Social Support Skills Research Articles

The Effect of Social Support Skill-training Group Intervention on Perceived Social Support in Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

Background:Traumatic events related to war have long effects on psychiatric psychopathologies. From these disturbing conditions, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is considered to be the most characteristic feature of psychiatric traumatic experience. The current study was designed to assess the effect of two social support skill-training group interventions on perceived social support in veterans with PTSD.Materials and Methods:The study was conducted with the clinical trial method. According to the inclusion criteria, 60 of 367 veterans with PTSD were selected and randomly allocated into two intervention groups and a control group. The two training programs on social support skills consisting of three sessions, each being 1.5–2 h, were held weekly for 3 weeks. The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support was filled by samples before and 6 weeks after intervention. The data were analyzed by descriptive and analytical statistics using PASW Statistics 18.Results:The ANOVA results showed that after intervention, there were significant differences in perceived social support between intervention groups and control group (F = 1.06, p = 0.001), but there was no significant difference between intervention groups by t-test (t = 28.05, p < 0.10). The paired t-test showed a significant difference in all subscale scores of perceived social support between two intervention groups before and after intervention (p < 0.05).Conclusions:The results of the current study agreed with the positive effects of social support skill training on perceived social support in veterans with PTSD. It is suggested that these training courses should be included in the community re-entry programs of veterans with PTSD.

Postpartum outcomes of a pilot prenatal care-based psychosocial intervention for PTSD during pregnancy.

This study examines postpartum posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and secondary outcomes including postpartum depression and birth outcomes for pregnant women who screened positive for PTSD and received a psychosocial education intervention compared to women with PTSD in the usual prenatal care setting. All women entering prenatal care at two federally qualified health centers were screened for symptoms of current PTSD; one site was selected randomly to have prenatal care advocates deliver eight Seeking Safety topics for women with clinical or subclinical PTSD. Women were not blind to condition. Baseline and postpartum interviews, including demographic characteristics and assessment of mental health, social support, and coping skills, were conducted. Medical record data was collected to document preterm delivery and low birth weight. Of the 149 participants at baseline, 128 (86%) participated in the postpartum interview. Intervention women, compared to controls, significantly decreased PTSD symptoms, and showed a non-significant trend for improved social support. However, depression, coping, and birth outcomes did not differ. This study suggests some initial support for the Seeking Safety intervention in prenatal care settings and requires further research to determine the best approaches to its implementation.

Goal feedback from whom? A physical activity intervention using an N-of-1 RCT

Objective: Adolescents are not meeting the recommended guidelines for physical activity. Social support and self-regulatory skills are two factors known to impact physical activity and sedentary behaviour. The study sought to examine how targeting feedback as part of a self-regulatory process could increase physical activity, and the individual who should be providing the feedback.Design: The study utilised an aggregated N-of-1 RCT which allows for an iterative process of intervention development, and examines variability within participants to answer the question for whom did the intervention work. Ten adolescents (ages 13–18) set a daily physical activity goal. Adolescents received a SMS text message providing feedback on goal attainment daily from a parent, peer, behavioural health specialist; or no text message (control).Main Outcome Measures: A bioharness heart rate monitor assessed heart rate as proxy for goal attainment. Adolescents also self-monitored their physical activity in the Calorie Counter and Diet Tracker by MyFitnessPalTM app (commercially available).Results: Intervention demonstrated a significant effect for 30% of the sample in increasing MVPA (Mincrease = 52 min), with no significant effect on sedentary behaviour.Conclusion: A single occasion of text messaging from the right person can produce changes, however, careful consideration should be given to who provides the feedback.

Predictors of well-being in the lives of student service members and veterans

ABSTRACTObjective: The current study examined predictors of well-being, including quality of life and academic engagement, in a sample of student service members and veteran college students. Methods: Eighty-seven student service members/veterans (SSM/V) completed an online survey containing questions about post-deployment social support, emotion regulation skills, psychological distress, academic engagement, quality of life, and demographics. Participants were recruited from September 2012 through May 2014. Results: Results provided partial support for the proposed bi-directional mediational relations between post-deployment social support and emotion regulation predicting to quality of life and academic engagement. Path models indicated that both post-deployment social support and emotion regulation skills partially mediated the relation with quality of life while accounting for the effect of psychological distress, and that emotion regulation skills fully mediated the relation between social support and academic engagement. Conclusions: These findings suggest that both social support and emotion regulation skills may be useful targets for health promotion and intervention efforts for this population. Limitations and clinical implications for the development of on-campus SSM/V focused health promotion services are discussed.

Social Capital and Bystander Behavior in Bullying: Internalizing Problems as a Barrier to Prosocial Intervention.

Theory and research suggests that individuals with greater social capital (i.e., resources and benefits gained from relationships, experiences, and social interactions) may be more likely to be active, prosocial bystanders in bullying situations. Therefore, the goal of the current study was to examine the association of social capital (social support and social skills) with prosocial bystander behavior, and the role of internalizing problems as a potential barrier to this relation among 299 students (45.8% girls, 95% White) in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. Results indicate a positive relation between social capital and prosocial bystander behavior. In addition, internalizing problems were a significant risk factor that may hinder youth-particularly girls-from engaging in defending behavior. Prosocial bystanders are an essential component to prevent and reduce bullying and further research is needed to better understand how to foster prosocial behavior in bullying situations, perhaps by utilizing social capital, related to school bullying.

Is History of Suicidal Behaviour Related to Social Support and Coping Skills in Patients with Bipolar-I Disorder?

<i>Introduction</i>: The aim of the present study is to evaluate role of Coping Styles and Social Support as predictive variables with respect to suicide attempt of patient with bipolar disorder (BD) type-I. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: Via random sampling method, 120 patients in Hazrat e Rasoul General Hospital and Iran Psychiatric Hospital were chosen as statistical sample of current study. BD type-I diagnosis was confirmed after assessment of psychiatrist via SCID. After acquiring written consent forms, patients answered to Copying Skill Questionnaire (CSQ) and Social Support Appraisals Questionnaire (SSA-Q). Obtained data were assessed via Logistic Regression Analysis in SPSS-19. <i>Results</i>: Results showed that only social support can be used as predictive variable regarding forecasting suicide attempts of BD type-I. <i>Conclusion</i>: Due to predictive role of social support, clinician should be cognizant regarding educating patients and their family regarding benefits of social support and accordingly they should tailor proper therapeutic method for this group of patients.

Quality Care Counts: Preparing Young Persons for Life After Care

Longitudinal research, Child Rights Situation Analysis, 2014 shows that out of the identifiable groups in the society, young persons who have been in alternative care because of the loss of care of their biological families are more likely to experience deprived outcomes in life once leaving care. Incidents of financial problems, health issues, safety concerns, drug & alcohol misuse and depression are much higher among this youth group. Care leavers with basic education, without proper family & social support and employable life skills are at the higher risk. SOS Children's Villages, Sri Lanka has realised the significance and the need to prepare youth for leaving care which is the crucial ingredient of a successful alterative care system. A percentage of 65 young persons, who were systematically integrated to the society after being in SOS care, are satisfied with the process of integration, where 85% stated that the education that is formal, informal and non-formal received is sufficient to find a better employment. Young persons who received vocational training had more advantage in initiating successful self-employments than others (SOS Children's Villages Sri Lanka, 2011). Further, the family roots esteemed in SOS concept have given young person's confidence to associate with society as a normal person as they have a mother, brothers and sisters and a home of their own. However, imparities in law and implications in education system create discrimination for young person's coming from alternative care (SOS Children's Villages Sri Lanka, 2014), and the complications of biological and psychosocial factors of young persons create scenarios where the individualised process of integration is required. Furnishing young person's with employable skills, proving a family environment to grow and effective process on integration to society with psychosocial support will provide young persons the empowerment to become independent and live a productive life after care.

Evaluation of the relationship between social level perceived as the predictor of academic achievement and solitude in nursing students&lt;p&gt;Hemşirelik öğrencilerinde akademik başarının yordayıcısı olarak algılanan sosyal düzeyi ile yalnızlık arasındaki ilişkinin incelenmesi

In this study, it was aimed to determine the predictive power of perceived level of social support and solitude levels in academic achievements in nursing students. The sample of the study consisted by 451 students who were studying at the Department of Nursing in a public university in 2014-2015 academic years. 360 of students (79.9%) were female, 91 (20.1) were male. The average age of students was found to be 20.97 ± 1.23 and the average academic achievement was 2.36 ± 0.86. Data were collected by using Student Identification Form, Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS) and UCLA Loneliness Scale. The relationship between level of loneliness and social support of among students was analyzed by Pearson Correlation analysis. In order to determine the predictive variables of academic achievement contributed in which alignment, stepwise regression techniques were used. PSSS mean scores of students was found to be 128,18 ± 6,02, UCLA mean score was 38,02 ± 8,02. As a result of the regression analysis, it was found that the educator’s support, family support and solitude variables predict the academic achievement, gender, grade level and support of friends do not predict. Educator’s support variable was seen as predictor of academic achievement in the first place and this support explains alone the 11.8% of the academic achievement of nursing students. It can be useful to plan the development of plans such as developing social relationships to student, educator and family in order to develop the skills of students to benefit from social support resources, social support skills programs, seminars of teacher-student relationship. At the same time, it can make a positive contribution that the nurse educators’ supportive, without prejudice, patient behaviors in the educational process to academic success of students. ÖzetBu araştırmada, hemşirelik öğrencilerinin çevreden algıladıkları sosyal destek düzeyi ve yalnızlık düzeyinin akademik başarılarını yordama gücünü belirlemek amaçlanmıştır.Araştırmanın öreklemini, 2014-2015 akademik yılında bir kamu üniversitesi Hemşirelik Bölümünde öğrenim gören 451 öğrenci oluşturmuştur. Öğrencilerin 360'ı (%79.9) kız, 91'i (%20.1) erkektir. Öğrencilerin yaş ortalaması 20.97±1.23 olup, akademik başarı ortalaması ise 2.36±0.86 olarak bulunmuştur. Veriler, Öğrenci Tanıtım Formu,Algılanan Sosyal Destek Ölçeği (ASDÖ) ve UCLA Yalnızlık Ölçeği kullanılarak toplanmıştır. Öğrencilerin yalnızlık düzeyi ile sosyal destek düzeyi arasındaki ilişki Pearson Korelasyon analizi ile incelenmiştir. Öğrencilerin akademik başarısını yordayan değişkenlerin hangi sıra ile katkı sağladığını belirlemek için adımsal (stepwise regression) regresyon teknikleri kullanılmıştır. Öğrencilerin ASDÖ puan ortalaması 128,18±6,02, UCLA puan ortalaması 38,02±8,02 olarak bulunmuştur. Yapılan adımsal regresyon analizi sonucunda eğitimci desteği, aile desteği ve yalnızlık değişkenleri akademik başarıyı anlamlı olarak yordamakta, cinsiyet, sınıf düzeyi ve arkadaş desteği ise yordamamaktadır. Eğitimci desteği değişkeninin öğrencilerin akademik başarısını ilk sırada yordadığı görülmü olup, tek başına eğitimci desteği değişkeni hemşirelik öğrencilerinin akademik başarılarının %11.8’ini açıklamaktadır. Öğrencinin sosyal destek kaynaklarından yararlanma becerisini geliştirmek amacıyla öğrenci, eğitimci ve ailelere yönelik sosyal ilişkileri geliştirme, sosyal destek beceri programı, eğitimci-öğrenci ilişkilerini geliştirme seminerleri gibi programların planlanması yararlı olabilir. Aynı zamanda hemşire eğitimcilerin, eğitim sürecinde öğrencilere karşı sabırlı, önyargısız, onları destekler biçimde davranmaları öğrencilerin akademik başarısına olumlu katkılar sağlayabilir.

Micro-level social and structural factors act synergistically to increase HIV risk among Nepalese female sex workers.

Sex workers face stigma, discrimination, and violence across the globe and are almost 14 times more likely to be HIV-infected than other women in low- and middle-income countries. In Asia, condom campaigns at brothels have been effective in some settings, but for preventive interventions to be sustainable, it is important to understand micro-level social and structural factors that influence sexual behaviours of sex workers. This study assessed the syndemic effects of micro-level social and structural factors of unprotected sex and the prevalence of HIV among female sex workers (FSWs) in Nepal. This quantitative study included 610 FSWs who were recruited using two-stage cluster sampling from September to November 2012 in 22 Terai Highway districts of Nepal. Rapid HIV tests and face-to-face interviews were conducted to collect biological and behavioural information. A count of physical (sexual violence and other undesirable events), social (poor social support and condom negotiation skills), and economic (unprotected sex to make more money) factors that operate at the micro-level was calculated to test the additive relationship to unprotected sex. The HIV prevalence was 1%; this is presumably representative, with a large sample of FSWs in Nepal. The prevalence of unprotected sex with clients was high (24%). For each additional adverse physical, social, and economic condition, the probability of non-use of condoms with clients increased substantially: one problem = 12% (p<0.005), two problems = 19% (p<0.001), and three to five problems = 38% (p<0.001). Interactions between two or more adverse conditions linked to physical, social, and economic environments increased the risk of unprotected sex among Nepalese FSWs.

Micro-level social and structural syndemic of HIV risk among Nepalese female sex workers

Background: Sex workers face stigma, discrimination and violence across the globe and are almost 14 times more likely to be HIV infected than other women in low-and middle income countries. In Asia, condom campaigns at brothels have been effective in some settings, but for preventive interventions to be sustainable it is important to understand micro-level social and structural factors that enable sex workers to practice safer sexual behaviors. This study assesses the syndemic effects of micro-level social and structural factors of unprotected sex and the prevalence of HIV among female sex workers (FSW) in Nepal. Methods & Materials: In this quantitative study, 610 FSW were recruited using two-stage cluster sampling between September 2012 and November 2012 from 22 Terai highway districts of Nepal. Rapid HIV tests and face-to-face interviews were conducted to collect biological and behavioral information. A count of physical (sexual violence), social (poor social support and condom negotiation skills) and economic (unsafe sex to make more money) factors that operate at the micro-level was calculated to test the additive relationship to unprotected sex. Unprotected sex was assessed with the following question: “The last time you had sex with your client, did he use a condom?”. Point-biserial correlation was conducted to measure the size and significance of associations between each syndemic condition and unprotected sex. Statistically significant associations between independent variables and unprotected sex were computed using multivariable logistic regression. Results: The HIV prevalence was 1% in this presumably representative and large sample of FSW in Nepal. The prevalence of unprotected sex with client was high (24%). For each additional adverse physical, social and economic condition, the likelihood of non-use of condoms with clients increased substantially: 1 problem=2.2 odds ratio (OR); 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.3-3.7; 2 problems=3.1 OR; 95% CI=1.8-5.4; 3-5 problems=7.3 OR; 95% CI=3.9-13.9. Conclusion: Interactions between two or more adverse conditions linked to physical, social and economic environment increased the risk of unprotected sex among FSW. A more holistic approach, including efforts to improve condom negotiation skills and to address economic vulnerability and abuse, is required to address unprotected sex among FSW in Nepal.

Decreasing PTSD and Depression Symptom Barriers to Weight Loss Using an Integrated CBT Approach

This is a single-case study of an obese African American female Veteran who has posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. Her presenting psychological symptoms included clinically significant night terrors, insomnia, low self-worth, low motivation, and social isolation. Poor dietary and physical activity responses to her psychological symptoms contributed to her weight gain, as well as interfered with weight-loss efforts. A telephone-based cognitive behavioral treatment integrating mental and behavioral health principles was provided. Over the course of eight sessions, the Veteran learned psychological symptom and behavioral monitoring, thought stopping, cognitive restructuring, deep breathing, calming thoughts, social support, sleep hygiene, and problem-solving skills. Client-centered PTSD and weight-management treatment goals were integrated into each session. The client evidenced weight loss, improved dietary and physical activity habits, and experienced a reduction in PTSD and depression symptoms. This case study demonstrates that an integrated cognitive behavioral treatment approach can be beneficial for decreasing PTSD and depression barriers to weight loss.

Internet Addiction in High School Students in Turkey and Multivariate Analyses of the Underlying Factors.

The aim of this study is to examine the Internet addiction among adolescents in relation to their sociodemographic characteristics, communication skills, and perceived familial social support. This cross-sectional research is conducted in the high schools in some city centers, in Turkey, in 2013. In this study, cluster sampling was used. In each school, a class for each grade level was randomly selected, and all the students in the selected classes were included in the sample. One thousand seven hundred forty-two students aged between 14 and 20 years were included in the sample.The mean Internet Addiction Scale (IAS) score of the students was found to be 27.9 ± 21.2. According to the scores obtained from IAS, 81.8% of the students were found to display no symptoms (<50 points), 16.9% were found to display borderline symptoms (50-79 points), and 1.3% were found to be Internet addicts (≥80 points). According to the results of the binary logistic regression, male students and the students in single sex vocational schools were found to report higher levels of borderline Internet addiction. It was also observed that the IAS score increases when the father's educational level increases and when the students' school performance is worse. On the other hand, the IAS score decreases when the student grade level, perceived family social support, and communication skills scores increase.The risk factors for Internet addiction are being a male, low academic achievement, inadequate social support and communication skills, and father's high educational level.

The Role of Social Support and Coping Skills in Promoting Self-Regulated Learning Among Urban Youth

Self-regulation is a well-known construct in educational and psychological research, as it is often related to academic success and well-being. Drawing from criticisms of a lack of context applied to the investigation of this construct, the current study examined the multi-dimensional role of social support (teachers, parents, peers) and coping skills as predictors of self-regulated learning among a diverse sample of urban youth ( N = 229). Based on a cross-sectional and longitudinal design, structural equation modeling was used to test two models. Social support predicted self-regulated learning at Time 1 and Time 2 after controlling for grades. Results further indicated that coping skills did not predict self-regulated learning in either model. The implications for practice, limitations of the study, and future directions for research are discussed.

The Clinic for Assessment of Youth at Risk (CAYR): 10 years of service delivery and research targeting the prevention of psychosis in Montreal, Canada.

In the context of an increasing focus on indicated prevention of psychotic disorders, we describe the operation of the Clinic for Assessment of Youth at Risk (CAYR) over 10 years, a specialized service for identification, monitoring and treatment of young individuals who meet ultra-high risk (UHR) criteria for psychosis, and its integration within the Prevention and Early Intervention Program for Psychosis (PEPP) in Montreal, Canada. We outline rationale, development, inclusion and exclusion criteria, assessment, services offered, community outreach and liaison with potential referral sites, and our research focus on risk and protective factors related to the neural diathesis-stress model of psychosis. Between January 2005 and December 2014, CAYR has received 370 referrals and accepted 177 patients who met UHR criteria based on the Comprehensive Assessment for At Risk Mental States. Conversion rates to a first episode of psychosis were 11%. Our research findings point to high subjective stress levels, poor self-esteem, social support and coping skills, and a dysregulation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis during the high-risk phase. Our efforts at community outreach have resulted in increasing numbers of referrals and patients accepted to CAYR, highlighting the relevance of and need for a high-risk programme in the Montreal area. Patients with psychotic symptoms can be immediately assigned to the first-episode psychosis clinic within PEPP, which has likely contributed to the low conversion rates observed in the UHR group. Our research findings on stress and protective factors emphasize the importance of psychosocial interventions for high-risk patients.

The role of psychological factors in the career of the independent dancer.

Previous research indicates that psychological factors such as motivation and mental skills play an important role in relation to performance and to negotiating talent development stages. However, little is known about these factors in dance, particularly with regard to the independent dancer whose career may involve multiple roles, varied work patterns, and periods of instability. The aim of this study was to explore dancers’ motivation to work in an independent capacity, and the extent to which dancers’ psychological characteristics and skills enabled them to navigate a career in this demanding sector. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 dancers at different stages of their careers. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and content analyzed. Analysis revealed that the dancers were intrinsically motivated and highly committed to the profession. Working in the independent sector offered dancers opportunities for growth and fulfillment; they appreciated the autonomy, flexibility and freedom that the independent career afforded, as well as working with new people across roles and disciplines. In order to overcome the various challenges associated with the independent role, optimism, self-belief, social support, and career management skills were crucial. The mental skills reported by the participants had developed gradually in response to the demands that they faced. Therefore, mental skills training could be invaluable for dancers to help them successfully negotiate the independent sector.

Negative life events and depression in adolescents with HIV: a stress and coping analysis

The prevalence of negative life events (NLE) and daily hassles, and their direct and moderated associations with depression, were examined among HIV-infected adolescents. Specifically, we examined whether the negative association with depression of NLE, daily hassles, and/or passive coping were moderated by social support or active coping strategies. Demographic characteristics, depression, coping, social support, NLE, and daily hassles were collected at baseline as part of the Adolescent Impact intervention via face-to-face and computer-assisted interviews. Of 166 HIV-infected adolescents, 53% were female, 72.9% black, 59.6% with perinatally acquired HIV (PIY), the most commonly reported NLE were death in family (81%), violence exposure (68%), school relocation (67%), and hospitalization (61%); and for daily hassles “not having enough money (65%)”. Behaviorally infected youth (BIY – acquired HIV later in life) were significantly more likely to experience extensive (14–21) lifetime NLE (38.8% vs. 16.3%, p < .012) than PIY. In multiple stepwise regression analysis, the model accounting for the greatest variability in depression scores (32%) included (in order of entry): daily hassles, low social support, behaviorally acquired HIV, minority sexual orientation, and passive coping. A significant passive coping-by-social support interaction revealed that the association between passive coping and depression was exacerbated when social support was low. Social support moderated the effect of NLE, such that NLE were associated with greater depression when social support was low, although the effect did not remain statistically significant when main effects of other variables were accounted for. Daily hassles, poor coping, and limited social support can adversely affect the psychological well-being of HIV-infected adolescents, particularly sexual minority youth with behaviorally acquired HIV. Multimodal interventions that enhance social support and teach adaptive coping skills may help youth cope with environmental stresses and improve mental health outcomes.

Stressors and Caregivers’ Depression: Multiple Mediators of Self-Efficacy, Social Support, and Problem-Solving Skill

Caring for an older adult with memory loss is stressful. Caregiver stress could produce negative outcomes such as depression. Previous research is limited in examining multiple intermediate pathways from caregiver stress to depressive symptoms. This study addresses this limitation by examining the role of self-efficacy, social support, and problem solving in mediating the relationships between caregiver stressors and depressive symptoms. Using a sample of 91 family caregivers, we tested simultaneously multiple mediators between caregiver stressors and depression. Results indicate that self-efficacy mediated the pathway from daily hassles to depression. Findings point to the importance of improving self-efficacy in psychosocial interventions for caregivers of older adults with memory loss.

Prevalence and predictors of alcohol and tobacco consumption in adolescence. [Preval y factores de predic. de los comport. de riesgo en la adolesc.: el papel de la condición de peso, condic. clínica y dimensiones psicosoc.

The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of alco- hol/tobacco consumption among adolescents (N = 370) aged 14 to 19 years in three groups: 205 adolescents with normal weight, 82 adolescents from the community with overweight or obesity, and 83 adolescents with overweight or obesity and in outpatient treatment for weight control. We also examined the roles of age, gender, weight, treatment condition, and psychosocial variables (psychopathological symptoms, social support, and emotional skills) in the presence of those risk behaviors. Our major find- ings were that the clinical group of overweight adolescents had fewer risk behaviors, than the overweight community group and the normal weight controls, particularly for risk behaviors related to alcohol use. The increase of age and lower satisfaction with family predicted tobacco consumption. The increase of age, not being integrated in a treatment for weight control and higher satisfaction with intimate relationships predicted alcohol con- sumption. Weight status was not a predictor of alcohol and cigarette use. This study discusses the theoretical and practical implications of these find- ings.

Relationship between dietary diversity and food access among elderly living alone in Saitama Prefecture

To examine the relationship between dietary diversity and food access among elderly living alone. In September 2013, a cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire was conducted with 4,348 elderly aged 65-89 years, living in A city in Saitama Prefecture. The subjects answered about their health conditions, frequency of food consumption, difficulty of food store access, social support, food preparation, and so on. The response rate was 59.6%. The dietary diversity score (DDS) was calculated as the number of food groups consumed in a day (0 to 10). The DDS was validated by its association with independence and health status of the elderly. As indicators of food access, objective food access was measured using a geographic information system (GIS), and subjective food access was measured by the questionnaire. Responses of 1,043 subjects (452 male and 591 female) were analyzed after excluding those who live with others in an actual household composition. We classified the subjects into two groups according to the DDS: low group (three or less) and high group (four or more). Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted using the DDS groups as the dependent variable, and subjective food access and other factors as independent variables, adjusting for age, income, subjective economic status, education, and frailty status. The number of subjects in each group were as follows: low=107 (23.7%), high=345 (76.3%) for males, high=263 (44.5%), low=328 (55.5%) for females. A multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the difficulty in subjective food store access was associated with a low DDS in males [OR=4.00, 95% CI (1.36-11.82)] as well as in females [OR=2.24, 95% CI (1.11-4.51)]. Further, for females, social support and preparation of supper by oneself were significantly associated with their DDS. No significant relationships were found between objective food store access and DDS in both males and females. The DDS was strongly associated with subjective food store access among the elderly living alone. For females, social support and meal preparation skills were also suggested as important factors affecting their DDS.

Will I Make It on My Own? Voices and Visions of 17-Year-Old Youth in Transition

Voices and Visions of Youth in Transition, a longitudinal transformative youth-centered research study, examines the experiences and thoughts of youth as they transition out of foster care at the ages of 17, 19, and 21. Qualitative and quantitative survey inquiries were used to attain an understanding of the experiences of 198 youth in foster care who were 17 years old during the first wave of data collection. Nine critical areas related to the transition out of foster care were examined: education; employment; housing; high-risk behavior; access to health insurance; social connections with adults, family, and friends; the transition plan; transition concerns; and personal goals. The majority of youth reported the importance of resources, social support, and personal habits and skills as they prepare for the transition out of foster care. Youth also expressed concerns about being on their own without adequate support and not being able to make it on their own. This article highlights the study’s findings from the first wave of data collection and how youth in transition are meaningfully engaged and empowered throughout the research process.