Lived Experiences Of Individuals Research Articles

Dimensions of living with emetophobia

Purpose This paper aims to present an examination of selected literature about the lived experiences of those with emetophobia. Its intention is to inform further empirical enquiry and subsequent approaches to treatment and care aimed at inclusive support for sufferers. To that end, it is important to bring the sufferers’ narrative into public and professional domains. Design/methodology/approach A systematic search of multiple databases using the search engine Discover@bolton and grey literature was undertaken to obtain evidence about the lived experiences of people with emetophobia. The search terms used were “emetophobia” and combinations of associated topic phrases using Boolean operators (AND / OR): “Emetophobia” OR “fear of vomiting” OR “fear of being sick”, Emetophobia AND “lived experiences” and finally Emetophobia OR “fear of vomiting” OR “fear of being sick” AND “lived experiences”. Eight papers were included in the review and five items of grey literature. Findings Several themes were identified in this literature including fear, escape and avoidance, other influences, consequences and medicalisation. The findings reveal that the experiences of those with emetophobia are subsumed beneath a focus on diagnosis and treatment. When it comes to understanding the actual lived experience of a person with emetophobia, the evidence presents the reader with what treatment may work and how they might respond to it, but largely omits the voice of the individual with emetophobia. This signals a need to undertake enquiry to bring this to the fore and so inform ways of greater inclusive practice for the public and professionals alike. Research limitations/implications The evidence reviewed in this paper can be noted for the limited discussion about the individual’s lived experience of emetophobia. Gaining insight into this would contribute to raising awareness in a wider public arena and inform carers and healthcare professionals’ understanding. It would also display the importance of an individual context and health journey. Practical implications Knowing this can inform approaches to helping an individual either to live with the phobia and manage its impact on daily living (positive rather than maladaptive coping mechanisms) or to overcome it with or without adjunct medical treatment (if this is possible). Social implications Knowing based on contemporary empirical enquiry will inform policy and guideline development. Whatever course is taken, it must contribute to steps being taken towards achieving a better quality of life for individual sufferers. The findings of this paper likewise inform the need for further study into the individual lived experience of emetophobia. Originality/value This paper is original in having identified a need to bring empirical evidence of the lived experience of sufferers with emetophobia into the public and professional domain.

From corners to community: exploring medical students’ sense of belonging through co-creation in clinical learning

BackgroundBelonging is critical for the development and wellbeing of medical students. Belonging, particularly within a ‘relational being’ paradigm, presents a significant challenge for students, especially within clinical learning environments. Co-creation is a learning relationship in which students are actively involved in the education process. It is inherently relational and promotes belonging within higher education environments. Little is known about utilising co-creation in the curriculum, within medical education. The aim of this study was to explore medical students’ experience of co-creation of learning resources within the clinical learning environment.MethodsFollowing ethical approval, medical students were invited to become co-creators of a learning bulletin resource, within the paediatric acute receiving unit, at a paediatric teaching hospital. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used to enable an in-depth exploration of how medical students experienced co-creation within the clinical learning environment. Medical students participated in semi-structured interviews about their experience, which were transcribed verbatim and analysed using IPA. The analysis integrated individual lived experiences into an analytic summary.ResultsNine medical students participated. Three group experiential themes were identified: identity maturation; learning community and workplace integration. The support found within this co-created learning community, along with maturation of their identity, allowed the participants to experience a challenge to their existing worldview. This shift in perspective resulted in them responding and behaving in the workplace in new ways, which enabled them to belong as themselves in the clinical learning environment. These findings were situated within the developmental concept of self-authorship, as well as contributing to a new understanding of how co-creation promoted social integration.ConclusionsCo-creation enabled students to learn in a meaningful way. The relational power of co-creation, can be harnessed to deliver participatory learning experiences, within our increasingly complex healthcare environment, to support the learning, development and integration of doctors of the future.

Phenomenologies of loneliness: alone without you, alone without an us

Loneliness is not simply characterised by a lack of other people in one’s environment or lifeworld, but by a lack of specific forms of relationship, connection or belonging. In this paper I connect the conversation about different types of loneliness with debates happening in the philosophy of intersubjectivity, specifically the phenomenology of intersubjectivity. Philosophers of intersubjectivity tend to characterise experiences of direct encounter as having a second-personal ‘I-thou’ quality. By contrast, experiences of belonging tend to be characterised by first-person plural ‘we’ structures. In this paper I will compare and contrast some of the different phenomenological qualities that come with the absence or poverty of these two types of intersubjective structure respectively. These different types of loneliness are characterised by different phenomenological properties, but also by (the absence of) specific interpersonal and social structures. I argue that the absence of these different interpersonal structures respectively gives rise to loneliness as the experience of being unseen and loneliness as the experience of not-being-at-home. This is significant for loneliness studies, as understanding and combating loneliness is consequently likely to take variegated rather than homogeneous forms. This is particularly significant for a psychosocial approach to loneliness which seeks to understand, hold together and integrate both the structural features of loneliness (in this case the relevant interpersonal and social structures) and the lived experience of individuals and groups (in this case the phenomenology of loneliness).

두 여성의 데이트 성폭력 경험에 대한 내러티브 탐구

This study was conducted to understand the life experiences and meanings of two women who experienced dating sexual violence. The narrative inquiry was used to understand the individual life experiences of dating sexual violence. In-depth interviews for six to eight times per each participant were conducted with two study participants, The data collection period was from March to August 2021. Data collection and analysis were carried out in five stages: “entering the field,” “moving from the field to the field text,” “writing the field text,” “from the field text to the research text,” and “writing the research text.” As a result of the study, the meanings of dating sexual violence were as follows; ‘Family: People who are trapped in an open cage’, ‘Loneliness: It Hurts more than violence’, ‘Violence: Unverbalized but existential’, ‘Trace: A scar on the heart,’ and ‘Stability: Living as me.’ This study is significant in that it has deeply grasped the experience of dating sexual violence through individual narratives. The results of this study will be used as basic data for education and counseling intervention in the prevention of dating sexual violence.

The Experience of Living with Multiple Sclerosis during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: Many studies have shown that psychological distress such as worries and anxiety is one of the causes of the development, recurrence, or exacerbation of multiple sclerosis (MS). This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of patients with MS during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted using an interpretive phenomenological approach. The participants were selected from patients with MS in Tehran, Iran who were members of the Iranian MS Society in 2021. The research sample included 19 patients with MS who were selected using purposive sampling. The data were collected using semi-structured interviews until the data were saturated. The collected data were analyzed using Van Manen’s phenomenological approach, and the validity and truthfulness of the data were confirmed using the four criteria proposed by Lincoln and Guba. Results: Explication of the data revealed 22 subthemes and 5 main themes. The main themes identified were: Feeling of helplessness and fear of inadequacy in self-care, Economic concerns and financial problems, Ineffective interaction with family members, preoccupations and obsessions with the pandemic, and ambivalent and conflicting beliefs about others. Conclusion: The experiences of those affected by the pandemic were linked to personal and familial concerns, health issues, feelings of inadequacy in self-care, and economic difficulties. Additionally, participants were preoccupied with the pandemic and the social problems they faced. Gaining an understanding of these experiences can offer valuable insights to medical professionals, families of patients, and relevant organizations regarding the lived experiences of individuals with MS.

A REVIEW OF THE CULTURAL LEVELS OF THE ARTISTIC CHARACTERISTICS OF YANGJIABU NEW YEAR WOODCUT PRINTS

YangJiaBu New Year woodcut prints, integral to China's intangible cultural heritage, encapsulate the nation's rich folk traditions and artistic expressions. This study investigates their evolving cultural significance in the context of global cultural shifts. It adopts the method of literature analysis to explore in depth the inheritance and innovative application of these prints, offering insights into their historical background, development patterns, and cultural values. The research draws on interdisciplinary perspectives to articulate the cultural evolution of these prints and their implications for cultural attributes, artistic aesthetics, and innovation direction. The YangJiaBu prints, embodying traditional Chinese culture's ethos, have undergone significant transformations across dynasties, reflecting the changing societal values and aspirations. This paper presents a tiered analysis using cultural genetics and cultural level theories, examining the prints' role in enhancing social connections and individual life experiences. It emphasizes their potential in design innovation, cultural heritage preservation, and fostering societal progress. The study also explores the interplay between art and technology, proposing a systematic design paradigm to integrate traditional culture into modern contexts. This synopsis retraces YangJiaBu prints' historical and cultural journey, highlighting their potential to enrich modern design and cultural innovation.

Impact of Race and Culture Assessments (IRCAs) in combatting anti-Black racism and reducing recidivism

The Gladue report, named after R. v. Gladue, is a landmark Supreme Court of Canada case which emphasizes the need to consider unique circumstances faced by Indigenous individuals when determining appropriate sentences. Given the overrepresentation of Black identities at all levels in the justice system, it is argued that the use of pre-sentencing reports referred to as Impact of Race and Culture Assessments (IRCAs), also needs to be comprehensively implemented for Black offenders in Canada. IRCAs are pre-sentencing reports that help sentencing judges better understand the effect of poverty, marginalization, racism, and social exclusion on the offender and their life experiences, and how those factors inform the circumstances of the offender, the offence committed, and the offender’s experience with the justice system. This is significant as it goes beyond a one-size-fits-all punitive justice system that has been ineffective in reducing recidivism. By recognizing the intersections of race, culture, and justice, IRCAs enable judges to make more informed decisions contributing to an equitable consequence for the accused. More importantly, we argue that the insights from IRCAs should be used to connect offenders with culturally reflective wraparound social services upon return into the community to address the root causes in areas of employment, education, and housing that gravitate people towards criminality. By acknowledging historical and systemic biases and tailoring supports to individual identities, life experiences, and community conditions, IRCAs have the potential to transform the criminal justice system through promotion of alternatives to custody that correlates with reductions in recidivism.

Left out of the Room Where it Happens: Barriers to Serving in Senior Congressional Staff Roles May Limit “Representative” Science Policymaking

Policymakers are expected to represent the constituents of their districts and states. Given that the individual life histories and experiences of congressional staffers may influence their attitudes and decisions, it is crucial to understand more about the people serving in these roles, their diversity, and which communities are and are not well-represented. By conducting interviews with twenty-six current and former senior legislative staffers in the United States House of Representatives and Senate involved in drafting science policy, this study examines challenges to acquiring and maintaining key positions in scientific policymaking at the federal level. The results shed light on why some individuals have an unequal advantage to obtain senior staff roles while others struggle to stay in Congress long enough to achieve elite legislative positions. They also suggest that a lack of opportunities for already marginalized communities may lead to inadequate representation in decision-making, especially on science policy issues related to justice and equity. Ultimately, this article makes policy recommendations to foster greater diversity in senior staff roles and to bring the perspectives of more Americans into the science policy decision-making process.

Lived experiences of a Tagasalo having siblings with special needs: An educational implication

Abstract
 This study focuses on the lived experiences of individuals with siblings with special needs as their tagasalo. It is deeply rooted in Filipino culture and refers to an individual who selflessly takes on the role of a caregiver. This role involves providing support to the family. This study utilized a phenomenological study. An interview guide question was used to gather data. The result of the study showed that the experiences of individuals as tagasalo are challenging. The themes that emerged were Responsibilities of Individuals to their Siblings with Special Needs with the subthemes (1) Assuming the Parental Responsibility from the parents (2) Taking care of their sibling with special needs. Participants’ Support to their Siblings with Special Needs with subthemes (1)Being there for their sibling, (2) Serving as a Defender for their sibling with special needs, (3) Providing Financial Support, (4) Offering Educational Support, Challenges Encountered as Tagasalo of their Sibling with Special Needs with the subthemes (1) Feeling overwhelmed leading to burnout, (2) Facing Additional Financial burden, Managing the encountered challenge with the subthemes (1) Resilience and Spiritual Guidance, (2) Initiative and Proactive Thinking, and Participants insights of Having Siblings with Special Needs were the subtheme such as (11) Developing Self-awareness of Personal growth, (12) Experiencing the Ripple Effects of Personal Development. The tagasalo used their experiences to become better people and responsible individuals. These can provide a safe space to share experiences and emotions.
 

The lived experiences of individuals with postpartum psychosis: A qualitative analysis

Postpartum psychosis (PP) is a severe psychiatric illness that occurs in about 1 to 2 per 1000 people in the perinatal period. To date, qualitative research investigating PP has focused on specific topics, such as treatment experiences or the impact of the illness on patients' lives and families. These studies have included small samples of women with histories of PP, often limited to certain geographical areas or treatment centers. Given the heterogeneity in presentations of PP and access to care, larger and geographically diverse samples are needed to broadly understand this complex illness. Initiated in 2018, the Massachusetts General Hospital Postpartum Psychosis Project (MGHP3) consists of a large, international sample of those who have experienced PP. In addition to the specific aims of MGHP3, which include to better understand the phenomenology and potential genetic underpinnings of PP, this investigation invites participants to qualitatively describe their narratives of postpartum psychosis. This analysis included 130 participants who reported on 133 episodes of PP. Participants' responses to the PP narrative prompt fell under several overarching categories: 1) broad psychosocial experiences surrounding postpartum psychosis, 2) impact on the mother-baby dyad, 3) treatment experiences, and 4) recovery experiences. Our findings shed light on a range of ways in which individuals' lives are impacted by this illness, and point to areas for future research and clinical directions to improve the support and care for individuals with PP and their families.

Dynamics of Perceived Social Isolation, Secondary Conditions, and Daily Activity Patterns Among Individuals With Stroke: A Network Analysis of Ecological Momentary Assessment Data

ObjectiveTo assess contemporaneous and temporal dynamics of perceived social isolation (PSI), secondary conditions, and daily activity patterns in individuals post-stroke. DesignLongitudinal observational study using ecological momentary assessment (EMA) as a real-time assessment of an individual's lived experiences. We conducted dynamic network analyses to examine longitudinal associations among EMA variables. SettingsHome and Community. Participants202 individuals with mild-to-moderate chronic stroke (median age=60 years; 45% women; 44% black; 90% ischemic stroke; median NIHSS score=2; N=202). InterventionNot applicable. Main Outcome MeasuresEMA questions measured PSI, secondary conditions (pain, tiredness, stress, anxiety, worthlessness, difficulty concentrating, and cheerfulness), and daily activity patterns (being at home, being alone, and participating in productive activities). ResultsThe median EMA response rate was 84%. The contemporaneous model showed that PSI was associated with being home, alone, and all symptoms except pain. The temporal model revealed a pathway indicating that feelings of worthlessness predicted PSI (regression coefficient=0.06, P=.019), followed by stress (regression coefficient=0.06, P=.024), and then by being not at home (regression coefficient=-0.04, P=.013). ConclusionImplementing dynamic network analyses on EMA data can uncover dynamic connections among PSI, secondary conditions, and daily activity patterns after stroke. This study found a significant temporal association between PSI and negative emotions. Feeling isolated was followed by feeling stressed, which was followed by a tendency to be out of home, indicating adaptive behaviors in individuals with stroke. These findings highlight the importance of engaging in out-of-home or outdoor activities to mitigate PSI and negative emotions.

Features of the vitality of student youth in conditions of uncertainty

The publication addresses the issue of the viability of modern youth in conditions of uncertainty. The concept of uncertainty, the concept of vitality, the type of attachment in various scientific directions is considered. The purpose of the study was to study the viability of student youth in conditions of uncertainty. The hypothesis of the study is that vitality in conditions of uncertainty in individuals with different types of representation of attachment to the mother and the nature of relationships in adulthood has psychological characteristics: individuals with a reliable type of representation of attachment choose constructive coping strategies when resolving emotionally tense situations, have a low level of intrapersonal conflicts, have value orientations that are individual priorities and are often manifested in behavior under conditions of uncertainty; have a high level of self-activation. The study involved 141 people, 3rd–4th year students of different areas of training at Tula State University and the International Police Academy of the WPA. The work was carried out using methods — questionnaire M. Maskulintser, F. Shaver Interview about attachment in adulthood; to determine ways to overcome difficult situations in various areas of mental activity, the method of R. Lazarus and S. Folkman, to diagnose value orientations, the test of S. Schwartz, to determine the level of intrapersonal conflict, the test of A. Shipilov; to determine the level of self-activation, the technique of M. Odintsova, N. Radchikova. It was revealed that to overcome a situation of uncertainty it is necessary to be viable and be able to manage your resources. At the same time, it is precisely the conditions of uncertainty that affect the ability to adequately assess and control the situation, the ability to value reorientations, and return to past life experiences. The vitality of student youth in conditions of uncertainty is determined by individual life experience — the type of representation of attachment formed in childhood. A healthy emotional connection with a significant adult, his love forms a reliable type of attachment, which provides a resource that allows one to resolve difficulties most effectively and accept changes.

Typography Talks: Influencing Vintage Anemoia and Product Safety Perceptions with Vintage Typography

Drawing from the concept of anemoia, the authors propose a new typology of nostalgia called vintage anemoia. Vintage anemoia encompasses consumers’ positive and nostalgic response to vintage cues, regardless of specific historical periods or individual lived experiences. Through a series of seven studies, the authors demonstrate that vintage typography, by evoking feelings of vintage anemoia, can enhance consumer perceptions of product safety. This effect has positive downstream consequences on key marketing outcomes, including brand attitude, purchase intention, and willingness to pay. Furthermore, the effect of vintage anemoia on product safety perceptions remains unaffected by whether product safety information indicates that a product is safe or unsafe. However, the effect diminishes when an explicit indexical cue (year of establishment) is utilized or when promoting futuristic products. The findings contribute to the existing body of knowledge in marketing and provide insights for marketers on leveraging vintage typography as a strategic tool for creating emotional connections with consumers and enhancing perceptions of product safety.

Les distorsions cognitives des victimes : symptômes et levier thérapeutique

Cognitive distortions are mental processes that affect individuals and partially govern their relationship with the world. They manifest themselves at a very early age and are directly influenced by an individual's early life experiences, from which implicit learning about the world and oneself occurs. This acquisition is personal and biased, leading to the formation of cognitive filters that individuals reinforce in a self-perpetuating cycle. The information selected depends on these filters, and the processing of this information depends on the subject's distortions. These mental processes are present in everyone; however, certain populations, such as individuals with anxiety or depressive symptoms, victims, or those with post-traumatic stress disorder, exhibit specificities based on their life experiences. In light of the various therapeutic approaches and treatments related to the cognitive dimension, we propose a syllogistic model for understanding how victims from different social backgrounds and with a victim status perceive and confront the world. Two clinical vignettes are provided to illustrate this model. This approach is rooted in philosophy and cognitive psychopathology but is intended to be trans-theoretical and applicable regardless of the therapist's orientation.

Book Review

This review of Against Technoableism: Rethinking Who Needs Improvement by Ashley Shew provides an overview of the book’s content, including its focus on the lived experiences of individuals and the social construct of disability. This review highlights the author’s focus on allowing individuals to celebrate their diversity and disability instead of pressuring them toward normalcy. Although brief, Against Technoableism is an informative reminder for researchers to focus on the individual and not the technology.

Examining predictors of cocaine withdrawal syndrome at the end of detoxification treatment in women with cocaine use disorder

BackgroundDetoxification is frequently recommended as a treatment for moderate to severe Cocaine Use Disorder (CUD). However, the response to detoxification varies among patients, and previous studies have focused mostly on patterns of drug use behavior to test associations with treatment outcomes, overlooking the potential impact of psychosocial factors, other clinical variables, and individual life experiences. In this study we comprehensively examined several variables aiming to find the most relevant predictors to classify patients with severe versus non-severe cocaine withdrawal symptoms at the end of detoxification. Methods: Data from 284 women with CUD who enrolled in a 3-week detoxification program was used in this longitudinal study. Psychosocial, clinical, and drug use behavior characteristics were evaluated, generating a dataset with 256 potential predictors. We tested six different machine learning classification algorithms. Results: The best classification algorithm achieved an average accuracy and ROC-AUC of approximately 70%. The 16 features selected as best predictors were the severity of psychiatric, family, and social problems and the level of exposure to childhood maltreatment. Features associated with drug-use behavior included days consuming drugs and having craving symptoms in the last month before treatment, number of previous drug/alcohol-related treatments, and a composite score of addiction severity. The level of cocaine withdrawal syndrome at the beginning of detoxification was also a key feature for classification. A network analysis revealed the pattern of association between predictors. Conclusion: These variables can be assessed in real-world clinical settings, potentially helping clinicians to identify individuals with severe cocaine withdrawal that is likely to be sustained over the course of detoxification.

Plant-based recovery from restrictive eating disorder: A qualitative enquiry

ObjectivesPlant-based/vegan diets are growing in popularity. There are growing numbers of individuals adopting plant-based diets and there are legitimate concerns from professionals that this can enable food restriction or mask disordered eating. The aim of this study was to examine the role a plant-based diet can play for those in recovery from restrictive eating disorders (anorexia and bulimia nervosa). MethodsInterviews conducted with fourteen individuals who identified as having a restrictive eating disorder for which a plant-based diet played/plays an important part in their recovery. Semi-structured interviews explored the individual's lived experiences and motivations of adopting a plant-based diet, and perceptions of the role it played in recovery. Data was transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006). ResultsThree key themes with six contributory subthemes were identified. Key themes were plant-based as a gateway to recovery, the changing value of food, and the function of control. Theme content highlighted an evolving role of identity and community, with a shift in meaning and value of food described, and for some, the development of a new relationship with their body. This facilitated a de-coupling of anxieties about food and promoted positive experiences of eating, esteem and empowerment. ConclusionsThese findings present a unique insight into the role that plant-based eating may play in recovery for some restrictive eating disorders. The data demonstrated that motivations to control food intake may contribute to the decision to eat plant-based. However, for these individuals it provided a “gateway” to a new more meaningful relationship with food. These findings highlight some of the risks and benefits of eating plant-based in recovery and an important role for health professionals in understanding/supporting individuals during recovery. w/c 280

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Chanting Ancestors’ Names

Abstract Ancestral genealogies convey significance not only for individual life experience but also for the collective memory of an ethnic group. Some Tibetans, who call themselves ‘Prommi’ in Muli and elsewhere in Sichuan, have an inherited text known as the ‘Funeral Genealogy’ relating to the Ldong paternal lineage within their group; it is written in archaic Tibetan and presents the historical memory and culture of the Prommi people. Through a discussion of the funerary text’s locale, oral and archaic writing characteristics, this paper explains the special understanding of the ‘Ldong’ clan ancestors of the Prommi people as well as their views, as found in the Bon religion, on the origin of things, the origin of life (with a ternary view of divinities, humans and demons), life after death, the concept of clans and the family’s historical memory of the father–son connection in the ancestral genealogy. This will provide new historical and cultural data for studying groups sometimes referred to as ‘ancient Qiang’.

Understanding gendered transnational education mobility: Interview with Fran Martin

In this interview, Fran Martin discusses gendered transnational education mobility in relation to research methodology, the contradictions of neoliberal ideology, and the social implications of ethnographic research. Challenging stereotypical and often biased portrayals of Chinese international students in the Anglosphere, Martin argues for the importance of attending to the irreducible details of individual life experiences and explains how to employ affective methods to convey these details to readers. Calling for attention to gender as a key perspective in understanding education mobility, she discusses how the global neoliberal discourse underpinning this form of mobility can be restricting and empowering at the same time. She also reflects on the ways in which researchers could engage with social and policy realities and contribute to improving international students’ well-being.