Strength-based Framework Research Articles

Music as a determinant of health among First Nations people in Australia: A scoping narrative review.

While social determinants frameworks are still popular in research about First Nations health in Australia, a growing body of research prefers cultural determinants of health models. Cultural determinants models provide a holistic, strength-based framework to explain connections between health and contextual factors, including the potentialrole of music and its impact on social and emotional well-being. Given the growing international recognition of links between music, health, and wellbeing through bodies such as the World Health Organisation, this article examines whether and how music practices are acknowledged in First Nations determinants of health literature. We conducted a scoping narrative review of literature from five databases: Scopus, PsycInfo, CINAHL, PubMed and ProQuest Central. The search returned 60 articles published since 2017, which we analysed in NVivo for common themes. Music was only explicitly identified as a determinant of health in two studies. Yet, participants in five studies identified music and song as directly impacting their social and emotional well-being. When we broadened our frame of analysis to include other forms of expressive cultural practice, one quarter of included studies empirically acknowledged the role of expressive cultural practice for social and emotional well-being. While many recent studies identify the impact of First Nations' expressive practices broadly, they miss important features of First Nations music as a potentially unique cultural, social, political and ecological determinant of health. SO WHAT?: There is an opportunity for future research and health determinant modelling to explicitly examine the role of First Nations music and other creative practicesfor social and emotional well-being.

Exploring the impact of student-faculty partnership program at a Hispanic Serving Institution

Guided by a strength-based framework and counter-storying lens, we use a qualitative case study approach (Cook-Sather, 2020; Cook-Sather & Motz-Storey, 2016; Lechuga-Peña & Lechuga, 2018) to explore students’ and instructors’ experiences with a students as learners and teachers (SaLT) partnership program at a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). This study includes five students and five faculty members who participated in the student-faculty partnership program. Data collection involved student partners’ self-assessment reflections and faculty members’ pre- and post-program reflections on their experiences. Several themes were identified following a phenomenological analysis of students’ and faculty partners’ self-reflections. Themes emerging from student participants included empathy, personal growth, solidarity, and feedback awareness. Faculty partners’ themes included receptivity, resistance, and collaboration. Implications for institutions of higher education and HSIs are provided.

Understanding the why: The integration of trauma-informed care into speech and language therapy practice

This article aims to highlight the need to integrate Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) into the practice of Speech and Language Therapy. TIC is a strength-based framework underpinned by an understanding and responsiveness to the widespread pervasiveness and impact of trauma. The literature on TIC within the field of Speech and Language Therapy is in its infancy but is progressing. In this context, there is an absence of clear guidelines for TIC in the field to support providers and administers to understand the relevance, underlying theory, and application to practice. In this paper we outline the theoretical underpinnings and application to practice. We argue that the profession requires an ongoing commitment to continuous research to corroborate communication-specific best practices of TIC to support clinicians in translating those findings into practice to best support clients.

The IDEAL PROCESS for developing Assistive Technology policy

ABSTRACT Policy development and implementation are key to improving access to Assistive Technology (AT). In this paper, we describe a strength-based framework for doing this at national level. We used an action research approach, with the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of Persons with Disability (UNCRPD) as the primary frame of reference. Primary data were collected using the World Health Organisation’s rapid Assistive Technology Assessment (rATA). We describe the process of applying our emergent framework and how our findings support it. We identified seven guiding principles for effective policy process: Participatory, Resource aware, Outcomes focused, Collaborative, Evidence-informed, supporting good practices, and System strengthening – which can be summarized by the acronym PROCESS. Five crucial building blocks for effective AT policy development emerged: Identification of the assistive technology ecosystem, Demography of disability and AT use, Evaluation of inclusion and participation in existing policy, Alignment with UNCRPD and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and Locality of implementation – which can be summarized with the acronym IDEAL. The IDEAL PROCESS incorporates key content building blocks and core process principles, constituting a systematic framework for guiding the development of context sensitive AT policy and a strength-based pathway to improving access AT.

Characteristics of First Nations patients who take their own leave from an inner-city emergency department, 2016-2020.

Using a strength-based framework, we aimed to describe and compare First Nations patients who completed care in an ED to those who took their own leave. Routinely collected adult patient data from a metropolitan ED collected over a 5-year period were analysed. A total of 6446 presentations of First Nations patients occurred from 2016 to 2020, constituting 3% of ED presentations. Of these, 5589 (87%) patients waited to be seen and 857 (13%) took their own leave. Among patients who took their own leave, 624 (73%) left not seen and 233 (27%) left at own risk after starting treatment. Patients who were assigned a triage category of 4-5 were significantly more likely to take their own leave (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3.17, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.67-3.77, P < 0.001). Patients were significantly less likely to take their own leave if they were >60 years (adjusted OR 0.69, 95% CI 1.01-1.36, P=0.014) and had private health insurance (adjusted OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.45-0.84, P < 0.001). Patients were more likely to leave if they were women (adjusted OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.01-1.36, P=0.04), had an unknown housing status (adjusted OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.44-2.15, P < 0.001), were homeless (adjusted OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.22-1.93, P < 0.001) or had a safety alert (adjusted OR 1.60, 95% CI 1.35-1.90, P < 0.001). A lower triage category is a strong predictor of First Nations patients taking their own leave. It has been documented that First Nations patients are under-triaged. One proposed intervention in the metropolitan setting is to introduce practices which expediate the care of First Nations patients. Further qualitative studies with First Nations patients should be undertaken to determine successful approaches to create equitable access to emergency healthcare for this population.

Compounding Privilege, Resilience, and Nonmedical Prescription Stimulant Use among College Students

Background: In this study, we examined why non-Hispanic White cisgender men are more likely than other subgroups to misuse prescription stimulants in college. The objective of the current study was to use a strength-based framework to examine intersectional demographic predictors. Methods: We examined gender and race/ethnicity as predictors of nonmedical prescription stimulant use (NPS) among college students. We also investigated resilience as a moderator. This report uses data from an online multisite study conducted at seven universities with 4,764 undergraduate students (70.1% women and 52.0% People of Color). Results: We found that college students who were cisgender men and non-Hispanic White used NPS significantly more than students who identified as another gender and as People of Color. There was also a buffering effect of resilience between race/ethnicity and NPS, such that resilience predicted lower NPS for People of Color, but not non-Hispanic White people 28% of the time. Conclusions: It may be that Students of Color are more resilient than non-Hispanic White students, and this resilience is protective of NPS use in college. Importantly, a compounding-privilege and/or intersectional approach to identity is crucial to fully understanding behavior (in this case NPS) in a diversity of college students; future studies should continue to use and develop such approaches.

A Strength-based Framework of College Student Persistence: The Relationships between Campus Racial Climate, Racial Ethnic Identity, Sense of Belonging and Intentions to Persist among Black and Latinx Students Attending Predominantly White Institutions

A Strength-based Framework of College Student Persistence: The Relationships between Campus Racial Climate, Racial Ethnic Identity, Sense of Belonging and Intentions to Persist among Black and Latinx Students Attending Predominantly White Institutions

A Strength-Based Framework for Realizing Latino Young Children’s Potential

Hispanic children experience poverty at rates two to three times higher than white children. Latino households with children, in general, have high parental employment coupled with low levels of parental education and stagnant parental earnings relative to non-Latino peers. While many Latino children live in neighborhoods that do not have access to high-quality early education, Latino children, on average, are raised in a home environment that offers economic stability and security, the presence of two parents, and socially supported family and community networks. Furthermore, though Hispanic children’s school achievement outcomes lag behind those of their peers, their socio-emotional developmental outcomes are on the same level or better. Latino children are raised in environments with the ingredients needed to achieve their potential. We use this foundation to propose a strength-based framework for guiding policy investment on Latino children and families.

Contextualizing Math-Related Strengths and Math Achievement: Positive Math Orientations, Social Supports and the Moderating Effects of Prior Math Knowledge

Ongoing policy discussions emphasize the need for more STEM professionals to keep the United States internationally competitive in scientific fields and industry. From a K-16 perspective, it is important to note that students’ trajectories into STEM professions are often shaped by their high school experiences—especially in mathematics. Accordingly, this study employs a strength-based framework to examine students’ high school math achievement with an emphasis on the role of their math-related personal and social strengths. This research uses data from the NCES High School Longitudinal Study, a large-scale national study that emphasizes students’ math outcomes. Moderated regression was utilized to examine associations between students’ high school math-related strengths and their math achievement, as well as how these relationships may differ based upon students’ prior math achievement. The findings suggest that a number of students’ strengths in math were positively related to their math achievement; however, some of these relationships differed base upon prior math achievement levels. Accordingly, while math-related strengths can be equally beneficial for students in some instances, in other instances there is a need to better understand these relationships with some nuance. Implications for K-16 STEM education policy, practice and research are discussed.

Antecedents and Outcomes of Brand Strength: A Study of Asian IT Organizations Towards Brand Sustainability

There is a lacuna in research work in terms of understanding how Asian information technology (IT) organizations can become global brands to achieve brand sustainability. The present research examines the impact of brand strength on sustainable global branding for Asian IT organizations. Survey conducted with sample size of 225 IT customers. Results show positive relationship between brand strength and global branding; between brand loyalty and brand sustainability; between global branding and brand sustainability. This research helps managers with a brand strength-based framework towards global branding of Asian IT organizations. Asia should optimally utilize its human potential, through building global IT brands. The success (or lack of it) of IT firms in Asia can potentially influence the performance of firms in other sectors and other developing regions as well. The originality of the study lies in proposing a conceptual framework for sustainable global branding of Asian IT organizations and conducting a quantitative study. The study further validates the model using structural equation modelling (SEM).

Listen, look & learn: Exploring cultural obligations of Elders and older Aboriginal people

ABSTRACT Introduction: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders’ social and emotional well-being provides a strength-based framework to discuss social and emotional well-being. This paper focuses on Elders’ and older Aboriginal people’s experiences of social and emotional well-being and their cultural obligations relating to social and emotional well-being. These cultural obligations, along with social and emotional well-being experiences, inform and/or are influenced by Elders and older people’s occupations. Methods: An Indigenous Standpoint Theory guided this research and supported yarning as a research method. In total, 16 older Aboriginal people participated in this research. A modified version of an existing thematic analysis process was used to organise the data, which enabled research yarning members to participate and engage in all stages of data analysis. Results: Three key themes were identified: 1). Every day you will learn something; 2). It all comes back to culture; 3). The old wings, they used to be flyin’, are just lying beside them. These themes highlight the importance of older Aboriginal people participating in learning activities and fulfilling cultural obligations that support social and emotional well-being. Factors like disrespect, poor health and/or well-being, broken cultural connections, and geography negatively influence participation in roles, responsibilities, and occupations. Conclusion: Elders and older people are integral in maintaining the cultural well-being of family, community, and country. This social and emotional well-being framework provides a respectful foundation to discuss Elders’ and older Aboriginal people’s cultural obligations, with the cultural domain providing a solid foundation for exploring Elders’ and older people’s occupations.

Using strength-based approaches to fulfil academic potential in degree apprenticeships

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to highlight the positive academic and professional outcomes for students who undertake degree apprenticeships which use strength-based approaches in their curriculum and assessment. The design and implementation of programmes of work-based study which focus on an individual’s inherent talents are a new lens for higher education (HE), one that enables institutions to see diverse groups of students fulfil their potential and gain academic qualifications. Strength-based degree apprenticeships offer an effective way to align the needs of industry with the ambitions of individuals who wish to gain university level qualifications whilst in the workplace.Design/methodology/approachThe research adopted a mixed-methods approach. Semi-structured interviews with stakeholders in industry and HE were undertaken and thematically analysed. Student data were analysed quantitatively for students in the degree apprenticeship programmes which incorporate a strength-based approach to learning and assessment.FindingsThe findings from this study highlight that the degree apprenticeships’ strength-based curriculum and assessment have spearheaded its success. On average, degree apprentices attain 10 per cent higher grades than students undertaking the same programme through the traditional degree route. Moreover, the module design and tailored support has contributed to over 91 per cent of apprentices graduating with a 2:1 or above.Research limitations/implicationsThis research is exploratory in nature, focusing on one university’s experiences and outcomes regarding a strength-based approach curriculum and assessment on degree apprenticeships.Originality/valueThe findings describe how the knowledge exchange and culture of the HE sector has shifted, and the university’s efforts to make progressive relationships with employers. Moreover, this paper describes the challenges in designing curricula and assessing students based on the strengths and skills required for their employment, rather than university mandated learning outcomes. The findings of this paper could influence a strength-based framework for the development of degree apprenticeships in the UK.

Absent in theory, invisible in practice: Queering HBSE for a more inclusive social work profession

ABSTRACTA sound theoretical foundation is a necessary element of social work education that prepares students to confront the challenges of practice with critical knowledge of the human experience. Queer theory is a strength-based framework for understanding sexual and gender identities that fall outside of the current social norms, and offers a highly relevant and useful pathway for the education of social work practitioners. Despite its utility for enhancing understanding and acceptance of gender and sexual minority (SGM) people, it is underutilized in social work compared with other disciplines. Additionally, this study reports on the gender and sexual identities of social work students and their endorsement of help-seeking behaviors related to issues of gender and sexual nonconformity. These empirical-based perspectives undergird the tenets of queer theory and support its application in research endeavors aimed at better understanding the human experience. A theoretical and empirical-based argument is made for the queering of HBSE to strengthen both explicit and implicit curricula in social work education. This study expands on the limited usage of queer theory within social work and directly challenges the normative and binary nature of sexual and gender identity evident within the professional literature and implications for education and research are offered.

Innovative Strength-Based Care in Child and Adolescent Inpatient Psychiatry.

Child and adolescent psychiatric units serve the highest risk, most vulnerable populations in the mental health delivery system. This article describes the integration of a strength-based approach with a traditional, medical model of psychiatric care on an acute inpatient unit. A strength-based framework allows for increased focus on exploring patients' goals, strengths, relationships, skills, and family communication within the hospital setting. The process of integration of strength-based care is described, followed by discussion of the implementation and evaluation of interventions, including mindfulness, family movie, narrative, and animal-assisted therapies. Innovative interventions led to improvement in patient symptoms, unit culture, and patient, family, and staff satisfaction. A strong emphasis on strength-based, multidisciplinary treatment has enhanced patient care, as the goals of acute inpatient admission are broadened to include more than diagnosis and medication management.

Caring for Aging Parents: The Influence of Family Coping, Spirituality/Religiosity, and Hope on the Marital Satisfaction of Family Caregivers

The goal of this study was to gain a more complete understanding of the marital satisfaction of family caregivers based on a strength-based framework of family resiliency. Previous research has identified a relationship between the caregiving experience and coping, spirituality/religiosity, and hope, but no study to date has investigated the effect of those three variables on the marital satisfaction of family caregivers. We hypothesized that family caregivers who are spiritual/religious, hopeful, and use effective family coping strategies would experience greater marital satisfaction. A hierarchical linear regression analyzing data from 191 family caregivers supported the hypotheses. Implications for clinicians are discussed.

Help-Seeking for Marital Problems: Perceptions of Individuals in Strong African American Marriages

This exploratory study employed a qualitative approach and a strength-based framework to identify African Americans’ (N = 78) perceptions of help-seeking for marital problems in their strong marriages. Specifically, participants were asked the resources they would seek if marital problems arose, sex differences in willingness to seek professional help for marital problems, and their lived experience with help-seeking for marital problems. African American men and women most frequently cited religion/spirituality and family (immediate/extended) as resources for help during marital challenges. No significant difference was identified between men and women in willingness to seek professional help for marital problems. When discussing experiences with help-seeking for marital problems participants indicated that they considered the trustworthiness of the resource, typically relied on religion/spirituality, and preferred to keep their problems within their relationship. Results are discussed in terms of implications for researchers and marriage professionals.

Impact of staff commitment and morale on the implementation of the project P.A.T.H.S. in Hong Kong

In the field of positive youth development, there are few studies on program sustainability and the relationship between program implementation and program sustainability. Based on an in-depth case study in the Project P.A.T.H.S. in Hong Kong, this study examines the intrinsic factors and mechanisms that influence program implementation and sustainability. The results reveal that implementers under study are highly flexible and responsive agents who operate in different areas at all school levels. With an understanding of the program philosophies and a belief in its efficacy, implementers also modify the program by integrating the "adopted" program to the existing strength-based framework, resulting in enhanced program effectiveness and sustainability. Furthermore, the present study underscores the importance of staff commitment and morale in the implementation and sustainability of positive youth development programs in the Chinese context.

The relationship between strengths in youth and bullying experiences at school

Bullying is a serious problem plaguing educational systems and influencing the lives of many youth. The consequences of bullying, for both bullies and victims, are numerous and well-established, including increased emotional and behavioural problems, difficulties in peer relationships, and poor academic achievement. To date, little research has been completed that explores the role of strengths in the bullying experiences of youth. An understanding of students’ strengths could aid in the development of appropriate intervention and prevention programming and to promoting the well-being of youth. Therefore, this study examined the relationships between strengths in youth and bullying experiences within a comprehensive strength-based framework. Participants were 263 students (112 males) recruited from Grades 7 and 8 classes in Ontario, Canada. Participants completed self-report questionnaires on bullying and victimisation experiences and a broad range of personal strengths. The results of this study did not support a direct relationship between overall strengths and bullying behaviours and victimisation experiences. However, some specific strengths were identified as predictors of both bullying and victimisation. Of note, while having more strengths in some domains predicted reduced rates of bullying and victimisation, having more strengths in other domains predicted increased rates of both bullying and victimisation, suggesting a masking effect. These results highlight the importance of further exploring the relationship between strengths and bullying as well as the possible benefits of providing strength-based intervention and prevention programmes.

Age differences in visual search: target and distractor learning.

Age differences in a semantic category visual search task were investigated to determine whether the age effects were due to target learning deficits, distractor learning deficits, or a combination thereof. Twelve young (mean age 20) and 12 older (mean age 70) adults received 2,400 trials each in consistent and varied versions of the search task. Following training, a series of transfer-reversal manipulations allowed the assessment of target learning and distractor learning both in isolation and in combination. The pattern of data suggests that older adults have a deficit in their ability to increase the attention-attraction strength of targets and to decrease the attention-attraction strength of distractors. The results are interpreted in terms of a strength-based framework of visual search performance.