Significant Others Research Articles

Social Support as a Correlate of Depression and Quality of Life Among Nigerian Older Adults: a Cross-Sectional Study.

Reduced social support has been associated with presence of depression and reduced quality of life among older adults. The relationships may be better understood by exploring the interactions of individual domains among the constructs. This cross-sectional survey involved a consecutive sample of 206 (116 females and 90 males) older adults living in a Southern Nigeria community. The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Geriatric Depression Scale, and World Health Organization Quality of Life-OLD Questionnaire, were used to measure social support, depression, and quality of life respectively. Data was analyzed using frequency counts, percentages, mean, standard deviation, multiple regression and Spearman rank-order correlation coefficient, at 0.05 alpha level. Prevalence rate of depression among participants was 45.5%. Social support was perceived to be low by 37.4% of participants with the lowest mean social support score coming from friends domain. Participants' quality of life was generally fairly good (> 60%) with the lowest scores coming from the intimacy domain. Significant correlations between social support domains and each of quality of life (p < 0.05) and depression were respectively positive and negative; but weakest for the friend and strongest for significant others domains. All quality of life domains were significantly correlated with social support except the death and dying domain. All the domains of social support (family and significant other) were significant predictors of depression except the friend domain. Significant others around individual older adults particularly those with depression ought to be educated on the importance of their roles. Stakeholders including healthcare providers may create and support programmes for improved social networking for the older adults in order to enhance their general wellbeing and quality of life.

Perceptions of Chinese women with a history of gestational diabetes regarding health behaviors and related factors: a directed qualitative content analysis

BackgroundGestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is one of the most common metabolic disorders during pregnancy and is associated with adverse outcomes in both mothers and their children. After delivery, women who experience GDM are also at higher risk of both subsequent GDM and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) than those who do not. Therefore, healthcare providers and public health practitioners need to develop targeted and effective interventions for GDM. In this study, we aimed to explore the perceptions regarding health behaviors and related factors during the inter-pregnancy period among Chinese women with a history of GDM through the lens of the theory of planned behavior (TPB).MethodsBetween December 2021 and September 2022, 16 pregnant Chinese women with a history of GDM were purposively recruited from a tertiary maternity hospital in Shanghai for face-to-face semi-structured interviews. They were asked questions regarding their health behaviors and related factors. The transcribed data were analyzed using a directed qualitative content analysis method based on the theory of TPB.ResultsThe health-related behaviors of the women varied substantially. We identified five domains that influenced women’s behaviors according to TPB constructs and based on the data collected: behavioral attitude (perceived benefits of healthy behaviors and the relationship between experience and attitude towards the oral glucose tolerance testing); subjective norms (influences of significant others and traditional cultural beliefs); perceived behavior control (knowledge of the disease, multiple-role conflict, the impact of COVID-19, an unfriendly external environment and difficulty adhering to healthy diets), incentive mechanisms (self-reward and external incentives); preferences of professional and institutional support (making full use of social media platform and providing continuous health management).ConclusionsThe health-related behaviors of women with a history of GDM were found to be affected by multiple factors. Healthcare professionals are recommended to provide women with sufficient information regarding the disease and to take advantage of the power of the family and other social support networks to improve women’s subjective norms and to promote the adoption of a healthy lifestyle.

Examining the association between coping strategies and perceived social support among Vietnamese infertile women undergoing IVF treatment

ABSTRACT The purpose of the study was to examine the association between coping strategies and perceived social support among women diagnosed with infertility and undergoing IVF treatment. A total of 383 Vietnamese women were invited to participate in this study. Participants completed a questionnaire consisting of The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, the Copenhagen Multi-centre Psychosocial Infertility coping scales and the Fertility Problem Inventory, and other relevant questions. The results reveal that coping strategies significantly predict some specific types of perceived social supports among women undergoing IVF treatment. Specifically, passive-avoidance coping (PAC) and active-avoidance coping (AAC) predicts a decrease in receiving support from family and friends, whereas active-confronting coping (ACC) predicts an increase in receiving support from these two sources of support. Women who demonstrate increased meaning-based coping (MBC) received all three sources of support including family, friends, and significant others support. Despite some limitations, this study is useful in understanding how coping strategies among women undergoing IVF treatment affects the social support received in the Vietnamese social context. It also emphasizes the importance of psychological support for women facing IVF treatment distress.

Abstract PO1-12-01: 'Not even my husband knows that I have this [breast cancer]': Survivors’ Experiences in Accessing, Navigating and Coping with Treatment

Abstract Purpose: Nigeria has the highest breast cancer (BC) burden in Africa. While the survival rates for BC are over 90% in many high-income countries; low-and middle-income countries like Nigeria have 40% BC survival rates. Prior studies show that the burden and poor BC survival rates are exacerbated by both health system and individual level factors, yet there is a paucity of literature on the experiences of BC survivors in Nigeria. Hence, this study explored BC survivors' divergent and convergent experiences in accessing, navigating, and coping with treatment. Methods: Participants (N=24, aged 35 to 73 years) were recruited and engaged in focus group discussions (Group 1, n = 11; Group 2, n = 13 participants). Transcripts were transcribed verbatim and analyzed with inductive thematic analysis. Results: Four themes were identified: “I am carrying this [breast cancer] alone”, “Living my life”, “‘God’ helped me”, and “A very painful journey”. Participants described how they concealed their BC diagnosis from family and significant others while accessing and navigating BC treatment. Also, they adopted spiritual beliefs as a coping mechanism while sticking to their treatment and acknowledging the burden of BC on their wellbeing. Conclusions: Our findings point to the urgent need for improved BC treatment facilities in Nigeria. Implications for Breast Cancer Survivors: Nigeria BC survivors are navigating both limited treatment facilities and coping with the personal challenges of BC diagnosis. There is a need for the government and clinicians to explore innovative technologies in improving BC treatment experiences in Nigeria. Citation Format: Runcie C.W. Chidebe, Tochukwu C. Orjiakor, Gloria C. Okwu, Mary-Gloria A. Orji, THEODORA Nwosu-Zita, Agha A. Agha, Simeon C. Aruah, Chika Okem-Akwiwu, Candidus C. Nwakasi, Akwasi Adjei Gyimah, Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, Ifeoma J. Okoye, Darlingtina K. Esiaka. 'Not even my husband knows that I have this [breast cancer]': Survivors’ Experiences in Accessing, Navigating and Coping with Treatment [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO1-12-01.

Significant others and children’s mental toughness in sports: a longitudinal test of the social influence in sport model

ABSTRACT Mental toughness (MT) is a multidimensional psychological construct that characterises individuals who are psychologically persistent and durable in the face of challenges, adversities, and stressors. This two-wave longitudinal study examined if the social influences of coaches, fathers, mothers, and peers were predictive of children’s mental toughness in sport contexts. Participants were 112 children (7 to 12 years old) who played basketball at the recreational level in China. At baseline and 3-month follow-up, they completed a questionnaire measuring their mental toughness and perception of social influences, such as positive influence, punishment, and dysfunction, from the four social agents. The model with correlations between social influence and mental toughness at a change-score level yielded excellent goodness-of-fit using variance-based structural equation modeling (VB-SEM). Children’s mental toughness was positively associated with positive influence, and negatively associated with punishment and dysfunction. Multi-group SEM showed that the relationships were invariant between coaches, fathers, mothers, and peers. The findings show that children are more likely to have increased mental toughness when significant others exert positive social influence in the sporting environment.

Guidance on the Effective Collaboration With Interpreters and Translators in Speech-Language Pathology

Purpose: The purpose of this literature review is to guide speech-language pathologists (SLPs) on how to increase effective collaboration with interpreters and translators in order to enhance communication with clients and significant others from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Method: A review of definitions of interpretation and translations and practical guidance on certifications and collaborative practices within a health literacy framework approach is described. Strategies to build effective and ethical SLP–interpreter/translator working relationships are reviewed. Results: Findings emphasize the importance of interprofessional collaboration between SLPs and interpreters/translators. When working with professional interpreters/translators, SLPs application of a brief–intervention–debrief framework, use of plain language, and knowledge of local and national training and practice requirements, are identified as mechanisms to enhance effective and ethical collaboration. Conclusion: Effective collaboration with interpretation and translation services should be a key component of clinical practice to ensure that health information is clearly understood by clients and families.

COMPARISON BETWEEN PERCEIVE OF SOCIAL SUPPORT AND SELF-ACCEPTANCE AMONG MALE AND FEMALE OF DIPLOMA COLLEGE STUDENTS IN MALAYSIA

This study aimed to determine association between perceived social support and self-acceptance, with further analysis conducted to compare gender (male and female) in perceived social support and self-acceptance among polytechnic students. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 177 students who consented to participate (90 males, 87 females), with an age range between 18 and 25 years old. The respondents were recruited using convenience sampling. Validated measures, including the Multidimensional Perceived Social Support (MPSS) and the Unconditional Self-Acceptance Questionnaire (USAQ), were employed in this study. Descriptive analysis and inferential analysis using Pearson's correlation and independent t-tests were utilized to analyze the data. The current findings suggested a non-significant relationship between perceived support from family [r (177) = - .073, p = .335] and self-acceptance. Conversely, there was a significant positive relationship between perceived support from friends and self-acceptance [r (177) = .191, p = .011], as well as between perceived support from significant others and self-acceptance [r (177) = .177, p = .019]. Furthermore, no significant differences were found between male and female polytechnic students regarding perceived social support, including family, friends, and significant others. However, a significant difference was observed in gender and self-acceptance t (175) = -3.307, p &lt; .001) with the mean score for male self-acceptance lower than that of females. These findings contribute to the existing literature and underscore the importance of social support and self-acceptance in the well-being of diploma college students.

“WE FACE OBSTACLES WITH IKHLAS”: REFLECTION ON PSYCHOLOGICAL FLEXIBILITY OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHERS IN RURAL TEGAL, CENTRAL JAVA, DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

This study examines the psychological flexibility of elementary school’s teachers in rural settings who obliged to still carried out teaching activities during Covid-19 pandemics. The changing teaching methods, along with other daily life changes, are common to be studied in urban setting. But, the vulnerable group of teachers in rural community setting is under researched. The school in this rural setting also achieved good mark academically, even though it was hampered by the pandemic. This study employed qualitative methods with a phenomenological approach, as the most relevant design for studying a life experience.  Participants were four elementary school’s teachers in rural Tegal regency, Central Java. Data was gathered through an in-depth interview, and analyzed using the tradition of content analysis. Triangulation was conducted by interviewing significant others of each participant, to maintain the credibility of the data. The results of this study showed that all the subjects, reflecting that when facing obstacles during a pandemic, they were able to bring up a set of skills that a person uses when faced with challenging thoughts, feelings, emotions, and/or experiences. Themes emerged included struggle to adapt, such as “Create New Innovations to Address Solutions,"  “An Attitude of Willingness to Learn to Face Challenges,"  “Functioning Effectively Despite Obstacles,"  “The Attitude of Continuing to Live Despite Obstacles”; struggle to accept, such as “Responding to Situations with a Positive Outlook”, “Gaining Wisdom,"  and finding meaning of events such as “Desire to Become a Better Version of Oneself.”. Meanwhile, factors that influenced psychological flexibility were teaching commitment, motivation, creativity, and social support. Overall, the study contributes to the comprehension of human virtue in a rural community setting during the hardest time of the pandemic.

Новые теоретические подходы к изучению феномена газлайтинга

&lt;p style="text-align: justify;"&gt;Gaslighting is typically viewed as a form of psychological manipulation that makes the victim doubt his or her sense of reality and leads to a loss of agency and mental stability. It was spotted over 60 years ago and has long been the subject of study by psychiatrists. Recently, interest in the phenomenon of gaslighting has grown significantly, becoming the subject of research by scientists of various scientific disciplines, which inevitably leads to the expansion of the meaning of this phenomenon and endowing it with additional properties. Psychology is thought to have contributed to this process through the study of symbolic interactionism, attachment theory, self-verification theory, and shared reality. This article presents the dynamics of the development of this term, defines the main features of this phenomenon, and analyzes the basis on which new approaches to the study of gaslighting in modern international psychology are built. The most common assumption in the latest studies is that gaslighting is possible when standard social-cognitive mechanisms are involved in atypical social situations. Relationships with significant others largely determine people's epistemic needs: close people shape and reflect an individual's self-image and perception of the surrounding reality. It is this special position of loved ones that gives gaslighters leverage over the victim.&lt;/p&gt;

The Magic of Death

Death awareness can serve as an awakening experience and act as a powerful spark for significant life changes. The central question is, “How could death awareness and its creative examination transform our fear of death, open a path to liberation and self-empowerment, expand our consciousness, and lead us toward more meaningful, creative, and service-oriented lives?” The premise is that, instead of avoiding the reality of death, there is an opportunity to look into it and examine our fixed ideas and preconceptions about it—focusing on the person’s fear of their death and not on their other fears related to the death and dying of significant others. Furthermore, the article examines death as a catalyst for significant life changes and fear of death, further exploring how death anxiety shows up in our lives, why reducing death denial is essential, how to honor death and all the lessons it teaches us, and how to transform our relationship with our mortality. It examines cross-cultural wisdom and alternative epistemologies that support the transformation of our death, such as spirituality, creativity, consciousness, transpersonal psychology, and Tibetan and Zen Buddhism. Future research would expand on the idea that the transformation of the relationship with death could foster personal growth and intensify connections to Earth and all living beings.

Problem Gambling and Suicidal Behaviours in Young Adult men in Ghana: A Moderated Mediation Model of Psychological Distress and Social Support : Journal of Gambling Studies.

Problem gambling has been recognised as an important public health issue because of its harmful consequences at the personal, interpersonal, and societal levels. There is a proliferation of gambling activities in Ghana owing to increased access to the internet, soaring smartphone penetration, and an influx of sports betting companies. Yet, very little research has addressed the harm associated with problem gambling in Ghana. This study assessed if the effect of problem gambling severity on suicidal behaviours (ideation, planning, and attempts) through psychological distress is contingent on the level of perceived social support. A total of 350 young adult men in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana provided the data for the current analysis. The data were analysed using a moderated mediation approach. The results showed that psychological distress is an important intervening mechanism through which problem gambling severity influences suicidality. In addition, the positive association between psychological distress and suicidal behaviours was found to be conditional on the levels of perceived social support. In other words, our results showed that problem gambling may first trigger episodes of psychological distress, which, in turn, can lead to suicidality among problem gamblers who report low to moderate levels of perceived social support. Our findings suggest that young adult problem gamblers require higher levels of social support from family, friends, and significant others to prevent those experiencing psychological distress from engaging in suicidal behaviours.

Effects of responsive breastfeeding intervention on breastfeeding and infant growth in China: A randomised controlled trial.

Responsive feeding serves as an important protective factor for infant growth and overall health development. This study based on self-determination theory (SDT) aimed to assess the effects of a responsive breastfeeding (RBF) intervention programme on maternal breastfeeding and infant growth and development. A total of 110 mother-infant pairs were recruited and randomly divided into an intervention group (n = 55) and a control group (n = 55). The primary outcomes were breastfeeding motivation score, breastfeeding self-efficacy (BSE) and exclusive breastfeeding rate; the secondary outcomes were infant physical development at 6 weeks and 3 months. A repeated measures ANOVA indicated that the intervention group had significantly higher Enjoyment scores compared to the control group at three time points: at discharge (MD: 5.28; 95% CI: 3.68 to 6.89; p < 0.001), 6 weeks post-partum (MD: 5.06; 95% CI: 3.80 to 6.31; p < 0.001) and 3 months post-partum (MD: 5.24; 95% CI: 4.12 to 6.35; p < 0.001). Similarly, the intervention group reported significantly higher connection and mother's self-perception scores at discharge (MD: 4.31; 95% CI: 3.07 to 5.56; p < 0.001), 6 weeks post-partum (MD: 4.69; 95% CI: 3.71 to 5.68; p < 0.001) and 3 months post-partum (MD: 4.93; 95% CI: 4.14 to 5.72; p < 0.001), compared to the control group. In contrast, the pressure from significant others scores were higher in the control group relative to the intervention group at discharge (MD: -2.09; 95% CI: -2.88 to -1.31; p < 0.001), 6 weeks post-partum (MD: -4.35; 95% CI: -5.20 to -3.49; p < 0.001) and 3 months (MD: -4.89; 95% CI: -5.70 to -4.08; p < 0.001). Finally, the intervention group also reported higher Instrumental Needs scores at all three time points: at discharge (MD: 1.96; 95% CI: 1.35 to 2.58; p < 0.001), 6 weeks post-partum (MD: 3.58; 95% CI: 3.05 to 4.11; p < 0.001) and 3 months post-partum (MD: 1.18; 95% CI: 0.68 to 1.69; p < 0.001). BSE scores were significantly higher in the intervention group compared to the control group at discharge (MD: 14.29; 95% CI: 10.38 to 18.21; p < 0.001), 6 weeks post-partum (MD: 14.04; 95% CI: 11.05 to 17.02; p < 0.001) and 3 months post-partum (MD: 6.80; 95% CI: 4.66 to 8.94; p < 0.001). The rates of exclusive breastfeeding were higher in the intervention group than in the control group at each stage of the intervention (p < 0.01). At 6 weeks post-partum, the intervention group's infants showed slower weight (t = -0.90, p = 0.371) and length (t = -0.69, p = 0.495) growth compared to the control group, though not significantly. By 3 months post-partum, there was a significant difference in both weight (t = -3.46, p = 0.001) and length (t = -2.95, p = 0.004) between the groups. The findings in this study suggest that the RBF intervention programme based on SDT may be effective in improving mothers' motivation to breastfeed, building breastfeeding self-confidence and increasing the rate of exclusive breastfeeding. The effects of the intervention on infant physical development will need to be verified with longer follow-up in future research.

Contributions of significant others to second language teacher well-being: a self-determination theory perspective

Contributions of significant others to second language teacher well-being: a self-determination theory perspective

Cognitive and Relational Processes Associated to Mental Health in Italian High School Students during COVID-19 and Russian-Ukrainian War Outbreaks.

The negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health has been widely demonstrated; however, few studies have investigated the psychological processes involved in this impact, including core beliefs violation, meaning-making disruption, interpersonal support, or one's relational functioning. This study explored the mental health of 215 Italian adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian war. By administering a set of questionnaires, several cognitive and emotional variables were investigated, including core belief violation, meaning attribution to the pandemic and war, attachment, and emotion regulation, social media addiction, and relationships with significant others and teachers. We conducted some descriptive, mean difference, correlational, and predictive analyses that revealed a significant association between core belief violation caused by war and pandemic, ability to integrate war and pandemic within personal meaning universe, the relational support received, and mental health. The relationship with teachers during these challenging periods improved significantly according to the respondents' opinion, becoming both more authoritative and empathic. This study offers insights into what cognitive and relational processes are useful to intervene on to reduce the distress of adolescents who are facing significant moments of crisis due to events that challenge their cognitive and emotional balance.

Children’s Subjective Well-Being During the Global Health Crisis of Covid-19: A Croos-Narional Comparison

The COVID-19 pandemic was the worst global health disaster of this century. Although children were not at a particularly significant risk of morbidity, let alone mortality, the pandemic posed an acute threat to their well-being. Despite the extensive literature on the impact of COVID-19 on children, studies rarely focused on their subjective perspectives, quality of life and subjective well-being (SWB), but rather on their mental health problems. Moreover, most studies included only a single country. The current quantitative study addressed these gaps by empirically exploring children's lived experiences to assess their SWB, the quality of their relationships with significant others and its effects on SWB, as well as their fears and worries during the pandemic. It was based on a sample of 23,803 children aged 7–15 from twenty countries. The findings indicated a decrease in children’s SWB during the pandemic. It was also found that children’s SWB was predicted by their relationships with significant others. Fears and worries were found to be correlated with children’s SWB very weakly. Finally, some cross-national differences were found in children’s SWB and in the effects of their relationships on their SWB. Nevertheless, only a small share of the variance in children’s SWB could be attributed to differences across countries. These results are discussed in terms of implications for research and policy: although COVID-19 is in many respects already behind us, we can learn much from what happened during that time to better cope with future global or national crises.

Development of mental health first-aid guidelines for a person after a potentially traumatic event: A Delphi expert consensus study in Argentina and Chile

BackgroundExposure to potentially traumatic events increases the risk of a person developing a mental disorder. Training community members to offer support to a person during and after a traumatic situation may help lower this risk. This study reports on the cultural adaptation of Australian mental health first aid guidelines for individuals exposed to a potentially traumatic event to the Chilean and Argentinian context.MethodsA Delphi expert consensus study was conducted with two panels of experts, one of people with lived experience of trauma (either their own or as a carer; n = 26) and another one of health professionals (n = 41). A total of 158 items, drawn from guidelines developed by Australian experts in 2019, were translated to Spanish and evaluated in a two-round survey process. The panellists were asked to rate each item on a five-point Likert scale; statements were included in the final guidelines if 80% of both panels endorsed the item as “essential” or “important”.ResultsConsensus was achieved on 142 statements over two survey rounds. A total of 102 statements were included from the English-language guidelines, and 40 locally generated statements were accepted in the second round. Local experts endorsed a larger number of items compared to their counterparts in Australia and emphasised the importance of acknowledging the first aider’s limitations, both personally and as part of their helping role. Additional items about working as a team with other first responders and considering helping the person’s significant others were endorsed by the local panellists.ConclusionsThe study showed a high level of acceptance of the original actions suggested for inclusion in the guidelines for Australia, but also a significant number of new statements that highlight the importance of the adaptation process. Further research on the dissemination of these guidelines into a Mental Health First Aid training course for Chile and Argentina is still required.

Recovery-oriented care in Teams Working with the ART Model in long-term Mental Health care: A Qualitative Study on the Experiences of Service Users and Their Significant Others.

The Active Recovery Triad (ART) model provides a framework for recovery-oriented care in long-term mental health settings. The aim of this study is to gain insight into the experiences and views of service users and their significant others regarding care and support they receive from teams working with the ART model. Semi-structured interviews were performed with nineteen service users and five significant others of teams operating in Dutch long-term mental health care. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The three core principles of the ART model formed the deductive basis of the analysis and for every principle themes were identified inductively. Under the principle 'Active', service users mentioned that they feel motivated, work actively on personal recovery goals and have dreams for the future. Service users valued the service as a safe environment, but several service users also preferred to live more independently. Under the principle 'Recovery', participants reported how the dimensions of recovery (health, personal identity, daily life and community functioning) were addressed in care and support. Also, specific conditions for recovery-oriented care were identified, for example regarding specific expertise of care providers. Under the principle 'Triad' the support from significant others, contact with care workers and with other service users were identified as important. The insights regarding what is important for service users and their significant others may contribute to the improvement of care and support in long-term mental health care. In addition, the findings of this study provide directions for the further development of the ART model.

Exposure to pro-tobacco and anti-tobacco media messages and events and smoking behaviour among adolescents in Gambia

BackgroundDespite the widespread prevalence of adolescent smoking in Gambia, a West African country, there is limited research exploring the relationships between exposure to pro-tobacco and anti-tobacco media messages and events and smoking behaviour among young people. This study investigates the interplay of these exposures and smoking behaviour among 11-17-year-old adolescents in Gambia.MethodsSecondary data analysis was conducted using the 2017 Gambia Global Youth and Tobacco Survey (GYTS), which included a total of 9,127 respondents. Descriptive and inferential analyses, including proportions, Pearson’s chi-squared tests, and multivariable logistic regression models, were employed to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).ResultsThe final model revealed significant associations between exposure to anti-tobacco media messages and events and smoking behaviour. Adolescents exposed to anti-tobacco media messages had a 29% increased odds of smoking (aOR 1.29,CI = 1.08,1.53) compared to those unexposed, while exposure to anti-tobacco media events showed a 31% increased odds (aOR 1.31,CI = 1.09,1.59) compared to those unexposed. Exposure to pro-tobacco messages, such as witnessing tobacco use on TV (aOR 1.41, CI = 1.17,1.69) and owning objects with tobacco brand logos (aOR 1.49,CI = 1.19,1.86), was associated with higher odds of smoking. Covariates, including sex, age, and exposure to smoking behaviour by significant others, also demonstrated associations with smoking behaviour. Notably, male respondents showed significantly higher odds of smoking (aOR = 4.01,CI = 3.28,4.89) compared to females. Respondents aged 15 years and older had increased odds of smoking (aOR = 1.47,CI = 1.22,1.76) compared to those below 15 years old. Those whose fathers smoke displayed higher odds of smoking (aOR = 1.35, CI = 1.04,1.76) compared to individuals with non-smoking parents. Additionally, those whose closest friends smoke showed remarkably higher odds of smoking (aOR = 2.87,CI = 2.37, 3.48) compared to those without such influence.ConclusionThis study underscores the significant impact of exposure to both anti-tobacco and pro-tobacco media messages and events on smoking behaviour among adolescents in Gambia. However, pro-tobacco messages had a greater influence on smoking prevalence than anti-tobacco messages and events. Understanding these associations is crucial for devising effective public health interventions aimed at reducing tobacco use in this population.

Companion Plant Reading

Combining Donna Haraway’s call to acknowledge non-human significant others in her Companion Species Manifesto with the ‘biocentric form of literary criticism’11 Gagliano, Ryan and Vieira, ‘Introduction’, p. xi. advocated by critical plant studies, this essay uses the agricultural practice of companion planting as a Framework for reading beyond the canon of anglicised world literature. I analyse three short stories – Sofie Isager Ahl’s ‘Naboplanter’ (‘Companion Plants’, 2018), Can Xue’s ‘鸡仔的心愿’ (‘Chick’s Heart’s Desire’, 2020) and Audrey R. Hollis’ ‘Seedlings’ (2018) – that translate between the botanical and the human realms and use vegetal voices to challenge gendered social conventions, linguistic preconceptions and lingering anthropocentrism. By planting together texts in Chinese, Danish and English intermingled with the idiom of plants, I propose messy, multimodal and multilingual translation as a fundamental figuration in our pursuit of a planetary approach to comparative literature.

Developing an alternative care pathway for emergency ambulance responses for adults with epilepsy: A Discrete Choice Experiment to understand which configuration service users prefer. Part of the COLLABORATE project

IntroductionTo identify service users’ preferences for an alternative care pathway for adults with epilepsy presenting to the ambulance service. MethodsExtensive formative work (qualitative, survey and knowledge exchange) informed the design of a stated preference discrete choice experiment (DCE). This hypothetical survey was hosted online and consisted of 12 binary choices of alternative care pathways described in terms of: the paramedic's access to medical records/ ‘care plan’, what happens next (described in terms of conveyance), time, availability of epilepsy specialists today, general practitioner (GP) notification and future contact with epilepsy specialists. DCE scenarios were described as: (i) typical seizure at home. (ii) typical seizure in public, (iii) atypical seizure. Respondents were recruited by a regional English ambulance service and by national public adverts. Participants were randomised to complete 2 of the 3 DCEs. ResultsPeople with epilepsy (PWE; n = 427) and friends/family (n = 167) who completed the survey were representative of the target population. PWE preferred paramedics to have access to medical records, non-conveyance, to avoid lengthy episodes of care, availability of epilepsy specialists today, GP notification, and contact with epilepsy specialists within 2–3 weeks. Significant others (close family members or friends) preferred PWE experiencing an atypical seizure to be conveyed to an Urgent Treatment Centre and preferred shorter times. Optimal configuration of services from service users’ perspective far out ranked current practice (rank 230/288 possible configurations). DiscussionPreferences differ to current practice but have minimal variation by seizure type or stakeholder. Further work on feasibility of these pathways in England, and potentially beyond, is required.