Experience Of Personal Growth Research Articles

Service-Learning in an Undergraduate Abnormal Psychology Course: What Do Students Learn?

In my Abnormal Psychology course students reported that their service-learning work at mental health related organizations in the community helped them connect course content to life experiences, increase their understanding of the impact of mental illness on people’s lives, and examine their attitudes about people with psychological disorders. They also developed increased empathy, greater understandings of cultural and racial differences, and more awareness of their personal strengths. They felt useful to others, that their service made a difference, and that they were more likely to volunteer in the future. These results are consistent with previous research that service-learners increase their understanding of course content and experience personal growth. The present study provides a more focused perspective on how Abnormal Psychology students are affected specifically by their experiential understanding of psychological disorders and reflection on their attitudes about mental illness.

Bridging the gaps between ecology and nutrition: a middle school–university collaboration

ABSTRACTThis article examines the design and evaluation of a novel, cross-institutional, classroom-based nutrition intervention program created by a seventh grade science teacher and a university instructor. The collaborative project centered around a unique curriculum-based objective as well as an extracurricular aim for each class. Undergraduates taking the community dietetics course designed, facilitated, and evaluated a tailored, community nutrition intervention. Seventh graders explained how organisms in a biome depend on the available biotic and abiotic resources, and how matter cycles continually among organisms and the physical environment. Additionally, the collaboration aimed to synergistically enhance all students’ academic experience by nurturing dietetics students’ cultural competence as well as by encouraging seventh graders to simultaneously explore their nutrition-related attitudes and make connections among diet and food webs. Following the experience, undergraduates reported that the project positively contributed to their personal growth, civic engagement, and overall academic experience. Seventh graders’ post-project discussions revealed confusion and roadblocks adolescents face related to healthy eating. The results of this study indicate that cross-institutional collaborations provide meaningful experiences within the undergraduate dietetics curriculum and that small-group discussions focused on identifying students’ confusion and barriers can guide health educators to creating relevant and engaging programs for youth.

A SELECTION OF METHODS AND TECHNIQUES PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS CAN APPLY TO THEIR OWN LIFELONG LEARNING

A selection of methods and techniques professional teachers can apply to their own lifelong learning.Education is the key to converting knowledge and experience into practical actions, their analysis and application. It plays a key role in the synthesis of new knowledge into research and innovation. Such thoughts on education were expressed in the resolution of the sixth World Education Congress in 2011. Today, when world education forums are widely discussing how schools can better organise the learning process, when ambitious long-term reforms are being implemented in the Latvian education system—the transition to competency-based educational content and teaching methods—it is essential to assess current situation and to bring innovative methods and techniques to our teachers' own learning process. The new knowledge and experience teachers gain through lifelong learning, through their experience and the understanding of how to share it, can be presented and guided by such methods and techniques that enrich a teacher's emotional and intellectual function. My own research has confirmed my belief that for a teacher to be confident and capable enough to help her students discover the joy of learning and gain new knowledge through the process of education, that teacher must herself have the experience of active learning, insight, and personal growth through the learning process.The author has selected a number of methods and techniques for lifelong learning based on the methods and techniques developed by a number of education researchers (Kolb, 1984; Koķe, 1999; Stueck, 2010; Vedins, 2011; Ščurkova, 2016; Robinson, 2013; Amonašvili, 2017), and on her own experience of leading and developing a professional lifelong education programme for teachers. The model of teacher learning presented here has been used in practice since 2012 and has been well-received. Teachers can develop themselves mentally, emotionally and spiritually through the learning process and in doing so increase their professional value.Objective for the Study. To create a model for teaching professional teachers in the context of their own lifelong learning, to assemble a selection of methods and techniques for professional teachers’ lifelong learning, including several designed by the author, and to assess them.

Personal Growth of New Fathers following Assisted Reproductive Technology or Spontaneous Pregnancy

SYNOPSISObjective: The study aimed at comparing personal growth between fathers whose infants were conceived with the aid of assisted reproductive technology (ART) and those whose infants were conceived spontaneously and to examine associations with personal resources. Design: We examined associations between personal growth on the one hand and optimism, positive and negative emotions, and parenting stress on the other, among fathers whose infants were conceived with the aid of ART and those whose infants were conceived spontaneously. One hundred and seventy-two Israeli first-time fathers (76 following ART and 96 following spontaneous pregnancies) whose infants were 5–18 months old completed a series of self-report questionnaires. Results: No difference was found in personal growth between the two research groups. For all men, lower economic status, older age of the child, higher optimism, higher positive and negative emotions, and parenting stress were all associated with greater growth. Conclusions: Although a certain level of stress and negative affect is a prerequisite for personal growth, it is made possible by positive resources, such as optimism and positive emotions. In addition, the manner in which the pregnancy was achieved appears to have no long-term consequences for men’s experience of personal growth in the transition to fatherhood. Professionals should relate to the present needs and emotional states of new fathers rather than their fertility history.

Abstract TP383: Younger Caregivers of Stroke Survivors Experience Personal Growth through Caregiving

Title: Younger Care Givers of Stroke Survivors Experience Personal Growth through Caregiving Background: Stroke is the leading cause of disability in the US. One in four patients with stroke is disabled. Providing care to these survivors long term is very burdensome to the family. Wellbeing and respite of care givers (CG) has not been studied well in the past. In this study, we focused on quality of life (QOL) of the young care giver (YCG) of stroke survivors. The Retreat and Refresh Stroke Camp (RRSC), initiated in 2004, offers respite, opportunities to develop new relationships, networking, sharing and education/access to resources. Methods: QOL of CG attending the Retreat and Refresh Stroke Camp (RRSC) in 2016 -2017 was assessed using the Adult Carer Quality of Life Questionnaire (ACQOLQ). YCG were defined as 65 years and younger. The ACQOLQ addresses 8 subcategories of QOL. High (11+) subcategory score indicates high QOL in that category, a score (0-5) indicates low QOL and potential difficulties. Emails were sent to all CG with a link to ACQOLQ in Survey Monkey. Results were analyzed using descriptive statistics and unpaired t-test. Results: Seventy four CG responded to the survey. Sixty one percent are YCG (mean 61.2 years), 86.49% female. Approximately 40% YCG provided care >70 hours/week. Mean duration of caring 6.36 years. Mean ACQOLQ score 69.23, indicating mid-range QOL. Seven had a high QOL, 4 had low QOL. Of the eight subcategories, support for caring averaged 7.17; caring choice, 7.43; caring stress, 8.52; money matters, 7.96; personal growth, 8.46; sense of value, 9.61; ability to care, 10.41; and care satisfaction, 9.66. Unpaired t-test, showed higher QOL in personal growth (P<0.05) and more financial concerns (P<0.05) for these YCG. Conclusions: The ACQOLQ provides a benchmark for QOL assessment for the RRSC CG. RRSC may have played a role in improving the self-worth, confidence, feelings of appreciation of CG. RRSC must reach out to populations of higher stroke incidence and families of stroke survivors. Camp Directors will use this information to develop strategies to improve CG freedom, money management, and general support.

A Weird but Interesting Journey: Personal Traumatic Growth for Individuals with Hallucinations

Objectives: Hallucinations can be traumatic. However, research into 'post-traumatic growth' in relation to hallucinations is scarce. This study aims to further our understanding of personal growth in the context of hallucinations. Design: A phenomenological qualitative approach was used to explore experiences of personal growth with hallucinations, adopting Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) methodology. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven people who experience hallucinations. Participants were asked about experiences of personal growth, their expectations of individual transformation, and facilitating and hindering factors in the attainment of personal growth. Transcripts were analysed ensuring suitable saturation and representation of the data was achieved. Results: One overall theme (A journey towards personal growth) and five subthemes were identified: A difficult journey taken day by day, Stigma, Acceptance, Finding the right support, and Personal growth. Conclusions: Findings supported personal growth in the context of hallucinations and highlighted facilitators and barriers. Practitioner points • There is scarce literature supporting the development of personal growth with hallucinatory experiences and it is empirically limited. The present research provides greater information into the phenomenon to inform service provision. • The importance of acceptance and maintaining hope for change was highlighted. • Services and the use of coping strategies were both identified as facilitative and hindering of personal growth. • This research provides a necessary alternative to the often negative literature; challenging societal perceptions and helping promote much needed hope in clinicians, the public and individuals experiencing hallucinations.

Una proposta multimodale per il marketing premozionale dell’Apulianluxury: la Puglia come espressione del turismo di lusso responsabile

Abstract – This study introduces an innovative ‘premotional’ marketing strategy for the emotional promotion of responsible luxury tourism in Apulia, labelled as “#Apulianluxury”, which has been developed for this specific research to increase the appeal of the region by focusing on its natural, social, and cultural properties. In particular, this paper will illustrate the cognitive and linguistic grounds of a number of premotional messages that aim at attracting potential receivers by activating in them an alternative perception of the holiday as an experience of cultural and personal growth. Such perception is stimulated by the interaction between the ‘luxury tourism’ and ‘responsible tourism’ schemata, which leads to the ‘expected’/‘unexpected’ cognitive oppositions in the examined advertisements. The analysis of the selected corpus of multimodal texts will enquire into the extent to which the lexical, structural and pragmatic attributes of English as a lingua franca interact with the visual features of the messages so as to provide the alternative view of the holiday, and increase the cross-cultural accessibility of this premotional campaign. In fact, the connection between the lexical and syntactic simplification strategies and the visual representations allow tourists to trigger the pragmatic inferences that determine the appropriate identification and interpretation of the illocutionary force and perlocutionary effects pursued by the Apulian characterization of responsible luxury tourism under discussion

The EPA gaining experience programme: A great experience for young professionals

IntroductionMental health services in many European countries are undergoing to changes: it is important that early career psychiatrists (ECPs) have opportunities to broaden their professional horizons and better understand the international context of the upcoming changes: then, they can become aware protagonists of these changes and the future of the mental health system in their countries and in Europe. The gaining experience programme (GEP), offering ECPs observership placements in various psychiatric institutions across the Europe, can boost it.AimsWe aim to consider how the EPA GEP can provide a unique professional and cultural understanding of the mental health services across the Europe and positively affect the ECPs’ career.Methods and resultsStarting from an experience of the GEP in 2016, we will discuss how it represents a great chance to observe the clinical work of multidisciplinary teams and an opportunity to visit different countries. Many aspects were significant, starting from the different organization of the mental health services, as well as the influence of different cultures on the mental health care system and the patient's expectations.ConclusionsAttending EPA GEP is an important chance for ECPs to improve their professional and organizational skills as well as a great skill-building opportunity and personal growth experience. The GEP is at his third edition this year and it has having a growing success among young psychiatrists. It gives them a chance to improve mentoring and professional networks among experts and ECPs and to get more involved in the EPA activities.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Hvordan er det å være ungdom og leve med kronisk utmattelses­syndrom/myalgisk encefalopati? En narrativ oversikt [How is it to be an adolescent living with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis? A narrative review

Background: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) or myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) is a disabling condition posing a major health problem for a subset of adolescents in Norway and other industrialized countries. What it is like to live with CFS/ME in adolescents is poorly understood and has not been thoroughly explored. Objective: The purpose of this narrative review is to provide an overview of CFS/ME as a serious health condition in adolescents. Aspects covered include condition duration, disability level, treatment, diagnostics, and disease mechanisms. The review is also aimed at highlighting the adolescents’ own experiences of living with the disorder. Methods: The databases PubMed, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar were searched from 1990 to 2015 using the reported search terms. In addition, reference lists of relevant articles from the search were screened for additional relevant articles. Discussion: Studies show that CFS/ME in adolescents usually lasts three years, the disability is severe, and treatment options are limited. There is disagreement on diagnostic criteria and disease mechanisms. However, evidence suggests that the condition may be explained by a sustained arousal response that is triggered by infections and/or critical life events interacting with predisposing factors and learning. Qualitative interviews suggest that adolescents with CFS/ME feel as if their life is put on hold. This core theme was supported by six subthemes: (1) Adolescents with CFS/ME feel locked in their homes and shut out; (2) Not being able to attend school seems to make afflicted individuals worry about missing school work; (3) Many feel different from the person they used to be; (4) Many struggle to be recognized as ill; Despite these challenges, some patients appear to (5) envision a better future and (6) experience personal growth. Conclusion: In conclusion, CFS/ME is a serious disorder with detrimental impact on functioning and emotional well-being. Living with CFS/ME is filled with difficult emotions and thoughts that might be equally, or even more, painful than the physical pain. This was the first review of what it is like for adolescents to live with the disorder. The results underscore the importance of listening to their stories to provide them with more effective help. Finally, the patients are in need of both better assessment and treatment.

The Chance & Choice Challenge: A Game for Addressing Bullying Behavior From Within

ABSTRACTBullying, in a variety of ubiquitous and ever-changing forms from online name-calling to physical violence, affects the lives of young people. This article provides an overview of a supplemental approach to address bullying behaviors at their source. The Chance & Choice Challenge offers interactive ways to explore the roles played by choice and personal responsibility. This intervention, presented in a game format, appeals to a young client’s sense of individuality and autonomy, allowing the counselor to enhance the experience of the client’s investment in personal choices, and in turn the experience of personal growth.

Relationship of eudaimonia and hedonia with work outcomes

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of two perspectives of well-being, hedonism and eudaimonism, on job attitudes and extra-role behaviors. Theoretically, hedonism equates well-being with the experience of pleasure, whereas eudaimonism is the experience of personal growth, purpose and social significance.Design/methodology/approach– Data were collected from 528 administrative support staff at two points in time. At time 1, hedonia and eudaimonia at work were measured. Job attitudes and extra-role behaviors were measured at time 2.Findings– Results indicate that hedonia and eudaimonia, although strongly correlated, have unique effects on job attitudes and extra-role behaviors. Further, there is a synergistic effect between eudaimonia and hedonia such that experienced eudaimonia has a stronger effect on employee outcomes when hedonia is higher.Practical implications– Popular books highlight the importance of creating happy workers. However, one’s view of happiness/well-being at work influences the actions taken to improve such well-being. An important implication of this study is that firms should focus on creating an environment that fosters personal growth, a sense of purpose and a feeling of social significance in addition to hedonic happiness.Originality/value– Both eudaimonic and hedonic measures of well-being were examined and results indicated that both were important predictors of extra-role behavior and job attitudes. Such results not only highlight the importance of explicit examination of additional conceptualizations of well-being at work, but also indicate the importance of eudaimonia at work.

Residential immersive life skills programs for youth with physical disabilities: A pilot study of program opportunities, intervention strategies, and youth experiences

PurposeA pilot study was conducted to assess correspondence among measures of program characteristics (opportunities and intervention strategies) and youth experiences in a range of activity settings in a residential immersive life skills (RILS) program. MethodOpportunities and intervention strategies were assessed in 18 activity settings in the 21-day program. On two occasions each, four youth completed a measure of experiences and took part in onsite interviews. ResultsThere was good convergence between observed program opportunities and the use of socially-mediated, teaching/learning, and non-intrusive strategies. Youth experiences of social interaction, choice, and personal growth were further informed by interview information. There was substantial convergence between program characteristics and youth experiences, indicating the program was provided and experienced as intended. ConclusionsThis pilot study indicated the fidelity of the program and the feasibility of using the measures in a future study. The preliminary findings suggest that RILS programs may provide a favorable environment for developmental experiences concerning social interaction, autonomy, and personal growth.

A Review of Posttraumatic Growth and Help‐Seeking Behavior in Cancer Survivors: Effects of Distal and Proximate Culture

AbstractRecent studies have shown that cancer survivors experience severe psychological distress, but some also experience personal growth, known as posttraumatic growth (PTG). Help‐seeking behavior (HSB) is critical for cancer survivors to better cope with stress and possibly experience PTG. The existing theoretical models of PTG and HSB assume that cancer survivors, regardless of their cultural background or personality, will receive benefit from actively interacting with others. The purpose of this review article is to critically examine this assumption and to propose that the roles of distal and proximate cultures need to be considered in further understanding the psychological mechanisms of PTG and HSB. Future studies should identify the culture‐specific meanings and implications of experiencing PTG and engaging in HSB.

Characterizing the Hospice and Palliative Care Workforce in the U.S.: Clinician Demographics and Professional Responsibilities

ContextPalliative care services are growing at an unprecedented pace. Yet, the characteristics of the clinician population who deliver these services are not known. Information on the roles, motivations, and future plans of the clinician workforce would allow for planning to sustain and grow the field. ObjectivesTo better understand the characteristics of clinicians within the field of hospice and palliative care. MethodsFrom June through December 2013, we conducted an electronic survey of American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine members. We queried information on demographics, professional roles and responsibilities, motivations for entering the field, and future plans. We compared palliative care and hospice populations alongside clinician roles using chi-square analyses. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify predictors of leaving the field early. ResultsA total of 1365 persons, representing a 30% response rate, participated. Our survey findings revealed a current palliative care clinician workforce that is older, predominantly female, and generally with less than 10 years clinical experience in the field. Most clinicians have both clinical hospice and palliative care responsibilities. Many cite personal or professional growth or influential experiences during training or practice as motivations to enter the field. ConclusionPalliative care clinicians are a heterogeneous group. We identified motivations for entering the field that can be leveraged to sustain and grow the workforce.

Parent Spirituality, Grief, and Mental Health at 1 and 3 Months After Their Infant's/Child's Death in an Intensive Care Unit

The death of an infant/child is one of the most devastating experiences for parents and immediately throws them into crisis. Research on the use of spiritual/religious coping strategies is limited, especially with Black and Hispanic parents after a neonatal (NICU) or pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) death. The purpose of this longitudinal study was to test the relationships between spiritual/religious coping strategies and grief, mental health (depression and post-traumatic stress disorder) and personal growth for mothers and fathers at 1 (T1) and 3 (T2) months after the infant's/child's death in the NICU/PICU, with and without control for race/ethnicity and religion. Bereaved parents' greater use of spiritual activities was associated with lower symptoms of grief, mental health (depression and post-traumatic stress), but not post-traumatic stress in fathers. Use of religious activities was significantly related to greater personal growth for mothers, but not fathers. Spiritual strategies and activities helped parents cope with their grief and helped bereaved mothers maintain their mental health and experience personal growth.

India Gateway Program: Transformational learning opportunities in an international context

Internationalisation is increasingly important in the social work curriculum. With globalisation and international resettlement, social workers require competencies to work locally with diverse populations as well as overseas. Study abroad experiences are used to enhance international content, cultural sensitivity and self-awareness in curricula. This article evaluates an Australian study tour focussing on students’ perspectives. Indications are that it was effective in enhancing cultural sensitivity, understanding of factors contributing to inequity, the lived experience of poverty, personal growth and professional identity. For students, it was a valued and transformational learning experience.

The Learning Outcomes of an Australian Social Work Student’s Study Tour to India

This article will explore the impact and learning outcomes of a short term study tour of a cohort of Australian social work students. Of particular interest was the impact of the programme on the students and specifically knowledge of international practice, cultural sensitivity as well as personal and professional growth. A qualitative approach was adopted to provide insights into the perceived impact of the programme and its contribution to the preparation of social work students to work in an increasingly globalised world. Indications are that it was effective in enhancing cultural sensitivity, understanding of structural factors contributing to inequity, the practical experience of poverty, personal growth and professional identity. For students, it was a valued and transformational learning experience. The “real life” experiential learning was highly valued by students.

Benefit finding and relationship quality in Parkinson's disease: a pilot dyadic analysis of husbands and wives.

Parkinson's disease (PD) significantly impacts both patients' and spouses' emotional and physical health. However, despite the importance of social relationships for wellbeing, few studies have examined relationship quality and their correlates in individuals with PD and their partners. Specifically, no known studies have examined the association between benefit finding, or the experience of personal growth and other positive changes in the face of a stressor, and perceived marital quality. To address these gaps in the field, 25 married couples participated in a cross-sectional, pilot study. Patients were veterans diagnosed with idiopathic PD receiving care at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center. Each patient and spouse independently completed self-reported measures of sociodemographics, physical and mental wellbeing, caregiver burden, marital quality, and perceived benefits associated with having PD. Actor-partner interdependence models revealed that, after adjusting for covariates, greater perceived benefits from either having PD or living with a spouse with PD was associated with greater marital quality, both for that individual and their partner. Thus, perceiving positive consequences, such as personal growth, as a result of personally having PD or living with a spouse with PD is related to greater marital quality for both members of the marital dyad. Findings may inform individual and couples-based interventions that address the value of benefit finding and incorporate other techniques of positive reappraisal.

Global health research in narrative: a qualitative look at the FICRS-F experience.

For American professional and graduate health sciences trainees, a mentored fellowship in a low- or middle-income country (LMIC) can be a transformative experience of personal growth and scientific discovery. We invited 86 American trainees in the Fogarty International Clinical Research Scholars and Fellows Program and Fulbright-Fogarty Fellowship 2011-2012 cohorts to contribute personal essays about formative experiences from their fellowships. Nine trainees contributed essays that were analyzed using an inductive approach. The most frequently addressed themes were the strong continuity of research and infrastructure at Fogarty fellowship sites, the time-limited nature of this international fellowship experience, and the ways in which this fellowship period was important for shaping future career planning. Trainees also addressed interaction with host communities vis-à-vis engagement in project implementation. These qualitative essays have contributed insights on how a 1-year mentored LMIC-based research training experience can influence professional development, complementing conventional evaluations. Full text of the essays is available at http://fogartyscholars.org/.

First-Time Parents’ and Grandparents’ Perceptions of Personal Growth: A Dyadic Approach

Drawing on the family systems theory and the theoretical concept of “linked lives,” this study examined personal growth among 340 Jewish Israeli pairs of parents and grandparents (680 participants) who had all recently (6–24 months earlier) undergone a major life transition: the birth of their first child or grandchild. The analysis examined the associations between personal growth and a series of other variables: self-esteem; perceived cognitive appraisals of threat, challenge, and self-efficacy; and perceived social support. In accordance with the theoretical approach, dyadic analyses based on the actor-partner interdependence model were used to assess the inter-relations between the two generations and their effect on the personal growth of each member of the dyad. The findings show that parents tend to perceive higher personal growth than grandparents, and that women tend to report higher growth than men. Furthermore, an individual’s experience of personal growth was associated not only with his or her own assessment of challenge, but with that of his or her parent or child as well. The results are discussed in respect to intergenerational perceptions and the potential mutual contributions to growth in both generations in the wake of these parallel life transitions.