Psychosocial Research Research Articles

Psychosocial Aspects of Participation in Competitive Sports Among Older Athletes: A Scoping Review.

In the last decade, sport has been considered a tool in active aging to maintain physical fitness, improve mental well-being, and form social relationships among older people. However, a thorough psychosocial understanding of the phenomenon of older athletes competing in sports events is lacking. Most research has focused on competitive sports participation in the young population. This study analyzes the general state of knowledge of competitive sports participation among athletes aged 50 years and older from a psychosocial perspective. We followed the 5-step process outlined by Arksey and O'Malley. After the search in 4 electronic databases, 69 peer-reviewed articles met the inclusion criteria. The findings indicate that psychosocial research into older people's participation in competitive sports has grown moderately in the last decade. While intrapersonal and interpersonal aspects have dominated the academic psychosocial discourse on older athletes' competitive sports participation, aspects related to the environment/community and policy have largely been overlooked. We identified several critical gaps in the literature, classified into conceptual (e.g., lesser attention to personality, emotional, and cognitive aspects), methodological (e.g., longitudinal studies almost absent), and diverse aspects (e.g., focus on a wide indiscriminate age range; few comparisons between types of sports; underrepresentation of some nation or world regions as well as few cross-national comparative studies). These research gaps hint at opportunities that future research on older people's participation in competitive sports should address.

Disrupted Dialogues: Exploring Misgendered Diagnoses and Experiences of Melancholia and Depression Through the Lens of Pericles and Contemporary Psychiatric Practice

ABSTRACT This article disrupts present-day readings of women’s experience of and diagnoses with depression by reading them in the light of the patriarchally inscribed experience of melancholia in the early modern period as explored in Shakespeare and Wilkins’ Pericles. It reads the paralleled experiences of Pericles and Marina and early modern proto-medical treatises in the light of contemporary psychiatric diagnostic practice and psychosocial research. It considers how norms, gendering, and privilege can affect the way an individual’s expression of their experience is read, received, diagnosed, and treated, as eroticised cures are laid against talking therapies in Pericles, and the gendered application of the labels of melancholia and depression and the gendered assumptions undergirding therapeutic interventions are probed. In so doing, it shows the value of reading early modern drama through a medical humanities lens to underline the biases which still have a measurable impact in mental health diagnostic settings today. The stark consequences of these biases for women emerge when these texts are brought into interdisciplinary and transhistorical dialogue. The early modern and present strands are pulled together by exploring how Pericles pushes back against the way gender can be leveraged to mistreat, exploit or silence.

Optimising neurodevelopmental and psychosocial outcomes for survivors with CHD: a research agenda for the next decade.

Neurodevelopmental and psychosocial impairments negatively impact health-related quality of life for survivors with CHD and complicate the transition to independent adulthood. Risk for neurodevelopmental and psychosocial impairments is influenced by a complex interplay among genetic, foetal, surgical, perioperative, family, and social factors, requiring a multi-pronged approach to neuroprotection and intervention. To ensure future research can ultimately reduce the burden of CHD for individuals, families, and society, the most pressing issues in cardiac neurodevelopment requiring scientific investigation must be identified.Through funding from an R13 Grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health of the United States of America, the Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Outcome Collaborative convened a two-day meeting of international experts in cardiac neurodevelopmental and psychosocial research, clinical care, and health disparities, including patient and family stakeholders, to define the cardiac neurodevelopmental and psychosocial outcomes research agenda for the next decade. Seven multidisciplinary working groups were formed to address key domains crucial to the advancement of cardiac neurodevelopmental and psychosocial outcomes research: 1) Foetal Brain Development and Neuroprotection, 2) Surgical/Perioperative Neuroprotection and Neurodevelopment, 3) Characterization of Neurodevelopmental and Psychological Outcomes, 4) Neurodevelopmental and Psychosocial Intervention, 5) Parent Mental Health and Family Functioning, 6) Neurodevelopmental Education, Outreach and Advocacy, and 7) Health Disparities and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes. Working groups identified significant gaps in knowledge and critical questions that must be answered to further knowledge, policy, care, and outcomes. The development of a research agenda in cardiac neurodevelopmental and psychosocial outcomes is critical for informing collaborative initiatives and allocation of funding for research to scientific inquiries of highest value to key stakeholders.

Neurodevelopmental and psychosocial interventions for individuals with CHD: a research agenda and recommendations from the Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Outcome Collaborative.

In 2018, the Neurodevelopmental and Psychosocial Interventions Working Group of the Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Outcome Collaborative convened through support from an R13 grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to survey the state of neurodevelopmental and psychosocial intervention research in CHD and to propose a slate of critical questions and investigations required to improve outcomes for this growing population of survivors and their families. Prior research, although limited, suggests that individualised developmental care interventions delivered early in life are beneficial for improving a range of outcomes including feeding, motor and cognitive development, and physiological regulation. Interventions to address self-regulatory, cognitive, and social-emotional challenges have shown promise in other medical populations, yet their applicability and effectiveness for use in individuals with CHD have not been examined. To move this field of research forward, we must strive to better understand the impact of neurodevelopmental and psychosocial intervention within the CHD population including adapting existing interventions for individuals with CHD. We must examine the ways in which dedicated cardiac neurodevelopmental follow-up programmes bolster resilience and support children and families through the myriad transitions inherent to the experience of living with CHD. And, we must ensure that interventions are person-/family-centred, inclusive of individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds as well as those with genetic/medical comorbidities, and proactive in their efforts to include individuals who are at highest risk but who may be traditionally less likely to participate in intervention trials.

Mitigating the impacts of COVID-19: where are the mental health trials?

Mitigating the impacts of COVID-19: where are the mental health trials?

The Potential of Silence in Education: Methodological and Didactic Prerequisites

This paper investigates philosophical, cultural and didactic potential of silence in education. The author substantiates that in the world of ever-augmenting speaking, the student’s silence is manifested as a stage, when there is nothing to say for oneself. This is attributable to the monologue nature of education, the main meanings, goals and the content of which is to convey the multicultural experience of mankind to a “monocultural” student. At the same time, there is a huge potential for silence as competence whereby a student generates his new meanings, knowledge, questions. The paper presents a comparative analysis of the didactics of Eastern and Western cultures core parameters as creativity, dialogism, interactivity. The author concludes that despite the sufficiently large number of the silence phenomenon studies in pedagogy, they mainly affect the methodical le[1]vel. In reliance on philosophical, linguistic, psychosocial research, the article originally examines the methodological foundations of the design and implementation of the didactics of silence. Particular attention is paid to the links between silence, “questioning” and heuristics. It is indicated that silence in teaching factors into exponential development and the formation of such future competencies as creativity, communication, and the affective sphere.

Research Engagement and Experiences of Participants in the Mechanical Circulatory Support: Measures of Adjustment and Quality of Life (MCS A-QOL) Study

<h3>Purpose</h3> Adults with chronic diseases often have difficulty engaging in research due to disease burden. In a secondary analysis, we examined mechanical circulatory support (MCS) patients' engagement in and experience of a health-related quality of life (HRQOL) research study (MCS A-QOL). <h3>Methods</h3> Pre- or post-MCS implant, demographic and clinical data were collected from participants, medical records, and INTERMACS. They completed HRQOL questionnaires and a semi-structured interview about their research experience. Logistic regression was used to identify patient characteristics associated with study engagement (i.e., questionnaire completion). Qualitative analysis of interview responses used a thematic approach. <h3>Results</h3> Of 1011 eligible adults at 12 U.S. sites, 877 (87%) enrolled (10/26/16 to 2/29/20) and 687 of enrolled (78%) engaged in the study (Table). Characteristics associated with study engagement were non-Hispanic White race (OR=1.69, 95%CI=1.17-2.46) and less severe pre-implant INTERMACS profile (OR=1.12, 95%CI=1.02-1.22). On interview, 30% of participants reported their experience was better than expected—they enjoyed completing questionnaires ("Questions were thought-provoking"), participating in research ("It was involved but straightforward"), and valuing research ("I am glad to help these studies however I can"). Among the few with worse-than-expected experiences (8%), they described lengthy questionnaires ("Many questions seemed repetitive"), technology difficulties ("the iPad timed out a couple of times"), or general dissatisfaction ("I am now sorry that I agreed to do it"). <h3>Conclusion</h3> MCS patients were open to engaging in research and enjoyed contributing to HRQOL research. Engagement was reduced by disease acuity and among racial/ethnic minorities. Research participation did not adversely burden MCS patients, which supports their participation in future psychosocial research studies.

Management of Mental Health Disorders, Substance Use Disorders, and Suicide in Adults with Spinal Cord Injury: Clinical Practice Guideline for Healthcare Providers.

Management of Mental Health Disorders, Substance Use Disorders, and Suicide in Adults with Spinal Cord Injury: Clinical Practice Guideline for Healthcare Providers.

Learning from previous disasters: Potential pitfalls of epidemiological psychosocial research in the COVID-19 environment.

It is critical to understand the psychosocial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on populations around the world. In this article, we highlight the key challenges associated with epidemiological psychosocial research in a disaster context and reflect on lessons learned from firsthand experience over the last decade in Christchurch, New Zealand, following the 2010/2011 Canterbury earthquakes and 2019 Mosque attacks. We make recommendations for study design to improve the quality of research evaluating the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the inclusion of positive outcome measures and the need to evaluate a range of cultural contexts. We hope that highlighting these areas will improve research and result in a better understanding of the psychosocial impacts of the pandemic.

International Camps for Children with Lymphedema and Lymphatic Anomalies: When Education Links with Psychosocial Research.

Background: Lymphedema in children and adolescents is a rare and chronic condition. The management of their lymphedema is mainly driven by the adaptation of treatments used in adults. The aim of our study was to explore the needs and challenges the children and adolescents face during their management with the aim of finding ways to satisfy these needs and organize an hospital-based centre accordingly with an educational program. Methods and Results: Patients and their families were given the opportunity to meet other patients, their families and professionals during social activities organised annually and during two international camps. They were invited to take part in different semi structured focus groups and interviews. All patients and families described a long journey and relief when the diagnosis was obtained followed by the shock of being told that it was a chronic condition. Meeting other children with the condition was a relief. The impact of lymphedema on body shape and genitals was a source of distress. Rejection of the compression was part of journey. Lymphedema management had an impact on all the family members including siblings. Parents were responsible for their child self-management in young children which was described as demanding. It was followed by a complex transition phase to self-management. The impact was not the same according to the age the lymphedema had started. Conclusion: Acceptance and management of lymphedema is complex and invades many aspects of families' life. Self-management is demanding. Based on these results, the management of lymphedema in the centre included meeting other children and families and an educational program based on individual needs and follow-up. Clinical Trials.gov ID:NCT01922635.

Incorporating Mental Health Research into Disaster Risk Reduction: An Online Training Module for the Hazards and Disaster Workforce.

There is an expansive and growing body of literature that examines the mental health consequences of disasters and large-scale emergencies. There is a need, however, for more explicit incorporation of mental health research into disaster risk reduction practices. Training and education programs can serve as a bridge to connect academic mental health research and the work of disaster risk reduction practitioners. This article describes the development and evaluation of one such intervention, the CONVERGE Disaster Mental Health Training Module, which provides users from diverse academic and professional backgrounds with foundational knowledge on disaster mental health risk factors, mental health outcomes, and psychosocial well-being research. Moreover, the module helps bridge the gap between research and practice by describing methods used to study disaster mental health, showcasing examples of evidence-based programs and tools, and providing recommendations for future research. Since its initial release on 8 October 2019, 317 trainees from 12 countries have completed the Disaster Mental Health Training Module. All trainees completed a pre- and post-training questionnaire regarding their disaster mental health knowledge, skills, and attitudes. Wilcoxon Signed Rank tests demonstrated a significant increase in all three measures after completion of the training module. Students, emerging researchers or practitioners, and trainees with a high school/GED education level experienced the greatest benefit from the module, with Kruskal–Wallis results indicating significant differences in changes in knowledge and skills across the groups. This evaluation research highlights the effectiveness of the Disaster Mental Health Training Module in increasing knowledge, skills, and attitudes among trainees. This article concludes with a discussion of how this training can support workforce development and ultimately contribute to broader disaster risk reduction efforts.

Psychosocial perceptions and executive functioning: Hope and school belonging predict students' executive functioning

AbstractIn a sample of 216 high school students, we explored the relationship between hope and school belonging to executive functioning (EF). This examination was carried out to better understand how these, and potentially other psychosocial factors, relate to the neurocognitive decision‐making process of adolescent students. This study had several findings. First, after controlling for demographics and previous achievement, hope and school belonging were found to account for about 26%–39% of EF's variance, a large effect size. Second, after the same controls, hope and school belonging accounted for about 13%–25% of all five subcomponents of EF, an effect size range of medium to large. Finally, in general, the pathways subcomponent of hope was a better predictor of EF than the agency subcomponent. These results provide insight into how EF interacts with school‐based perceptions as well as have implications for psychosocial intervention research within schools.

Methodological issues in assessing job stress and burnout in psychosocial research.

In recent years, researchers identified a “reproducibility crisis” of scientific studies. In assessing job stress and burnout in psychosocial research two biases that prevent the results from being generalized are common: sample bias (included web survey) and common method bias using questionnaires. These issues are commented and remedies are proposed to prevent or contain biases.

Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice

Since 1952, the American Diabetes Association's venture of more than $700 million in almost 4,500 diabetes research projects has contributed altogether to progresses in diabetes care and decreases in diabetes inconveniences, permitting individuals with diabetes to live more, better lives. Subjects of center incorporate translational science, hereditary qualities, immunology, sustenance, psychosocial research, the study of disease transmission, avoidance, financial exploration, complexities, new medicines, advancements and treatment.

Announcement: Call for Paper_Clinical Practice (Therapy)

Clinical Practice (Therapy) is one of the preferred journals in the field of Clinical Researches. Clinical Practice (Therapy) is a high-quality peer-reviewed journal, containing several high-quality and unique articles, accepting manuscripts for Volume 18 Issue 6. Our journal covers studies on medical case studies, clinical research, immunology, nutrition, psychosocial recent research, epidemiology, or any topic of your research interest for publication in the upcoming issue.

Lie detection during the interview and interrogation process: a psychosocial criminal approach

Lie detection is an important skill for any representative of the law involved in the interview and interrogation process. Unfortunately, there is much misinformation regarding what type of lie detection methods work. This paper is a review of the most important psychosocial criminal research on lie detection and identification the most effective methods. The method of lie detection by reading facial expressions (particularly micro-expressions) is with the conclusion that it is not an effective method. I propose that, considering what the scientific research has unveiled thus far, lie detection methods based on thorough information gathering and comparative analysis work best. Finally, I provide some specific recommendations on effective ways to apply such methods during the interview and interrogation process.

A systematic review of psychosocial interventions for older adults living with HIV

ABSTRACT The rapidly growing segment of older adults living with HIV faces unique set of psychosocial challenges that may differ from their younger counterparts. The objective of this review is to systematically examine current published literature on interventions designed to improve the psychosocial wellbeing of older adults living with HIV. A pre-specified search strategy was applied to four databases: PubMed, CINAHL Plus with Text, PsycINFO, and Health Source. Authors reviewed published studies on psychosocial interventions for older adults with HIV and reported psychosocial variables as primary outcomes of the interventions. The final review included nine intervention studies. Psychosocial outcomes measured across multiple studies included depression, quality of life, social support, cognitive functioning, and coping skills. Some studies also measured physical activity, HIV-related discrimination, lack of affordable housing, and access to substance abuse treatment. Our study suggests a paucity of psychosocial intervention research on adults aging with HIV. This review suggests that most psychosocial interventions had small to moderate effects in improving the psychosocial wellbeing of older people living with HIV. Findings highlight the need for clinical, community, and home-based interventions to ensure that individuals can achieve a higher quality of life while aging with HIV.

SWK-04. A MOBILE AUGMENTED REALITY APP FOR SURGICAL PREPARATION FOR CHILDREN WITH BRAIN TUMORS

BACKGROUNDChildren with brain tumors experience significant anxiety secondary to diagnosis and interventions such as surgical management. Preoperative anxiety is known to adversely affect operative outcomes and overall quality of life. Programs that utilize “child-friendly” approaches have been shown to ease anxiety, decrease analgesic requirements, shorten hospital stay, and contribute toward better outcomes. Implementation of these programs is limited due to time, cost, and staffing constraints as well as sociodemographic factors (i.e., language barriers). Therefore, an effective and cost-efficient method could be advantageous. We sought to develop a universally available APP that can assist with these goals and address the current barriers.METHODSIn conjunction with a philanthropic resource (Brain Tumor Foundation, New York, NY, USA) a developer was tasked with creating an App for children with brain tumors. The developer integrated published clinical research, multi-specialty input, and patient and family testimonials for possible integration into the tool.RESULTSA mobile App was developed that is modifiable for patient-specific features (age, language, and ethnicity). Initial evaluations of the prototype by healthcare providers, appropriately aged children, and their parents have demonstrated positive engagement, appeal, and ease of use.CONCLUSIONSThe mobile App provides a rapid, affordable, and modifiable platform for assisting children with brain tumors cope with their diagnosis and intervention options. Validation with measurable outcomes is planned. The App is currently being evaluated for purposes of psycho-social clinical research tool.

Psychosocial contributors to patients' and partners' postprostate cancer sexual recovery: 10 evidence-based and practical considerations.

Sexual recovery after prostate cancer (PCa) treatment is challenging. When expectations are that erectile response will quickly returnto baseline, patients can often struggle when this does not happen. Further difficulty is experiencedwhen patients encounter physical, psychological, and relational barriers to sexual adjustment. Drawing on the psychosocial research literature and on 15 years of clinical experience counseling PCa patients about sexual recovery, this paper outlines considerations for clinical practice. Suggestions include broadening the target for successful outcomes after Pca treatment beyond erectile function to include sexual distress and other sources of sexual concern. Clinicians are urged to consider individual differences such as the larger context of the patient, including their values and preferences, their treatment goals, and their relationship situation and status, in order topromote successful sexual adaptation. When introducing treatment approaches, the role of grief and loss should be assessed, and patients should be supported to foster realistic expectations about the recovery process. Suggestions for how to introduce various sexual strategies to patients are also offered, including ways to support patients in making and sustaining behavioral changes associated with sexual intervention. Clinicians are offered suggestions to promote patients' sexual flexibility, prevent long periods of sexual inactivity, and help patients to identify various sexual motivators. Consideration of these psychological, relational, and social factors are all likely to help facilitate better sexual outcomes for PCa patients.

Improving mental health and psychosocial wellbeing in humanitarian settings: reflections on research funded through R2HC

Major knowledge gaps remain concerning the most effective ways to address mental health and psychosocial needs of populations affected by humanitarian crises. The Research for Health in Humanitarian Crisis (R2HC) program aims to strengthen humanitarian health practice and policy through research. As a significant portion of R2HC’s research has focused on mental health and psychosocial support interventions, the program has been interested in strengthening a community of practice in this field. Following a meeting between grantees, we set out to provide an overview of the R2HC portfolio, and draw lessons learned. In this paper, we discuss the mental health and psychosocial support-focused research projects funded by R2HC; review the implications of initial findings from this research portfolio; and highlight four remaining knowledge gaps in this field. Between 2014 and 2019, R2HC funded 18 academic-practitioner partnerships focused on mental health and psychosocial support, comprising 38% of the overall portfolio (18 of 48 projects) at a value of approximately 7.2 million GBP. All projects have focused on evaluating the impact of interventions. In line with consensus-based recommendations to consider a wide range of mental health and psychosocial needs in humanitarian settings, research projects have evaluated diverse interventions. Findings so far have both challenged and confirmed widely-held assumptions about the effectiveness of mental health and psychosocial interventions in humanitarian settings. They point to the importance of building effective, sustained, and diverse partnerships between scholars, humanitarian practitioners, and funders, to ensure long-term program improvements and appropriate evidence-informed decision making. Further research needs to fill knowledge gaps regarding how to: scale-up interventions that have been found to be effective (e.g., questions related to integration across sectors, adaptation of interventions across different contexts, and optimal care systems); address neglected mental health conditions and populations (e.g., elderly, people with disabilities, sexual minorities, people with severe, pre-existing mental disorders); build on available local resources and supports (e.g., how to build on traditional, religious healing and community-wide social support practices); and ensure equity, quality, fidelity, and sustainability for interventions in real-world contexts (e.g., answering questions about how interventions from controlled studies can be transferred to more representative humanitarian contexts).