Mutual Support Research Articles

Somebody to Lean on: Understanding Self-Stigma and Willingness to Disclose in the Context of Addiction.

Substance use self-stigma is a barrier to treatment and can negatively impact individuals' well-being and treatment engagement. Given the mixed findings in previous research and the limited specific investigation into the concept of self-stigma within the context of opioid misuse, examining factors associated with self-stigma in the context of opioid use disorder (OUD) is warranted. The current study examines the influence of individual-level factors (race, sex, urban/rural status, support group attendance) on self-stigma and willingness to disclose opioid use. Data for this study were from a larger study of OUD-related stigma among adults in Pennsylvania, U.S. The current study included participants who indicated a personal past or current history with OUD were included (n = 84). Exploratory factor analysis and multiple indicators, multiple causes (MIMIC) model were used to explore the associations between demographic factors (i.e., sex, age, race/ethnicity, urban/rural status), attendance at mutual support groups, and self-stigma factors. Results indicated that sex and attendance at mutual support groups significantly predicted levels of self-stigma. Women and individuals with no previous experience attending mutual support groups endorsed lower levels of self-stigma. Additionally, attendance at mutual support groups predicted willingness to self-disclose past and present opioid use. Individuals who reported no history of attending mutual support groups demonstrated less willingness to disclose past and present OUD use compared to participants who were support group attendees. The current research findings enhance the understanding of OUD-related self-stigma by examining its relationship with individual-level factors, disclosure, and attendance to mutual support groups. The results offer insights into the influence of sex and support group attendance on self-stigma and disclosure. These findings have significant clinical implications for developing future interventions and promoting health policy changes.

Sero-Kinship: How Young People Living With HIV/AIDS Survive in Southeast Nigeria.

Research on the lived experiences of HIV survivors, including young people living with HIV, has primarily emphasized broader sociocultural concerns, such as stigmatization and cultural attitudes toward sexuality and gender, while giving less attention to the interconnectedness of these issues with the mental well-being of those affected by the illness. This study, drawing on relational ethnography including observations and interviews at four antiretroviral-administering healthcare facilities in Enugu State, southeast Nigeria, explores how young people living with HIV strive toward viral suppression and how they develop collaborative psychosocial support along with the global efforts in eradicating the HIV epidemic. We found that, in and between themselves, young people living with HIV weave for themselves a network of relationships, though discreetly, to foster and encourage survivorship. Such relatedness, where mutual trust and support have emerged and rebuilt HIV survivors' faith in a livable life, forms what we conceptualize as "sero-kinship." That is, sero-kinship, which focuses on how people create and change meanings in their everyday lives that ultimately contribute to controlling HIV and treatment management, forms an essential foundation on which a life with HIV becomes thinkable, bearable, then manageable, and acceptable.

Women's empowerment and gender equality programs to support stunting elimination in South Central Timor Regency

Introduction: Stunting remains a significant public health concern in Indonesia, particularly in East Nusa Tenggara Province, where it is the most prevalent among all Indonesian provinces at about 42.6 per cent. Empowerment initiatives represent a crucial approach to addressing this issue. Women's empowerment holds profound significance as it governs and nurtures human resources within the household, especially children, who represent the nation's future generation. This community service aims to implement a women's empowerment program by establishing a group of Women Providing Health Information (Perempuan Pemberi Informasi Kesehatan) and enhancing women's access to national health services. Methods: We conducted an experimental quantitative study involving mothers with children aged 12 to 59 months. Inclusion criteria included mothers with children aged 12 to 59 months residing in Kesetnana Village. Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon test. The mothers' classes aimed to enhance mothers' knowledge regarding the first 1000 days of life and the nutritional requirements during this period. The study included 35 participants, with the questionnaire on stunting knowledge serving as the primary instrument. Results: The findings revealed a notable increase in participant knowledge in the post-test compared to the pre-test, with a mean rank of 88.00 and a p-value of 0.000. Conclusions: The results underscore the continued need for a gender- and culture-based approach to health promotion to mitigate the incidence of stunting. Effective health education on stunting reduction requires collaborative efforts between health workers and local communities, with mutual support being essential.

An Overview of Nurses' Teamwork Perceptions at RS in 2024

Background: Ineffective teamwork and communication in healthcare has been identified as a major cause of medical errors that harm both patients and providers. Teamwork is the focus of attention in healthcare as the success and failure of the system largely depends on team performance. Objectives: This study aims to determine the picture of nurses' teamwork perceptions at RS in 2024. Methods: This study is a quantitative study with a cross-sectional design conducted in May-June 2024 at one of the hospitals in Padang, Indonesia. The population in this study were all nurses working in the inpatient room of RS with a sample size of 48 nurses selected through purposive sampling technique. Data were collected using a questionnaire consisting of socio-demographic instruments and teamwork perception instruments adopted from AHRQ 2020. Data were analyzed using computerized software. Results: The socio-demographic frequency distribution of respondents showed that most nurses were aged 17-35 years (62.5%), female (91.7%), had a Diploma of Nursing education (54.1%), and a working period between 1-14 years (79.1%). The perception of teamwork of nurses at RS is generally in the good enough category with a mean perception of teamwork of 128.00 (SD 35.39). The communication dimension obtained the highest score with a mean of 26.17 (SD 19.93) followed by the dimensions of team structure, leadership, situation monitoring, and mutual support. Conclusion: The perception of nurses' teamwork at RS in 2024 was in the good enough category with the communication dimension getting the highest score. Socio-demographic factors such as age, gender, education, and tenure influence perceptions of teamwork where nurses who are more experienced and have higher education tend to have more positive perceptions of teamwork.

Reading the Assistance Process After the Earthquake Through the Phenomenon of Solidarity

Solidarity in society can be seen in various values. A common belief, a common ideology, and common interests can help solidarity in society become concrete. The concept of solidarity, stemming from daily necessities and varying interests, signifies unity in confronting a societal macro-issue, facilitating mutual support among individuals. Following the earthquake disaster that took place in our country on February 6, 2023, and affected 11 provinces, various examples of solidarity were shown in our country. This study provides a framework for the concept of solidarity. It was prepared with the aim of explaining the solidarity networks that took place after the earthquake in the context of formal and informal.

An introduction to mutual support groups based on the work of Alan Robinson

An introduction to mutual support groups based on the work of Alan Robinson

Mutual support, role models and trust: the role of ethnic associations in building the capacity of second-generation Vietnamese

Mutual support, role models and trust: the role of ethnic associations in building the capacity of second-generation Vietnamese

The experience of mutual support during hospitalization of co-morbid couples with recurrent older stroke survivors - A descriptive phenomenological study

The phenomenon of the experiences of mutual support of co-morbid couples of recurrent older stroke survivors during hospitalization is receiving increased interest from nursing scholars. However, little is known about how they support each other. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of co-morbid couples of older stroke survivors with recurrent stroke who support each other during hospitalization. A descriptive phenomenology study was employed. 21 co-morbid couples with recurrent older stroke survivors were recruited. The interviews were analyzed with Colaizzi's descriptive analysis framework. Three themes emerged from the data analysis: (1) maintaining the couple's relationship through mutual support, (2) mutual support so as not to drag the children down, and (3) providing support while struggling between ideals and reality. It is crucial to provide them with individualized, tailored support and interventions that can help these couples achieve a more optimal balance in their mutual support.

Feasibility and effectiveness of cardiac telerehabilitation for older adults with coronary heart disease patients: a pilot randomized controlled trial

Abstract Background Cardiac rehabilitation is a standard and multidisciplinary treatment of exercise promotion, patient education, risk factor management, and psychosocial counseling for people with coronary heart disease (CHD) that is underutilized due to disparities in access, referral, and participation. Empirical studies suggest that cardiac telerehabilitation (CTR) have safety and efficacy comparable to traditional in-person CR, however, older adults are under-reported with effectiveness, feasibility, and usability of CTR for this population remains unclear . Purpose This study investigates the effects, usability, and feasibility of 12-week CTR on health outcomes of older people with CHD. Design A pilot randomized controlled trial with qualitative process evaluation. Methods The study randomized 43 older adults with CHD to the 12-week CTR intervention or usual care. Guided by Social Cognitive Theory, intervention group participants received individualized in-person assessment and orientation session, followed by CTR usage at home. Participants were encouraged to visit the CR website for self-learning and data uploading, use the pedometer for daily step tracking, and chat with peers and CR nurse via social media for problem-solving and mutual support. Data were collected at baseline (T0), six-week (T1), and 12-week (T2). Results Participants in the CTR intervention group showed significant improvement in daily steps (T1: β=4126.58, p=0.001; T2: β=5285, p=0.01) and health-promoting lifestyle profile (T1: β= 23.26, p<.001; T2: β=12.18, p=0.008) across study endpoints. No significant difference was observed regarding self-efficacy, quality of life, psychological symptoms, and body weight and blood pressure. Twenty participants completed the intervention, with 100% used social media for tele-consultation, 90% used the pedometer for tele-monitoring, 40% (n=8) used the website. Improving awareness on rehabilitation and a clear action focus were considered as key enablers while physical discomforts and difficulties in using the technology were described as main barriers. Conclusions The CTR is effective in improving physical activity and healthy behaviors for older adults. Considering the variation in individual cardiovascular risk factors, full-scale RCT with larger sample is needed to determine the effect of CTR on psychological symptoms, body weight and blood pressure, and quality of life. Strategies to improve user intervention usage is needed.

Enhancing Young Learners’ Peer Collaboration: Pedagogical Ideas for Language Teachers

AbstractAn increasing body of research has explored patterns of interaction and peer support among young learners. Although some studies suggest that young learners can engage in collaboration when interacting on tasks, other studies indicate the opposite. Moreover, despite the claims that peer collaboration is conducive to learning, studies have not paid enough attention to the “how” to enhance peer collaboration on tasks. This article proposes that enhancing peer collaboration is a powerful pedagogical tool that promotes communication among peers and mutual support, thus positively affecting learners' performance during classroom work. At the heart of the article, it discusses some practical pedagogical ideas for teachers which focus on teaching collaborative principles and strategies during classroom work. Although it pays particular attention to the context of primary school English foreign language teaching, its content may also be relevant to primary school teachers of other foreign and second languages.

Youth Community Organizing Groups Fostering Sociopolitical Wellbeing: Three Healing-Oriented Values to Support Activism

Young organizers are increasingly calling for social movements to center healing alongside activism as they build political power. Campaigns that solely focus on policy wins or base-building can lead to burnout and frustration. Sociopolitical action is more likely to be sustained if accompanied by experiences of care, belonging, and mutual support. Such an approach makes sociopolitical wellbeing central to organizing. Although the research literature has offered conceptualizations of healing, and compelling evidence of health-related outcomes, we still lack empirical examples of what it looks like for youth community organizing (YCO) groups to weave a commitment to healing into sustained collective action. Drawing on qualitative data from the Powerful Youth, Powerful Communities International Study on Youth Organizing, we define and demonstrate three interconnected healing-oriented values that foster what we characterize as sociopolitical wellbeing. The three values, which we illustrate via fieldnotes and interview excerpts, are collectivized care, spiritual activism, and freedom dreaming. YCO holds promising implications for supporting youth engagement in democratic movements for education, racial, gender, economic, and environmental justice.

Get back: analysing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Lowlands festival

ABSTRACT This article investigates the impact of COVID-19 through a case study of Lowlands, a music festival in the Netherlands. Analysing how the Cultural and Creative Sector is affected by and recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic has received growing attention among academics. This article contributes to this body of research by analysing the structure and dynamics of the production network of Lowlands, combining elements of the Global Production Network approach and Grabher’s project-ecology framework. With this novel lens, we unravel the embeddedness of linkages between Lowlands’ management and its partners. We conclude by showing how these strong ties are simultaneously Lowlands’ strength and weakness, as recursive collaborations create an efficient production process but are also prone to fall away in crises like COVID-19, leaving the management without reliable alternatives. However, bonds of trust and friendship motivate and underpin mutual support, and therefore form a crucial key for its resilience.

An ultrasensitive dual-mode stagey for 17β-estradiol assay: Photoelectrochemical and colorimetric biosensor based on a WSe2/TiO2-modified electrode coupled with nucleic acid amplification

BackgroundThe abuse of 17β-estradiol(E2) has aroused wide concern in environmental and biomedical fields, which severely affects the endocrine function of human and animals. Therefore, an ultrasensitive and accurate assay of E2 is critically important. Traditional chromatography or immunoassay techniques exhibited good sensitivity and selectivity, but expensive instruments and antibodies may pose cost and stability issues, as well as difficulties in meeting on-site detection requirements. Ultrasensitive, reliable, and on-site detection of E2 at trace level remains a challenge. Hence, developing a simple, ultrasensitive assay to simultaneously achieve accurate detection and rapid visual analysis of E2 is extremely crucial. ResultsWe developed a versatile dual-mode photoelectrochemical (PEC) and colorimetric biosensor based on isothermal nucleic acid amplification strategy for the ultrasensitive and accurate detection of E2. The method modified titanium dioxide (TiO2) with tungsten selenide (WSe2) nanoflowers to synthesize WSe2/TiO2 heterostructures as a substrate for signal amplification and nanoprobe modification. Isothermal nucleic acid amplification strategy has been proven to be a powerful tool for strong signal amplification. The presence of a target triggered the nucleic acid amplification reaction, and produced a large amount of tDNA that competed with G-quadruplex immobilized on the electrode surface. The remaining G-quadruplex/hemin catalyzed the 4-chloro-1-naphthol (4-CN) to form biocatalytic precipitation (BCP) and ABTS-H2O2 chromogenic reaction, thus, the dual-mode platform was capable of achieving PEC-colorimetric ultrasensitive detection based on the catalytic activity of G-quadruplex/hemin DNAzyme. Within optimal conditions, the dual-mode biosensor exhibited a remarkable detection limit as low as 0.026 pM. SignificanceBenefiting from the superior performance of WSe2/TiO2 and the power signal amplification of isothermal nucleic acid amplification strategy, this aptasensor achieved the ultrasensitive detection of E2. The independent transmission paths of photoelectrochemical and colorimetric provide mutual support and flexible switching, significantly enhancing the overall sensitivity and accuracy of the detection strategy, which can meet the needs for E2 precise quantification and rapid on-site detection.

How rituals support nursing teams

Rituals help build connection, inclusivity, mutual support, and professional identity.

Human-safe and economic operation of renewable hydrogen-based microgrids under plateau conditions

The cold and hypoxic environment threatens the health and quality of people's lives in plateau areas. Appropriate air pressure, oxygen, and temperature are crucial for human-safe aspects in plateau microgrids. Facing extreme scenarios in these areas, we propose a two-stage robust operation strategy for renewable hydrogen-based microgrids considering the reliable supply of hydrogen and oxygen. To cope with rapid weather changes in these areas, the distributionally robust optimization (DRO) model that incorporates first-moment information is employed to depict renewable energy uncertainty. This study focuses on two weakly connected microgrids with distinct characteristics, showcasing their potential for mutual support. In the first stage, the plateau microgrid fulfills demands for electric power, hydrogen, and oxygen, with the power support from the another microgrid. In the second stage, reserves such as hydrogen fuel cells, diesel generators, and hydropower are utilized to mitigate renewable energy uncertainty. The operation optimization problem based on DRO is solved using the alternating direction method of multipliers. Case studies show that the strategy can coordinate complementary operation to enhance reliability, guarantee human safety, and save costs by 39.29 % and 38.73 % for the two microgrids.

Enhancing doctoral learning through virtual communities of practice: an autoethnographic perspective

This article explores the role of virtual communities of practice in enhancing the doctoral experience, particularly in the contemporary digital era. The author emphasizes the multifaceted benefits, including elevating academic networking, optimizing knowledge management, and supporting the mental well-being of remote learners. The establishment of clear shared objectives, dynamic leadership, and a conducive environment for collaborative innovation are identified as key prerequisites for building successful virtual communities of practice. As remote doctoral education becomes more prevalent, virtual communities of practice not only facilitate academic engagement but also foster mutual support and advocacy among doctoral students. The researcher, as a final year PhD student employed autoethnography as a research method to offer an intimate and reflective exploration of her personal experiences within virtual communities of practice. This unique insider perspective adds depth to the discussion on elevating academic networking, optimizing knowledge management, and supporting the mental well-being of remote learners. Furthermore, her ongoing doctoral research focuses on the socialization process and the development of a sense of belonging among doctoral students. Motivated by her research topics, she commenced her doctoral studies during the epidemic and cultivated the practice of consistently maintaining a researcher’s reflection diary. This perspective article examines her diary, elucidating her experiences, opinions, and feelings. The researcher utilized a thematic approach to thoroughly analyze the author’s research diaries covering the period from December 2020 to August 2023. The article concludes by calling for further research into the professional identity development of doctoral students within virtual learning communities, exploring potential challenges and effective coping mechanisms to achieve inclusive practices in the complex and diverse digital era of academia.

Exploring Parent-Teacher Communication: Understanding Mutual Perspectives and Support During the Transition to First Grade

Exploring Parent-Teacher Communication: Understanding Mutual Perspectives and Support During the Transition to First Grade

Dual-earner couples' sharing of work-related experiences: Effects on relational and personal well-being.

Personal growth and self-expressive goals have become increasingly important in modern marriages. In dual-earner couples, sharing work-related experiences with the partner can be particularly important in promoting mutual support for each other's personal growth. The current study examined dual-earner couples' sharing of work-related experiences and how it influenced both partners' relationship satisfaction and personal well-being. A total of 102 heterosexual dual-earner couples were recruited from communities in Hong Kong. They completed a pretest survey, a 14-day daily diary study, and a follow-up survey 1year later. The Actor-Partner Interdependence Model was adopted to analyze the dyadic effects of sharing positive and negative work-related experiences on relationship satisfaction and personal well-being on the same day and 1year later. In general, the sharing of both positive and negative work-related experiences had beneficial effects on the outcomes. Specifically, wives' sharing had more immediate effects on both partners' relational and personal well-being, whereas husbands' sharing had more long-term effects on the partner's personal well-being. The findings highlight the importance of work-related sharing in dual-earner couples. Practical implications are discussed.

The Impact of Teamwork Quality (TWQ) on Agile Software Development Team Performance

Purpose: The study examined the extent to which teamwork quality (TWQ) impacts team performance in the Agile software development space in the U.S. and how the TWQ factors (Communication, coordination of expertise, cohesion, trust, mutual support & value sharing) are ranked in terms of importance to team performance Materials and Methods: The study used correlation and regression analysis to determine the degree of the relationship and the effect of the extended TWQ factors on Agile software team performance. Additionally, the study assessed the relative importance of the TWQ factors to team performance. Participants in the study included IT workers from the software development team in U.S. companies with in-house teams using the Agile methodology. Data was collected using an online survey through survey monkey. The data was presented through descriptive statistics and analyzed using regression analysis. Findings: The study found all the extended TWQ factors were strongly correlated to the team performance. The analysis showed that a statistically significance predictive relationship exists between the extended TWQ factors and Agile software development team performance. However, only mutual support and value sharing contributed statistically significantly to the model. Among these factors, mutual support was ranked as the most important TWQ factor in relation to team performance, while trust was ranked as the least. Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: This empirical study tested and extended the TWQ model on team performance in the Agile software development space in the U.S. for software development teams and how these TWQ factors are ranked in terms of importance to team performance. The findings provide insight to project teams and team leaders, product owners, scrum masters, and project managers about the TWQ model from the perspective of agile software development teams. The findings also address the critical TWQ factors that are needed for building effective and efficient Agile software development teams.

P-460 Study on the current status and influencing factors of emotional suppression in women undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer

Abstract Study question Exploring the Current Levels of Emotional Suppression in Women Undergoing In Vitro Fertilization-Embryo Transfer and Analyzing its Influencing Factors. Summary answer Factors influencing emotional suppression in infertile women: residence, treatment costs, infertility causes, miscarriage history, personality type, marital adjustment, self-pity, and medical coping. What is known already Emotional suppression refers to the conscious suppression of negative emotional expression and the behavior of hiding negative emotions. Emotional suppression often hides beneath a cheerful exterior and isn’t easily detected by medical professionals. If left unchecked, it can easily lead to the breakdown of a patient’s psychological defenses. Long-term emotional suppression can result in severe anxiety and depression. Clinical studies have found that couples seeking in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment exhibit significant levels of stress, depression, and anxiety, which often indicate poor pregnancy outcomes. it’s necessary to understand the levels of emotional suppression and influencing factors in women undergoing IVF-ET. Study design, size, duration Cross-sectional survey was conducted in Hunan Province from May 1, 2023, to September 30, using a random sampling method to select a reproductive specialized hospital According to Sun’s book “Medical Statistics” (2014), the sample size for a multifactorial study should be 10-20 times the number of variables. With 36 variables in this study and accounting for a 10% rate of invalid questionnaires, the required sample size was 396-792. 810 questionnaires were distributed, and 791 were collected. Participants/materials, setting, methods Inclusion criteria: Infertility diagnosed per WHO standards; Eligible for assisted pregnancy via IVF-ET and enrolled in a cycle. Exclusion criteria:History of mental illness or psychiatric disorders;Hearing, visual, language impairments The surveys utilized in this study included the Emotional Suppression Scale, Locke-Wollance Marital Adjustment Questionnaire, Self-Pity Scale, and Medical Coping Style Questionnaire. Statistical analyses, such as descriptive analysis, t-tests, analysis of variance, Mann-Whitney U test, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression analysis, were conducted using SPSS 26. Main results and the role of chance The average emotional suppression score of 791 women undergoing IVF-ET was 27.97±6.39. Correlation analysis indicated a negative relationship between emotional suppression and marital adaptation, self-pity, and medical coping styles, while a positive association was observed with the production dimension of medical coping styles. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that factors such as place of residence, infertility cost, infertility factors, history of miscarriage, personality type, marital adaptation, self-pity, and confrontation and yielding dimensions of medical coping styles significantly influenced emotional suppression in women. The independent variables in the regression equation explained 50.1% of the variance in emotional suppression and the equation was statistically significant. Women exhibited a moderate level of emotional suppression, with the emotional camouflage dimension scoring the highest. Healthcare professionals need to assess emotional suppression in patients and provide personalized psychological counseling interventions. Encouraging positive coping strategies, involving patients in treatment decisions, providing education, and facilitating communication with successful pregnancy cases can help patients face their condition more effectively. Mindfulness interventions and meditation can also be recommended to enhance self-compassion and acceptance. Additionally, comprehensive health education for both patients and their partners, promoting open emotional communication, and fostering mutual support can contribute to reducing emotional suppression in infertility patients. Limitations, reasons for caution This study is a cross-sectional survey. Future research could adopt a longitudinal design to further explore the levels of emotional suppression in women at different stages. This study only investigated women in Hunan Province, which may introduce bias. The emotional suppression levels of infertile couples across China could be investigated. Wider implications of the findings Medical professionals should prioritize addressing the emotional distress of introverted women residing in rural areas, who have spent over 10,000 yuan, undergone three or more abortions, and are experiencing female-factor infertility. Patients can be encouraged to adopt positive coping mechanisms by enhancing their self-compassion levels and adjusting their marital relationships. Trial registration number 2023372