Personal Coping Strategies Research Articles

Rising Strong: Does Personal Resilience Drive Civic Engagement During Disasters?

Background: In the crucible of disasters, civic engagement emerges as a dynamic force that channels individual strength and collective willpower toward the common good. Although it has been recognized as a necessary precondition for community resilience, studies on the motivators for citizens’ activities during disasters are relatively limited. This study underscores the interplay of personal resilience, risk perception, and coping strategies in the context of emergency-oriented civic engagement. It provides a robust framework for comprehending the cognitive and emotional processes that drive individuals’ responses to threats and risks to improve knowledge about public behavior, psychological conditions, and mental health during man-made disasters. Method: an online survey was conducted with a sample of 1514 citizens in Israel. A model incorporating both moderation and mediation effects was proposed. Results: The results reveal a consistent positive relationship between personal resilience and emergency-oriented civic engagement and point to the importance of both the intervening role of risk perception and the moderating role of coping strategies. Conclusions: discuss the importance of resilience-building programs and the promotion of positive coping strategies which can empower individuals to navigate the complexities of risk perception and engage actively in civic activities during disasters.

Barriers and facilitators to recovery among college students without access to a collegiate recovery program

Background Undergraduate students pursuing substance use recovery face multiple barriers, including widespread substance use on campus, stigma, and limited support. A small number of campuses have collegiate recovery programs to support students. Most students in recovery lack access to such programming, and little research has explored their experiences. Methods This study, framed by the recovery capital perspective, utilized thematic analysis to illuminate students’ experiences in recovery without a collegiate recovery program on a Midwestern US campus. Seventeen students participated in semi-structured interviews. We sought to understand the barriers to recovery these students faced and how students overcame them. Results Barriers exemplified limited or negative recovery capital. Students described substance use and mental health challenges, being overwhelmed with responsibilities, feeling isolated, and negative twelve-step group experiences. Students gained personal recovery capital by mobilizing personal strengths, coping, and self-care strategies. To build family/social capital, they engaged various supports (e.g. mutual aid or activist groups). Community capital was limited to campus counseling services or supportive professors. Notably, not all students chose abstinence. Conclusion This study augments the literature about how students in recovery overcome barriers without a collegiate recovery program. Universities should offer services to accommodate the range of recovery preferences and experiences.

Stress and depression among male police officers in Taiwan: Severity, determinants, and coping strategies.

Police work, known for its high stress, exhibits elevated depression rates. This study explores stress and depression in male officers, examining personality traits, coping strategies, family, and social support. Aligned with the diathesis-stress hypothesis and job demands-resources model, it aims to illuminate these factors in policing. Two hundred and sixty-four male police officers from Yunlin, Taiwan were enrolled in this study. Structured measurements of stress level, depression symptoms, personality traits, family functioning, and social support were made. We used multiple regression analysis to assess predictors of stress level and depression and identified coping strategies used by the police officers. Of the 264 male police officers, 36.4% had clinically significant depression. Occupational stress was mostly related to organizational factors. Multivariate regression analyses showed that age, personality traits, officer's rank, and period of education obtained could predict police officers' occupational stress. Personality traits, social support, occupational stress, and period of education obtained could predict depression. The most frequently used coping strategies were drinking and smoking. The results of our study support the diathesis-stress hypothesis and the job demands-resources model. Enhancing male police officers' mental well-being requires addressing key factors like social support and occupational stress. Strategic measures, such as mental health education, destigmatization, counseling, and community-building, are vital. Policymakers should collaborate with mental health professionals for tailored interventions, fostering a healthier work environment.

Abstract B028: Beyond the diagnosis: A town hall event to explore black men’s journey with prostate cancer and sexuality

Abstract Introduction Prostate cancer (CaP) significantly impacts Black men, who face higher morbidity despite lower overall mortality. The disease and its treatments profoundly affect sexuality, relationships, and quality of life (QoL), necessitating robust support systems. Healthcare, spousal support, community involvement, and interactions with other survivors are crucial for enhancing survivors' self-esteem and daily functioning. Virtual town halls offer a platform to share trusted information and foster community support, overcoming geographic and structural barriers. This town hall event will explore Black CaP survivors' experiences, focusing on sexuality post-diagnosis and related medical and psychological needs. MethodsOn June 13, 2024, The University of Oklahoma and Stephenson Cancer Center will host the 5th town hall event (via Microsoft Teams) to address Black CaP survivors' sexual health concerns. Previous town halls averaged 70 attendees and covered various aspects of the CaP journey. This event will include storytelling and panel discussions, with presentations from two CaP survivors and their spouses on personal experiences and coping strategies. A urologic oncologist will discuss treatment advancements and early detection, while a clinical health psychologist will address psychological and emotional aspects of survivorship. Simultaneous watch parties will be held in Milledgeville, Georgia, and Dallas, Texas. Interactive Q&A sessions will allow participant engagement. Attendees will complete a post-event survey to assess the session's impact and collect clinical and sociodemographic data. Quantitative data will be analyzed using SPSS v28, and audio-recorded sessions will be transcribed and thematically analyzed using Nvivo. Results will be available by the end of June and presented at the conference. Expected Results Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the intersection between CaP and sexuality in Black men's health. Discussions will highlight the psychological impact of a cancer diagnosis, challenges in maintaining sexual health during and after treatment, and the role of mental health support. The town hall aims to emphasize the importance of a strong support system, providing valuable coping skills through shared experiences and expert insights. Topics will include the emotional and psychological impact of sexual health challenges, partner support, and the necessity of open communication with healthcare providers. The event seeks to improve CaP survivors' QoL by emphasizing continuous education and integrating sexual health into overall survivorship care. Conclusion This town hall event aims to bridge gaps in understanding and addressing Black CaP survivors' sexual health concerns. By fostering open dialogue and providing expert insights, we hope to improve these men's QoL and survivorship care, emphasizing mental health support, spousal support, and continuous education. Citation Format: Motolani Ogunsanya, Ernie Kaninjing, Parisa Ghasemi, Skyler Danker, Daniel Morton, Kathleen Dwyer, Mary Ellen Young, Folakemi T. Odedina, Yaw Nyame, Amy Siston, Jordan Neil, Adam C Alexander, Perry Cole, Patrick Beckford, Donald Reese, Thomas Mitchell, Everett Montgomery, Roland Odeleye, Darla E. Kendzor. Beyond the diagnosis: A town hall event to explore black men’s journey with prostate cancer and sexuality [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B028.

Young Adult Cancer Patients (AYA): Preferences for Outpatient Psychosocial Care and Gender-Specific Differences - Results from the AYA-LE study

To investigate the importance of individual topics in outpatient care services and the preferences for their design from the perspective of young adults with cancer (AYA="adolescents and young adults") in Germany. A total of 514 AYAs aged 18-39 years were surveyed twice over a 12-month period (t1=immediately after acute treatment, t2=12 months post-treatment) regarding the importance and satisfaction with topics such as anxiety, the impact of the illness on partnerships/family and social environment, future perspectives, personal coping strategies, sexuality, and desire for children/fertility, as well as the types of care services. The subjective importance and satisfaction with the care topics and services were analyzed using variance and moderator analyses. The most important topics for care services were future career prospects (M=3.22, SD=1.56), social impact (M=3.19, SD=1.54), and personal coping strategies (M=3.52, SD=1.46). The greatest dissatisfaction was noted in the areas of sexuality (M=2.01, SD=1.59) and desire for children/fertility (M=2.08, SD=1.72). At time t2, relaxation techniques (M=3.46, SD=1.36) and psychological counseling (M=3.43, SD=1.46) were the most desired care services. Female AYAs rated psychological counseling (F[1.199)=9.21, p=0.003), social counseling (F[1.221]=6.60, p=0.011), creative therapy options (F[1.219]=21.74, p<0.001), support groups (F[1.215]=4.29, p=0.040), patient education (F[1.210]=6.96, p=0.009), and relaxation techniques (F[1.194]=23.68, p<0.001) significantly more important than male AYAs. The study highlighted several areas of dissatisfaction with the current outpatient care services for AYAs. The results demonstrate the need to incorporate cross-sex and gender-specific care preferences of AYAs to improve outpatient psychosocial care. A specific set of AYA-care services should be designed and implemented to address the aforementioned psychosocial topics, which include sexuality and the desire for children/fertility. It is also crucial for outpatient practice to raise awareness among the involved professional groups. Further research is required to gain a deeper understanding of sex differences.

Maladaptive Personality Characteristics, Coping and Situational Factors Predict Symptoms of Complicated Grief and Health Difficulties.

Grief responses range from minimal changes in functioning to debilitating, prolonged, complicated grief. The objective of the current study was to clarify the relationship between maladaptive personality characteristics, coping and situational factors associated with symptoms of complicated grief and health difficulties among bereaved individuals who had lost a loved one within the past six months to two years (N = 304; 59% male; M age = 33.49, SD = 9.98, range 20-81). Situational risk factors, coping (self-distancing, denial, substance use, positive reframing, acceptance, religion, self-blame, behavioral disengagement, venting and humor) and maladaptive personality traits significantly predicted either symptoms of complicated grief or health difficulties. Coping strategies partially mediated the relationship between maladaptive personality traits and symptoms of complicated grief and health difficulties. Overall, these findings highlight the importance of maladaptive personality traits and coping strategies in the conceptualization of complicated grief and should be a greater focus of clinical intervention.

Defining fatigue from the experiences of patients living with chronic fatigue.

Fatigue is a multidimensional, highly individualized symptom experience perceived by people, regardless of health status. It is the most common complaint among those seeking primary care, yet, despite being a frequently reported symptom, it remains poorly understood. This is an exploratory study utilizing a qualitative descriptive approach that aims to explore the description of fatigue from the personal experiences of 16 participants living with chronic fatigue. Themes were generated from transcripts of in-depth interviews that focused on a central question: "how would you describe your fatigue from your own experience?" Analysis of the participants' interview transcripts revealed three themes. The first theme focused on fatigue as a unique personal experience, which included experiential descriptions or measures of fatigue that the participants used to describe their symptoms. The second theme focused on fatigue as an experience beyond self, which highlighted the consequences of fatigue on interpersonal interactions and the performance of social roles, as well as the potential of utilizing social support to cope with the limitations caused by this condition. The last theme was on living with fatigue, which focused on ways participants attempted to discern their condition and manage the consequences of fatigue. Experiences of chronic fatigue have patterns and personal meanings that vary between individuals. Caring for persons experiencing chronic fatigue requires acknowledgment of unique personal experiences and coping strategies. Due to the nature of the method, the results of this study are not generalizable and only reflect the experiences of the participants.

Strategies for coping with citizenship pressure: development of a context-specific scale

ABSTRACT Accumulating empirical evidence suggests that citizenship pressure (CP) in the workplace, the pressure to engage involuntarily in citizenship behaviour, has a detrimental effect on both the individual employee and the organisation. Personal coping strategies for dealing with CP can alleviate the negative effects. The purpose of this study was to develop a context-specific, reliable, and valid measure that could assess specific coping strategies individuals use to deal with CP in the workplace. We conducted a comprehensive inductive and deductive methods that included, firstly, a qualitative procedure of interviews, data analysis, and initial scale generation, and secondly, a quantitative process of construct validation of the measure. The factor structure yielded a 16-item measure, based on EFA and CFA, providing initial support for the utility of the measure as a self-report instrument of coping strategies to deal with CP. The analysis revealed a two-factor structure that describes conceptually meaningful patterns of coping: self-reliance vs. reliance on others. The former depicts nine strategies in which employees solely rely on themselves when coping with CP; and the latter depicts seven strategies in which employees rely on others’ advice, support, or empathy to deal with CP. Applications, limitations, and implications for future research are discussed.

The relationship between personality traits and coping strategies with permanence in the treatment process in patients undergoing methadone maintenance treatment

ABSTRACT Background The increasing tendency to use drugs, especially with the lowering of the age of addiction and its prevalence among young people, is one of the major social problems, and many efforts have been made to investigate the relationship between drug use and personality structures. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2020–2022 on opioid-addicted men who were referred to an addiction treatment clinic undergoing maintenance treatment with methadone for at least 6 months. Demographic information, the NEO personality characteristics questionnaire, and Lazarus’s coping strategies were completed by the patients. Results 150 patients with an average age of 36.78 ± 9.03 years were investigated. The results showed that the score of the personality dimension of conscientiousness had a significant relationship with the rate of persistence in treatment (P-value < .05). The score of accepting responsibility had a significant inverse relationship with the rate of persistence in treatment (P-value < .05). However, other components of personality traits and coping strategies didn’t have a significant relationship with the rate of persistence in treatment (P-value > .05). Conclusion Different personality dimensions and different levels of self-efficacy and the choice and pattern of coping style are effective factors in the tendency or non-tendency of people to use drugs and addiction.

The Role of Student Coping Strategies on Success in the Command Actions Course: A Special Operations Selection Course of the Brazilian Army.

Army Command Action units in Brazil are recognized for their operational effectiveness, operating in hostile scenarios. However, these operations are extremely stressful, requiring specific stress-coping skills. The objective of this study was to identify the profile of stress-coping strategies of military personnel enrolled in the Command Actions Course (CAC) and their relationship with completion of the course. A prospective cohort study was carried out with 87 military personnel from the CAC class of 2022. Data were collected on personal characteristics, coping strategies, and stress levels, among other variables. Specific instruments were used to assess coping (Brief-COPE), stress (DASS-21), social support (MOSS), and sociodemographic variables (own instrument) to evaluate the relationship between coping with stress and course completion. Descriptive analyses were performed (central tendency and dispersion measures), and overall survival analysis was performed using the log-rank test for comparison (P < .05). Cox regression was used for multiple analyses considering a statistical significance of 5%. A total of 31% of the participants completed the course. The profile of graduates is mainly composed of young people with higher education, single status, and White. Certain coping strategies such as Active Coping (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.48; 95% CI, 1.25-1.75) as well as high stress levels (HR = 1.07; 95% CI, 1.02-1.11) were associated with disengagement, while the Humor-based coping strategy reduced the chance of disengagement by 15% (HR = 0.85; 95% CI, 0.74-0.98). This study highlights the importance of investigation using coping strategies in the military context as a useful tool in coping with stress in the CAC.

The meaning of autistic movements.

What is already known?Moving the body in 'stereotyped', 'repetitive', 'ritualised' or 'unusual' ways is part of the criteria for receiving a diagnosis of autism. However, the reasons for these movements and their personal value are not well understood. Certain ways of moving have become part of a disorder, and have received negative judgements, whereas other movements have not.What this paper adds?We searched online blogs for descriptions of movement written by autistic adults, using their preferred language and definitions. The blog authors said that many types of movement attracted negative judgement, including mis-coordination shown during sports, dancing in unusual places or moving repetitively, such as when stimming. However, movement provided personal benefits, and could enhance thinking and focus, provide meaningful routine, contribute to sensory regulation, release energy, increase body awareness, emotion regulation and strengthen self-identity.Implications for practice and policyMovement could be a well-being resource, used to reduce distraction, overwhelm, confusion and distress for autistic people. This should be considered within personal coping strategies and psychological therapies. The examples provided in this study could inform autism assessments, to ensure that the meanings of movements are considered alongside the appearances of movement. Some movements such as stimming have the same functions as many other ways of moving, including dancing and exercising, which could help to reduce stigma around being autistic if reflected in policy and practice. Improving understanding is important for informing how autism is assessed, and how personal experiences of being autistic are heard.

Emotion dysregulation and family functioning moderate family caregiving burden during the pandemic.

Since the onset of COVID-19 pandemic, additional risk factors affecting family caregivers' mental health have arisen. Therefore, personal stress coping strategies and family dynamics became important factors in reducing the impact of the pandemic on family caregivers' mental health. The present research aimed to estimate the association between COVID-19 stressors and family caregiving burden. Moreover, moderating effects of emotion dysregulation and family functioning on this association were investigated. This study analyzed data collected in April 2021 from 154 family caregivers (Mage=38.79, SDage=9.36, range=22-64) recruited through Amazon's Mechanical Turk (MTurk). The impact of COVID-19 stressors on family caregiving burden was tested, and moderating impacts of emotion dysregulation and family functioning were also investigated. Both COVID-19 stress exposure and stress appraisal were positively associated with family caregiving burden. Emotion dysregulation and problematic family functioning were also positively associated with family caregiving burden. A significant moderating effect of emotion dysregulation was found, such that family caregivers with higher emotion dysregulation were likely to feel more caregiving burden when they experienced more COVID-19 stressors. The current research highlighted the role of emotion regulation in reducing the negative impact of COVID-19 stressors on family caregiving burden. The research also emphasizes the need for intervention programs to improve emotion regulation strategies to decrease family caregiving burden during the pandemic.

Experiencing death and grief at the border: a sociocultural psychological analysis of activists’ struggles at the European and Central-American border

ABSTRACT Dramatic consequences related to borders, such as migrants' deaths, disappearances and human rights violations, have increased since the 1990s. Several migration policies contribute to border violence, leading to traumatic mental health effects on migrants, their families and activists. The literature has overlooked the psychological, cultural and religious/spiritual experience of activists sharing the burden of migrants and their families' grief and struggles. To explore the experiences of activists while in the act, the research adopted a sociocultural approach and conducted twenty-five semi-structured interviews with border activists. The qualitative thematic analysis revealed five themes, encompassing how activists dynamically make sense of their experiences: rehumanising vocation; endless feelings; empathic-epistemic experiential ambivalence; personal coping strategies and liberation transformative actions. These themes offer a transitional model, progressing from acknowledging States' responsibilities to developing transnational, cross-cultural and inter-faith forms of human solidarity. Finally, this model fuels ethically inspired community struggles towards social equality, justice and transformation.

The impact of childhood trauma on Adolescent Depressive Symptoms: the Chain Mediating role of borderline personality traits and self-control

BackgroundThe adolescent depression associated with childhood trauma has been confirmed, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aims to explore the chain-mediated role of borderline personality traits and self-control in the relationship between childhood trauma and adolescent depression.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted on 2,664 students from a senior high school through online questionnaires from October to December 2022 in Henan, China. Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form, Borderline Personality Dimension of Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire-4, Self-Control Scale, and Children’s Depression Inventory were used to measure childhood trauma, borderline personality traits, and self-control.ResultsThe prevalence of depression in adolescents was 21.17%, while the prevalence of borderline personality was 12.00%. childhood trauma (r = 0.50, p < 0.001) and borderline personality traits (r = 0.60, p < 0.001) were positively correlated with adolescent depressive symptoms, while self-control was negatively correlated with depressive symptoms (r = − 0.50, p < 0.001). Borderline personality traits and Self-control both play a mediating role in childhood trauma and depressive symptoms, and the mediating effect values are 0.116 (95%CI = [0.098, 0.137]), and 0.022 (95%CI = [0.012, 0.032]) respectively. The chain mediating effect of borderline personality traits and self-control on the relationship between childhood trauma and depressive symptoms was significant (effect value: 0.034, 95%CI = [0.028, 0.042]).ConclusionsChildhood trauma can predict depressive symptoms in adolescents due to the formation of borderline personality traits and the reduction of self-control. These findings are important for understanding the formation of personality traits, self-control abilities and coping strategies shaped by traumatic experiences in adolescents.

Clinical and personal predictors of functioning in affective disorders: Exploratory results from baseline and 6-month follow-up of a randomised controlled trial

Comprehensive knowledge of factors causing and sustaining functional impairment in patients with affective disorders is warranted. The aim is to investigate associations between clinical factors (such as affective symptoms) and personal factors (such as personality traits, coping strategies, and childhood trauma experiences) on functioning and improvement of functioning in patients with affective disorders.This exploratory study includes data from 103 patients with bipolar disorder and unipolar depressive disorder. Clinician-rated functioning was assessed at baseline using the Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST), and performance-based functioning was assessed at baseline and 6-month follow-up using the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS). Data on clinical and personal factors were collected at baseline. Personal factors were measured by the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPQ), Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS) and Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). Pearson correlations and multiple linear regression models were used to analyse the association of clinical and personal factors with baseline functioning (FAST) and to identify predictors of improvement in functioning (AMPS) from baseline to follow-up.At baseline, greater depressive symptom severity, the personality trait neuroticism, emotional coping, and childhood trauma all correlated with poorer functioning (higher FAST scores). In multiple linear regression models, depression severity, emotional coping and childhood trauma were significant predictors of poorer functioning. More childhood trauma was a predictor of less functional improvement measured by AMPS at 6-month follow-up.In conclusion, maladaptive coping styles and depressive symptoms contribute to functional impairment in patients with affective disorders, while childhood trauma has a negative impact on long-term functional outcomes.

Navigating Foreign Language Teaching Anxiety: Insights from Pre-Service Teachers during Teacher Professional Education Practicum

This study focuses on the experiences of pre-service teachers that may trigger anxiety and delve into the potential benefits and effectiveness of FLTA in enhancing language acquisition and proficiency. By conducting in-depth studies and investigations on this topic, researchers look at the impact of FLTA. They can better understand how FLTA can optimize their problem-solving skills to facilitate language learning and provide valuable insight for language education, especially in EFL classrooms. This study used a narrative strategy to investigate the pre-service EFL teachers' experiences with teaching foreign language anxiety during their teaching practice while enrolled in the Teacher Profession Education Program. The subjects of this study were 3 English pre-service teachers who had completed teaching practice in junior and senior high schools during a professional teaching program in the city of Solo and its surroundings, Central Java, Indonesia. As a result of this study, several sources contributed to participants' experience of teaching foreign language anxiety, such as self-perception of language proficiency, leading inexperience, lack of student interest, fear of negative evaluation, and lack of time and class management. Participants in the teaching practicum also attempt to confront and overcome their worries; the strategies are personal coping strategies, professional coping strategies, social coping strategies, and institutional coping strategies. Although the participants experienced some anxiety while teaching practicum, they overcame it through various strategies. So, leading practicum activities from one meeting to the following allowed participants to develop their abilities and overcome their concerns about teaching in the EFL classroom.

Acute Stress Symptoms, Intolerance of Uncertainty and Coping Strategies in Reaction to the October 7 War.

On 7 October 2023, hundreds of armed Hamas fighters breached the security border fence and entered Israel from the Gaza Strip. More than 1400 Israeli citizens were murdered, and 239 individuals were kidnapped. Many Israeli citizens experienced these occurrences as psychologically traumatic events that caused stress and uncertainty. The present study aimed to examine the relationship between exposure to war (in more distant circles), intolerance of uncertainty (IU) and disengaged coping on acute stress symptoms (ASS). First, we examined whether exposure to war and IU were directly associated with ASS. Second, we tested the mediating role of disengaged coping in the relationship among war exposure, IU and ASS. This cross-sectional study involved 393 Israeli citizens. Participants answered questionnaires on exposure to war, IU, coping strategies and ASS. The study results indicate that higher exposure and higher levels of IU were directly associated with more intensive ASS, and this association was partially mediated by higher use of disengaged coping strategies. Individuals during wartime are at risk of experiencing high levels of ASS and developing ASD. However, degree of exposure to war alone was not associated with ASS, but it was related to personal resources and coping strategies.

“A sincere ‘how are you?’ is already a sign of acknowledgement that you're there too.” - Interview study on the support needs of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) living with a parent with cancer

PurposeParental cancer brings changes and challenges which affect the whole family. Evidence shows heightened psychosocial risk among the offspring. Research among adolescents and young adults (AYAs) facing parental cancer has mainly focused on these psychosocial problems. As a reaction, there has been an increase in research on the needs of this population, since this knowledge is crucial for developing appropriate support. Despite this increase, some AYAs are still underrepresented, namely those over eighteen years old and those who have a parent with incurable cancer. Moreover, the factors hampering or fostering access to and receipt of support addressing their needs are under-investigated. Increasing our understanding of these issues is crucial to developing more effective support interventions for these young people. Our aim was therefore to gain insight into the perceived support needs of AYAs who have a parent with cancer, including the mentioned underrepresented subgroups, and the perceived factors facilitating or hindering their use of support. MethodsWe conducted semi-structured interviews with 17 AYAs who have a parent with cancer of any type and stage, which were analyzed using conventional Qualitative Content Analysis (QCA). ResultsSix main categories emerged from the data, encompassing various subcategories: 1) Needs surrounding the time of disclosure, 2) Information needs, 3) Informal support needs, 4) Need for effective personal coping strategies, 5) Formal support needs, and 6) Contextual and medical factors affecting support needs. AYAs perceived family members, friends and teachers as important sources of informal support, but lacked contact with peers who also have a parent with cancer. They expressed a need for formal informational and emotional support from their parent's medical team, (onco)psychologists, and their general practitioner. AYAs faced barriers in accessing formal support. A proactive attitude from healthcare providers and information about available support would help them meet their needs. Furthermore, we shed new light on needs and issues in post-secondary education. ConclusionsAYAs who are living with their parent with cancer experience informational, emotional, and practical needs in multiple contexts, such as the home, school, leisure and hospital environment. They identify their informal and formal network as important key figures in addressing these needs.

Strengths Perspective: How Social Work Students Use Mindfulness as a Self-Care Strategy

(1) Background: As helping professionals, social workers are more susceptible to compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, and burnout due to regular exposure to clients’ trauma, traumatic situations, and heavy caseloads. Social work students also face similar experiences during their field placement as they prepare to enter the profession. In addition, stress, a significant factor affecting academic performance, is prevalent among social work students. Prolonged stress can lead to chronic health conditions, emphasizing the need to develop effective stress management practice techniques. (2) Objective: To examine the impact of a four-week mindfulness strengths-perspective synchronous series and the impact on social work students’ personal strengths, self-care, stress, and coping strategies. (3) Methods: The purpose of this study was to examine social work students’ experiences with using mindfulness from a strengths perspective. Twenty-three (n = 23) social work students participated in a four-week synchronous mindfulness series that incorporated a strengths perspective, focusing on stress reduction and self-care practices. The series consisted of weekly mindfulness activities and writing prompts, concluding with a focus group in the final week. A thematic analysis was utilized to identify key themes. (4) Results: The researchers identified six themes: consistency and commitment, affirmations and self-love, a caring community, mindfulness strategies, physical restoration, and enrichment and learning. (5) Conclusion: Students were able to develop a better understanding of self-care and the benefits of taking time to incorporate practices for their health and wellness.

Ontology Development for Cyber Violence Victimization in Korean Adolescents

Since the dynamics and forms of cyber violence evolve at the same rapid pace as technology platforms, we used social big data to develop an ontology for cyber violence victimization in South Korea. Following the seven-stage ontology development process, we extracted keywords from 3,075 social media data sources including online articles, comments, and blogs. Focus group interview data was also obtained from 40 adolescents and 5 cyber violence experts. The analysis identified domains for (1) participants subdivided by age, school level, sex, form, and relationship; (2) protective and risk factors by individuals, family, friends, school, community, and online systems; (3) types by form and method of violence; (4) characteristics by media and distinct features; (5) outcomes by individual and relational/social; and (6) interventions and policies by personal coping strategies, services/interventions, and laws/policies. These findings provide a multi-faceted perspective on cyber violence victimization experiences in South Korea. In addition, the results elucidate the newest types of cyber violence in real-life terms.