Personal Factors Research Articles

Suicide Risk Factors in High School Students.

In Mexico, suicide has become an important public health problem, representing the third leading cause of death in the adolescent population. Suicidal behavior in adolescents is associated with the interaction of complex relationships between personal, interpersonal, and sociocultural factors. Through a quantitative, descriptive, and correlational cross-sectional study, the present study aimed to analyze the prevalence and risk factors associated with suicidal ideation among adolescents from different high schools of the high school system (SEMS) of the University of Guadalajara, in response to the psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. A descriptive statistical analysis was carried out on the data obtained from the 3583 students surveyed, followed by a principal component analysis (PCA) to identify closely related social, emotional, and behavioral variables. The PCA yielded eight principal components, which together represent 75.42% of the variance across psychometric tests. A multiple linear regression analysis was used, with a regression value (R2) of 0.4811, indicating that the explanatory model can predict 48.1% of the variability in suicidal ideation, with a statistical significance level of 0.05. According to the studies conducted, 19% (688 students) showed indicators of high suicide risk and 26.8% (960 students) showed moderate risk. Depression, mental health, health-related quality of life, physical and psychological well-being, and mood and emotions are the most influential factors in suicidal ideation.

“Happily tired”: A descriptive qualitative study of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women academics in Qatar

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted existing gender inequalities and inequities in academia, such as unequal workload distribution and insufficient recognition of women's scientific and institutional contributions. This study aimed to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women academics in Qatar. We employed a descriptive qualitative design and conducted semi-structured interviews with 17 participants from government and semi-government higher education institutions. We used the intersectionality framework to examine how various social identities interacted to influence the impact of the pandemic. Thematic analysis revealed a range of positive and negative impacts on the professional and personal lives of women, personal and institutional moderating factors, and coping strategies. We conclude that higher education institutions need to develop systems and structures to reduce existing gender inequities and mitigate the inequitable impact of emergencies and disasters.

Understanding connection to nature in Turkish middle school children: Personal factors and Nature's restorative effect

A connection to nature can be healing and restorative for children, especially when they are coping with psychological symptoms. Better understanding the essence of this connection and investigating the associated variables can, therefore, prove useful. This research consisted of three studies measuring the connection to nature among youth in Turkey's unique, non-Western context. In Study-1 (n = 214), the 14-item Connection to Nature Index (CNI) was tested with confirmatory factor analysis. The results showed that the CNI was a valid and reliable instrument in the Turkish sample. Study-2 (n = 375) examined personal factors predicting children's connection to nature. Regression analysis showed that gender was a significant predictor of CNI. We also found that connection to nature increased as screen time decreased and the frequency of contact with nature increased. In Study 3 (n = 404), we found that hope and satisfaction with life acted as serial and complete mediators between CNI and psychological symptoms. Unlike the results of previous studies conducted in the West, this study highlights for the first time the importance of children's connection with the natural world in Turkey, an Eastern society.

How to Capture the Rage? Development and Validation of a State-Trait Anger Scale

Our research seeks to contribute to the existing literature on emotion measurement and research by proposing a new anger metric that addresses limitations of previous scales. This metric shows promise in meeting modern standards and drawing from traditional methods, potentially impacting the study of emotions. Additionally, our study explores cross-cultural congruence in assessing anger between English and German speakers, revealing differences in state and trait anger assessment. We offer theoretical perspectives on these cultural variances and emphasize the importance of considering language nuances in cross-cultural emotion assessment. Furthermore, our research delves into the relationship between anger and other emotions within an affective space, suggesting support for the notion that emotions are composite constructs consisting of valence and activation. We also discuss alternative theoretical perspectives on emotion construction to enhance our understanding. Additionally, our study examines the intricate relationship between anger and different forms of aggression, highlighting the association between anger and various aggressive behaviors in work settings. Our findings underscore the influence of personal traits and situational factors on experiences of anger and aggression, offering insights into the relationships between emotional states, traits, and behavior.

Keep it CooL! Results of a two-year CooL-intervention: a descriptive case series study

BackgroundCoaching on Lifestyle (CooL) is a two-year healthcare intervention for people with overweight or obesity, stimulating weight reduction by promoting sustained healthier behavior. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of CooL on participants’ anthropometrics, personal factors and behavioral factors over the two-year timeframe of CooL.MethodsA descriptive case series study, using a broad set of routinely collected data on anthropometrics, personal factors and behavioral factors of adults living across the Netherlands. The data were collected between November 2018 and December 2021 among participants of CooL (N = 746) at three moments during the intervention: at baseline (T0), at 8 months (T1) after completion of phase 1 and at 24 months (T2) after ending CooL. Changes over time were analyzed using paired t-tests comparing baseline to T1 and baseline to T2. In addition, potential differences on outcomes in subgroups based on education level, weight status and group size were examined using paired t-tests and ANOVA-tests.ResultsThe results showed positive changes on all outcomes at 24 months compared to baseline. The largest effects were on perceived health, attentiveness towards meal size and meal composition (large effect size). Mean weight loss was 4.13 kg (SD 7.54), and mean waist circumference decreased with 4.37 centimeters (SD 8.59), indicating a medium to large effect size. Changes were consistent across subgroups varying in educational level, BMI at baseline and group size.ConclusionThe study demonstrated sustained weight-related effects of CooL over 24 months supporting its two-year duration. The results indicate that CooL, though not for every individual, is in general appropriate and effective for different group sizes and for a wide variety of participants regardless of level of education, or BMI at baseline.Trial registrationDutch Trial Register NTRNL6061 (13-01-2017). Registered at Overview of Medical Research in the Netherlands (OMON), via https://www.onderzoekmetmensen.nl/.

Comparison of psychopathology, purpose in life and moral courage between nursing home and hospital healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic deeply affected healthcare workers, although the impact may have differed according to different workplace contexts. The aim of this current research was to compare the psychopathology presented by hospital versus nursing home healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and to analyse the predictive role of purpose in life and moral courage in the appearance of psychopathology. This was an observational, cross-sectional study carried out on a sample of 108 healthcare workers, 54 each from a hospital or nursing homes, who were recruited during the 5 and 6th waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain. Various self-reported scales were used to assess anxiety, depression, acute/post-traumatic stress disorder, drug and alcohol abuse, burnout, purpose in life, and moral courage. Compared to the hospital healthcare workers, nursing home healthcare workers had higher scores and a higher prevalence of anxiety (74.1% vs. 42%), depression (40.7% vs. 14.8%), and post-traumatic stress disorder (55.6% vs. 25.9). In the overall sample, purpose in life was a protective factor against psychopathology (OR = 0.54) and burnout (OR = 0.48); moral courage was a protective factor against depression (OR = 0.47) and acute stress (OR = 0.45); and exposure of family/friends to SARS-CoV-2 was a risk factor for acute stress (OR = 2.24), post-traumatic stress disorder (OR = 1.33), and higher burnout depersonalisation subscale scores (OR = 1.84). In conclusion, the increased presence of psychopathology in nursing home healthcare workers may be influenced by workplace and occupational contexts, personal factors such as exposure of family/friends to SARS-CoV-2, or internal dimensions such as purpose in life and moral courage. This knowledge could be useful for understanding how a future epidemic or pandemic might affect the mental health of healthcare workers in different labour contexts.

Developing an Educational Resource Aimed at Improving Adolescent Digital Health Literacy: Using Co-Design as Research Methodology.

Adolescence is a key developmental period that affects lifelong health and is impacted by adolescents regularly engaging with digital health information. Adolescents need digital health literacy (DHL) to effectively evaluate the quality and credibility of such information, and to navigate an increasingly complex digital health environment. Few educational resources exist to improve DHL, and few have involved adolescents during design. The co-design approach may hold utility through developing interventions with participants as design partners. This project aimed to explore the co-design approach in developing an educational resource to improve adolescents' DHL. Adolescents (12-17 years old) attended 4 interactive co-design workshops (June 2021-April 2022). Participant perspectives were gathered on DHL and the design of educational resources to improve it. Data generated were analyzed through content analysis to inform educational resource development. In total, 27 participants from diverse backgrounds attended the workshops. Insight was gained into participants' relationship with digital health information, including acceptance of its benefits and relevance, coupled with awareness of misinformation issues, revealing areas of DHL need. Participants provided suggestions for educational resource development that incorporated the most useful aspects of digital formats to develop skills across these domains. The following 4 themes were derived from participant perspectives: ease of access to digital health information, personal and social factors that impacted use, impacts of the plethora of digital information, and anonymity offered by digital sources. Initial participant evaluation of the developed educational resource was largely positive, including useful suggestions for improvement. Co-design elicited and translated authentic adolescent perspectives and design ideas into a functional educational resource. Insight into adolescents' DHL needs generated targeted educational resource content, with engaging formats, designs, and storylines. Co-design holds promise as an important and empowering tool for developing interventions to improve adolescents' DHL.

School-Based Suicide Prevention Efforts: The Impact of School Nurse Exclusivity on Moral Distress.

School nurses are well-positioned to assess, identify, and refer children and adolescents who are at risk of suicide. This multiple-case study examined the personal, behavioral, and environmental factors that influence the role of the school nurse in youth suicide prevention and intervention. Purposive sampling was used to recruit two school nurses who were identified as unique cases. Data from interviews, surveys, and documents generated a cross-case analysis. Findings indicate that school-level exclusive practices, such as a lack of communication and collaboration, greatly influence the role and reach of school nurses. Further, dilemmas arising from environmental barriers hinder school nurse capacity to promote student safety and affect moral distress levels. Leveraging data to demonstrate the pivotal role of school nurses to support mental health equity and reduce disparities in youth suicide is crucial to developing inclusive and responsive suicide prevention programs.

Differences in Dominance, Social Boldness and Privateness: A Comparative Study of Castes

The culture of any country is multi-dimensional in nature. The cultural differences exist everywhere. Caste differences is an intrinsic part of the Indian society. The personality differences may occur due to differences and discrimination among different castes. The present research is an attempt to measure the caste differences in the personality factors like dominance, social boldness and privateness. For this study the two broad categories of caste that is SC and Non-SC was studied. A sample of 600 college students from the age range between 18 and 25 was selected. The SC and Non-SC ratio was 1:1. The 16 PF Questionnaire developed by R. B. Cattell-5th Edition was used to measure dominance, social boldness and privateness. Independent t-test was carried out to analyze the data. The result of the study revealed that there were significant differences between SC and Non-SC on dominance, social boldness and privateness. Non-SC subjects were found to be higher on these three factors.

Why do Mandarin speakers code-switch? A case study of conversational code-switching in China

Multilingualism is becoming increasingly common worldwide, with multilingual studies becoming more popular and accelerating interpersonal language contacts; however, it remains controversial and ambiguous in China. The current study aims to explore code-switching (CS) patterns and factors among Mandarin-dominated mainland Chinese speakers and investigate multilingual development in China through CS, as it is a multilingual practice. Conversational analysis was conducted to analyse daily interactions in short videos posted online, categorise language varieties and frequencies, identify CS patterns, and examine the factors influencing CS patterns. The results revealed that foreign languages and dialects other than Mandarin were spoken by Mandarin-dominated speakers. Three of four CS patterns were also pinpointed regarding language practices in China. Insertion was the most predominant pattern, followed by backflagging and alternation. The CS patterns employed by Mandarin-dominated mainland Chinese speakers were influenced primarily by participant-related factors, followed by linguistic-related factors, sociopsychological factors, convenience, and situational factors. The prevalence of the insertional CS pattern and the influence of personal factors suggest that China’s Mandarin-speaking community is in an early phase of multilingual development.

Self-Service Hotel Check-In: Is There Still a Role for the In-Person Experience?

ABSTRACT This study investigated the short service encounters of hotel guests’ in-person versus self-service technology (SST) check-in experiences based on their perceptions of the check-in significance and impact on service and relationship outcomes. Guests (n = 378) completed an intercept survey at four mega-resorts immediately after check-in. Based on social cognitive theory, a research model was developed and tested using PLS-SEM. Check-in significance was an important personal psychological factor in customer perceptions, influencing their service quality evaluation, satisfaction, intention to engage, and trust the service provider. Emotional engagement intention served as a partial mediator. Multi-group analysis showed a significantly higher effect of in-person check-in on customer satisfaction and intention to emotionally engage with employees compared to SST check-in. Theoretical and practical contributions to customer relationship management are presented.

Persevering through communication challenges: a qualitative descriptive exploration of communication experiences in aphasia

ABSTRACT Background People with aphasia often experience activity limitations and participation restrictions despite wanting to engage in communication activities that are satisfying and meaningful. Communication partner support, the complexity of the communication environment, and the thoughts and feelings of people with aphasia have important implications for both language processing and communicative participation. The perspectives of PWA about the role that environmental and personal factors (e.g. thoughts and feelings) play in their communication experiences could inform clinical practice. Aims To qualitatively explore the communication experiences of people with aphasia and how environmental demands and personal factors (especially emotional responses) affect these experiences. Methods & Procedures Fourteen participants with aphasia completed semi-structured interviews immediately following testing sessions for a larger mixed-methods project investigating the relationship between mood, attention, and language function. Interview questions related to their everyday communication experiences and how their communication environment affected their communication and concentration as well as how their emotions affected their communication. Interviews were recorded, transcribed orthographically, then analyzed using a generic qualitative descriptive approach. Coding was completed in two rounds, which included inductive and deductive coding. Codes were synthesized by reflexively analyzing code co-occurrence. Outcomes & Results Key antecedent variables included language deficits associated with aphasia and environmental demands, often leading to communication challenges. Participation was highlighted as the principal outcome, ranging from proactive engagement to withdrawal. Mental rehearsal, feelings, and attitudes mediated participation, but feelings and attitudes were also described as outcomes. Communication partners played a pivotal mediating role, often determining positive or negative outcomes. Supportive partners facilitated engagement, optimism, and contentment, while unsupportive partners led to frustration. Conclusions The results of this study highlight the role of various factors in influencing the communication experience of people with aphasia and indicate that, within the context of communication challenges, communication partners, attitudes, feelings, and participation play critical and interacting roles. Preparatory strategies such as mental rehearsal can also facilitate participation. These findings imply that targeting communication partner support, mental rehearsal focused on social scripts, or psychosocial adjustment could have important effects on participation.

Community Mobility in Persons Living With Dementia Significantly Predicts Caregiver Burden: Findings From a National Survey & Implications for OT

Abstract Date Presented 03/21/24 Caregivers of persons with dementia regularly report burden. Although research has identified protective factors for role management, this work highlights protective factors in persons with dementia as a focus for OT interventions. Primary Author and Speaker: Paul Arthur Additional Authors and Speakers: Chih-Ying Li

Using polygenic risk modification to improve breast cancer prevention: study protocol for the PRiMo multicentre randomised controlled trial

IntroductionEstablished personal and familial risk factors contribute collectively to a woman’s risk of breast or ovarian cancer. Existing clinical services offer genetic testing for pathogenic variants in high-risk genes to...

Systematic review of factors related to quality of life in patients with oral cancer: a systematic review.

This study aims to evaluate factors related to quality of life of patients with oral cancer. CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, CBM, Pubmed, Medline, Web of Science, Embase, and The Cochrane Library were searched up to May 2023 for studies that evaluated the quality of life of patients with oral cancer. All the included studies were independently selected, extracted, and rated by two researchers, and results are summarized by qualitative analysis. Twenty-four articles on 2 717 patients were included. Factors related to the quality of life of patients with oral cancer mainly included age, tumor TNM stage, radiochemotherapy, and gender, which could be summarized into three aspects: personal factors, disease-related factors, and surgical factors. More than five studies reported on the analysis of age, gender, tumor TNM stage, pathological stage, neck dissection method, marital status, recurrence, smoking, education level, etc. The results are relatively consistent. The incidence of oral cancer increases, and many factors affected the quality of life. The included literature is a cross-sectional study, and the sample size is limited. The causal relationship between relevant factors and quality of life should be verified using large sample sizes.

'A Meaningful Difference, but Not Ultimately the Difference I Would Want': A Mixed-Methods Approach to Explore and Benchmark Clinically Meaningful Changes in Aphasia Recovery.

Outcome measurement instruments (OMIs) are used to gauge the effects of treatment. In post-stroke aphasia rehabilitation, benchmarks for meaningful change are needed to support the interpretation of patient outcomes. This study is part of a research programme to establish minimal important change (MIC) values (the smallest change above which patients perceive themselves as importantly changed) for core OMIs. As a first step in this process, the views of people with aphasia and clinicians were explored, and consensus was sought on a threshold for clinically meaningful change. Sequential mixed-methods design was employed. Participants included people with post-stroke aphasia and speech pathologists. People with aphasia were purposively sampled based on time post-stroke, age and gender, whereas speech pathologists were sampled according to their work setting (hospital or community). Each participant attended a focus group followed by a consensus workshop with a survey component. Within the focus groups, experiences and methods for measuring meaningful change during aphasia recovery were explored. Qualitative data were transcribed and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. In the consensus workshop, participants voted on thresholds for meaningful change in core outcome constructs of language, communication, emotional well-being and quality of life, using a six-point rating scale (much worse, slightly worse, no change, slightly improved, much improved and completely recovered). Consensus was defined a priori as 70% agreement. Voting results were reported using descriptive statistics. Five people with aphasia (n = 4, > 6 months after stroke; n = 5, < 65 years; n = 3, males) and eight speech pathologists (n = 4, hospital setting; n = 4, community setting) participated in one of four focus groups (duration: 92-112 min). Four themes were identified describing meaningful change as follows: (1) different for every single person; (2) small continuous improvements; (3) measured by progress towards personally relevant goals; and (4) influenced by personal factors. 'Slightly improved' was agreed as the threshold of MIC on the anchor-rating scale (75%-92%) within 6 months of stroke, whereas after 6 months there was a trend towards supporting 'much improved' (36%-66%). Our mixed-methods research with people with aphasia and speech pathologists provides novel evidence to inform the definition of MIC in aphasia rehabilitation. Future research will aim to establish MIC values for core OMIs. This work is the result of engagement between people with lived experience of post-stroke aphasia, including people with aphasia, family members, clinicians and researchers. Engagement across the research cycle was sought to ensure that the research tasks were acceptable and easily understood by participants and that the outcomes of the study were relevant to the aphasia community. This engagement included the co-development of a plain English summary of the results. Advisors were remunerated in accordance with Health Consumers Queensland guidelines. Interview guides for clinicians were piloted by speech pathologists working in aphasia rehabilitation.

Enhancing Academic Success: A mixed Study on the Influencing Factors among Pharmacy Students in Syrian Universities

Background Academic achievement is the result of both effort and perseverance exerted by the students. This mixed-methods study aims to investigate the factors affecting the academic achievement of pharmacy students in Syrian universities. Methods A convergent parallel mixed-methods study was utilized. In the quantitative phase, a cross-sectional study was conducted on 1008 students (773 females and 235 males) from 23 Syrian universities. A questionnaire consisting of 48 items was designed to be completed by pharmacy students using a 5-point Likert scale. In the qualitative phase, twelve questions were developed to interview thirty pharmacy students from five Syrian universities to obtain in-depth insights into the factors influencing their academic achievement. Results A significant number of students lacked effective time management skills, identified as a weakness among students. The majority of students faced challenges in maintaining a consistent study routine, averaging a score of (2.0). Motivation towards learning emerged as a crucial factor in enhancing academic performance. Lecturers in the pharmacy faculty employed traditional teaching methods (2.01), and the pharmacy curriculum was perceived as lacking modernity (1.92). Quantitative findings demonstrated that pharmacy students experienced exam-related anxiety (2.05), identified as a weakness in the qualitative phase. Factors associated with the Syrian crisis, like unreliable electricity (1.87) and transportation issues (1.83), could have an impact on academic achievement. Economic conditions were identified as challenging to students’ academic performance, negatively affecting the learning process (1.98). Conclusion The results of the study demonstrate that personal factors, lecturers, educational environment, exams, and the Syrian crisis influence the academic achievement of pharmacy students in Syrian universities.

The role of big five traits and self-esteem on academic procrastination in Honduran and Spanish university students: A cross-cultural study

Academic procrastination, a prevalent issue in higher education, has been associated with various adverse outcomes. This study aims to discern and compare the degrees of academic procrastination among university students in Honduras and Spain while also investigating the relationship between academic procrastination and the Big Five personality factors alongside self-esteem. The sample comprised 457 university students, encompassing 237 Hondurans and 220 Spaniards. The research employed descriptive, comparative, correlational, and regression analyses. Honduran university students exhibited a significantly lower level of academic procrastination. Correlational analyses revealed that self-esteem and all Big Five personality factors, except for neuroticism in the Spanish cohort, displayed noteworthy associations with academic procrastination. Further regression analyses demonstrated that conscientiousness emerged as a significant predictor of procrastination in both samples. This study's findings can be pivotal in identifying students at risk of procrastination at an early stage. Additionally, the results can inform the development of intervention programs designed to mitigate procrastination tendencies among university students.

A qualitative study exploring ethnic youth experiences of navigating multiple cultural identities: a case example with African heritage youth living in Aotearoa/New Zealand

ABSTRACT This article discusses the challenges that African heritage youth 1 face as they navigate their African-ness and Kiwi-ness in the Aotearoa/New Zealand context. Data were drawn from a qualitative study guided by participatory action research (PAR) methodology principles exploring the opportunities and challenges these youth face while navigating their multiple cultural identities. The study used research workshops and anonymous qualitative questionnaire surveys to engage with 35 youth from African communities. PAR’s transformative lens, narrative inquiry, and inductive thematic analysis were used to identify the challenges reported in this paper. Findings show that cultural identity confers a sense of personhood and belonging. African heritage youth born or migrated to Aotearoa/New Zealand at a young age have a strong desire to express and authentically live their African-ness, Kiwi-ness, and other cultural identities. However, this is challenged by the personal, community, and societal factors explained in this paper. The findings of this research contribute towards a greater understanding of the threats to well-being linked to cultural identity construction among African youth in Aotearoa. It also makes a methodological contribution, demonstrating a transformative approach to engaging marginalized or minority groups in a research process that validates their experiences and empowers them.

Older Adult Perceptions of Health Management Based on Social Determinants of Health

Abstract Date Presented 03/23/24 This research explored older adults living in affordable housing and their views of social determinants of health and health management. The findings provide a better understanding of the role of personal factors of age and socioeconomic status on health management. Primary Author and Speaker: Kathleen (Kay) Cahill Graham Contributing Authors: Bailey Lester, Ziwang Long, Michaela Williams, Lanisha Mitchell