Previous Traumatic Experiences Research Articles

Lived experiences of transgender and nonbinary people in the perioperative context: a qualitative study.

Transgender and nonbinary (TNB) people experience obstacles that create barriers to accessing health care, including stigmatization and health inequities. Our intention was to describe the lived experiences of TNB patients and identify potential gaps in the education of health care professionals. We conducted a qualitative descriptive study influenced by phenomenology by interviewing with TNB adults who underwent surgery in Canada within the previous 5 years. We recruited participants using purposeful and snowball sampling via online social networking sites. Audio recordings were transcribed. Two authors coded the transcripts and derived the themes. We interviewed 21 participants, with a median interview duration of 49 minutes. Participants described positive and negative health care encounters that led to stress, confusion, and feelings of vulnerability. Major themes included having to justify their need for health care in the face of structural discrimination; fear and previous traumatic experiences; community as a source of support and information; and the impact of interactions with health care professionals. Participants detailed barriers to accessing care, struggled to participate in shared decision-making, and desired trauma-informed care principles; they described strength in community and positive interactions with health care professionals, although barriers to accessing gender-affirming care often overshadowed other aspects of the perioperative experience. Additional research, increased education for health care professionals, and policy changes are necessary to improve access to competent care for TNB people.

Peculiarities of using hardiness training in psychological rehabilitation of combat participants

The article is devoted to the analysis of the peculiarities of the use of resilience and vitality training for psychological adaptation to new living conditions. Resilience is characterized as a person's ability to act effectively, despite stressful life situations. Resilience training is defined as a set of exercises aimed at forming effective interpersonal relationships based on support and trust, taking into account a person's previous traumatic experience. Identifying the possibilities of using strengthening training in the psychological rehabilitation of combatants. The objectives of the article are to define the concept of hardiness, the ways of its development in adulthood, the degree of pronouncedness of hardiness in demobilized combatants, analysis of the adaptation of hardiness to the conditions of Ukraine, the formation of a perspective identity in the context of this training, and the influence of training on the psychological adaptation of combatants. The following methods were used in this study: PCL-5 (F.W. Weathers), Rogers-Diamond questionnaire adapted by O. Osnitsky, viability questionnaire (S. Maddy). Endurance training is a set of exercises aimed at forming adaptive coping strategies, effective interpersonal relationships based on support and trust. The training basis of Hardinez is continuity, presented as the unity and wholeness of a person in the process of time, which reflects the temporary character of the individual. The described criterion of identity is ensured by the process of transformation of any changes that occur with a person and in a person into a continuous, continuous whole. Traditionally, resilience has been viewed as a general positive adaptation to stressors. However, the trait of resilience – returning to a previous state after crisis or extreme situations – can also have serious, often overlooked, drawbacks. In particular, it may be unrealistic to return to a previous state, or resilience may lead to a person being stuck in an unwanted, uncomfortable state. Since the concept of resilience is closely related to the impact of a stressor, it is necessary to clearly explain what a stressor is and how it affects a person. When resilience is conceptualized as a general positive adaptation, the stressor is usually defined as an event that is statistically associated with impairment, such as trauma. Resilience and hardiness training as a group form of psychological rehabilitation can be successfully used to improve adaptation skills to new life conditions, which are the Russian-Ukrainian war.

Migraine and psychosomatic comorbidity

As a common neurological disorder (10-15% of the population), migraine is associated with numerous comorbidities, particularly other pain syndromes, mental illnesses and functional disorders. These 'psychosomatic' comorbidities increase with migraine severity. Severely affected, comorbid patients also often have a poorer response to specific migraine therapy. Interestingly, migraine and the comorbidities mentioned have a number of common aetiological or facilitating factors, e.g. genetic factors, and show a higher incidence in women and in people with previous traumatic experiences, as well as (in the case of pain syndromes) signs of central sensitization. Another common feature is the association with current or chronic stress. We propose an extended diathesis-stress model that takes into account interrelated but individually different vulnerabilities and, depending on the stress experience, can depict both the occurrence of individual disorders (e.g. an isolated migraine) and the joint occurrence of migraine with other pain syndromes and other psychosomatic comorbidities. In summary, psychosomatic comorbidities should always be kept in mind in migraine therapy and, if necessary, treated early and multimodally.

Antisocial personality disorder in children and adolescents with refugee/forcible displacement backgrounds

The problematic of integration and social inclusion appears to be highly crucial issue under the prism of societal introduction of children and adolescents possessing refugee/forcibly displacement backgrounds. Besides acute accompanying depression, PTSD, other psycho-emotional disorders related directly to previous traumatic experiences (war, armed conflicts, political, economical insecurity/instability, persecution of an individual, discrimination, degrading treatment etc). The necessity to distinguish specific factors of integration/social inclusion of minors with refugee/forcible displacement backgrounds was posed drastically, once the Russian full-scale invasion on the territory of Ukraine took place on February 24, 2022. The war caused a massive influx of Ukrainian refugees/forcibly displaced persons to the territory of particularly European Union. Among newcomers, there is more than 50% of children/adolescents of different age groups. Under the prism of understanding specific features of going through transitional age in case of all ordinary minors, we have decided to lead a research on development of the antisocial personality disorder in case of minor refuge seekers on the territory of the EU, by bringing as an example actually Ukrainian youth. On the basis of our current research, we have distinguished main differences between ordinary transitional period and IDP in children/adolescents with refugee/forcible displacement backgrounds), as well as provided main reasons, which may cause the development of the analyzed disorder in minors in general.

Female-To-Male Transgenders Patients’ Perceived Disparities in Cancer Screening Adherence: A Phenomenological Study

Members of the transgender community may have a higher risk for cancer due to certain factors like smoking, alcohol and drug use, obesity, and significantly higher rates of HIV. However, transgender persons are less likely to adhere to life-saving cancer screening exams than cisgender individuals. Although quantitative data exist showing the lower percentage of transgender vs. heterosexual cancer screening adherence rates, qualitative research from a transgender person's point of view is needed to understand the barriers to why fewer transgender individuals adhere to cancer screening guidelines. This qualitative, phenomenological study aims to explore female-to-male transgender individuals’ perceived experiences with cancer screening exams. A convenience sample of seven female-to-male transgender individuals was recruited from LGBTQ social media support websites. Qualitative data were collected through in-depth Zoom interviews using open-ended questions regarding the participant’s level of knowledge of routine cancer screening exams and the barriers preventing them from seeking these exams. Results from data analysis showed that overall, participants were unfamiliar with routine cancer screening recommendations. To determine barriers, thematic analysis of the interview data generated four main themes. These included: social stigma (discrimination), financial/insurance difficulty, emotional stress, and previous traumatic experiences. Understanding why this underserved population does not adhere to cancer screening exams will help identify specific barriers that can be addressed through interventions and education. If improvements can be made in health care so that the percentage of trans-patients who commit to routine cancer screening increases, diagnosis and treatment will improve, and lives will be saved.

Traumatic Sequelae of Exposure to Street Gangs in Young Women Placed in Residential Care During Adolescence: Examining the Dose-Response Relationship

ABSTRACT Exposure to street gangs in girls represents a complex trauma experience due to many reasons, including their complicated relationships with male gang members, repeated exposure to potentially traumatic events within the gang setting, and the developmental stage of adolescence when gang exposure typically occurs. However, research exploring the various complex trauma symptoms associated with gang exposure among girls has been sparse. Therefore, using a longitudinal design, this study examined the impact of adolescent girls’ street gang exposure on complex trauma symptoms in emerging adulthood, considering the influence of previous traumatic experiences in childhood. The study involved 110 adolescent girls admitted at two residential care centers in Montreal, Canada, between January 2008 and October 2009. It analyzed the effects of both initial occurrence and recurrence of exposure to street gangs. The findings demonstrated the harmful effects of repeated and prolonged exposure to street gangs during adolescence and emerging adulthood on a wide range of complex trauma symptoms, including post-traumatic stress, insecure attachment, externalization, and somatization. These findings emphasize the need for implementing trauma-informed approaches when addressing the challenges faced by girls who have been exposed to street gangs.

Current status of post-traumatic stress disorder among emergency nurses and the influencing factors.

To gain a better understanding of the current state of traumatic stress experienced by emergency nurses of Grade III Level A hospitals in Jiangsu Province, as well as their coping styles after experiencing such traumatic events. Additionally, this study aims to identify the primary factors that influence the responses of these nurses to traumatic events. Using a cluster random sampling method, we enrolled 265 nurses working in the emergency departments of five Grade III Level A hospitals in Jiangsu Province. These nurses participated in a questionnaire survey that included inquiries regarding general information, previous traumatic experiences, and a post-traumatic stress disorder self-assessment scale (PCL-C) for emergency department nurses. A total of 290 questionnaires were distributed, resulting in 265 valid questionnaires and an effective rate of 91.38%. These findings indicated that emergency nurses who participated in public health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic (45.66%) and sudden health deterioration and death of patients (43.77%) encountered the most traumatic events. The top two traumatic events that had a moderate or greater impact on emergency nurses were verbal abuse from patients or their family members (39.24%) and verbal or physical threats by patients or their family members (35.09%). The mean PCL-C score of nurses who experienced traumatic events was 33.62 ± 11.37, with a positive rate of 26.04%. Results from the one-way analysis of variance and multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that the working years, monthly income, and personal health status of emergency nurses were the main factors contributing to post-traumatic stress disorder. Emergency nurses are susceptible to severe traumatic stress following traumatic events, and effective interventions are necessary to address the diverse factors that contribute to their psychological well-being.

Past Traumatic Life Events, Postpartum PTSD, and the Role of Labor Support.

The aim of this study was to investigate the association of postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder (PP-PTSD) symptoms and subjective rates of traumatic birth experience with past traumatic life events (physical and sexual assault, child abuse, perinatal loss, previous traumatic birth experience, and the cumulative traumatic experience). A sample of Russian women (n = 2579) who gave birth within the previous 12 months, filled in a web-based survey, where they reported demographic and obstetric characteristics and past traumatic experiences, evaluated their birth experience (0 = not traumatic, 10 = extremely traumatic), and completed the City Birth Trauma Scale (CBiTS). We found that PP-PTSD symptoms were higher among women who previously experienced physical (F = 22.02, p < 0.001) and sexual (F = 15.98, p < 0.001) assault and child abuse (F = 69.25, p < 0.001), with only associations with child abuse (F = 21.14, p < 0.001) remaining significant for subjective rates of traumatic birth experience. Perinatal loss and previous traumatic birth showed moderate but inconsistent effects. Support during labor did not have a buffering effect for participants with past traumatic experiences but showed a universally protective effect against PP-PTSD. Trauma-informed practices and allowing women to have a supportive birth team of choice during childbirth are promising avenues to minimize the incidence of PP-PTSD and improve the childbirth experience for all women.

Social connectedness and resilience post COVID-19 pandemic: Buffering against trauma, stress, and psychosis.

The present study investigated psychosocial predictors of psychosis-risk, depression, anxiety, and stress in Croatia two years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the existing transgenerational war trauma and associated psychiatric consequences in Croatian population, a significant pandemic-related deterioration of mental health was expected. Recent studies suggest that after an initial increase in psychiatric disorders during the pandemic in Croatia, depression, stress, and anxiety rapidly declined. These findings highlight the role of social connectedness and resilience in the face of the global pandemic. We examined resilience and psychiatric disorder risk in 377 Croatian adults using an anonymous online mental health survey. Results indicate that there was an exacerbation of all mental ill health variables, including depression, anxiety, stress, and a doubled risk for psychosis outcome post-COVID pandemic. Stress decreased levels of resilience, however, those exposed to previous traumatic experience and greater social connectedness had higher resilience levels. These findings suggest that individual differences in underlying stress sensitization of Croatian population due to past trauma may continue to influence mental health consequences two years after COVID-19 pandemic. It is essential to promote the importance of social connectedness and resilience in preventing the development of variety of mental health disorders.

Web-Based Social Networks of Individuals With Adverse Childhood Experiences: Quantitative Study

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), which include abuse and neglect and various household challenges such as exposure to intimate partner violence and substance use in the home, can have negative impacts on the lifelong health of affected individuals. Among various strategies for mitigating the adverse effects of ACEs is to enhance connectedness and social support for those who have experienced them. However, how the social networks of those who experienced ACEs differ from the social networks of those who did not is poorly understood. In this study, we used Reddit and Twitter data to investigate and compare social networks between individuals with and without ACE exposure. We first used a neural network classifier to identify the presence or absence of public ACE disclosures in social media posts. We then analyzed egocentric social networks comparing individuals with self-reported ACEs with those with no reported history. We found that, although individuals reporting ACEs had fewer total followers in web-based social networks, they had higher reciprocity in following behavior (ie, mutual following with other users), a higher tendency to follow and be followed by other individuals with ACEs, and a higher tendency to follow back individuals with ACEs rather than individuals without ACEs. These results imply that individuals with ACEs may try to actively connect with others who have similar previous traumatic experiences as a positive connection and coping strategy. Supportive interpersonal connections on the web for individuals with ACEs appear to be a prevalent behavior and may be a way to enhance social connectedness and resilience in those who have experienced ACEs.

Uptake, experiences and barriers to cervical screening for trans and non-binary people in AotearoaNew Zealand.

To identify uptake, barriers and reasons for delaying cervical cancer screening among TGNB people in Aotearoa. The 2018 Counting Ourselves data on TGNB people assigned female at birth aged 20-69 years who had ever had sex, were analysed to report on experiences of those who were eligible for cervical screening (n=318). Participants answered questions about whether they had taken part in cervical screening and reasons behind any delays in receiving the test. Trans men were more likely than non-binary participants to report that they did not require cervical screening or were unsure if they needed it. For those who had delayed cervical screening, 30% did so due to feeling worried about how they would be treated as a trans or non-binary person and 35% due to another reason. Other reasons for delay related to general and gender-related discomfort, previous traumatic experiences, anxiety or fear of the test and pain. Material barriers to access included cost and lack of information. The current cervical screening program in Aotearoa does not consider the needs of TGNB people, leading to delayed and reduced uptake of cervical screening. Health providers require education on the reasons TGNB people delay or avoid cervical screening in order to provide appropriate information and affirmative healthcare environments. The human papillomavirus self-swab may address some of the existing barriers.

Relationship between Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Sleep Disturbances in Syrian Refugees in the United States.

Background Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with disturbed sleep. However, the impact of sleep disturbances and PTSD symptomology in refugee populations is not well known. This study examined how PTSD-related sleep symptoms and overall sleep quality were impacted by previous and current traumatic and stressful experiences. Methods Adult Syrian refugees living in Southeast Michigan were assessed via scheduled in-home interviews. Overall sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. PTSD-related sleep disturbances were measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Addendum. The presence of PTSD symptomatology was assessed via self-report using the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist. The Life Events Checklist for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition-5 screened for prior traumatic events experienced and the Postmigration Living Difficulties Questionnaire was assessed for postmigration stressors. Correlational analysis was conducted between overall sleep quality, PTSD symptom severity, and previous trauma experienced. A stepwise linear regression analysis was conducted to examine the role of overall sleep quality, PTSD-specific sleep disturbances, current living difficulties, and the number of preimmigration traumatic events directly experienced or witnessed due to the presence of overall PTSD symptomology. Results A total of 53 adults completed the study. PTSD-disturbed sleep was found to be positively associated with overall poor sleep quality ( r = 0.42, p < 0.01), PTSD symptomology ( r = 0.65, p < 0.01), and current living difficulties ( r = 0.37, p < 0.05). The PTSD-related sleep disturbances (B = 0.66, p < 0.01) and postmigration living difficulties (B = 0.44, p < 0.01) were found to be the strongest predictors of PTSD symptoms. Conclusion Disturbed sleep is strongly associated with current stressful experiences and PTSD symptomology among Syrian refugees.

Muss Rewind Therapy to alleviate symptoms related to some form of traumatic experience: A thematic analysis of participants' experiences and their perceived effectiveness of MRT

AbstractSometimes referred to as a memory reconsolidation treatment, Muss Rewind Therapy (MRT) is a brief psychological intervention which has shown promise in treating symptoms related to some forms of traumatic experience. This study aimed at adding to minimal existing research by exploring the experiences of UK participants who have chosen to self‐refer for MRT for help with symptoms they attributed to some form of previous traumatic experience. Ten participants were interviewed online, and qualitative data were collected using video recordings and transcription. A semistructured framework was employed to explore participants' individual experiences of MRT. All participants rated MRT as helping alleviate the symptoms they related to a previous traumatic experience. Several key themes emerged regarding the participants' experiences of the treatment, including the overall role of the therapist; participants being at the end of their tether before seeking help; experiencing negative emotions during the intervention; repetition of the MRT process in the therapy room; and experiencing some positive outcomes. However, it was unclear whether positive impacts reported after MRT were due specifically to MRT or nonspecific therapy factors because of variations in the way the MRT protocol was delivered and inclusion of other techniques in or before the MRT sessions. Whilst more rigorous research is needed, including research which follows a strict protocol when MRT is provided, to compare MRT versus control group, this novel addition to the existing research, which looks at clients' perspectives on their experiences and their perceived effectiveness of MRT, can add to and inform further research development.

Does Madness Really Exist? An autobiographical analysis of psychosis as a response to trauma and not a ‘mad’ state of mind

The relatively new method of autoethnography as valid research is used in this paper. The method combines a personal and introspective approach with the academic research method. By reflecting on her experience of psychosis, the first author (LF) attempts to show how psychotic symptoms, such as delusions or paranoid perceptions, have a symbolic meaning and could relate to previous traumatic experiences. She uses Winnicott’s concept of the ‘true’ and the ‘false’ self and applies it to psychotic illness. Using auto-ethnographic details of her experiences, she indicates how trauma, and associated falsification of its understanding, led to distortion, i‧e., a false reality, a symptom typically associated with psychosis. A brief comparison is then made of her experience to two other published auto-biographical cases. In light of this self-analysis and careful reading of key psychoanalytic texts, the author explores and explains what, in her experience, may lead people to act in a manner not typical of their true being and how this might explain the rare dangerous behaviour that can occur in some psychotic cases. The understanding of psychosis as ‘madness’ (i‧e., to be without reason) is revealed to be due to lack of understanding of its possible underlying causes.

Exploring women’s experiences in a midwifery continuity of care model following a traumatic birth

ProblemOver one third of women report their birth experience as psychologically traumatic. Psychological birth trauma has been associated with perinatal mental illness and post-traumatic stress disorder. BackgroundMidwifery continuity of care provides improved outcomes for mothers and babies as well as increased birth satisfaction. Some women who have experienced psychological birth trauma will seek out midwifery continuity of care in their next pregnancy. The aim of this study was to explore women’s experiences of midwifery continuity of care following a previous traumatic birth experience in Australia. MethodsA qualitative descriptive approach was undertaken. Eight multiparous women who self-identified as having psychological birth trauma were interviewed. Data were analysed using thematic analysis to discover how participants subsequently experienced care in a midwifery continuity of care model. FindingsSeven out of eight participants had care from a private midwife following birth trauma. Four themes were discovered. The nightmare lives on: despite a positive and/or healing experience in midwifery continuity of care, women still carry their traumatic birth experiences with them. Determination to find better care: Women sought midwifery continuity of care following a previous traumatic birth in their desire to prevent a similar experience. A broken maternity system: women described difficulties accessing these models including financial barriers and lack of availability. The power of continuity: All reported a positive experience birthing in a midwifery continuity of care model and some reported that this had a healing effect. ConclusionOffering midwifery continuity of care models to women with a history of psychological birth trauma can be beneficial. More research is necessary to confirm the findings of this small study, and on ways women who have psychological birth trauma can be prioritised for midwifery continuity of care models in Australia.

Behavioural disorder in a dog with congenital agenesis of the vomeronasal organ and the septum pellucidum

ABSTRACTA 1.5‐year‐old, entire male mongrel dog with a bifid nose and primary cleft palate showed aggressiveness towards unknown dogs despite having adequate canine socialisation and the absence of previous traumatic experiences; furthermore, he does not exhibit sexual behaviour towards females in heat. He was previously treated for fear‐related aggression towards unknown people and environmental phobia due to poor human socialisation. Pharmacological treatment with fluoxetine and trazodone, together with behaviour modification, was started without success. Therefore, it was decided to repeat medical tests. CT and MRI revealed a rostral middle raphe ossification defect incompatible with the presence of the vomeronasal organ (VNO) and the absence of the septum pellucidum (SP). The dog was presumptively diagnosed with aggressiveness towards unknown dogs due to an organic cause, a congenital anomaly with agenesis of the VNO and SP. This case shows the importance of both structures in the regular intraspecific interactions of dogs.

Predictors of PTSD and Psychological Distress Symptoms of Ukraine Civilians During war.

War may raise the level of distress and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The study explores the extent to which 4 factors determine levels of PTSD and distress symptoms of Ukraine civilians (without developing PTSD) during the current war. The data were collected via a Ukrainian internet panel company. 1001 participants responded to a structured online questionnaire. Path analysis was conducted to identify predictive indicators of PTSD scores. PTSD symptoms positively correlated with respondents' level of exposure to the war and their sense of danger, and negatively correlated with well-being, family income, and age. Females scored higher on PTSD symptoms. Path analysis showed that higher exposure to war and higher sense of danger increase PTSD and distress symptoms, whereas higher well-being, higher individual resilience, and being a man, as well as older age decrease their level. Despite the strong effects of the coping suppressing factors, most respondents did not reach the critical level of PTSD or distress symptoms. At least 4 positive and negative factors account for people's coping with stressful experiences: previous traumatic experiences, individual level of pathology, personality attributes, and socio-demographic characteristics. The balance of these factors protects most people from PTSD symptoms despite their being affected by war traumas.

PAST TRAUMATIC LIFE EVENTS AND POSTPARTUM PTSD

Postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder (PP-PTSD) can be conceptualised both as the fi rst-time onset disorder related solely to childbirth in the absence of prior PTSD symptoms or any predisposing factors as well as a pre-existing PTSD after previous traumatic events that is reactivated by childbirth. Accordingly, convincing evidence indicates that past traumatic experience is a signifi cant risk factor for developing PP-PTSD. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of postpartum posttraumatic stress disorder (PP-PTSD) symptoms and subjective rates of traumatic birth experience with past traumatic life events, namely physical and sexual assault, child abuse, and the cumulative traumatic experience. Furthermore, we investigated the effects of previous traumatic birth experience on subsequent childbirth and risk of PP-PTSD. A sample of Russian women (n= ) who gave birth within the previous  months, fi lled in a web-based survey, where they reported demographic and obstetric characteristics, past traumatic experiences, evaluated their birth experience (-not traumatic, -extremely traumatic) and completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the City Birth Trauma Scale (CBiTS). We found that PP-PTSD symptoms were higher among women who previously experienced physical (F=., p&lt;.) and sexual (F=.,p&lt;.) assault and child abuse (F=.,p&lt;.), with only associations with child abuse (F=.,p&lt;.) remaining signifi cant for subjective rates of traumatic birth experience. After adjustment for covariates the cumulative traumatic experiences were signifi cantly associated with both PP-PTSD symptoms (B=.,p&lt;.) and the subjective rates of traumatic birth experience (B=.,p&lt;.). PP-PTSD symptoms were lowest for those who had already given birth previously and that experience had not been traumatic; they were, on average, more than . points higher for those who gave birth for the fi rst time in the present study, and, fi nally, the highest scores were among the participants whose previous birth experience was also traumatic (F=., p&lt;.). Trauma awareness training for midwives, obstetricians and other caregivers working with women during perinatal period is essential and trauma-informed practices during childbirth are warranted for prevention of PP-PTSD.

Advancing the Science of Recruitment and Retention in Alzheimer’s disease Clinical Studies among Spanish‐speaking immigrant Latino/Hispanic communities

AbstractBackgroundWhile Latinos/Hispanics living with Alzheimer’s are projected to grow 832% by the year 2060, they make up approximately 7.5% of research participants across 32 federally funded Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers. Our previous work presented at AAIC 2020 highlighted how the Human Connectome Project’s study design automatically excluded 94% of potential Latino/Hispanic community members in Southern California due to language. As a result, the individuals recruited and retained were mostly bilingual white Latinos/Hispanics with higher education and occupational attainment and high levels of research literacy, resembling the well‐known WEIRD sample (e.g., White, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic). In the current study, we sought to understand the role of Latino/Hispanic community stakeholders in involving community members more representative of Southern California (Spanish‐Speaking, low income, immigrants, Afro‐Latinx, Indigenous Natives).MethodDuring the COVID‐19 pandemic, we recruited 11 community stakeholders from Southern California to complete a 1‐hour semi‐structured interview via an HIPPA compliant zoom platform. All participants were involved in Latino healthy aging and Alzheimer’s Disease organizations. We conducted a preliminary reflexive thematic analysis from the interviews.ResultThe overarching theme surrounded the exclusion of Latinx/Hispanic community stakeholders from leadership conversations about Alzheimer’s disease clinical research priorities. The systematic exclusion of community stakeholders from leadership tables lead to non‐inclusive community engagement and research practices. They were solely used for outreach (“find me your people”), as well as for the translation of recruitment materials, and/or for the sole administration of poorly translated and non‐culturally adapted outcome measures. These practices lead to the exclusion of Spanish‐speaking, immigrant communities through language and cultural isolation, triggering negative cognitive schemas and negative beliefs from previous traumatic experiences of exclusionary practices in the United States.ConclusionOur findings highlight how the Alzheimer’s disease clinical research enterprise continues to propagate multi‐level systematic exclusionary practices, accounting for the lack of equitable representation of high‐risk Latinx/Hispanic communities in research. To advance the science of recruitment and retention, and brain health equity, we need to systematically employ transformative community engagement and inclusive science models where Latinx/Hispanic community stakeholders are essential in decision‐making research process with equal‐power and shared governance.

What do foster parents think about their foster children’s education?

ABSTRACT Background It is widely understood that children who enter foster care are likely to have had previous traumatic experiences which can affect many aspects of their lives, including their ability to thrive at school. In order to better support the educational needs of children who are fostered, deeper insight needs to be gained into the relationships between children in foster care, foster parents, and schools. As a contribution to this under-researched area, this study focuses attention on the viewpoints of foster parents in relation to their foster children’s school experiences, in a Polish context. Purpose This research sought to explore the perceptions of foster parents on the education of their foster children and investigate how they understood these experiences. Methods A qualitative, interpretive phenomenological study was undertaken to analyse foster parents’ lived experiences of their foster children’s education. A purposive sample of 62 foster parents participated across seven focus groups. An in-depth, interpretive analysis was conducted. Findings Overall, analysis of the rich data set identified four main themes, which crossed all focus groups: Experiences of discrimination; Advocating for the child, Feelings of futility, and Connecting positively. Conclusions The study highlights more widely how foster parents can feel routinely excluded from their foster children’s education and suggests that feelings of discrimination may be common experiences. It also draws attention to the opportunities for meaningful connectivity between school professionals, foster parents and children. Implications for practice, which may be of use in other settings internationally, are offered.