of the Holy Qur'an and narrations) that are mostly oriented to divinity and hereafter include descriptive and explanatory sentences about how to live. According to Islamic teachings, felicity consists of many components, each of which has a constructive contribution to a felicitous life. Life is a valuable capital and a hidden treasure, in which felicity and success depend on happiness, goodness, and worthiness. Happiness brings us bliss and joy in life; Goodness leads us to ethical living and altruism, and worthiness makes our life purposeful and meaningful. To live well or felicitously, one must learn "how to live" and deal with the important aspects of life.

A Holistic Approach to Nursing Students’ Changing Life and Anxiety in the Pandemic: A Descriptive Cross Sectional Study Utilizing Positive Psychotherapy

The life balance model of positive psychotherapy states that human lives have four dimensions: body, achievement, relationships, and spirituality. When these dimensions are in balance, people are healthy and productive. This study aimed to determine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on nursing students’ anxiety levels and life balance. This cross-sectional and descriptive study was conducted with 584 nursing students studying at 3 different universities in Turkey. The participants experienced significant changes in the life balance model’s dimensions of achievement, body, relationships, and spirituality before and during the pandemic. The participants’ anxiety increased with changes in these dimensions. Based on these results, it would be beneficial to support students in order to meet the needs in the life dimensions that students neglect. In addition, it is thought that the life balance model, which is being used for the first time in nursing, can be developed as a tool in the nursing practice.

Dehumanization in the United States carceral system: Pathways to policy reform

AbstractThis narrative review examines the cumulative dehumanization process within the United States carceral system, highlighting how current policies perpetuate harm and undermine the well‐being of incarcerated individuals. Through a narrative review of interdisciplinary research, we explore the psychological, sociological, and legal dimensions of life within prison walls. We argue that the cumulative dehumanization inherent in these practices not only risks the safety and futures of prisoners but also creates environments that increase the likelihood of rule infractions and extended sentences. We identify and highlight the process of dehumanization across individual, interpersonal, institutional, and systemic levels. Our analysis focuses on three critical policy areas: the goals and directives of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the use of subminimum wages and forced labor, and the impact of fees on prisoners’ access to healthcare. By prioritizing respect, fairness, and humane treatment, we can dismantle the structures perpetuating dehumanization and harm.Public Significance StatementThis paper reviews the research surrounding cumulative dehumanization in prison life. It provides three policy recommendations in order to combat the dehumanization of prisoners, including changing the directive of the Bureau of Prisons, ending the use of subminimal wages, and removing fees from prisoners seeking medical treatment.

Enhancing quality of life for the hearing-impaired: a holistic approach through the MoSIoT framework

AbstractThis article unveils MoSIoT (Modeling Scenarios of the Internet of Things), an innovative framework meticulously designed to simulate IoT systems, addressing the nuanced needs of individuals with hearing impairments. Grounded in the quality-of-life framework proposed by Verdugo et al., MoSIoT has been enriched and evolved to integrate and manage a spectrum of deafness technologies, thereby marking a significant enhancement in the overall quality of life for the affected individuals. The focal point of this work is the advocacy for accessibility and well-being through technology-driven and inclusive solutions. The presented case study provides a comprehensive insight into the transformative impact of MoSIoT, highlighting improvements in key quality of life dimensions such as “Interpersonal Relationships”, “Emotional Well-Being”, and “Personal Development”. These enhancements underscore the pivotal role of continuous innovation and inclusive design in the evolution of assistive technologies. The article delves into the intricacies of the system’s implementation, exploring its service-based architecture, which ensures modularity, scalability, and adaptability to diverse user needs and technological advancements. Furthermore, the potential for future research and development in this field is discussed, emphasizing the endless possibilities and avenues for enhancing assistive technology and promoting an inclusive and accessible future for individuals with disabilities.

A Structural Equation Model for Understanding the Relationship between Cognitive Reserve, Autonomy, Depression and Quality of Life in Aging.

In recent years, aging has become a focal point of scientific research and health policies due to the growing demographic trend of an aging worldwide population. Understanding the protective and risk factors that influence aging trajectories is crucial for designing targeted interventions that support healthy aging and improve people's quality of life. The aim of this study was to explore the relationships between variables of aging. A total of 103 Italian participants (55-75 years old) underwent multidimensional assessments that covered cognitive, functional, emotional, and quality of life dimensions. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data and elucidate the relationships between depression, quality of life, cognitive reserve, executive functions, and daily autonomy. The findings revealed that a higher quality of life was associated with reduced depressive symptoms. In addition, cognitive reserve emerged as a protective factor positively correlated with both quality of life and daily autonomy. In this study, quality of life was determined using physical health, psychological, social relationships, and environmental domains. Identifying the significant relationships between these variables in a sample of late adults and young-aged people has given us useful elements for designing psycho-educational interventions that can be aimed at preventing frailty in later old age or supporting healthy longevity.

Initial Validation of the New Jersey School Climate Improvement Survey

School climate has a profound impact on the wellbeing of staff and students. Although existing measures are available to assess dimensions of school life (Bradshaw et al., 2021; Espelage et al., 2014), surveys that comprehensively assess components of school climate from multiple perspectives are needed. A rationale is presented for developing the New Jersey School Climate Improvement Survey for students, staff, and parents/caregivers, which varies from existing instruments in its measurement of unique domains; alignment of items across informant types; integration of diver­sity, equity, and inclusion items across domains; and ability to disaggregate by demographic characteristics, including student gender expansive categories. Internal consistency and structural validity were investigated using data from 5,504 students in grades 3-5, 16,280 students in grades 6-12, 5,464 staff, and 5,874 parents/caregivers. For each survey version, results support a correlated model structure and demonstrate strong internal reliability (e.g., omega coefficients above 0.70). Confirmatory factor analyses and Pearson correlations demonstrate strong internal structural validity across surveys. Implications are discussed, including how the instrument can inform a school climate improvement process that involves identifying strengths and needs, assessing the impact of interventions, and monitoring progress toward goals over time. Impact Statement This article advances an understanding of the reliability and validity of a new multi-informant school climate assessment known as the New Jersey School Climate Improvement (NJ SCI) Survey. The survey can be used by school support staff including school psychologists, to collect data used to inform school climate improvement to create supportive and equitable learning conditions in schools.

To Talk or not to Talk About Existential Questions - An Interview Study With Elderly Persons and Patients With Fatal Disease.

Background: Existential experiences often come to the fore in the case of a severe and/or life-threatening disease and in old age. This can evoke a variety of thoughts and emotions. The existential dimension is a concept that encompasses spiritual, religious and secular perspectives. Objective: The aim of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of how patients describe the existential dimension of life and whether and in what way the existential questions are raised in conversations and other forms of support within care. Methods: A qualitative design, with in-depth semi-structured interviews with patients admitted to an out-clinic oncology department at one hospital and participants living in a nursing home. The interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results: A total of 15 persons were interviewed. The respondents varied in age from 44 to 96. Two main themes emerged: What are existential questions? and Talk about existential questions. The existential questions refer to life as a whole and death as an end of life. It was summarized into three subcategories: The experience of the life, Existing within context and Spirituality and religion. About half of the participants thought it was important to talk about existential questions. They wanted to choose who to talk to, when and about what. Support was received from loved ones, professionals and experiences beyond conversations. Conclusions: The study provide new knowledge of how patients and elderly experience the existential dimension. The respondents emphasized a desire to be selective with whom they shared these questions and thoughts.

Burden and satisfaction with social support in families with a history of problematic substance use or dementia – a comparison

BackgroundLiving in a family with a history of problematic substance use or dementia is a major stressful experience for family members and results often in an impaired health condition. Seeking and receiving social support has been emphasized as a major resource while coping with this stress. However, especially family members of people with problematic substance use often refrain from help-seeking. This paper examines whether (1) family members of problematic substance users are more physically and psychologically distressed than caregivers of people with dementia, and (2) whether and to what extent differences are mediated by satisfaction with perceived professional and private social support.MethodsTwo samples of family members of people with a chronic disease (problematic substance use (n = 221), dementia (n = 322)) completed self-administered questionnaires on burden, quality of life and social support. Physical distress was assessed using the Giessen Subjective Complaints List, psychological distress using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale and anxiety symptoms using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Quality of life was measured using the WHOQOL-BREF, and satisfaction with professional and private social support was assessed using a visual analog scale. Multivariate analyses of variance were performed to compare the two groups on the means of (1) burden ratings and (2) QoL dimensions and followed up by discriminant analyses to explore meaningful variables according to group differences. Parallel mediation analyses were performed to test the mediators private and professional support.ResultsFamily members of problematic substance users score higher on the burden indicators, while they score lower with regard to the quality of life dimensions than caregivers of people with dementia. The difference in burden is mainly explained by the higher scores for exhaustion, stomach discomfort and depression of family members of problematic substance users. Caregivers of people with dementia reported greater satisfaction with perceived social support, either private or professional. Satisfaction with private support was shown to be more important in mediating the impact of stress.ConclusionsFamily members of people with problematic substance use are in great need of tailored support programs and should be explicitly targeted.

Generative artificial intelligence and academic writing: an analysis of the perceptions of researchers in training

Purpose The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship between academic writing and generative artificial intelligence (AI). Design/methodology/approach This paper is characterized as exploratory and descriptive, with a qualitative approach. Two approaches were used: the first, a narrative review of the literature with a systematic search from which a data collection stage was carried out using asynchronous interviews by means of an online questionnaire. Findings The results indicate that generative AI should be seen as a complementary tool for creative and critical academic writing. The data collected also highlighted issues related to academic dishonesty and the new type of plagiarism – plagiarism made possible by technologies – as well as issues of authorship and legitimacy of work carried out with AI and the loss of reflective and critical thinking and creativity. Research limitations/implications The considerable increase in resources using AI in all dimensions of human life. Practical implications The impact that the use of generative AIs can have on the creation of knowledge and the dissemination of scientific research. Social implications The impact that the use of generative AIs can have on the creation of knowledge and on the dissemination of scientific research. Originality/value The need for academia to anticipate the use of AI in academic writing and to incorporate its benefits into this process, especially considering researchers in training.

Living with, or despite, organized abandonment: social reproduction and real estate speculation on Chicago’s Large Lots

ABSTRACT Between 2014 and 2020, the city of Chicago sold hundreds of city-owned lots for a dollar to property owners across its South and West Side neighborhoods through the Large Lots program. An expedient way of returning city land to tax rolls and offsetting its holding costs, the city cast Large Lots as an effort to empower residents and turn vacant lots into vibrant neighborhoods. This article examines the labor of making vibrant neighborhoods. Against its erasure by the dominant planning imagination, I situate this labor as an important dimension of life's work under regimes of organized abandonment and their attendant economies of real estate speculation. Through interviews and participant-observation with lot owners, I demonstrate that Large Lots has reconfigured relations of responsibility and obligation around vacant land in ways that enroll residents’ social reproductive labor of land care into the production of investable landscapes. Through a property records analysis, I then show that this labor unfolds in tension with renewed channels for speculation established by Large Lots in program neighborhoods. These findings situate social reproduction as a generative vantage point for politically capacious understandings of real estate speculation and the uneven geographies of life-making it engenders.

A Pilot Study on the Drug Price Revision Strategy in Japan: A Comparison Among Fiscal Years 2018, 2020, and 2022

Objective: Japan has resumed its health technology assessment to decide how to reduce high-cost drug prices. While drug price rules in Japan are comprehensive, they do not necessarily capture differences in product characteristics. This study examined the drug price revision strategy in Japan using migraine treatment with triptans as an example. Cost data from fiscal years (FY) 2018, 2020, and 2022 were utilized. Methods: A cost-utility analysis was conducted from the perspective of healthcare payers, focusing on Japanese patients aged over 18 years experiencing migraines. The study employed a base-case model with probabilities derived from a network meta-analysis. Direct costs included medical and drug costs. Effectiveness was assessed using the European Quality of Life 5-dimensions—3-level questionnaire. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were conducted to examine the level of uncertainty. Results: In FY2018, sumatriptan and eletriptan were cost-effective; however, the other triptans were dominated by sumatriptan. In FY2020, sumatriptan and eletriptan were cost-effective, and rizatriptan was extended-dominated; nevertheless, the other triptans were dominated by sumatriptan. In FY2022, naratriptan and eletriptan were cost-effective; however, the other triptans were dominated by naratriptan. The hierarchy of triptan strategies varied in each fiscal year. Conclusions: This study provides valuable insights into the drug price revision strategy in Japan. The variations could be problematic because in Japan, formulary management of triptans, for example, those for migraine, may face revaluation every other year. Discussions regarding this issue will be further explored in the future.

Cultural and gender differences in predicting flourishing through gratitude and life purpose: A moderated mediation analyses

Background: This study investigated the relationship between gratitude, purpose in life and flourishing, as well as the mediating role of purpose in life in the relationship between gratitude and flourishing in two different cultures, Indian and Polish. We also examined the moderating role of gender in the relationship between gratitude and purpose in life. Methods: A sample of 328 Indian and 303 Polish participants aged 18–56 years completed the Gratitude, Resentment, and Appreciation Scale, the Purpose in Life Questionnaire, and the Flourishing Scale. Pearson’s correlations were used to assess the associations between the main study variables, and PROCESS software was used to calculate moderated mediation. Results: Findings showed that gratitude and purpose in life were positively related to flourishing. Life purpose mediated the relationship between gratitude and flourishing. In the Indian sample, gender was a statistically significant moderator between gratitude (and its three facets) and purpose in life. In the Polish sample, gender moderated the relationship between overall gratitude and only one dimension (a sense of abundance) and purpose in life. Conclusions: The results suggest that enhancing gratitude and a sense of purpose in life can significantly improve individuals’ flourishing, considering gender and cultural differences.

Impact of Spiritual Support Interventions on the Quality of Life of Patients Who Receive Palliative Care: A Systematic Review.

Palliative care focuses on the prevention of worsening health, improving the quality of the patient's life, and the relief of suffering, and therefore has a considerable impact on both the patient suffering from a life-threatening or potentially life-threatening illness and on their family. Spirituality, as the dimension of human life involving the search for meaning, purpose, and transcendence, and connection with oneself, others, and the sacred, could be essential in supporting these patients. The aim of this study was to synthesise the scientific evidence describing the interventions and/or activities undertaken to meet the spiritual needs of the palliative patient. A literature search was carried out across the following databases: PubMed, LILACS, Scopus, and Web of Science. The PRISMA statement was used to guide this review. Twenty-four articles were included. The thematic categories included spiritual needs at the end of life, the influence of music and dance as palliative care, care for family caregivers, and the comparison between counselling and dignity therapy. Interventions in the biopsychosocial-spiritual spheres impact on the patient's peace of mind and promote the acceptance of a "good death". Healthcare personnel play an essential role in the way their patients prepare for the moment of death, and the meaning and values they convey help them to accompany and welcome patients. Last but not least, universities can play a crucial role by training nurses to integrate spiritual interventions such as music and dance, or by considering the family as a unit of care. The systematic review protocol was registered in the Prospective International Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) under protocol number CRD42023490852.

Everyday Life in Great Britain and Poland During the Covid-19 Pandemic and Brexit

In recent years, everyday life and interpersonal relationships in a broad sense have been shaped by the SarsCov-2 pandemic and its extensive consequences – both on a local and on a global level. Other phenomena have made their presence felt at a local and global level too – Brexit, for example. In this article, based on research carried out in Poland, England and Northern Ireland in August and September 2021, we present various dimensions of everyday life and the relationships of migrants with people who are important to them in Poland – in the context of these two main processes. The results of our research indicate that the new circumstances affect the everyday lives of migrants and their relatives in Poland on various levels, such as routine activities, work, interpersonal relations, and transnational contacts. We have also identified the stages of these processes and the accompanying emotions, and the pandemic emerged as the leading theme, overshadowing Brexit.

Kiskiak: The settlement history of a dispersed village in Tidewater Virginia

Villages organized coastal Algonquian social life in the Chesapeake during the late precolonial and early colonial eras. Even so, archaeologists have only rarely attempted to interpret village or community organization in the region, relying instead on the assumption that communities overlapped closely with individual sites. This study challenges that assumption through a “non-site” assessment of survey and excavation data from Virginia's lower York River. This approach indicates that settlement along Indian Field Creek included spatially discrete but socially connected spaces that comprised the village of Kiskiak. With origins in the Mockley Phase (AD 200–900), this settlement form comes into clear view during the colonial era as a dispersed, creek-side village with domestic spaces around Indian Field Creek, community middens at its mouth, and a palisaded area overlooking the York. The dispersed village and its history in the region represent important dimensions of social life in the Native Chesapeake.

Convalescing from SAM: The pitfalls and possibilities of caring for vulnerable children in Harare's high-density neighbourhoods

It is widely recognised that children recovering from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), remain vulnerable to risk of death following hospital discharge due to a wide range of biological and social factors. In light of this heightened risk, we report here on a qualitative study which aimed to better understand the caring contexts that children recovering from SAM were recuperating in within the high density urban and suburban districts of Harare, Zimbabwe. Undertaken with the mothers and other primary caregivers of 10 children enrolled on a large observational cohort study (HOPE-SAM), this paper identifies several dimensions of the women's lives that impede their caring capabilities. Given the country's status as a global ‘hunger hotspot’ (FAO/WFP, 2022), it should not be surprising that food insecurity featured prominently amongst these. Beyond this, the paper highlights the women's uneven access to informal social protection, experiences that are reflective of what recent scholarship refers to as examples of ‘uncaring’ or ‘noncaring,’ as well as their responses to discourses of shame and stigma within the community and hospital settings. The paper concludes by considering what this means for understanding of, and responses to, the bodies encountered in the place of global health research and interventions.

Comparison of Quality of Life and Coping Strategies among Firefighters and Emergency Medical Services Personnel in Saveh, Iran.

Emergency medical service (EMS) personnel and firefighters (FFs) are first responders in dangerous and stressful situations. They experience high stress due to the nature of their jobs, which can affect their quality of life and various health dimensions. This study aimed to compare quality of life, job stress, and coping strategies in a sample of EMS personnel and FF employees in Iran. This cross-sectional study included 186 FFs and EMS, who were selected using a census sampling method. Our results showed that FFs had a better quality of life, lower perceived stress, and better coping skills than EMS. Individuals living in rural areas, government officials, and staff with regular work shifts also reported less perceived stress. Furthermore, our results indicated a negative and significant correlation between perceived stress and quality of life and a positive and significant correlation between stress management and quality of life in both groups. Given the inevitability of stress in EMS and FF jobs, policymakers need to take interventional measures to reduce anxiety and enhance the quality of life and work for these personnel. Occupational health policies in Iran generally follow the International Labor Organizational recommended standards, however, more attention to managerial interventions that reduce job demands and job stress combined with health promotion programs to improve coping are advised.

Quality of life of emergency department nurses in pediatric and general hospitals in Greece: A cross sectional study

Introduction: The Emergency Department (ED) is a quite stressful workplace for nurses, affecting their quality of life. The existence of factors that affect the quality of life of ED nurses in daily clinical practice, leads to exhausted nurses. Consequently, there is a need to find the factors and the implementation of interventions that will improve the quality of life of nurses. Purpose: To investigate the factors that affect the quality of life of nurses in children's and adult hospitals. Method: The sample of this cross-sectional study consisted of ED nurses in children's and adult hospitals in Greece. To assess the nurses' quality of life, the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire was used for the ED nurses. Analysis was done with IBM SPSS 26.0. A value of p<0.05 was considered as the level of significance and all statistical tests were two-tailed. Results: Study population included 210 nurses. No statistical significance was found for the relationship between pediatric ED nurses and adult ED nurses regarding their quality of life, sleep, and fatigue. However, a statistically significant relationship was found regarding social relationships tending to a better score in pediatric nurses compared to adults (p=0.011). In all five dimensions of life evaluated by the tool, the quality of life of the nurses in our sample was at moderate levels (Mean-General=69.32, Mean-Physical health=64.70, Mean-Psychological health=67.85, Mean-social relations=69.01 and Mean-Environment =57.60). Conclusion: One or more factors are sufficient to affect or have an impact on the quality of life, sleep completeness and fatigue levels of ED nurses.

Subchondroplasty® (SCP) Provides Resolution of Symptoms and Functional Improvements in Mild-to-Moderate Knee Osteoarthritis with Persistent Bone Marrow Lesions: 12-Month Follow-Up Results from a Multicentric Open-Label Prospective Clinical Trial.

Introduction. Bone marrow lesions (BMLs) are MRI-visible subchondral bone alterations, highly correlated with symptoms in the knee. Subchondroplasty (SCP) is able to fill the subchondral defects associated with BMLs using an injectable bone substitute material. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the 12-month outcomes of the SCP in the treatment of symptoms of mild-to-moderate knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients with persistent BMLs of the knee. Materials and Methods. Subjects affected by BMLs of the femoral condyle or tibial plateau that were present for >3 months and not responsive to conservative treatments were enrolled in this prospective multicenter trial. All the patients underwent SCP. Follow-up was conducted at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. All subjects completed Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) for pain, Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome (KOOS) score, Euro Quality of life-5 dimensions (EQ-5D) score, and a subject global satisfaction scale. Demographic information of the patients was also collected. Results. A total of 79 patients completed the 12-month follow-up. Statistically significant improvements on all clinical scales were registered from baseline to the 12-month follow-up. No severe adverse events were reported. Four patients were considered failed. A 12-month subgroup analysis was performed to evaluate the possible correlation between all the KOOS subscales and age, gender, number of BMLs, location of BMLs, and Kellgren-Lawrence grade: no statistically significant associations were observed. Conclusion. SCP is a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of symptoms related to persisting BMLs in mild-to-moderate osteoarthritic knees, with a low failure rate up to 12 months' evaluation.