Peer Group Research Articles

Research Trends on Self-Efficacy in Breastfeeding Mothers During 2000-2023: A Bibliometric Analysis.

Self-efficacy is important in supporting breastfeeding behaviors and enhancing breastfeeding practices. This study aimed to explore research trends, identify knowledge gaps, and provide a comprehensive overview of breastfeeding self-efficacy. Data were retrieved from the Scopus online database on March 20, 2024, encompassing articles published in English between 2000 and 2023. The search strategy focused on articles containing the keywords "self-efficacy," "breastfeeding," and "mother." VOSviewer version 1.6.19 was then used to map the data and visually identify research clusters. The analysis yielded a significant increase in breastfeeding self-efficacy research over the past 2 decades. The United States led in publication numbers (117 documents), while Canada dominated citations (2792 citations). Furthermore, the analysis identified 8 critical themes in 8 different clusters, encompassing various aspects of breastfeeding, including determinants, behaviors, interventions, and mental health considerations during lactation, and employed research methodologies. One crucial gap identified in this study pertains to low breastfeeding social support. This includes a lack of support from peer groups, social networks, and social media platforms. Addressing this gap can be a valuable reference point for developing future interventions to bolster breastfeeding self-efficacy. Bibliometric analysis contributes to exploring research trends, identifying knowledge gaps, and providing a comprehensive overview of breastfeeding self-efficacy.

Sibling relationships: Considerations for family therapy

Siblings are frequently overlooked as an essential focus in family‐based interventions with children. And yet, 80–85% of children worldwide have at least one sibling (Campion Barr & Killeron, 2015). Some have suggested that sibling relationships are a prototype for peer relationships in childhood and adulthood. This makes intuitive sense when one considers the arena within which siblings grow and mature together, with the dynamics involving strong attachments, cooperation, and rivalry and conflict. For instance, a positive sibling relationship can provide emotional support and a sense of security, while a negative relationship can lead to increased stress and anxiety.

Clinical supervisor’s experiences of peer group clinical supervision during COVID-19: a mixed methods study

BackgroundProviding positive and supportive environments for nurses and midwives working in ever-changing and complex healthcare services is paramount. Clinical supervision is one approach that nurtures and supports professional guidance, ethical practice, and personal development, which impacts positively on staff morale and standards of care delivery. In the context of this study, peer group clinical supervision provides allocated time to reflect and discuss care provided and facilitated by clinical supervisors who are at the same grade/level as the supervisees.MethodsTo explore the clinical supervisor’s experiences of peer group clinical supervision a mixed methods study design was utilised within Irish health services (midwifery, intellectual disability, general, mental health). The Manchester Clinical Supervision Scale was used to survey clinical supervisors (n = 36) and semi-structured interviews (n = 10) with clinical supervisors were conducted. Survey data were analysed through SPSS and interview data were analysed utilising content analysis. The qualitative and quantitative data’s reporting rigour was guided by the CROSS and SRQR guidelines.ResultsParticipants generally had a positive encounter when providing clinical supervision. They highly appreciated the value of clinical supervision and expressed a considerable degree of contentment with the supervision they provided to supervisees. The advantages of peer group clinical supervision encompass aspects related to self (such as confidence, leadership, personal development, and resilience), service and organisation (including a positive working environment, employee retention, and safety), and patient care (involving critical thinking and evaluation, patient safety, adherence to quality standards, and elevated levels of care).ConclusionThere are many benefits of peer group clinical supervision at an individual, service, organisation, and patient level. Nevertheless, there is a need to address a lack of awareness and misconceptions surrounding clinical supervision to create an environment and culture conducive to realising its full potential. It is crucial that clinical supervision be accessible to nurses and midwives of all grades across all healthcare services, with national planning to address capacity and sustainability.

Exploring Vietnamese student experiences of transitioning from high school into a transnational university

ABSTRACT Transnational education (TNE) – a form of education where learners study in a different country to the awarding institution has been increasingly prevalent globally. Vietnam is not an exception. This article explores university transition experiences of TNE students in Vietnam. Thematic analysis of 20 in-depth interviews with TNE students identified eight inter-related transition challenges associated with new learning environments and academic requirements, including English oral communication, freedom, career uncertainty, peer relationships, technology, self-directed learning, time as well as study workload management, and writing skills. Findings also revealed that students used different strategies to cope with transition challenges. Specifically, they applied a self-directed approach to adapt to the new environment and sought support from peers, lecturers, advisors, and the library to overcome transition difficulties. Employing a TNE student transition theoretical framework, this article discusses the role of students’ relationship capital, resilience, and confidence in coping with the transition to university, and proposes transition support across three stages of the student journey: commencement, middle years, and senior years. The paper carries theoretical, policy, and practical implications for enhancing student transition experiences critical to TNE higher education.

Relationship between Workplace Incivility and Peer Relationship As Perceived By Nurses

Relationship between Workplace Incivility and Peer Relationship As Perceived By Nurses

The Peer Group Effect on Drug Abuse and Academic Performance Among University Student

The drug problem is one of the most complex problems in the world, and hardly any society is devoid of it, whether in developed or developing countries. It threatens students' social, economic, and educational life at all levels. Saudi Arabia like the other countries faces drug spread among the youth. This study aims to assess the role of peer group effect on drug abuse and academic performance among university students in the Hawtat Bani Tamim. The study adopts the questionnaire as a tool for collecting data. The sample size of the study was 121 participants from university students. The study adopted descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. The results of the study found that the prevalence of drug abuse among university students was 8.3. There is a significant relationship between drug abuse and several factors under investigation. Notably, there were notable connections identified between drug abuse and age, the availability of drugs, and parental influence status. Also, the result showed that drug abuse delays graduation and absence from university. Peer group pressure influences drug abuse among students and plays a crucial role in drug abuse among university students. The study recommends providing programs that encourage students to quit drug abuse.

75 Moving Together: Exploring Peer Relationships through Creative Dance in First Grade

75 Moving Together: Exploring Peer Relationships through Creative Dance in First Grade

A Palliative Care Curriculum May Promote Resident Self-Reflection and Address Moral Injury

IntroductionThere is a lack of formal palliative care education for surgical trainees, and the demanding nature of surgical training and exposure to challenging clinical scenarios can contribute to moral injury. We developed a palliative care curriculum to promote self-reflection, aiming to address moral injury in residents. MethodsFive 1-h palliative care sessions were delivered over the academic year to all post-graduate year (PGY) levels covering the following topics: personal awareness, delivering bad news, surgical palliation for cancer pathology, surgical palliation for noncancer pathology, and urgent palliative care. The curriculum focused on reflection and small group discussions. The Moral Injury Symptom Scale-Health Professional was administered to assess feelings of moral injury. Descriptive statistics, chi-squared analysis, and Mann–Whitney U-test were used to compare the demographics and survey responses. Results23 participants completed the preintervention survey, and 9 participants completed it postintervention. Over 50% of participants were PGY1 or PGY2 residents. Preintervention, 52% of participants reported feeling guilt over failing to save someone from being seriously injured or dying. 30% of participants reported that the feelings of guilt, shame, or distrust impaired their ability to function in relationships, at work, or other areas of life to at least a moderate degree. ConclusionsThe described palliative care curriculum accomplishes several goals as follows: it educates residents on palliative care topics, teaches communication tools, encourages self-reflection, and provides space for building peer relationships. The ease of implementation makes this curriculum applicable across various types of institutions, offering the potential to positively impact surgical training on a national scale.

Racism, Identity-Based Discrimination, and Intersectionality in Adolescence

Adolescence is a critical developmental stage for young people as they transition into adulthood. Several important developmental tasks that must be completed during this transition include exploring one’s identity, developing and applying abstract thinking, adjusting to a new physical sense of self, and fostering stable and productive peer relationships while striving for autonomy and independence from parents. Young people begin to adopt a personal value system and form their racial and ethnic, social, sexual, and moral identity within a society that may provide conflicting and nonaffirming messages. Adolescent development strives toward an affirmed sense of self and self-esteem, which is best accomplished within a nurturing psychosocial context that fosters positive youth development. Youth-focused interventions should intentionally promote affirmation of ancestry and cultural identity, intersections with other historically marginalized identities, and critical consciousness. Fostering healing environments that affirm and address the radical need for change, coaching parents and guardians as critical agents in the creation of affirmative environments for development, and conducting research using anti-oppressive approaches are additional strategies to promote positive youth development. Simultaneously, structural transformations that address underlying social inequities are needed. Health care systems should continue to diversify the workforce and train staff and clinicians in integrative, identity-based, and healing-centered approaches. Organizations should consider training in diversity and competencies related to belonging while safeguarding inclusion with policies, procedures, and practices. Public health and policymakers can embed intersectional approaches within structural and systemic processes, particularly in all policies.

Evaluation of a Schema Therapy-Based Prevention Group Program for Children and Their Parents

Although Schema Therapy has emerged as an effective treatment for a large range of psychopathology, there is limited research on its effectiveness with children and adolescents, especially for preventive purposes, in individual or group settings and with the involvement of parents. Therefore, the aim of this study was to conduct a preliminary evaluation of a newly developed group prevention program based on Schema Therapy (rationale, principles, and techniques) for children and their parents. It is a psychoeducational, developmentally-appropriate program addressing core emotional needs, early maladaptive schemas, schema modes, coping styles, and parent-child relationship with the aim of preventing the emergence of psychopathology in children. Participants were 90 Greek children (aged 9-13) who attended 16 weekly meetings and their parents who attended 10 biweekly meetings. The effectiveness of the program was evaluated with pre-and-postintervention assessment (i.e., pre-experimental design). Children’s early maladaptive schemas (self-reports) and strengths and difficulties (self- and parent-reports), as well as parents’ early maladaptive schemas (self-reports) were assessed. Results showed a significant decrease in most early maladaptive schemas of children and in many early maladaptive schemas of parents. A significant decrease was found in children’s emotional symptoms, peer relationship problems and total difficulties score and a significant increase in prosocial behavior. The supporting evidence for the effectiveness of the program and the necessity of evidence-based prevention programs based on Schema Therapy for children and parents are discussed.

Cybercrime and Digital Fraud Among University Students in Lagos, Nigeria: Socio-Economic Drivers and Prevention Approaches

Cybercrime among university students in Lagos, Nigeria, is an escalating issue influenced by various socio-economic, psychological, and social factors. This paper examines the key types and patterns of cybercrime affecting students, including phishing, identity theft, and financial fraud, while highlighting the significant role of economic challenges, digital access disparities, and social perceptions in driving involvement. The study also explores the psychological traits of offenders, such as risk-taking and opportunity-seeking behaviors, and the impact of peer groups and online communities. A review of existing university policies and national anti-cybercrime initiatives reveals several gaps, including limited reach, inadequate funding, and a lack of targeted strategies. To address these challenges, the paper recommends a more integrated approach, incorporating increased funding, targeted interventions, and robust monitoring frameworks. Enhancing cybercrime prevention efforts is essential to protect students and foster a safer digital environment in Lagos.

Cohort scheduling of freshman exercise physiology majors improves social integration and perceptions of faculty but not academic performance.

Cohort scheduling intentionally places students in the same sections of several classes (e.g., biology, algebra, and writing) with a consistent peer group and is typically done for small groups (<30 students) to enable better interaction among students. The goal of this study was to compare cohort scheduling to traditional scheduling methods among freshmen in a physiology-related program. Outcomes included retention to the university and major, semester grades, and institutional integration and perceived group cohesion. Incoming freshmen (n = 209) were randomized into control (n = 43; scheduled with traditional methods) and intervention (n = 166; coenrolled in first-year seminar course, biology, and medical terminology) groups. Outcomes were collected via surveys or requested from the university registrar. There was no significant difference in the likelihood of retention to the university or major and no differences between groups in pass/fail rates for the first-year seminar or biology courses. At the end of the semester, there were no differences between groups in Perceived Cohesion for Small Groups (P = 0.102) or the Institutional Integration Scale (P = 0.357). However, the intervention group scored higher on the Institutional Integration Scale's subscales related to social integration and faculty. Cohort scheduling did not impact retention to the university or major but improved secondary outcomes related to retention, specifically social integration and student perceptions of faculty.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Compared with traditional scheduling methods, cohort scheduling freshman in physiology programs does not improve retention but improves students' social integration and perceptions of faculty.

Transformation of Factors and Mechanisms of Involvement of Juveniles in Criminal Activity: Kazakhstan Experience Against the Backdrop of Foreign Practice

Abstract The purpose of the work is to identify factors influencing changes in the criminological portrait of a juvenile offender, features of its changes, as well as modern trends shaping the personality of a juvenile offender. The study gives reason to say that risk factors for involvement in criminal activity as a separate type of criminogenic factors have not undergone radical changes. The work gives reason to assume that with the development of ICT and communication at a distance, influence of the peer group and the role of hierarchy in the juvenile delinquency may be weakened. In addition, there still exist a problem associated with the lack of terminology, methods for assessing the personality of a juvenile cybercriminal, as well as the very definition of the juvenile cybercriminal concept. The results of the study can be used to develop strategies and measures to prevent and combat juvenile delinquency.

The Impact of Online Learning during the Covid-19 Pandemic on Academic Outcomes for Newly-Struggling High School Students

The Covid-19 pandemic caused worldwide closures of schools resulting in a sudden shift to online instruction for students. For many students, this shift caused a decrease in academic performance. This study was conducted to explore whether particular demographic variables were associated with decreased academic outcomes for newly-struggling students as well as to determine if there was a relationship between these demographic variables and the frequency of D and F final course grades. Student final course grades were collected from a Midwestern United States high school’s student information system. The data were used to compare academic performance between the fall semester of 2019 during in-person learning and the fall semester of 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in school closures and a shift to online learning. Logistic regression analysis was used to answer each of the research questions. The findings from this study suggest that there was a significant relationship between low household income status and status as a newly-struggling student. Additionally this study suggests a significant relationship between low household income status and an increased frequency of D and F final course grades between semesters when compared with sample group peers. Conversely, while special education students did see an increase in frequency of D and F final course grades between semesters it was a significantly lower increase between semesters than their newly-struggling sample group peers.

Initiation of Increasing Tuberculosis Medication Supervisors Roles: An Action Research Approach

Indonesia is ranked second in the number of Tuberculosis (TB) cases worldwide. TB patients and their families experience a complex burden. Hence, support and strengthening TB medication supervisors (Pengawas Minum Obat/ PMO) role is needed. The aim of this study was to enhance the Community Health Center (CHC)-based PMOs’ role by improving their knowledge and strengthening peer group support. The method used was an action research cycle with four stages. The diagnosis stage was carried out by consensus decision making group with CHC to determine priority problems, namely the need to increase basic knowledge of TB and its treatment. Optimizing peer group was also necessary, as the Self Reporting Questionnaire-20 showed that more PMOs from patient families have psychological problems than cadres. The planning stage was conducted by preparing educational sessions and creating educational media. The action stage was a quasi-experimental (without control, non-randomization)—an educational talk show provided by the TB program manager, pulmonologist, and psychiatrist. Peer groups are also activated by triggering shared media education and discussion. At the evaluation stage, knowledge was measured by giving pre and post-tests (n= 21, total sampling). The results of the analysis using the Wilcoxon's Signed Ranks Test showed that participants' knowledge had increased significantly (p=0.000; r=0.59). In conclusion, education can increase PMO knowledge as an initial step to strengthen their role in supporting the success of TB treatment. Innovation, cross-sector assistance, and support are needed to enable the PMO to succeed in the TB program.

The Impacts of Inattention &amp; Hyperactivity/Impulsivity Tendencies and Peer Relationship on School Bullying Victimization in Elementary School Students

The Impacts of Inattention &amp; Hyperactivity/Impulsivity Tendencies and Peer Relationship on School Bullying Victimization in Elementary School Students

The influence of brand image, price, foreign branding, brand ambassador, family, and peer group on repurchase decisions in the fashion industry

The industrial sector has heightened competitiveness as the economy progresses, especially among companies producing similar products. These conditions require companies to adapt to changes in both the social and cultural landscape. This study aims to determine the impact of brand image, price, foreign branding, brand ambassadors, family, and peers on repurchase decisions and to identify which variables wield the most influence among brand image, price, foreign branding, and brand ambassadors. Sampling was conducted using non-probability methods employing purposive sampling techniques, yielding 245 respondents who purchased Geoff Max products at least twice a year. Based on the test, the brand image positively affected repurchase decisions, while price exhibited a negative effect. Similarly, foreign branding showed a negative effect, whereas brand ambassadors, family, and peers all displayed positive effects on repurchase decisions. Other test results show that brand image, price, foreign branding, brand ambassador, family, and peer group collectively positively affect repurchase decisions.

EFFECTIVE PEDAGOGICAL APPROACHES TO DEVELOPING SENIOR PRESCHOOLERS’ COMMUNICATIVE ABILITIES

The problem of developing communicative abilities is paramount in the processes of socialization of preschoolers, the formation of interpersonal relationships, orientation in various situations and the search for an appropriate solution. We have analyzed the scientific and theoretical studies of communicative abilities, clarified the purpose, methodology of the problem and identified the problems that were justified by the research work and summarized the results obtained. The article considers communication and joint activity as the most important components of a preschooler’s daily life. It is during communication that the child learns about the world, learns to react to the environment, builds relationships and acquires social experience and abilities. The most important structural element of a child’s activity is the need to communicate with adults and peers. It is scientifically proven that communicative abilities with peers become a guarantee of a child’s social and personal development and determine the success and effectiveness of further development. The desire to cooperate with peers, to become a member of a social group of peers pushes a preschooler to certain actions that, when working together, are compared with the actions of a partner. Comparing classes enriches a child’s social experience. The impact of the pedagogical ways proposed by us, aimed at developing the communicative abilities of older preschool children, will contribute to the social and personal development of the child, the construction of interpersonal relationships. Formation and development of communicative abilities in the senior preschool age is a specially organized pedagogical process. It involves work planning, selection, planning, a sequence of effective means and forms to ensure the continuous development of communication abilities of preschoolers.

The influence of self-directed learning ability and peer group caring behaviors on confidence in performing core nursing skills in fundamental nursing practice education utilizing peer evaluation: A mixed methods study

The influence of self-directed learning ability and peer group caring behaviors on confidence in performing core nursing skills in fundamental nursing practice education utilizing peer evaluation: A mixed methods study

The Buddy System: African American Women with Self-Reported Hypertension and Their Experiences in a Peer (Dyadic) Support Intervention

INTRODUCTION: Hypertension is the leading modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and it disproportionately affects African American women, who face increased risks of heart disease, kidney disease, and stroke. The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet effectively reduces blood pressure, but African American women often face challenges with adhering to it. Peer support, a proven mechanism for improving health behaviors through social connections and community resources, may help these women better manage their diet and hypertension. This qualitative study explored the experiences of African American women participating in an eight-week peer (dyadic) support intervention to improve DASH diet adherence and lowering systolic blood pressure, with an emphasis on understanding the dyadic relationship. METHODS: A purposive sample of 40 African American women (20 dyads) was recruited for five focus groups that were conducted both online and in person. Content analysis was used to identify themes related to the nature and quality of peer interactions and relationships from the perspectives of the 34 women who completed the intervention (Mean age = 71.38 years; SD = 8.38). RESULTS: Four subthemes emerged: emotional support, shared experiences, informational/inspirational support, and accountability. The participants reported forming strong, supportive relationships that were crucial in improving diet and blood pressure management. CONCLUSION: This study underscores the benefits of peer support in managing hypertension among older African American women, suggesting the need for future randomized controlled trials to examine the effectiveness of the DASH diet with and without peer support.