Personal Strengths Research Articles

Factors Influencing Willingness of Farmers to Pay for Agricultural Non-point Source Pollution Control Based on Distributed Cognitive Theory

The analysis of the willingness of individual farmers to cover costs is an important basis for measuring the economic value of agricultural non-point pollution management， and determining the ecological and economic value of rural surface pollution control is a necessary measure to internalize the externalities of agricultural production. Based on the analysis of the hierarchy of factors influencing the cognition of farmers， this study constructed a theoretical framework based on distributed cognition theory to analyze their willingness to pay for agricultural non-point source pollution control from the perspective of individual farmers. On the basis of this framework， we used the Double-Hurdle model to empirically test the overall process of farmers'willingness to pay and their willingness to pay the amount for agricultural non-point source pollution control by combining 531 microscopic research datapoints in Guanzhong， Shaanxi Province. The results showed that： ① the number of farmers with willingness to pay for agricultural non-point source pollution control was 267， accounting for 50.30% of the total sample， and the average value of willingness to pay was 1 469.77 yuan·hm-2； the total economic value of agricultural non-point source pollution control in Shaanxi Province in 2020 was estimated to be 5.791 billion yuan based on the expected value of the willingness to pay level of the research sample. ② Farmers'willingness to pay for agricultural non-point source pollution control was influenced by the combined effects of personal， regional， and cultural forces， and the effects of each dimension were similar； farmers' willingness to pay for agricultural non-point source pollution control was mainly influenced by the cultural force factor， and the effects of personal and regional forces were very limited. ③ The results of the regressions by income level showed that personal and cultural strengths had a significant impact on the willingness to pay among the low-income group but did not contribute to the increase in the willingness to pay.

The Relationship Between Resilience and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Heart Failure Patients in New York Heart Association Functional Classes II and III.

Heart failure is an intense, unpredictable, and stressful chronic disease caused by the decline in cardiac pumping function. The influence of heart failure affects patients not only in terms of physical capabilities but also in terms of their emotional and social dimensions, with patients in different functional classes experiencing different levels of effect. Although resilience and health-related quality of life have been studied in populations with heart failure, the scholarly understanding of different functional classes is limited. This study was designed to investigate the relationship between resilience and health-related quality of life among patients with heart failure in different physical functional classes in Taiwan. A cross-sectional design was applied to study patients with heart failure in northern Taiwan. Two structured questionnaires, including the Resilience Scale for Adults and the 12-item Short Form Health Survey, were used to assess resilience and health-related quality of life. New York Heart Association functional class was used to determine physical function status, and canonical correlation analysis was used to determine the weight of each resilience and quality-of-life domain for the different functional classes. The 100 participants had an average age of 65.52 years. Slightly over half (56%) were classified as Functional Class II. A group difference in health-related quality of life was observed. Personal strength (rs = .759) and social competence (rs = -.576) were found to influence the resilience and emotional role dimension of quality of life (rs = -.996) in the Functional Class II group. In addition, family cohesion (rs = -.922), dominant resilience, physical function (rs = .467), and bodily pain (rs = .465) were found to influence quality of life in the Functional Class III group. The efficacy of measures taken to increase resilience to heart failure varied in patients in different functional classes. Functional Class II individuals were better able to manage the disease using their personal strength, whereas Functional Class III individuals relied more heavily on family support and assistance for this effort. Furthermore, participant feelings about quality of life also varied by functional class, with physical function and bodily pain taking on significantly more importance for Functional Class III individuals.

긍정심리 집단상담 프로그램이 위기청소년의 자아존중감, 정서조절력, 회복탄력성에 미치는 효과

Objectives The purpose of this study was to determine whether a positive psychology group counseling program had a positive effect on the self-esteem, emotional control, and resilience of the youth at risk.
 Methods To this end, we developed a group counseling program for organizational youth based on positive psy-chology through a four-step process of goal setting, preliminary research, program and improvement. In early April 2023, problem youth were identified through a screening scale, and after going through the process of agreeing to participate, on September 10th, starting in April, once a week for 2 hours (100 minutes) for a total of 10 people. The program was explained 7 times, a total of 14 times. Mann-Whitney U insurance is claimed to verify the homo-geneity of the experimental group and comparison group, Wilcoxen Matched Pair Signed-Rank claim is claimed to claim the pre-post score change of the experimental group and comparison group, and group is claimed. Analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U test.
 Results As a result of analyzing the effectiveness of a positive psychology group counseling program for at-risk youth, the post-average for self-esteem, emotional control, and resilience all increased statistically significantly compared to the pre-average. Through this, it can be seen that the positive psychology group counseling program has a positive effect on the self-esteem, emotional control, and resilience of the youth at risk.
 Conclusions The possibility of a positive psychology group counseling program was confirmed as a way to in-crease the self-esteem, emotional control, and resilience of the youth at risk. In other words, it is very important for youth in crisis to focus on positive aspects such as personal strengths and virtues, rather than focusing on neg-ative aspects.

A theoretical framework for Acute Care Nurse Stress Appraisal: Application of the transactional model of stress and coping.

To develop a framework for understanding the stress appraisal process among acute care nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. A secondary analysis of open-ended responses from a cross-sectional survey of 3030 frontline, acute care nurses in New Jersey and the effect of burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lazarus and Folkman's transactional model of stress and coping guided the study. Thematic analysis was used to analyse 1607 open-ended responses. Nine themes emerged during the secondary appraisal of stress. Five themes contributed to distress and burnout including (1) high patient acuity with scarce resources, (2) constantly changing policies with inconsistent messaging, (3) insufficient PPE, (4) unprepared pandemic planning and (5) feeling undervalued. Four themes led to eustress and contributed to post-traumatic growth including (1) team nursing to ensure sufficient resource allocation, (2) open channels of communication, (3) sense- of-duty and (4) personal strength from new possibilities. The COVID-19 pandemic was a traumatic event for patients and the nursing workforce. Internal and external demands placed on acute care nurses increased burnout, however, a subset of nurses with adequate support experienced personal growth. Beyond mental health interventions for acute care nurses, organizational interventions such as reevaluation of emergency action plans to optimize resource allocation, and work environment strategies such as improved communication and decision-making transparency are necessary. To better understand how frontline acute care nurses experienced stress during COVID-19, a data-informed framework was developed that included a primary and secondary appraisal of stress. Themes contributing to distress and burnout were identified, and themes leading to eustress and post-traumatic growth were also identified. These findings can assist nurse leaders in optimizing strategies to reduce burnout and promote post-traumatic growth in the post-COVID years. No patient or public contribution.

Striving Towards Independent Living: The Trials and Tribulations of Institutionalised Adolescents in Malaysia

This phenomenological study explores how five institutionalised Malay adolescents used adaptive strategies towards independent living upon being released from welfare institutions. Five 17-year-old Malay Muslim adolescents, three males and two females, were recruited via purposive sampling for a focus group discussion to gather insights into their plans and strategies to cope with life challenges after being released from their respective welfare institutions. Thematic analysis of the FGD data extracted six themes that portrayed the adolescents’ adaptive strategies for facing challenges in life. The themes include making personal preparations, acquiring personal strengths, setting a career direction, exploring the support of friends and outsiders, feeling of being complete, searching for personal necessities and having a sense of responsibility. The findings highlight the need for developing a comprehensive life skills intervention for institutionalised adolescents and psychoeducation counselling modules to alleviate the adolescents’ uncertainties in going through the adjustment phase outside welfare institutions.

BAMBOO for Refugees—A Culturally Sensitive Positive Psychology Intervention: A Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

This protocol investigates the efficacy of a mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) program named BAMBOO. The goal of this program is to increase resilience and mental well-being among refugees. In recent years, there has been an increasing number of refugees fleeing to Europe and applying for permanent residence. In the Netherlands, a wide variety of programs that focus on increasing mental well-being among refugees is available. BAMBOO is a strengths-based intervention, which consists of five weekly two-hour group-based sessions. It is based on the theoretical framework of positive psychology and adapted according to the guidelines for the implementation of culturally sensitive cognitive behavioral therapy among refugees. The program does not focus on the treatment of trauma, mental disorders, or underlying problems, but aims to increase factors such as personal strengths, positive emotions, positive relations, and self-esteem. The first version of the program (BAMBOO 1.0) has been conducted at over 50 asylum centers in the Netherlands since January 2020. In the time period from September 2020 to September 2022, qualitative and quantitative data were collected among BAMBOO trainers and participants and the program was adapted, leading to a revised version (BAMBOO 2.0). A single-blinded parallel pilot randomized controlled trial, with an intervention group and awaiting list control group, with 34 participants per group will be used to test the program’s efficacy. Outcomes include resilience, satisfaction with life, positive and negative affect, and self-esteem. The study will be conducted among adult Arabic speaking refugees, residing at an asylum center in the Netherlands and/ or in a Dutch municipality, Baseline, post-intervention, and five-week follow-up assessments will be conducted. This paper describes the protocol for the evaluation of a novel and culturally adapted program. The study will shed light on the efficacy of a culturally sensitive strengths-based intervention as a preventive approach to increase refugee well-being. ERB Tilburg University, TSB RP623.

How are leadership discourses reflected in the leadership identity of young adults?

PurposeThis article focuses on the leadership development of young adults. The topic is of significant importance as leadership identity tends to form early in life, and its long-term implications contribute to leadership formation. The objective of this study was to gain insights into how leadership is constructed in young adults and how it is manifested in their preferred leadership identity.Design/methodology/approachThis research was approached from a constructivist perspective, utilizing discourse analysis. The authors conducted a study involving 24 written essays by young individuals with a business background, in which they shared their early leadership experiences. Drawing upon a modified life story interview structure, the authors meticulously analyzed the content.FindingsThe authors identified eight discourses clustered into two groups according to the types of leadership orientation: toward oneself and toward others. The discourses in the toward oneself group consist of leadership as taking responsibility, leadership as courage, manifesting personal strengths and as a role/status. The toward others group includes discourses approaching leadership as balancing directivity, coordinating and organizing work, personalized approach and as performance management.Research limitations/implicationsThe major methodological limitations stem from the qualitative design per se. The findings based on qualitative data have limits in generalizing.Practical implicationsThe authors' findings have practical implications for educators. The authors propose the utilization of critical self-reflection on early leadership experiences and self-narration as effective tools in nurturing and developing young leaders.Social implicationsThis paper underscores the importance of educating young leaders, as they can create a positive impact on their subordinates and society as a whole. By providing them with leadership skills, the authors initiate a chain reaction of influence that extends through different levels of leadership, leading to significant social change.Originality/valueThe authors' originality and contribution to the literature on leadership development lies in showcasing the diversity of perspectives on leadership among participants sharing a similar background and developmental stage. This holds valuable implications for educators working with this cohort.

N12 The Experience of Post-traumatic Growth Process in Newly Diagnosed Chinese Patients with Crohn’s Disease: A Longitudinal Qualitative Study

Abstract Background The impact of Crohn’s disease (CD) is not purely negative, it may become an opportunity for patients to undergo positive psychological adjustments and achieve personal growth. To date there has been limited in-depth research to understand the patients’ experiences of post-traumatic growth (PTG) process following an CD diagnosis using a qualitative study with a longitudinal perspective. Methods A longitudinal qualitative design was adopted. Sixteen newly diagnosed Chinese patients with CD were recruited through purposive sampling. Semi-structured interviews were conducted on three occasions: 3, 6 and 12 months post-diagnosis. Data were collected between November 2021 and December 2022. Data analysis of each time point was based on conventional content analysis. Afterwards, all data were combined for a comprehensive re-analysis to capture change. Results Four themes and fifteen sub-themes were formed through analysis (table 1). The process of PTG was shown in Figure 1. Within the first year post-diagnosis, patients with CD experienced considerable physical discomforts and psychological distress. Their personal development was also limited. With increased disease knowledge, and driven by a strong sense of responsibility and external support, the patients’ disease acceptance transformed from "difficult to accept" to "have to accept" to "should accept" then to "be able to accept". Living with CD, they actively engaged in monitoring disease condition, cooperating with treatment, exploring patterns of flare-ups, relieving stress and focusing on problem solving to eliminate negative emotions, and regaining hope and positively planning for future. Over time, the impact of CD on the patients’ lives became smaller, they integrated their disease as a part of themselves, and achieved personal growth. This growth was manifested by "developing closer relationships with others", "increasing personal strength", "changing in life philosophy" and "emerging new possibilities". Overall, as disease duration increased, the disease related sufferings diminished, and CD patients’ disease acceptance improved. In addition, as time goes by, the patients’ ability to self-manage disease enhanced, and their experience of personal growth increased. Conclusion The process of PTG in patients with CD within the first year of diagnosis primarily consists of four stages: "enduring hardships", "accepting illness", "living with illness", and "achieving personal growth". This growth was not linear, but rather cyclical. Nurses could provide targeted guidance to patients based on the trajectory identified in this study, helping them unearth inner resources and create conditions for PTG.

The promotive and protective effects of parents' perceived changes during the COVID-19 pandemic on emotional well-being among U.S. households with young children: an investigation of family resilience processes.

The COVID-19 pandemic may constitute a traumatic event for families with young children due to its acute onset, the unpredictable and ubiquitous nature, and the highly distressing disruptions it caused in family lives. Despite the prevalent challenges such as material hardships, child care disruptions, and social isolation, some families evinced remarkable resilience in the face of this potentially traumatic event. This study examined domains of changes perceived by parents of young children that were consistent with the post-traumatic growth (PTG) model as factors that facilitate family resilience processes. This study drew data from the RAPID project, a large ongoing national study that used frequent online surveys to examine the pandemic impact on U.S. households with young children. A subsample of 669 families was leveraged for the current investigation, including 8.07% Black, 9.57% Latino(a), 74.44% non-Latino(a) White families, and 7.92% households of other racial/ethnic backgrounds. In this subsample, 26.36% were below 200% federal poverty level. Approximately half of the parents reported moderate-to-large degrees of changes during the pandemic, and the most prevalent domain of change was appreciation of life, followed by personal strengths, new possibilities, improved relationships, and spiritual growth. Black and Latino(a) parents reported more changes in all five domains than White parents and more spiritual growth than parents of the other racial/ethnic groups. Moreover, parent-reported improved relationships were found to indirectly reduce young children's overall fussiness/defiance and fear/anxiety symptoms through reducing parents' emotional distress. Perceived changes in the new possibilities, personal strengths, and appreciation of life domains were found to serve as protective factors that buffered the indirect impacts of material hardship mean levels on child behavioral symptoms via mitigating parents' emotional distress. These findings shed light on resilience processes of a family system in a large-scale, disruptive, and stressful socio-historical event such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The five PTG domains could inform therapeutic and intervention practices in the face of future similar events. Importantly, these findings and the evinced family resilience should not negate the urgent needs of policy and program efforts to address material hardships, financial instabilities, and race/ethnicity-based structural inequalities for families of young children.

Posttraumatic growth in eating disorder recovery

ObjectiveTo investigate posttraumatic growth in individuals recovering from an eating disorder. DesignA convergent parallel mixed methods design was used. ParticipantsThe sample consisted of 28 participants who completed the entire study and an additional 10 who completed only the quantitative portion of this mixed methods study. MethodsThe National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) provided a link to the electronic survey via their website. Participants were asked to complete the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) and the Core Beliefs Inventory (CBI) in the quantitative strand. For the qualitative strand, participants were asked to describe any positive changes in their beliefs or life as the result of their eating disorder (ED). ResultsParticipants reported a high amount of posttraumatic growth as indicated by their mean score on the CBI (30.39, SD 7.89) and (71.26, SD 16.58) on the PTGI. Qualitative categories included relating to others, personal strength, new possibilities, appreciation of life, and spiritual change. ConclusionParticipants described the transformation they experienced in the recovery process, with recovery from an eating disorder facilitating an opportunity for growth. Providing posttraumatic growth interventions may have the potential to help individuals with eating disorders find meaning in their pathway through recovery.

Relationship between respiratory muscle strength and dynamic balance in older persons requiring care or support: Focusing on the maximal single step length test and maximal double step length test as dynamic balance indices

BackgroundFalls are a major health problem. The relationship between dynamic balance related to falls and respiratory muscle strength related to sarcopenia and frailty is poorly understood. Research questionHow do dynamic balance measures, such as maximal single step length test (MSL) and maximal double step length test (MDST), and respiratory muscle strength measures, such as maximal inspiratory (PImax) and maximal expiratory (PEmax), related to the requirement for long-term care or support in older people who live in the community? MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study of 39 older people (17 men, 22 women) aged ≥ 65 years community-dwelling who were certified as requiring long-term care or support under the Japanese system. The participants’ PImax, PEmax, MSL, and MDST results were recorded. The measurement data were evaluated using Pearson’s correlation coefficients and multiple regression analysis. ResultsMDST showed a positive correlation with PImax (r = 0.430, p = 0.006) but no correlation with PEmax. MSL showed no correlation with PImax or PEmax. A positive correlation was found between MDST and MSL (r = 0.851, p < 0.001), and multiple regression analysis with MDST as the dependent variable and PImax and MST as independent variables showed significant differences for MSL (p < 0.001) and PImax (p = 0.027). SignificanceIn older people requiring long-term care or support, MDST had a greater association with inspiratory muscle strength compared with MSL. These results suggest the importance of inspiratory muscle strength training and MDST assessment in the prevention of falls in older people requiring long-term care or support.

Parental burnout, post-traumatic growth and social support for mothers of children with disabilities

The article is devoted to the study of level indicators and the relationship between parental burnout, perceived stress, post-traumatic growth and social support in mothers of children with disabilities. The study involved 73 women, aged from 27 to 44 years (average age 36.15 years), raising children with severe chronic diseases aged 3 to 10 years (average age 7 years, average duration of the disease — 4 years, chronic the disease must have been detected in the child at least 1.5 years ago). Methods: Questionnaire “Perceived Stress Scale — 10” adapted by V.A.Ababkov; social support questionnaire “F-SOZU-22” developed by G. Som- mer, T.Fydrich, 1993 and adapted by A.B.Kholmogorova, N.G.Garanyan, G.A.Petrova; Pa- rental burnout questionnaire by I.N.Efimova; Post-traumatic growth questionnaire by R.Tedeschi, L.Calhoun, adapted by M. Sh. Magomed-Eminov. The study found high levels of perceived stress, average levels of parental burnout and post-traumatic growth, and below average levels of social support among mothers of children with disabilities. Close relations between social support and post-traumatic growth, social support and stress, and parental burnout were revealed, while relations were found between indicators of post-traumatic growth and parental burnout and stress with only one indicator of post-traumatic growth — “personal strength”. Emotional support, satisfaction with support, and subjective marital satisfaction were predictors of parental burnout and stress, and social integration was a predictor of post-traumatic growth. For mothers to cope with the stress associated with a child’s chronic illness, as well as post-traumatic growth, social support is the most important factor.

Sustaining Service: An Appreciative Inquiry into Exemplary Long Term Law Enforcement Career

In law enforcement, retirement frequently signifies the change from a career of committed service to a much-deserved moment of rest and contemplation. The study aimed to understand the factors that contribute to the success and longevity of law enforcement professionals with exemplary careers. The study utilized a qualitative research design, specifically appreciative inquiry (AI), conducted in a city within the province of Misamis Occidental, located in northern Mindanao, Philippines. Participants included nine retired uniform personnel from the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and Bureau of Fire Protection. Data collection relied on an interview guide questionnaire as the primary instrument for gathering relevant study data. There were four (4) themes in the study, namely Commitment to Service and Upholding the Law, Personal Strengths and Professional Goals, Integrating Experiences into Training Programs, Communication, Empathy, and Community Engagement. The findings highlighted that the retired officers attributed their career longevity to personal resilience, adaptability, and a clear sense of professional purpose. The conclusions emphasize the enduring significance of law enforcement in ensuring public safety and promoting fairness and accountability. Law Enforcement Agencies may continue to integrate experiential learning and mentorship into law enforcement training curriculums to better prepare recruits for real-world challenges.

Effectiveness of Emotion-Focused Therapy on Self-Efficacy and Posttraumatic Growth in Women with Breast Cancer

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of emotion-focused therapy on self-efficacy and posttraumatic growth in women with breast cancer. Methods: This quasi-experimental study (pre-test - post-test with control group) involved 30 women with breast cancer in Sari (2021) who were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned into two groups of 15 participants each, an experimental group and a control group. The measurement instruments used were the General Self-Efficacy Scale by Schwarzer and Jerusalem (1979) and the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory by Tedeschi and Calhoun (1996), completed by the participants. Subsequently, participants in the experimental group attended 10 sessions of 60-minute emotion-focused therapy over a period of ten weeks. However, no therapy sessions were conducted for the control group. Ultimately, data analysis was performed using the covariance analysis method. Findings: The analysis revealed that after the intervention, there was a significant difference between the control and experimental groups in both variables of self-efficacy and posttraumatic growth (p ≤ .05). Significant differences were observed in the components of self-efficacy (general self-preparedness and social self-efficacy) and three components of posttraumatic growth (relating to others, personal strength, and appreciation of life) between the women in the experimental and control groups (p ≤ .05); however, no significant differences were observed in the components of new possibilities and spiritual change. Conclusion: The use of emotion-focused therapy is an appropriate intervention to enhance self-efficacy and posttraumatic growth in women with breast cancer, which can be beneficial for improving psychological well-being and better coping with the disease and treatment.

Towards a Hopeful University

Drawing on insights from sociology and psychology, this paper points at hope as one of the key personal and communal strengths that contemporary academia needs in order to make use of its potential and fulfil its unique mission. It also shows the connection between futures studies, sociological reflection on hope, and the sociological understanding of leadership. The difference between unwarranted optimism and hope is explained, and hope is presented as a deeply creative, active process involving thinking more than feeling. The author argues that modern universities pay too little attention to the positive aspects of life, and thus universities become paradoxically less capable of executing their mission: to be leaders of positive change in every dimension of life, to conduct free research and free debate in which every bit of truth is respected, and to form ethical, wise leaders. Sadly, some fields of knowledge, such as sociology, lack a sufficiently developed theoretical apparatus to confront the problem. This paper concludes with recommendations for Eastern European academia.

한국어 논·서술 답안 자동채점 프로그램 PASTA-I 개발

In this study, we developed PASTA-I, an automated scoring program for Korean essays, to solve the problems of scoring burden and objectivity and consistency of scoring. PASTA-I builds a scoring model based on data on three topics from the ‘Essay Writing Evaluation Data’ released by the National Information society Agency(NIA) The scoring was done with 3 points scale across 10 scoring areas, and accordingly, the automated scoring model was implemented in this study so that scoring was done for each of the 10 scoring areas. The algorithm used to implement the scoring model was electra-kor-base, which was trained on Korean data based on the ELECTRA model, and the performance of the automated scoring model was verified using testing data set on three topics, including ‘The biography’, ‘Movie/reading review,’ and ‘My personality strengths and weaknesses,’ and the results showed an accuracy of .7 or higher in almost all areas.

POSTTRAUMATIC GROWTH DURING COVID PANDEMIC AMONG OLDER ADULTS: A MIXED METHODS STUDY

Abstract COVID has impacted life for the older adult population living in residential settings affecting psycho-social well-being. Risk for COVID is associated with increasing age and pre-existing health conditions. The purpose of the study was to investigate the post-traumatic growth (PTG) experience among older adults, and the impact of COVID and associated regulatory precautions, on well-being for older adults living in a continue care community (CCC). A parallel mixed-methods approach was used to explore the experience of older adults with PTG. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis to identify emergent themes most frequently reported from open-ended responses. Older adults (N=98) living in a single CCC completed the survey. Age ranged from 67-99 years (mean = 86) with over 90% identifying as non-Hispanic White; and female (75%). Over half (51%) reported social-psychological issues, including anxiety (32%) and depression (31%); 41% reported knowing residents who died during COVID, attributed to will to live (35%), social isolation (30%) and coexisting health conditions (75%). Qualitative analysis revealed 13 subthemes related to 5 major PTG concepts: New possibilities, relating to others, personal strength, spiritual growth and appreciation for life. This study provides a deeper understanding of how older adults residing in a CCC coped with COVID and their experiences. Results indicated that older adults experienced positive changes and PTG despite challenges. Healthcare providers should recognize these potential positive changes and growth and use them as a source for improving older adult well-being when facing pandemic challenges.

In parents’ words: Reflections on the social-emotional health system for young children experiencing homelessness

Even when high-quality, evidence-based social-emotional supports and services are available, accessing them can be challenging, confusing, or impossible for some families, especially for families experiencing homelessness. We utilized thematic analysis to explore the knowledge, skills, and networks (also known as community cultural wealth) that families experiencing homelessness use to promote their children’s social-emotional development. We also explored barriers to accessing needed services and families’ own recommendations to make the social-emotional health system more equitable and accessible. Parents reported that they were the most important people who promoted their child’s social emotional development and that their own personal strengths provided an avenue for buffering impacts of systemic challenges. Additionally, positive interactions with support people and positive experiences with programs were highly valued and impactful for families. Parents also reported barriers that interfere with receiving high quality social-emotional health services, including: (a) lack of awareness of available services and resources, (b) cost and eligibility criteria that were prohibitive, (c) negative experiences with service providers, (d) logistical barriers, and (e) personal challenges. Parents provided recommendations which guided our discussion of practice, policy, and research implications.

Clients’ experiences of Music and Imagery (MI)sessions: An integrative literature review

Music and Imagery (MI), which forms part of the Continuum Model of Guided Imagery and Music (CMGIM), is a receptive music therapy method developed by Lisa Summer (1999) as an adaptation of the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music (BMGIM). Training in MI started around 2005, and it is therefore a relatively new phenomenon in music therapy practice and research. MI includes and favours the use of clients’ preferred music during therapy. An integrative literature review was conducted to investigate how clients experienced MI sessions. Initially, 108 studies were identified through a comprehensive electronic search, including dissertations and presentations as well as personal correspondence with the developer of MI. Nineteen studies met the inclusion criteria with a total of 189 participants, ranging from one to 76 participants per study. Participants’ own descriptions of their experiences and researchers’ interpretations of participants’ feedback were examined in the six-phase thematic analysis process as described by Braun and Clarke (2021). Six themes were identified: Music as a catalyst for transformational experiences; Emotional experiences; Strengths, acceptance and self awareness; Affect regulation; Trust and feeling protected; and Connectedness. Upon reflection, the researchers found that these themes could all be connected. Music generated emotional experiences, which could assist with affect regulation as well as the recognition of personal strengths, acceptance and self-awareness, and feelings of trust and protection ultimately formed part of a sense of connectedness.

Directions of personal growth of higher education students under chronic war stress

Introduction. Effective coping with chronic war stress requires monitoring of personal changes, as well as the creation and running of social and psychological support programs for higher education students. Aim: to empirically investigate the directions of personal growth of higher education students under the chronic war stress. Methods. A comparative research with the time factor as an independent variable was used. The empirical study used the following qualitative and quantitative methods: narrative interview "The Impact of War Stress on My Life, Personality, and Activity" (topics: events, consequences, methods of coping); "Post-traumatic Growth Scale" (Tedeschi &amp; Calhoun). The collected qualitative material was subject to content analysis according to predetermined criteria. Quantitative data were compared in percentage terms. Results. The war had a deep transformative effect on almost on every third higher education students. Especially intensive changes in students' identity occurred at the beginning of the war. Challenges of war activated various positive reinterpretations of personal experience: attitude to life and spirituality, opening of new opportunities, increasing value of relationships. The most problematic, from the point of view of positive reinterpretation, was the area of "personal strength." Conclusions. Social and psychological support for the personal growth of higher education students in times of war can be successful if it is rendered at the organizational, interpersonal, and personal levels. Effective interventions can include psychoeducation, coping skills development as well as resourcing.