Physical Health Quality Research Articles

Research progress of dental pulp stem cells for peripheral nerve injury repair

Peripheral nerve injuries are mainly related to severe trauma, fracture and tumor surgery, leading to reduced quality of life and impaired physical and mental health. The repair of peripheral nerve still faces great challenges in clinic, and the research on the regeneration and repair of peripheral nerve has become a hot issue in related disciplines. Cell therapy plays an irreplaceable role in tissue regeneration and repair. Schwann cells are ideal cells for peripheral nerve repair, but their limited sources inhibit the clinical application. Dental pulp stem cells are derived from neural crest, which provides a new cell source for nerve regeneration. The purpose of this article is to review the research progress of dental pulp stem cells for peripheral nerve repair.

Abstract 149: Differences In Self-reported Health Status Among Underrepresented Populations In Stroke Survivors Enrolled In All Of Us

Background: Self-reported outcomes in stroke survivors remain understudied. Mounting evidence indicate that the burden of stroke is disproportionately high in underrepresented groups. We investigated differences in self-perceived health status in stroke survivors across broadly defined underrepresented minorities. Methods: We analyzed data from stroke survivors enrolled in All of Us. Ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke were defined using validated ICD10 codes. Self-perceived health status was evaluated using 5 domains (quality of life, physical health, mental health, social activities and overall health), each with 5 answers (excellent, very good, good, fair and poor). Each domain was dichotomized as favorable (excellent, very good or good) or unfavorable (fair/poor). We used multivariate logistic regression to model the odds of favorable self-perceived health status in underrepresented groups defined by race/ethnicity, education, income and insurance type. Results: 6,977 stroke survivors were included (mean age 64, female sex 58%), including 1,623 (23.3%) Blacks, 856 (12.3%) Hispanics/Latinos, 654 (9.4%) with less than a high school degree, 2,679 (38.4%) with income <U$S 35k, 3,091 (44.3%) with Medicare/Medicaid and 13 (0.18%) uninsured. A number of underrepresented groups had significantly different self-perceived health status after stroke (Table): low income, limited education and Medicare/Medicaid insurance were associated with self-perceived unfavorable health status in all 5 domains (all results with 95%CI <1). Conclusion: Among stroke survivors, underrepresented groups defined by income, education and health insurance were more likely to perceive their health status as unfavorable. Evaluation of underrepresented groups defined by factors other than race/ethnicity was important to identify these differences. Further research should evaluate whether these differences correlate with objectively measured outcome measures.

Spiritual aspects of the family caregivers' experiences when caring for a community-dwelling adult with severe mental illness: A systematic review of qualitative evidence.

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: Being a caregiver of a relative with severe mental illness often impacts the quality of life, physical and mental health. The use of coping strategies related to spirituality can enhance physical and mental well-being. WHAT THE PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: This review found 26 primary studies that refer to spiritual aspects of the experience of caring for a relative with mental health problems. Caregivers express spiritual needs, such as hope and finding meaning in life, and spiritual or religious practices that help to cope with stressful situations. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: Spiritual needs and spiritual coping strategies of family caregivers of a relative with severe mental illness should be included in mental health nursing care. A spiritually sensitive approach should be used when promoting coping strategies of the family caregivers of a relative with severe mental illness. ABSTRACT: Introduction Deinstitutionalization of individuals with severe mental illness transferred the responsibility of care to the relatives who need to adapt their personal life. Caregivers often develop coping strategies which involve the relationship with oneself, others, or the transcendent/God or nature and may include religious/spiritual practices. Question/Aim This review aims to identify the spiritual aspects of the family caregivers' experiences when caring for a community-dwelling adult with severe mental illness. Method The review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for systematic reviews of qualitative evidence. Search was conducted in March 2019, updated in August 2020, limited to English, Spanish and Portuguese. Results A total of 26studies were included. Two synthesized findings emerged: spiritual coping strategies are used by family caregivers; spiritual needs are expressed by family caregivers. The findings are based on the experiences of 467 caregivers, from 14 countries. Discussion In stressful times, family caregivers question the meaning in life and acknowledge hopelessness. To cope, caregivers mention a turn to the sacred and the use of spiritual/religious practices. Implications for practice Spirituality should be considered according to caregivers' individual beliefs and needs, as may represent important resources for the sense of meaning and overall well-being.

Physical and mental health quality of life among underserved African American and Latino older adults

ABSTRACT Objectives: There is an increasing amount of research on Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) among older adults in the U.S. However, under-resourced and underserved African American and Latino older adults remain underrepresented in research and interventional studies, resulting in limited data on their quality of life and health promotion practices. This study examined the association between HRQoL and several layers of independent variables, including health conditions, level of pain, sleep disorders, and lifestyle factors, among African American and Latino older adults. Design: Nine hundred and five African Americans and Latinos aged 55 years and older from an underserved urban community participated in this face-to-face structured study. Multiple linear regression was performed. Results: This study documented that HRQoL among African American and Latino participants was substantially lower compared with their White counterparts reported by other studies. Adjusting for other relevant variables, this study documented an association between: (1) physical HRQoL and financial strain, perceived health, the severity of pain, number of major chronic conditions, smoking, and binge drinking; and (2) mental HRQoL and financial strain, perceived health status, the severity of pain, and sleep disorders. Conclusion: Significantly lower levels of HRQoL among underserved African American and Latino older adults, compared with their White counterparts, point to another important racial/ethnic disparity in the U.S. geriatric population. The devastating consequences of financial strain, excessive chronic conditions, undiagnosed and untreated pain, and sleep disorders are all experienced by underserved African American and Latino older adults, and these factors directly contribute to a lower quality of life among this segment of our population. Longitudinal multi-faceted, multi-disciplinary, culturally sensitive, both clinic- and community-based participatory interventions are needed to address these factors, particularly pain and sleep disorders, in order to enhance the quality of life among these underserved communities.

Health-Related Quality of Life and Related Factors in Patients with Fibromyalgia: A Cross-sectional Study

Background: Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic musculoskeletal condition, which can reduce the quality of life (QoL). Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of FMS on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and the possible related factors such as sociodemographic and psychological variables. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 150 women patients with FMS were included who visited a psychosomatic clinic at a referral center in northern Iran. The samples were selected in a consecutive procedure from April 2019 to March 2019. Sociodemographic variables, HRQoL score [36-Item Short Form (SF-36) Health Survey], and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were recorded. Data were analyzed using the SPSS Statistics software (ver. 24). The quantitative data were reported as mean ± SD, and the qualitative variables were presented as frequency and percentage. Also, analysis was performed using analytical tests such as chi-square test (χ2). P < 0.05 was considered to be significant. Results: The mean (SD) age was 42.35 (11.73) years. The mean physical and mental health scores were 33.45 (16.22) and 48.99 (18.19), respectively. Moreover, 88% of patients had moderate-to-severe sleep disorder, and those who did not, had a better physical and mental health status [42.7 (14.1) vs. 32.2 (16.1), P-value = 0.009 and 62.2 (16.3) vs. 47.2 (17.7), P-value = 0.001, respectively]. History of depression according to self-reporting was associated with worse mental health subscale scores [44.4 (16.8 Vs. 52.4 (18.5), P-value = 0.007], and lower scores in social functioning and emotional well-being (P-value = 0.012, P-value = 0.001, respectively). Being postmenopausal was associated with a lower physical health quality (P-value = 0.049). Body Mass Index (BMI) reversely correlated with HRQoL subscales (r = -0.163, P-value = 0.046), but the subscales were not affected by the level of income (P-value = 0.644, P-value = 0.170, respectively). Conclusions: Patients with fibromyalgia report a considerable significant impact on their quality of life and impaired sleep quality. Assessment of sleep quality and QoL are needed in patients with fibromyalgia.

Patient-Centered Care for Obesity: How Health Care Providers Can Treat Obesity While Actively Addressing Weight Stigma and Eating Disorder Risk

Patient-Centered Care for Obesity: How Health Care Providers Can Treat Obesity While Actively Addressing Weight Stigma and Eating Disorder Risk

Menstruation and quality of life among female teenagers in Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Background/Aims There is a lack of information about how premenstrual symptoms and menstrual symptoms affect the quality of life of adolescent girls in Nigeria and the coping strategies they adopt to manage them. The study aimed to identify premenstrual and menstrual symptoms among adolescents, as well as their effect on quality of life and the strategies adolescents adopt to cope with these symptoms. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional design using multi-stage sampling was used to recruit 357 adolescent girls. Data were collected in 2019 using a questionnaire and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results The mean quality of life score of participants was 41.31. A significant relationship was found between the prevalence of premenstrual and menstrual symptoms and overall quality of life, general health, physical health and psychological domains of quality of life (P<0.01). The most used coping strategy during the menstrual and premenstrual periods was self-care. A significant relationship exists between coping strategies and quality of life (P<0.02). Conclusions The majority of the participants experienced premenstrual and menstrual symptoms that affected their quality of life. It is recommended that female adolescents are taught how to manage premenstrual and menstrual symptoms.

Acceptability and Use of Mind-Body Interventions Among African American Cancer Survivors: An Integrative Review.

Mind-body interventions have been shown to improve physical and mental health outcomes among cancer survivors, and African Americans have one of the highest cancer mortality rates of all racial/ethnic groups, while often facing considerable barriers to quality healthcare. African American cancer survivors report difficulty accessing mind-body practices, and few studies have focused exclusively on African American populations. This integrative review aims to explore the acceptability and use of mind-body interventions among African American cancer survivors. This review seeks to determine if current research indicates that mind-body interventions may be helpful in improving outcomes for African American cancer survivors. The literature search resulted in 284 studies, of which 14 met the inclusion criteria. Inclusion criteria were articles published in or after 2016, written in the English language, addressing mind-body modalities, and including a study population of ≥50% African American cancer survivors. Other reviews, meta-analyses, or studies without results were excluded. Results indicate that African American cancer survivors have expressed receptiveness to interventions incorporating mindfulness, meditation, yoga, Tai Chi, and other mind-body or complimentary/alternative medicine interventions. Still, few studies have offered such interventions exclusively to African American cancer survivors. This review indicated that African American cancer survivors across demographic backgrounds are interested in and view mind-body practices as an acceptable way to improve quality of life, pain interference, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and physical health; however, the interventions should be culturally appropriate and accessible. In conclusion, despite a growing interest in mind-body interventions, African American communities are often unaware of opportunities to engage in these practices in their communities, and mind-body practices are inaccessible due to cost or geographical location. Additional research that offers such interventions specific to African American cancer survivors is warranted.

Relationship of Substance Abuse and Living Situation on Burn Survivors

Burn injuries are associated with high morbidity and fatality. Severe burns are complicated by an inflammatory and immunological response, metabolic abnormalities, and distributive shock that can cause multiple organ failure and be difficult to manage. Burns pose a considerate impact on patient's quality of life, mental and physical health. A burn injury frequently necessitates a lifelong healing procedure. Changes in survivors' mobility, appearance, and capacity to carry out activities of daily living have an influence on them. Burn injury trauma can persist for years, giving survivors anxiety and making daily life more difficult. Evidence points to substance-abuse disorders and psychiatric comorbidities as having an effect on social reintegration postburn, in addition to damage severity and physical comorbidities. Additionally, increased prevalence of substance addiction and psychiatric illnesses are reported among burn patients and survivors. Long-term and frequently complex hospital care as well as prolonged and unsuccessful postburn rehabilitation have been linked to substance misuse and psychiatric illnesses. Psychiatric rehabilitation is impacted by the stigma attached to burns, substance abuse, mental illness, and pain. Burn patients are commonly prescribed opioids in clinical practice for the management of pain. However, long-term opioid use, albeit beneficial, leads to opioid dependence and may also be associated with other mental health problems. Psychological assessments of burn survivors can also help in prevention of substance abuse. The purpose of this research is to review the available information about relationship of substance abuse and living situation of burn survivors.

Coping, Social Support, and Caregiver Well-Being With Families Living With SCI: A Mixed Methods Study.

To explore coping, problem solving, social support, and well-being among family caregivers of adults with spinal cord injury (SCI). This was a mixed methods study (qualitative interviews and standardized surveys) with a diverse sample of 39 adults with SCI and their caregivers from four rehabilitation hospitals in the United States, including one Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital. Cluster analysis was used to explore whether distinct profiles of caregivers could be identified, and it was used in conjunction with qualitative data to explore patterns in well-being. Measures of well-being included leisure time satisfaction, social integration, anxiety, depression, physical health complaints, caregiver burden, and quality of life. The importance of individual and extra-individual resources, namely coping and social support, emerged from early qualitative analyses and guided subsequent mixed methods examination of the data. A cluster analysis yielded three caregiver profiles: (1) effective problem solvers with moderate satisfaction with social support, (2) mixed problem solvers with stronger negative orientations and mixed satisfaction with social support, and (3) low endorsers overall. Profiles helped us explore patterns across our data set and efficiently identify differences in caregiver social support, coping, well-being, and unmet needs. Data echo the need for multimodal interventions aimed at skill development, respite options, and screening, support, information, and referral around mental health and burden. SCI care and rehabilitation programs should consider incorporating strategies for bolstering effective caregiver problem-solving skills, reducing negativity and ambivalence, and enhancing social support.

Research on the Influence of International Communication of Chinese Literature on Teenagers' Physical and Mental Health in the Digital Humanistic Environment.

Research Background. With the enhancement of China's international influence, China has stepped into the international ecological environment in the fields of economy, politics, culture, art, and so on, accompanied by the spread of China's culture and literature. China's 5000-year-old cultural history and artistic characteristics are integrated into the ecological field of the international environment. Research Purpose. The international spread of Chinese literature also has a certain impact on the physical and mental health of teenagers. This paper studies and discusses the impact of international communication of Chinese literature on teenagers' physical and mental health in the digital humanistic environment. Under the development environment of Digital Humanities in China, the impact of Chinese literature on the healthy psychology of teenagers, the impact content, and the characteristics of each were evaluated. Through the comparison of physical and mental health growth of adolescents in different ages, the characteristics of physical and mental health of adolescents are explored. The coupling degree of physical and mental health of adolescents in different development environments is compared and analyzed. Research Results. Through the research, it is found that with the development of Digital Humanities, the spread of Chinese literature with internationalization has a positive impact on the physical and mental health and psychological quality construction of teenagers and plays a promoting role in promoting mental health, increasing personal quality, and improving teenagers' correct values. The various ideological and moral qualities of Chinese literature can play a greater role in helping and growing up the physical and mental health education of young people in the new era and are also the literary value of promoting the quality education of the next generation of young people in the world.

Trajectories, Risk Factors, and Impact of Persistent Pain After Major Musculoskeletal Surgery in Adolescents: A Replication Study

Studies have identified high rates of chronic postsurgical pain in adolescents. Characterizing patterns of pain in the transition from acute to chronic following major surgery may pinpoint critical periods of recovery. This observational study modelled pain trajectories over 1-year following surgery to attempt replication of prior work and evaluate baseline psychosocial factors and 12-month health outcomes. Adolescents 10 to 18 years completed electronic daily pain reporting for 7 days and self-reported health outcomes, at 5 assessment timepoints. Group-based trajectory modelling identified two trajectories with similar starting points in-hospital but distinct recovery courses at home. Pain declined steadily in one group across the study period ("Declining Pain"; estimated probability,18.9%), but pain increased after hospital discharge and remained high through 12-months in the other group ("High and Persistent Pain"; estimated probability,81.1%). Pre-surgery pain (Aor=1.86, P=.001) and sleep quality (Aor=0.49, P=.029) were associated with the High and Persistent pain trajectory in multivariate regressions. This trajectory was associated with lower total quality of life (B=-9.79, P=.002), physical health (B=-15.93, P < .001), psychosocial health (B=-6.73, P=.06), and greater fatigue (B=-13.61, P=.001). This study replicated prior findings identifying two post-surgical pain trajectories with diverging pain in the first two weeks. Clinical detection of those with increasing pain and early intervention may interrupt persistence of pain. PERSPECTIVE: This article replicates a prior study identifying distinct post-surgical pain trajectories, Declining Pain and High and Persistent Pain. The High and Persistent pain trajectory is associated with pre-surgery pain, pre-surgery sleep quality, and lower quality of life (total, physical, and psychosocial health as well as fatigue) at 12-month follow-up.

Losing a child due to a life-limiting diagnosis—parental well-being and quality of life: nationwide survey

ObjectiveLosing a child is burdensome with potential long-term impact on the parents’ well-being and quality of life. The aim was to investigate parental well-being and quality of life 3–5 years...

Type 2 Diabetes Self-Management Variables and Predictors.

Guided by the Self and Family-Management framework, relationships between diabetes distress, self-efficacy, resilience and outcomes of A1c, quality of life and health status were explored. A cross-sectional descriptive design was used. Seventy eight individuals were enrolled from US clinics. Data were analyzed to test for associations, main effects and interactions and predictors of self-management. Results indicated low diabetes distress (M = 20.53), high self-efficacy (M = 7.32), moderate resilience (M = 80.27), and mean A1c 7.35%/56.88 mmol/mol. Seventy six percent of participants scored above the mental health norm, and 46% scored above the physical health norm. The average weighted quality of life score was -1.74. Diabetes distress was negatively associated with self-efficacy, resilience, physical health, mental health, and quality of life. Self-efficacy was positively associated with resilience, physical health, and quality of life. Resilience was positively associated with physical health, mental health and quality of life. Positive associations were found between quality of life, and physical and mental health. No associations were found between A1c and variables in the study. Multiple significant interactions were found with A1c, mental health and quality of life outcomes. Terms in the model included treatment regimen, years since diagnosis, provider collaboration, and history of diabetes self-management education. Distress was a significant predictor of health status and quality of life. The results confirm self-management facilitators self-efficacy and resilience and barrier diabetes distress and their relationships with outcomes in the framework. This study contributes to the understanding of the emotional aspect of diabetes. Continuing this work will allow researchers to better understand self-management, support self-management efforts and better outcomes.

Spirituality as intrinsic motivational factor and health related quality of life among hospitalized male patients practicing Hinduism in India.

Introduction:Intrinsic motivation denotes doing an activity for itself and deriving pleasure and satisfaction from involvement. Intrinsic spirituality as the most important motive or driving factor in a person's life has a significant influence on the perception of one's own physical and psychological health, social relationships, and environmental health.Aim:The study aims to investigate the influence of intrinsic spirituality as a motivational factor on the dimensions of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among hospitalized patients.Materials and Methods:Three hundred and sixty-seven patients admitted to a tertiary hospital were selected by stratified random sampling from different medical and surgical wards. Patients comprised Hindu male patients, mean age 36 (standard deviation = 13.2) years suffering from either medical or surgical disorders of minor-to-moderate intensity. Measures of Intrinsic Spirituality Scale and WHOQOL-BREF were administered to assess their intrinsic spirituality and the four dimensions of HRQoL, namely physical and psychological health, social relationships, and environmental quality of life. Data of 325 patients (42 participants eliminated in data cleaning process) were analyzed using SPSS version 25 for Pearson's correlation, and regression analysis.Results:Higher scores on intrinsic spirituality were found to be positively impact overall quality of life and general health (r = 0.169, P = 0.002; ß =0.180, P = 0.001), psychological health (r = 0.149, P = 0.007; ß =0.151, P = 0.006), social relationships (r = 0.123, P = 0.026; ß =0.133, P = 0.016), and environmental health perception (r = 0.211, P = 0.000; ß =0.22, P = 0.000) and were not significantly correlated with physical health perception (r = 0.091, P = 0.10; ß =0.093, P = 0.094).Conclusion:Spiritual motivation significantly predicts better psychological, social, and environmental health perception among hospitalized male Hindu patients. Realistic perception with respect to physical health is also reflected in this study.

Persistence, Magnitude, and Patterns of Postacute Symptoms and Quality of Life Following Onset of SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Cohort Description and Approaches for Measurement.

BackgroundThere is mounting evidence for the presence of postacute sequelae of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection (PASC), but there is limited information on the spectrum, magnitude, duration, and patterns of these sequelae as well as their influence on quality of life.MethodsWe assembled a cohort of adults with a documented history of SARS-CoV-2 RNA positivity at ≥2 weeks past onset of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms or, if asymptomatic, first positive test. At 4-month intervals, we queried physical and mental health symptoms and quality of life.ResultsOf the first 179 participants enrolled, 10 were asymptomatic during the acute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection, 125 were symptomatic but not hospitalized, and 44 were symptomatic and hospitalized. During the postacute phase, fatigue, shortness of breath, concentration problems, headaches, trouble sleeping, and anosmia/dysgeusia were most common through 8 months of observation. Symptoms were typically at least somewhat bothersome and sometimes exhibited a waxing-and-waning course. Some participants experienced symptoms of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress, as well as difficulties with performance of usual activities. The median visual analogue scale rating of general health was lower at 4 and 8 months compared with pre-COVID-19. Two clusters of symptom domains were identified.ConclusionsMany participants report bothersome symptoms following onset of COVID-19 with variable patterns of persistence and impact on quality of life. The substantial variability suggests the existence of multiple subphenotypes of PASC. A rigorous approach to the prospective measurement of symptoms and functional manifestations sets the stage for the next phase of research focusing on the pathophysiologic causes of the various subgroups of PASC.

Changes in well-being during the COVID pandemic: A longitudinal study of older adults

The COVID-19 pandemic is a public health crisis the world has not seen in a century, with older adults faced with unique impacts due to their increased vulnerability and need to social distance. This research examines changes in physical and mental health and quality of life among older adults in the upper Midwest during the COVID-19 pandemic. Seventy older adults aged 70-97 participated in three phone interviews (April [Time 1], June [Time 2], and October [Time 3] 2020) focusing on experiences coping with the pandemic and understanding overall changes in well-being. Participants rated their quality of life, physical health, and mental health on a scale from 1 to 5 with 1 being “Poor” and 5 being “Excellent.” Self-reported quality of life, mental health, and physical health initially declined between retrospective pre-COVID and Time 1 scores, with gradual increases seen across all three variables for Time 2 and Time 3 scores. Thematic analysis of qualitative responses for each interview wave identified salient themes of: 1) reduced quality of life, 2) distraction and routine, 3) loss and uncertainty, and 4) resilience and adaptation. The significance and meaning of these themes shifted across each time point. For example, the reduced quality of life theme initially encompassed loss of activities, later shifted to concerns about struggles to maintain relationships, and finally focused on hope for the future. Findings will be discussed in light of the significance of change over time as well as policy and practice implications for older adults.

Predictors of Care Management Utilization

Loneliness is a common problem in long-term care. It has been associated with a higher risk of depression, aggressive behaviors, and anxiety and may be a risk factor for cognitive decline. Loneliness can exacerbate social isolation. The COVID-19 emergency brought on measures in Florida, beginning in March 2020, to separate nursing home (NH) and assisted living community (ALC) residents from each other and family members to limit virus spread. This study examines results of a survey with Florida NH (N=59) and ALC (N=117) administrators concerning effects of these measures. Scaled (1-5, lowest to highest) data indicate that resident anxiety was higher in NHs (M=3.40) than ALCs (M=3.17). Care disruptions related to limited resident-to-resident contact also were worse in NHs (M=3.74) than in ALCs (M=3.21), while care disruptions related to loss of family support were higher among ALCs (M=3.19) than in NHs (M=2.86). Implications of these findings will be discussed.

Depression Predicts Chronic Pain Interference in Racially Diverse, Income-Disadvantaged Patients.

Chronic pain is one of the most common reason adults seek medical care in the United States, with prevalence estimates ranging from 11% to 40%. Mindfulness meditation has been associated with significant improvements in pain, depression, physical and mental health, sleep, and overall quality of life. Group medical visits are increasingly common and are effective at treating myriad illnesses, including chronic pain. Integrative Medical Group Visits (IMGV) combine mindfulness techniques, evidence based integrative medicine, and medical group visits and can be used as adjuncts to medications, particularly in diverse underserved populations with limited access to non-pharmacological therapies. The objective of the present study was to use a blended analytical approach of machine learning and regression analyses to evaluate the potential relationship between depression and chronic pain in data from a randomized clinical trial of IMGV in diverse, income-disadvantaged patients suffering from chronic pain and depression. The analytical approach used machine learning to assess the predictive relationship between depression and pain and identify and select key mediators, which were then assessed with regression analyses. It was hypothesized that depression would predict the pain outcomes of average pain, pain severity, and pain interference. Our analyses identified and characterized a predictive relationship between depression and chronic pain interference. This prediction was mediated by high perceived stress, low pain self-efficacy, and poor sleep quality, potential targets for attenuating the adverse effects of depression on functional outcomes. In the context of the associated clinical trial and similar interventions, these insights may inform future treatment optimization, targeting, and application efforts in racialized, income-disadvantaged populations, demographics often neglected in studies of chronic pain.

Testing the Psychometric Properties of the Pet Attachment and Life Impact Scale (PALS) Among a Sample of Sexual and Gender Minority Emerging Adults

Abstract There has been increased research attention on the benefits associated with attachment bonds between humans and their companion animals, such as for human physical health, mental health, and overall quality of life. However, there is a lack of human-animal attachment measures that have been psychometrically evaluated across diverse samples. The current study addressed this gap by testing the psychometric properties of the Pet Attachment and Life Impact Scale (PALS). Our sample included 154 sexual and gender minority emerging adults who had lived with a dog and/or cat in the past year and responded to the PALS regarding a dog or cat ( M age = 19.34 years, SDage = 1.12 years; 37% racial/ethnic minority; 50% gender minority; 98.7% sexual minority). We collapsed the lowest three response options due to low endorsement; to conduct invariance testing, items 11, 20, 28, and 37 were deleted due to high correlations between items. Confirmatory factor analyses found that a modified three-factor model, excluding the Negative Impact items, fit our data best. We found support for strong measurement invariance across gender modality, racial/ethnic majority vs. minoritized groups, participation prior to or after the COVID-19 pandemic onset, and pet type groups. All three PALS factors (Love, Regulation, Personal Growth) were correlated with human social support from friends, and the Love factor was positively associated with emotional comfort from pets, providing evidence of construct validity. Given the potential role of attachment bonds with companion animals in promoting human health and wellbeing, future research should continue to evaluate the psychometric properties of the PALS and measurement equivalence across a broader range of demographic groups to ensure meaningful interpretation of pet attachment scores.