Longitudinal Research Study Research Articles

Association between weight and body composition changes with falls risk in the Malaysian Elders Longitudinal Research (MELoR) study

ObjectiveBoth changes in body composition and increased fall risk occur with increasing age. While weight management may be considered a component of falls prevention, the long-term consequences of changes in...

A THEORETICAL MODEL OF STUDENT LEARNING IN AN ACADEMIC SERVICE-LEARNING COURSE: DIVERSITY AND CIVIC OUTCOMES

A qualitative-quantitative mixed-methods longitudinal research study was conducted to measure differences in civic and diversity outcomes in a cross-sectional sample of 138 undergraduate students. The quantitative results indicate that students improve their social justice attitudes, awareness of White racial privilege, racial-cultural-ethnic identity, and interests in multicultural work from the beginning of the semester. The qualitative findings replicate and extend the quantitative results. Career development and opportunities for growth were detected as unexpected themes that emerged from the data. The use of the mixed-methods approach provided an opportunity to conceptualize how students reformulate their diversity attitudes and acquire civic skills in an academic service-learning course. Implications for teaching and learning are discussed.<p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/soc/0799/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

Mediation of the influence of mindfulness on academic buoyancy by academic hope: A two‐wave longitudinal study

AbstractEducational activities are significant in that they have an important place in the life of the individual and support mental health. In this study, the relationship between mindfulness and academic buoyancy and the mediating role of academic hope were examined in a longitudinal research study. Data were collected from 287 Turkish university students who participated in the study at 4‐month intervals. An autoregressive analysis of the cross‐lagged panel model for a half‐longitudinal design was used to test the role of academic hope as a mediator in the relationship between mindfulness and academic buoyancy. The results revealed the direct effect of mindfulness on academic hope and academic buoyancy. In addition, academic hope was found to have a mediating effect on the relationship between mindfulness and academic buoyancy. It was, therefore, concluded that improving mindfulness practices may benefit people from both an academic and spiritual perspective.

Evaluation of the Adult Migrant English Program for the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs

Objective and ApproachThe Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) is a free service to help eligible migrants and humanitarian entrants with low English proficiency to improve their English skills and elevate their participation in Australian society. In partnership with AMEP funder, the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs, we have completed a longitudinal research study analysing the effectiveness of AMEP by linking participant information for over 400,000 AMEP clients with administrative data from social services, taxation, and the national census, from 2003 – 2019. This is the first time AMEP participant data has been linked with other data assets and represents the most comprehensive evaluation of AMEP since program inception in 1948. ResultsAMEP participation was associated with improved English proficiency of clients, especially when clients studied for longer periods. Migrants with higher levels of English on-entry had better labour market outcomes, higher income levels (male and female), lower rates of public housing tenancy, and were less likely to receive income support in the years following program exit. ConclusionsWhile the design does not support true causal inference, this evaluation provides good evidence that AMEP is effective at improving English proficiency and suggests AMEP participation can improve a range of economic and social outcomes for eligible migrants with low English proficiency. ImplicationsThe launch of these results coincided with new investment in AMEP and a broadening of eligibility criteria to make AMEP available to a wider range of migrants with low English proficiency.

Neuropsychological outcomes of patients with haematological malignancies undergoing chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy: protocol for a prospective study

IntroductionImmune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) is a common side-effect of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy, with symptoms ranging from mild to occasionally life-threatening. The neurological, cognitive, psychiatric and...

Overcoming Barriers to Latino Participation in Alzheimer's Disease Research.

There is a critical need to increase Latino participation in research on Alzheimer's disease and related disorders (ADRD). Applying principles of community-based participatory research, we convened a community advisory board (CAB) to identify barriers and recommend strategies to increase participation of older Latinos in a longitudinal observational research study of ADRD at the Shiley-Marcos Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. Six major barriers were identified and programmatic changes to overcome them were implemented. Changes resulted in a nearly three-fold increase in the number of Latino individuals recruited, with the proportion of all newly recruited participants who were Latino increasing from 12.2% to 57.4%. Newer Latino recruits were more representative of the elderly Latino population in San Diego County than those recruited pre-CAB and remained highly agreeable to blood draw and neuroimaging, though less so to lumbar puncture and autopsy. Results demonstrate the value of CAB involvement in enhancing diversity in ADRD research.

Teachers and Teaching Assistants – Teamwork as Prevention of School Failure of Pupils During Primary Education

This paper investigates the topic of teacher-teaching assistant collaboration in supporting pupils who are at risk of school failure. This topic was addressed, as one of the subtopics, by a longitudinal research study investigating the causes of school failure/success among primary school pupils in the Czech Republic. The aim of the present study is to describe the activities that teaching assistants pursue in relation to “at-risk” pupils or in relation to other pupils in the classroom. The descriptive part of the paper also reviews various forms of teacher-teaching assistant collaboration during the teaching process. This empirical study consists of two parts. In the theoretical introduction, we describe the system of support and advisory services used to implement inclusive education in Czech schools. We also describe the legislative definition of the teaching assistant position and present his/her job description. The empirical part of the paper presents the conclusions of our research survey, which captures how teaching assistance is currently practiced in Czech primary education.

Resilience during lockdown: a longitudinal study investigating changes in behaviour and attitudes among older females during COVID-19 lockdown in the UK

In order to slow the spread of COVID-19, on March 23, 2020, a strict lockdown was implemented in the UK. This was followed by alternating periods of less restrictive lockdowns until most public health restrictions were lifted in the summer of 2021. While these measures were necessary, they significantly affected people’s daily activities, lifestyles, and mental well-being.This paper presents a longitudinal research study that focused on females aged 55 + in the UK, aiming to understand how COVID-19 and the subsequent 15-month period of lockdowns affected their lifestyles and emotions. The study collected data through online surveys, where respondents reported the frequency and mode of access to activities, and their positive and negative emotional experiences during distinct study phases that encompassed both lockdown and less strict periods.In contrast to previous studies highlighting vulnerabilities for females and the elderly during lockdowns, this research found that the studied group maintained an overall positive outlook throughout the study period and successfully adapted to the lockdowns by increasing their engagement in certain activities, in particular, activities like ‘getting active’. In addition, our findings indicate rapid adaptive behaviour change towards many online activities, such as cultural activities. However, the study also revealed negative emotions and a decrease in some activities during the second lockdown in 2020 and the subsequent lockdowns in 2021, underscoring the challenges inherent in prolonged periods of confinement. In addition, the study found negative affect associated with some activities, including working and studying from home.The findings provide valuable insights into how females aged over 55 coped with stressful circumstances, which can inform the development of resilient and mental health-conscious public health policies and responses in preparation for future pandemics or other hazards.

What determines informal care need among community-dwelling older adults in China? Results from a longitudinal study

BackgroundWith an intensified aging population and an associated upsurge of informal care need in China, there is an ongoing discussion around what factors influence this need among older adults. Most existing studies are cross-sectional and do not focus on older people living in the community. Conversely, this study empirically explores the factors that affect informal care need of Chinese community-dwelling older individuals based on longitudinal data.MethodsThis study constructed panel data using the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Research Study (CHARLS) from 2011 to 2018 for analysis. Generalized linear mixed models were used to analyze the factors affecting reception of informal care, and linear mixed models were used to analyze the factors affecting informal care sources and intensity.ResultsDuring the follow-up period, 7542, 6386, 5087, and 4052 older adults were included in 2011–2018, respectively. The proportion receiving informal care increased from 19.92 to 30.78%, and the proportion receiving high-intensity care increased from 6.42 to 8.42% during this period. Disability (estimate = 4.27, P < 0.001) and living arrangement (estimate = 0.42, P < 0.001) were the critical determinants of informal care need. The rural older adults reported a greater tendency to receive informal care (estimate = 0.14, P < 0.001). However, financial support from children did not affect informal care need (P > 0.05).ConclusionsAt present, there is a great demand for the manpower and intensity of informal care, and the cost of informal care is on the rise. There are differences in informal care needs of special older groups, such as the oldest-old, living alone and severely disabled. In the future, the region should promote the balance of urban and rural care service resources, rationally tilt economic support resources to rural areas, reduce the inequality of long-term care resources, improve the informal care support system, and provide a strong community guarantee for the local aging of the older adults.

Multidisciplinary assessment and interventions for childhood auditory processing disorder (APD) and listening difficulties (LiD).

Auditory processing disorder (APD) has been studied in both research and clinic settings, but the relation between the two has not been addressed. In a longitudinal research study (SICLiD), we found that children with clinically normal audiometry who had caregiver-reported listening difficulties (LiD), with or without clinically assessed APD, performed poorly on both listening and cognitive tests. Specific questions asked here were, for the children with LiD, what other neurodevelopmental clinical conditions were identified, what interventions were used by different clinical providers, and how clinical practice was predicted by research results. Study setting was a large, research-led, tertiary pediatric hospital. Electronic medical records of 74 children aged 6-13 years, recruited into SICLiD and assigned to an LiD group based on a validated and reliable caregiver report (ECLiPS), were independently reviewed. Focus was on clinical assessments and interventions following appointments provided in the Hospital Divisions of Audiology, Occupational Therapy, Psychology (Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics), and Speech-Language Pathology (SLP), prior to participation in SICLiD. Descriptive statistics on clinical encounters, identified conditions, and interventions were compared with quantitative, standardized performance on SICLiD assessments of listening and cognitive function. SICLiD z-scores were compared for participants with and without each clinical condition using univariate and logistic prediction analyses. Most (86%) of the children with LiD had been evaluated by at least one clinical service. Overall, 24 assessment categories related to LiD, including APD, were identified. Most common conditions were attention (32%), language (28%), hearing (18%), anxiety (16%), and autism spectrum (6%) disorders. Performance on SICLiD measures varied significantly between providers, conditions, and interventions. Significant relationships between SICLiD and clinical conditions were mostly caregiver-reported items from the ECLiPS or the Children's Communication Checklist (CCC-2). Other significant correlations were scarce, but included the SCAN composite score, which predicted clinical language and attention, but not other auditory abilities or APD. SICLiD data combined with caregiver reports provided reliable predictions of all clinical conditions except APD. The variety of disciplines, assessments, conditions and interventions revealed here supports previous studies showing that LiD and APD are multifaceted problems of neurodevelopment. Comparisons between clinical- and research-based assessments suggest a diagnostic path that prioritizes caregiver reports and selected psychometric tests for screening and diagnostic purposes.

May the force of lifelong learning be with you – sustainable organizational learning in HEIs meeting competence needs in industry

Purpose Technological advancements and global societal changes reshapes manufacturing industry emphasizing needs for competence development of industrial professionals. The purpose of this paper is to study how organizational learning supports the development of academic structures, creating agile and sustainable formal educational models meeting novel competence needs. Design/methodology/approach The qualitative case study, part of a longitudinal research study, focuses on internal academic processes supporting a new formal educational model. Qualitative data was collected through five focus groups, incorporating 32 informants from different HEI function categories. Findings Changing traditional academic structures requires joint engagement between all HEI functions, emphasizing organizational learning with subprocesses of searching, creating, sustaining and exchanging knowledge in a learning loop. Results show a consensus among the different HEI functions regarding the value of the HEI’s coproduction with society; however, bureaucracy and academic structure hinder flexibility. Cross-functional teams building a “chain-of-trust” throughout the HEI coupled with full management support show opportunities to progress into a learning organization. Practical implications Organizational learning within HEIs requires trustful and open communication, multifunction knowledge exchange, holistic views of processes and system thinking, achieved through cross-functional teams and continuous improvement through learning loops. Social implications Industry-academic collaboration on formal education for lifelong learning needs to become both agile and resilience to meet technological advancement and sustainability. Originality/value Novel technology, digitalization and sustainability gain ground and require that society and organizations, including academia, change and learn. This means that academia is meeting new challenges and needs to develop internal processes.

Physical function as a predictor of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in patients with pancreatic cancer

BackgroundA growing body of research indicates that poor functional status before chemotherapy may be correlated with the severity of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) after the neurotoxic treatment. However, little is known about the associations between pre-chemotherapy physical function and CIPN in patients with pancreatic cancer.PurposeTo identify the predictors of CIPN in relation to pre-chemotherapy physical function in patients with pancreatic cancer.MethodsThis secondary analysis included data from patients with pancreatic cancer who participated in a longitudinal research study at National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan. Four physical function tests (i.e., grip strength, Timed Up and Go (TUG), 2-minute step test (2MST), and Romberg test) and two questionnaires (The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 [EORTC QLQ-C30] and Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Module [CIPN20]) were assessed at baseline (i.e., before first chemotherapy session) and 2-, 3-, 4-, and 6-month follow-up. Multiple linear regression with adjustment for confounding factors was used to assess the associations between the four functional tests at baseline and the CIPN20 total score and individual subscale scores (sensory, motor, and autonomic) at 6-month follow-up.ResultsData from a total of 209 pancreatic cancer patients (mean age: 64.4 years, 54.5% male) were analyzed. The findings showed that the severity of CIPN at 6-month follow-up was significantly associated with the baseline TUG completion time (β = 0.684, p = 0.003). The TUG completion time was also positively correlated with the 6-month CIPN sensory and autonomic subscales. In addition, a baseline positive Romberg test (β = 0.525, p = 0.009) was a significant predictor of the severity of motor neuropathy at 6-month follow-up.ConclusionThe TUG completion time and positive Romberg test before chemotherapy may be predictive factors of the CIPN severity 6 months after the commencement of chemotherapy. Accordingly, the incorporation of TUG and Romberg tests into the clinical assessment protocol emerges as imperative for individuals diagnosed with pancreatic carcinoma undergoing chemotherapy regimens.

Unraveling the Sequences of Risk Factors Underlying the Development of Criminal Behavior

This work aims to investigate the role of sequences of risk factors from childhood to young adulthood in predicting subsequent criminal convictions. This study uses the Cambridge Study in Delinquent Development (CSDD) dataset, a prospective longitudinal research study that followed 411 males from South London from the age of 8 to 61 years. Temporal sequences of risk factors at ages 8–10, 12–14, and 16–18 were analyzed as predictors of subsequent criminal convictions up to the age of 61. Risk factors related to poverty, parenting problems, and children’s risk-taking predisposition at ages 8–10 emerged as prevalent starting points for the most highly predictive developmental sequences leading to convictions. The risk of a criminal conviction significantly increased if these risk factors were followed by low IQ scores or association with delinquent friends at ages 12–14, and by school and professional problems or drug addiction during late adolescence (ages 16–18). At each developmental stage, specific risk factors intricately combine to form chains of risk during development, subsequently predicting criminal convictions. A trajectory-of-risk-need-responsivity approach that identifies and breaks chains of risk factors that generate and enhance favorable conditions for criminal convictions is discussed.

Children's behavioural and emotional wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic: Findings from the Born in Bradford COVID-19 mixed methods longitudinal study.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a multitude of immediate social restrictions for many across the world. In the UK, the lives of children and young people were quickly impacted when COVID-19 restrictions led to school closures for most children and restrictions on social interactions. The Born in Bradford COVID-19 longitudinal research study explored the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the lives of children and their families living in Bradford. Surveys were administered during the first wave of the pandemic (March to June 2020) and compared to findings from before the pandemic. The current study examined the social and emotional wellbeing of children from before to during the pandemic, measured using the parent completed Strengths and Difficulties questionnaire (SDQ). Regression analyses looked at associations between a range of social determinants of health and changes in SDQ scores. The results showed that those children most likely to experience difficulties during the pandemic were boys, younger children, those from White British ethnicity (compared to Pakistani heritage children) and those living in the most deprived areas. There were associations between experiencing difficulties and: food insecurity; financial worry; getting below recommended levels of physical activity; and having less than the recommended amount of sleep. The effect of COVID-19 restrictions are likely to have had negative consequences on children that could, in time, have long-lasting impacts on the health, wellbeing and development of children in the UK.

The Potential for Sustainable Local Development through Digital Communication and Digitization of Intangible Cultural Heritage Resources in Făgăraș Land, Romania

Intangible cultural heritage (ICH) strengthens community identity and represents a resource for sustainable community development. The current extensive access to the Internet has facilitated the digitization of communication, including ICH. The aim of this article is to highlight the importance of both digitizing ICH and digital communication about ICH for local development. The results of a longitudinal research study on local ICH resources available on the official websites of Făgăraș Land administrative territorial units (ATUs) before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, together with the results of a content analysis on ICH on the social media accounts of the same ATUs, indicate the digitization of ICH as a sustainable local development resource whose potential can be better exploited. In Făgăraș Land there are also successful initiatives in the fields of both ICH digitization and digital communication about ICH local resources. The Museum of Canvases and Stories in Mândra ATU and the use of social media for communication about ICH in the case of Drăguș ATU are related to such initiatives and are presented as case studies in this article, highlighting the potential of ICH as a resource for sustainable community development in Făgăraș Land.

A Living Lab for Family Centered Knowledge Exchange in Pediatric Rehabilitation and Development Research: A Study Protocol

Background Historically, the experiences and voices of children and youth living with neurodiversity or rehabilitation needs and their families have not been fully represented in health research. Formative research in this context indicates that families value learning from the experiences of other families as well as from empirical research. However, innovative systems are needed to support this imperative. In response, we co-designed a virtual living lab with families and clinicians to support family-centered knowledge exchange in neurodiversity and rehabilitation research. Living labs are collaborative, user-centered, long-term, and multimethod systems with potential to support the exchange of knowledge of lived experience. This proposal outlines a longitudinal arts-based and qualitative research study that incorporates storytelling as a powerful tool to elicit and exchange stories of lived experience through the virtual living lab, and subsequent usability testing of the platform. Methods and Analysis Stage 1- We will conduct an integrated knowledge translation study inclusive of user centered lab design and construction. Stage 2- We will conduct a 6-month longitudinal qualitative storytelling study with 30–40 participants including neurodiverse children and youth ages 5–19 years, their siblings, and parent/guardians, guided by the F-words framework which is based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health. Following user-registration within the virtual lab, participants will complete a minimum of 1 story monthly, accompanied by an arts-based component, for 6 months. Conclusion Findings will inform the co-development of an arts-based knowledge translation resource to communicate key findings. Stage 3- A subset of families will be sampled to complete usability testing of the living lab platform and storytelling feature using a sequential explanatory mixed methods design. Usability evaluation will inform future platform refinements and provide indications of acceptability and use across subgroups.

Creating Cohesion and Collaboration in Mathematics Classrooms: Implementing Interdepartmental Professional Learning Communities to Support Students with Disabilities

Professional learning communities (PLCs) support the growth of educators to improve learning outcomes for all students. Guided by social constructivist and social cognitive theories, this longitudinal participatory action research study explored the implementation of an interdepartmental PLC across Hord’s five dimensions of a successful PLC—supportive and shared leadership, shared beliefs values and vision, collective learning and its application, shared personal practice, and supportive conditions. Additionally, this study explored how engaging with an interdepartmental PLC influenced participants’ collective efficacy. During the PLC, the collective expertise of mathematics teachers, administrators, and additional educational specialists (such as occupational therapists and speech and language pathologists) (n = 13) were leveraged to develop strategies for the improvement of mathematical problem solving among elementary and middle school students with disabilities. Our findings indicate statistically significant increases in the five dimensions of the PLC over time, with qualitative evidence supporting the PLC’s effectiveness. However, our findings revealed no significant increase in participants’ overall collective efficacy, a group’s shared belief that together they can achieve a desired result. Implications for practice and research are discussed.

DEPRESSIVE COGNITIONS AND SYMPTOMS IN CAREGIVING GRANDMOTHERS: TESTING GROWTH CURVE MODEL STABILITY

Abstract Grandmothers caring for grandchildren have elevated depressive symptoms levels compared to grandmothers who do not provide care. Depressive symptoms are state-like in nature and describe recent depressive symptoms. The Depressive Cognition Scale© captures changes in negative thinking patterns that often precede depressive symptoms. Depressive cognitions, according to Beck’s theory of depression, are the first depressive symptoms to appear and typically lead to more serious symptoms of depression. Previously diagnosed depression may also contribute to current levels of depressive cognitions and depressive symptoms. Data were collected on 342 participants in a longitudinal nationwide online research study of caregiving grandmothers. A latent growth curve model of how previously diagnosed depression and depressive cognitions impacted the trajectory of depressive symptoms at four time points (baseline, 2 weeks, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks) was tested. The model fit the data well (Chi Square=24.301.; df=12; p=.019; TLI=.977; CFI=.987; RMSEA=.055). This model was submitted to 6 separate multigroup nested model tests (levels of income, education, age, employment, number of children, and primary vs. multigeneration families) to provide evidence supporting generalizability of the model. All models fit the data well (TLI=.960-.991; CFI=.973-.992; RMSEA=.051-.025). Total invariance/stability, based on nonsignificant changes in chi square and CFI&amp;lt;.01, was supported in the multigroup analyses across all levels testing equality in measurement and regression weights and residual variances. This lack of change in the model across 6 different grandmother scenarios provides further evidence supporting the need for interventions to address diagnosed depression and depressive cognitions for reducing depressive symptoms in grandmother caregivers.

Targeted electronic health record-based recruitment strategy to enhance COVID-19 vaccine response clinical research study enrollment

Efficient recruitment of eligible participants is a significant challenge for clinical research studies. This challenge was exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic when in-person recruitment was not an option. In 2020, the University of Minnesota was tasked, as part of the National Cancer Institute's Serological Sciences Network for COVID-19 (SeroNet), to recruit participants for a longitudinal serosurveillance clinical research study with a goal of characterizing the COVID-19 vaccine-elicited immune response among immunocompromised individuals, which necessitated reliance on non-traditional strategies for participant recruitment. To meet our enrollment target of 300 transplant patients, 300 cancer patients, 100 persons living with HIV, and 200 immunocompetent individuals, we utilized targeted electronic health record (EHR)-based recruitment in addition to traditional recruitment tools, which was an effective combination of recruitment strategies. A significant advantage of patient portal messaging or other digital recruitment strategies such as email communication is timing. We reached 85 % (769 out of 900) of our enrollment target within one year with a 14.3 % response rate to invitations to participate in our study. This achievement is perhaps more salient given the COVID-19 pandemic-related constraints within which we were operating. We demonstrated that the EHR can be leveraged to quickly identify potentially eligible study participants either via EHR communication or mail. We also illustrate how the online portal MyChart can be used to efficiently send targeted recruitment messages.

Effectiveness of multimodal participant recruitment in SPARK, a large, online longitudinal research study of autism.

SPARK launched in 2016 to build a US cohort of autistic individuals and their family members. Enrollment includes online consent to share data and optional consent to provide saliva for genomic analysis. SPARK's recruitment strategies include social media and support of a nation-wide network of clinical sites. This study evaluates SPARK's recruitment strategies to enroll a core study population. Individuals who joined between January 31, 2018, and May 29, 2019 were included in the analysis. Data include sociodemographic characteristics, clinical site referral, the website URL used to join, how the participant heard about SPARK, enrollment completion (online registration, study consents, and returning saliva sample), and completion of the baseline questionnaire. Logistic regressions were performed to evaluate the odds of core participant status (completing enrollment and baseline questionnaire) by recruitment strategy. In total, 31,715 individuals joined during the study period, including 40% through a clinical site. Overall, 88% completed online registration, 46% returned saliva, and 38% were core participants. Those referred by a clinical site were almost twice as likely to be core participants. Those who directly visited the SPARK website or performed a Google search were more likely to be core participants than those who joined through social media. Being a core participant may be associated with the "personal" connection and support provided by a clinical site and/or site staff, as well as greater motivation to seek research opportunities. Findings from this study underscore the value of adopting a multimodal recruitment approach that combines social media and a physical presence.