Search

The confluence of the two major challenges has combined to create special challenges for rural nonprofits serving victims of crime: the fluctuation of federal funding, and the Covid-19 pandemic. We discuss the challenges faced by Child Advocacy Centers in northwestern South Carolina in the context of these shifting challenges. From qualitative interviews conducted at 14 centers in this primarily rural region, we explain the challenges they face and the potential effects on the communities they serve interpreted through the lens of Resource Dependence Theory, which predicts that organizations reduce uncertainty of funding through increasing their partnership bonds with cooperative entities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Incarcerated trans women experience significant victimization, mistreatment, barriers to gender-affirming care, and human rights violations, conferring high risk for trauma, psychological distress, self-harm, and suicide. Across the globe, most carceral settings are segregated by sex assigned at birth and governed by housing policies that restrict gender expression—elevating ‘safety and security’ above the housing preferences of incarcerated people. Aim/methods: Drawing upon the lived experiences of 24 formerly incarcerated trans women in Australia and the United States and employing Elizabeth Freeman’s notion of chrononormativity, Rae Rosenberg’s concept of heteronormative time, and Kadji Amin’s use of queer temporality, this paper explores trans women’s carceral housing preferences and contextual experiences, including how housing preferences challenge governing chrononormative and reformist carceral housing systems. Findings: Participants freely discussed their perspectives regarding housing options which through thematic analysis generated four options for housing: 1) men’s carceral settings; 2) women’s carceral settings; 3) trans- and gay-specific housing blocks; and 4) being housed in protective custody or other settings. There appeared to be a relationship between the number of times the person had been incarcerated, the duration of their incarceration, and where they preferred to be housed. Conclusions: This analysis contributes to richer understandings regarding trans women’s experiences while incarcerated. This paper also informs the complexities and nuances surrounding housing preferences from the perspectives of trans women themselves and considers possible opportunities to enhance human rights, health and wellbeing when engaging in transformative approaches to incarceration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assistive technologies (AT) perform an important social role, interacting with cultural systems to produce or hinder accessibility to biosocial environments. This interaction profoundly shapes not only how an individual body can be experienced by users but also produce and hinder accessibility to biosocial environments. AT users have historically been viewed through a medical model, which deems them disabled by their impairments and by dominant ableist narratives. Therefore, this paper serves to provide an insight into the importance of ageing with and into AT. This paper aims to investigate polio survivors' and diabetic amputees' experiences of assistive technologies in order to better understand impacts upon narrative and identity. By applying an anthropological and sociological lens, a holistic view of the experiences of polio survivor and amputee AT users is developed. This paper draws on 16 in-depth interviews with polio survivors and diabetic amputees in the United States (US) and Australia, which were analysed using an experience-centered narrative approach. Both projects were approved by ethics boards. All participants provided written consent. Five themes were identified: a) disruption to biographies, which reflected AT impact on how narratives become altered; b) impacts to autonomy, which reflected the importance of regaining previous daily activities; c) re-engaging with community life, which highlighted how AT supported participation in valued activities; d) self-perceptions of assistive technologies, which act in opposition to external perspectives and challenge ableist narratives; and e) an intergenerational comparison of new and older AT users highlights the importance of temporalities. This paper offers new perspectives on ageing with assistive technologies, with a focus on identity and narrative. The importance of this paper is to contribute to the existing literature that demonstrates the cultural implications that arise through embodiment and assistive technologies. The use of assistive technology can help individuals regain function, but the individual circumstances require consideration The use of assistive technology is a complex entanglement of bodies, environments, biographies, and imagined futures. The use of assistive technology can provide participants autonomy over their narratives and assist with maintaining their identities [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the United States, Black women's use of infertility treatments is relatively low, despite elevated or similar rates of infertility compared with White women. Ethical concerns about infertility treatments have been identified as a potential sociocultural factor contributing to these treatment-seeking disparities. Despite documented differences, the substance of these ethical concerns is unclear. Clarifying the nature of these concerns contributes to our understanding of the social forces that shape the contexts of infertility care. Using an intersectional and comparative analysis of semi-structured interviews with Black or African American and White women enrolled in U.S. graduate programmes, this paper investigates the nature and substance of ethical concerns about medicalized infertility treatments. Three central themes emerged: (i) ethical concerns were not binary; (ii) ethical concerns varied by modality, but not by race, and focussed primarily on infertility treatments involving third parties; and (iii) substantive non-ethical concerns were concentrated among Black women and were driven by discomfort with or preferences against treatments involving third-parties. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of these findings for researchers, providers, and policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging research supports that some former collegiate athletes (FCAs) can become physically inactive after retiring from sport, which can exacerbate unfavorable changes in long-term health. While researchers have addressed transitional difficulties FCAs may experience after retiring, little empirical evidence exists on how to promote healthy post-sport physical activity (PA) levels for those who are insufficiently active. Because of FCAs' past sports training, considering their opinions for effective PA program components may be beneficial in early stages of behavioral intervention development. As such, 17 insufficiently active former National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I athletes engaged in semi-structured interviews exploring their post-sport PA experiences and perceptions of effective program characteristics. Using Consensual Qualitative Research procedures, five domains were constructed. Three domains were discussed in a previous article; this paper overviews the remaining two, which describe participants' opinions of what would effectively promote PA in their population: (a) a desire for an 'athletics-lite' atmosphere in an FCA-targeted intervention, and (b) using technology to positively engage former athletes in their PA transition. While participants believed an athletics-based program where they are provided feedback and individualized workouts would be effective in maintaining PA, this may indicate underdeveloped autonomy in some FCAs regarding PA maintenance post-sport. Initially utilizing college sports personnel in a program may aid FCAs at risk of inactivity in transferring skills used in sport to independent PA maintenance after retiring. Further, the introduction and use of technology may help facilitate self-monitoring of progress, social support, and individualization when external resources are unavailable. Lay summary: Seventeen, inactive former college athletes (FCAs) were interviewed to understand enablers for promoting physical activity (PA) in their population. Utilizing sport/exercise personnel to help FCAs become more autonomous in their behavior and promoting self-monitoring through technology may help those in this population who struggle to maintain PA post-sport. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: On-campus programs should consider involving athletics personnel (e.g., coaches, athletic trainers, certified mental performance consultants) and, pending available resources, outside experts (e.g., exercise physiologists) to deliver techniques, strategies, and education to explicitly support retiring student-athletes in maintaining PA after retirement. The perceived need for an athletics atmosphere, such as a coach-figure and teammates to be competitive with, may indicate underdeveloped autonomy for maintaining PA in insufficiently active FCAs. While athletics personnel may be useful in early promotion of PA, programs should strive to help them build more self-determined forms of motivation and be self-sufficient in maintaining PA post-sport. Programs may consider promoting the maintenance of PA to students-athletes via the use of wearable devices, PA applications, and online resources to promote self-monitoring of behavior, facilitate social support, and provide education on healthy PA practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines Chinese international students' lived experiences of being stigmatized during the early onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. To understand their dual-marginalization due to Othered Chinese-ness (e.g. racialized immigrant Others and foreigner Asians) and presumed contagiousness (e.g. suspected, diseased, and infectious), we adopt co-cultural theory to centralize their experiences of coping with COVID-related stigmatization. Semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis demonstrate how Chinese students in this study heightened their sensitivity to ambiguous yet hostile stigmatization and how they often opted for nonassertive, non-confrontational, and threat-avoiding coping strategies. We reflect on how current health and racism crises further marginalize immigrant Others in general and Chinese immigrants in particular. We conclude with discussing theoretical application of co-cultural theory to understand stigmatizing and stigmatized health communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers of community health worker (CHW) models in many countries are looking for ways to scale without losing one of their main advantages, their context-sensitivity. This paper looks at one research strategy to make CHW projects scalable, namely by developing a generic notion of culture-sensitivity. Based on in-depth qualitative analysis, we reconstruct how 'culture' has been enshrined in a US-based CHW project and specifically in the artefact of a binder with teaching materials for vulnerable mothers. The inscription of generalized, culture-sensitive spaces into the binder did allow the Project to comply with standards of evidence-based medicine while respecting community self-determination and made space for creative and competent CHW practices. Yet at the same time, it took away from more substantive conceptions of community engagement and from community empowerment through CHWs. Our analysis highlights how the focus on culture can invisibilise and displace the importance of competent CHW practice and processes of community engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During 2001–2002, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), at the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, collaborated with the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) at the United States Department of Labor to conduct a voluntary survey of U.S. employers regarding the use of respiratory protective devices. In 2003, the survey results were jointly published by NIOSH and BLS. This study highlights and evaluates the scientific impact of the 2001–2002 survey by using the Science Impact Framework which provides a historical tracking method with five domains of influence. The authors conducted interviews with original project management as well as a thorough document review and qualitative content analysis of published papers, books, presentations, and other relevant print media. A semi-structured and cross-vetted coding was applied across the five domains: Disseminating Science, Creating Awareness, Catalyzing Action, Effecting Change, and Shaping the Future. The 2001–2002 survey findings greatly enhanced understanding and awareness of respirator use in occupational settings within the United States. It also led to similar surveys in other countries, regulatory initiatives by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Mine Safety and Health Administration, and ultimately to a renewed partnership between NIOSH and BLS to collect contemporary estimates of respirator use in the workplace within the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schizophrenia is a global concern, and, this paper, describes the caring roles of health professionals who are mothers of adult children with schizophrenia. A thematic analysis of data from a doctoral study identified a blending of expertise into an informed care model. Caring roles included: constant carer; coordinator carer; watchful bystander carer; and life coach carer. Previous research has not explored these dual roles. This paper elucidates their responsive approaches and contributions to mothering and caregiving roles. Informed by a fusion of professional and mothering knowledges, their insights into mental health care have been forged by their experiences and is an untapped resource. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Immigrant Latinx transgender people often migrate to the United States because of a desire for increased safety and more opportunities. However, after migrating to the United States, immigrant Latinx transgender people often struggle to access basic needs, including health care, jobs, and stable finances. These struggles are exacerbated for undocumented immigrant Latinx transgender people. There is a gap in the literature regarding needed resources for immigrant Latinx transgender community members living in the United States. Aims: Utilizing a critical intersectionality framework, the aim of the present study was to investigate the resource needs of immigrant Latinx transgender community members living in the United States. Methods: A community sample of 18 immigrant Latinx transgender people living in a large metropolitan city in Florida participated in individual semi-structured interviews to explore their community resource needs. Results: Thematic analysis revealed five themes related to resources that participants needed including: 1) Transgender healthcare/resources, 2) Public education, 3) Financial aid resources, 4) Homelessness resources, and 5) Addictions care. Two resource need-related themes were identified that pertain specifically to undocumented immigrant Latinx transgender people, including: 1) Documentation papers for access, and 2) Legal aid. Conclusions: Findings suggest that immigrant Latinx transgender community members in this study provided guidance about broad resources needed to enhance their wellness and safety, and promote liberation of community members. Participants' resource needs suggest the importance of policy and structural level changes from institutions with power that consider and enhance the wellness of immigrant Latinx transgender people. Findings also suggest the need for more tailored interventions and case work to better support immigrant Latinx transgender people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Counseling is a part of the scope of practice for speech-language pathologists (SLPs), however training has been inconsistent across programs. Students, clinical fellows, and practicing SLPs alike report feeling under-prepared to address the counseling needs of clients and their families. Research evidence about counseling training and practices specific to addressing the psychological well-being of individuals with aphasia and their families is even more limited. While practicing SLPs feel confident and prepared to address communication-specific interventions for aphasia, they feel ill prepared to address the counseling needs that arise on a regular basis. Aims: The present investigation was part of a two-part investigation that included an online survey to practicing SLPs throughout the United States (US) and follow-up interviews with a subgroup of those participants. This paper addresses the counseling practice interview portion and addresses two research questions: How confident do SLPs feel using counseling with individuals with aphasia? To what extent are SLPs implementing counseling in practice with individuals with aphasia and their family members? Methods & Procedures: Eight practicing SLPs who participated in the part 1 counseling practices survey agreed to participate in the part 2 counseling practices intervention. They varied by years of practice, region of practice, and practice setting (acute, subacute, and chronic). Participants engaged in the Counseling Practices Interview (CPI) via the BlueJeans video conferencing application. Interviews were transcribed and coded qualitatively using open and axial coding methods. Multiple rounds of iterative coding were conducted to ensure rigor and coding stability. Outcomes & Results: Multiple rounds of coding resulted in the following overarching themes: confidence in aphasia-specific skills/ techniques, SLPs encounter emotional and psychosocial discussions regularly, confidence with educational counseling, not prepared for psychosocial adjustment counseling, taking the perspective of individuals with aphasia and their family, referrals/ interprofessional practices and scope of practice issues, and SLP self-care. SLPs reported a clear difference between knowledge and skills for which they feel prepared and confident, versus addressing psychological well-being of individuals with aphasia and understanding practice boundaries. Conclusions: SLPs recognize the importance of counseling skills for working with individuals with aphasia because counseling moments arise regularly. They use a variety of techniques but lack intentionality and specialised training. Academic training was deemed to be inadequate in scope and instructional methods. Postacademic training was identified as hard to access but useful. SLPs reported a lack of clarify on scope of practice, practice boundaries, and referrals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is much discussion in the literature regarding the role public child welfare has played in disproportionately intervening with children and families of color, and debate regarding how this has impacted their wellbeing and the role systemic racism has played. The voice of individuals serving as regional and state-level administrators of public child welfare agencies regarding this topic and how to address existing inequities has been missing in this dialogue. This paper reports on semi-structured interviews conducted with sixteen such administrators regarding where they have observed these issues in their agencies and a wide array of strategies they believe have the best likelihood of promoting racial equity and antiracist practice in the child welfare system, with some describing approaches currently being implemented. Participants discussed what they need from community and university partners to support this work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent interdisciplinary scholarship has drawn increased critical attention to issues related to race, gender, class, and culture within public physical activity (PA) spaces, foregrounding the importance of rethinking dominant narratives of PA and promoting diverse and more inclusive practices within these contexts to address PA disparities. This paper addresses issues related to diversity and inclusion within community fitness spaces by examining the experiences of stakeholders and members involved in 'The Collective' Free Fitness Group (CFFG), a free, open-to-the-public fitness community based in Oakland, Ca (the original name has been changed for purposes of anonymity). This organization has made intentional efforts towards addressing diversity and inclusion across its membership and is located in one of the most ethnoracially diverse regions of the country. Drawing on McGee's (1980) concept of ideographs, we explore the potential limitations and consequences of how the CFFG Oakland community members communicated discourses and lived experiences of and to one another and the broader Oakland community. Specifically, we argue that by emphasizing certain expressions of and while deemphasizing alternative forms, participant responses reflected a 'paradox' of diversity, despite their shared in-group identification around as an important individual moral virtue and their open and community. This study contributes new knowledge to the 'paradox' literature and may inform future physical activity interventions and theoretical directions of study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the development and feasibility of a digitally-based educational intervention, titled Recognize & Resist (R&R), for writers of One Direction (1D) fanfiction on Wattpad.com. The goal of R&R is to reduce the prevalence of social norms that are supportive of sexual violence within 1D fanfiction. 1D fanfictions, or fictional romance stories written by fans of this British boy band, have hundreds of millions of views on Wattpad.com. Formative research has found that social norms supportive of sexual violence are prevalent in 1D fanfictions and that some authors have internalized these norms. R&R aims to motivate 1D fanfiction writers to highlight sexual consent and egalitarian gender roles in their writing. To evaluate the intervention’s feasibility, 15 1D fanfiction authors completed a survey and participated in an interview or focus group. Results demonstrate R&R’s feasibility, with high ratings of its acceptability and demand. Insights from the interviews and focus groups provide suggestions for revising R&R before rigorously evaluating its efficacy. Additionally, results demonstrate the utility of using popular culture as a vehicle for attitude-change regarding sensitive health issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research recruitment, eligibility, and who chooses to participate shape the resulting data and knowledge, which together inform interventions, treatment, and programming. Patterns of research participation are particularly salient at this moment given emerging biomedical prevention paradigms. This paper explores the perspectives of Black and Latino young men who have sex with men (BL-YMSM) regarding research recruitment and eligibility criteria, how their experiences influence willingness to enroll in a given study, and implications for the veracity and representativeness of resulting data. We examine inclusion and recruitment as a complex assemblage, which should not be reduced to its parts. From April to July 2018, we conducted in-depth interviews with 30 BL-YMSM, ages 18–29, in New York City. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using the constant comparative method. Black and Latino YMSM's responses unveiled tensions between researchers', recruiters', and participants' expectations, particularly regarding eligibility criteria (e.g. age, sex frequency), assumptions about 'risky behaviors,' and the 'target' community. Men preferred peer-to-peer recruitment, noting that most approaches miss key population segments. Findings highlight the need to critically examine the selected 'target' community, who sees themselves as participants, and implications for data comprehensiveness and veracity. Study eligibility criteria and recruitment approaches are methodological issues that shape knowledge production and the policies and programs deployed into communities. These findings can inform how future research studies frame recruitment and eligibility in order to better meet the needs of participants and ensure future research engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health policy plays a critical role in determining a state's or nation's overall population health, and health system change has been a priority for a majority of Americans for at least a decade. News coverage can influence health policy development, but little research has examined the quality of that coverage, in part because no consensus exists regarding what information health policy stories should include. This paper describes a series of in-depth interviews with eight health policy experts and 12 experienced journalists who have covered health policy. While rejecting the notion of strict quality criteria that could be applied to all health policy stories, the interviewees agreed on several factors that would improve health policy coverage. They recommended that health policy stories should include information about financial costs to consumers, evidence that a policy will have its intended effect, historical context for the policy, and "relatable hooks" that help consumers understand which groups a policy will affect and how. In addition, the interviewees stressed the importance of building policy coverage on trustworthy sources representing multiple viewpoints and the need to recognize how audience members' values influence their acceptance and interpretation of evidence. These findings provide an important foundation for future research examining the impact of health policy reporting on both public opinion and public policy development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To better serve the growing population of interracial and interethnic parents raising children and adolescents, social workers must strive to understand their unique experiences. The authors analyzed 15 qualitative interviews with parents in interracial and interethnic marriages raising at least one child 11- to 18-years-old to understand their parenting practices and what they are confronting. Five racial-ethnic socialization strategies were found – cultural socialization, preparation for bias, promoting egalitarianism, imparting anti-racist messages, and teaching the strengths of Biracialism. In addition, three themes or challenges were found that the parents were faced with and to which they needed to respond. These included being affected by the current racial climate in the United States, their children's racial presentation, and the role the children's grandparents and extended family play. This paper includes recommendations for social worker practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports findings from a qualitative study on the triggers of hospital social workers' moral distress at a large southern U.S. health system. Moral distress occurs when ethical conflict cannot be resolved in a way that aligns with an individual's personal and professional values and ethics. Participants indicated that moral distress derives from both individual interactions and the culture and climate of health systems. For example, participants expressed how sources of moral distress derived from client-centered decisions, such as end-of-life care and patient autonomy; interpersonal dynamics, including team or supervisory conflict; structural issues, such as insurance barriers or internal hospital policies; and organizational values, such as perceptions of institutional support and validation. Implications of this research suggest that health systems need to foster positive ethical environments that nurture clinicians' health and mental health through programs that aim to increase moral resilience, promote empowerment, and foster wellness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moral thinking and communication are critical competencies for confronting social dilemmas in a challenging world. We examined these moral competencies in 70 college students and graduates from Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Participants were assessed through semi-structured written interviews, Facebook group discussions, and a questionnaire. In this paper, we describe the similarities and differences across cultural groupings in (1) the social issues of greatest importance to the participants; (2) the factors influencing their approaches to thinking about social issues and communicating with others; and (3) the characteristics of their moral functioning in terms of moral awareness, moral judgment, moral discourse, and moral decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents findings from a qualitative study exploring how students at a university in the southern USA conceptualize, theorize, and attempt to influence the role 'social factors' play in mental illness and well-being. Drawing on models of research co-production and principles of critical pedagogy, a group of 10 university students ('student researchers') worked with a faculty member to develop and conduct the study. The results highlight three ways in which the student interviewees ('student interlocutors') theorize 'the social'. The first two – (1) via the 'social determinants of health' and (2) by means of theories on 'neoliberal subjectivity' – provide a powerful frame for interrogating hierarchical systems of power. However, because neither of these corresponds to our interest in producing knowledge for social change, we used prefigurative and speculative approaches to explore a third notion of the social, that of (3) 'world-making practices'. We conclude by reflecting on the relevance of this project for educators, learners, and researchers seeking to deepen knowledge and theories of the social in mental health. We argue that co-produced research that draws from principles of critical pedagogy can enhance interdisciplinary collaboration and lead to more nuanced, transformative, and innovative analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper explores how paid and unpaid labor history over the life course influence women's cardiovascular disease. U.S. women comprise about 50% of the paid workforce and perform the majority of unpaid labor. However, the influence of women's work on their health is under-researched. Our sample was drawn from the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study, a cohort of post-menopausal women in the U.S. aged 50–79 at recruitment. Women were categorized into five groups according to paid labor history: worked in paid jobs consistently throughout adult life; left the workforce early; entered the workforce later; discontinuous work history; never worked outside the home. Live birth history (none, at least one, missing) served as a proxy for unpaid labor in prime age. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate the hazard ratio of CVD associated with different paid work histories. We then assessed the effect of unpaid labor on the relation between paid labor and CVD. Paid labor participation was not associated with CVD risk among women without unpaid labor after adjusting for age, education, and birth cohort. Among those with unpaid demands, leaving the workforce early or having discontinuous work history was protective. In this U.S. sample, the association between paid work participation history and CVD risk depends on the presence of unpaid labor. Our results demonstrate the necessity of including work – paid and unpaid – in consideration of women's health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has been and will continue to be important to the music therapy profession, as evidenced by the number of studies examining the evolution of research in the field. Despite its seeming importance, no recent studies have investigated the extent to which music therapists find research relevant to practice and very few studies have examined this topic outside of the United States. The purposes of this study were to (a) examine the extent to which music therapists around the world view research as relevant to clinical practice and (b) among those who read research, identify which sections from scientific papers are read. This nonexperimental study involved an online survey of music therapists from 51 countries. Of the 1586 initially responding to the participant invitation, 1272 music therapists completed the survey (a completion rate of 80%). Findings suggest that music therapists find research to be relevant to clinical practice and perceptions differ as a function of educational attainment and occupational role. Results also evidenced similar educational and occupational differences with regard to reading scientific papers. These findings parallel those from earlier studies indicating those with higher educational attainment and working in academic/research-related positions tend to find research more relevant. These findings are important because they suggest there may be a disconnection between the extant research and the end consumer, the clinician. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: While research on trans People of Color's experiences has been increasing in recent years, this intersectional work has often not included a focus on the specificities of multiracial and multiethnic trans experiences. Aims: This study explores shifts in racial identity by multiracial/multiethnic trans people as they transition gender and the ways Whiteness and nationalist ideology shape their racialized gender experiences. Methods: This paper is based on six in-depth, semi-structured interviewswith self-identifiedmultiracial, multiethnic, andmulti-heritage trans people in the USA. Data collection centered participants' experiences of self-identification and interactionswith others (e.g., family, acquaintances, and strangers). Results: As participants transitioned gender and were acknowledged by others in their gender identity, shifts in their embodiment were used by others to ascribe a new racialized gender. This often resulted in participants reflecting on their sense of self and racialized gender identities in new ways. Discussion: Multiracial and multiethnic transgender people's experiences in transitioning race confirm the importance of intersectional analysis, reveal the intersectional fluidity of social categories, explicate how social understandings of one category (e.g., race) influence another category (e.g., gender), demonstrate that the meanings associated with racialized gender are based in relations of power, and show that, in transgender studies particularly, we must attend to the ways that the concept of transition implicates not only gender, but also other categories such as race and nationality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The internationalization of universities and the aging of the global population are two current issues that converge and challenge undergraduate gerontology curriculum development in Canada. One response to this challenge is to envision an intercultural gerontology curriculum. What might this curriculum encompass? How might it be taught? An exploratory study was undertaken to address these two questions. This paper presents findings from this study based primarily on interviews with university-based stakeholders from Canada, the United States, and Europe. Thematic analysis of the interviews resulted in five themes: multiple perspectives on cultural diversity; the dynamic nature of cultural diversity and aging; flow of an intercultural curriculum; institutional culture and intercultural curricula; and principles and practice for intercultural gerontology. Framed by principles of gerontology theory and educational approaches, this paper focuses on the principles and practice suggested by study participants. Scaffolding learning, active learning strategies, experiential learning opportunities, teacher modelling, and internet-based learning are discussed as key to intercultural learning. An appendix includes a list of resources that may be useful to developing an intercultural gerontology curriculum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There have been concerns that nonnative-speaking (NNS) researchers are at some disadvantage due to power differentials that result 1mm the predominance of English in the academic world. This study investigates the assumptions and the findings or previous studies related to NNS researchers' publications in English in internationally refereed journals through in-depth interviews with four NNS doctoral students in the United States. The interviews sought to find out what challenges NNS doctoral students experience and how they cope with the challenges from research to publishing. Several salient issues emerged through the study, such as co-authoring, conducting certain types of research, getting native-speaker assistance. making the most use of local knowledge. and negotiating feedback from journals. The findings of this study imply that collaboration with native speaker (NS) mentors and colleagues can be beneficial in spite of potentially unequal power relations. In addition, the most use of NNSs' local knowledge can be positive in the sense that it brings valuable insight into Center-based academia. This study. however, suggests that it is critical to create a space for various voices in the Center publishing communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing effort from a range of professionals and institutions to develop comprehensive integrated prison-to-community healthcare, discharge planning, and community re-entry support for inmates living with HIV. This paper draws from ethnographic data to explore the 'lived experience' of HIV-positive inmates in a US State prison system offering an integrated case management support programme. In the US, incarceration is critical for connecting socially marginalised people and those with health needs to certain rights and resources. We present the ways in which imprisonment enables a claims-making process against the state by allowing this group access to resources and rights connected to imprisonment, healthcare, and associated social welfare support. Offenders identified incentives underpinning their expressed desire or 'intention' to return to prison over time. Our findings suggest that this group of inmates has increased opportunity to access material, medical, and welfare resources when compared to the general inmate population and those outside the prison system. Multiple gaps remain in this group's sense of security in the community, ability to cope with the stress of everyday life, sustained support with substance dependency and, most importantly, consistent access to medical and welfare resources that enable them to live independently. Ironically, for many inmates living with HIV, incarceration offers a better chance of accessing public health services than living in the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Religion and spirituality (R/S) tend to be associated with emotional wellbeing, but less is known about how they function in the lives of people with mental illness. This paper presents an analysis of in-depth interviews with 26 adults who self-identified as working professionals with a mental illness. Four themes emerged regarding how R/S was experienced as beneficial to mental health, and three themes regarding how it was problematic. The benefits included providing a sense of belonging, a sense of purpose, supportive relationships with R/S figures, and therapeutic R/S practices, whereas problematic aspects included religion as a risky refuge, religious struggles, and abuse in religious settings. In addition, 21 of 26 reported transitions related to their mental illness including switching between religions, leaving religion, and becoming more spiritual, leaving R/S altogether, and religious conversion. The results are discussed, and implications are drawn for R/S practitioners as well as for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Syringe service programs (SSP) increasingly serve rural areas of the United States, yet little is known about access and perceived need for their services. Objectives: This paper presents the HIV and viral hepatitis prevention, testing, and treatment, and, substance use disorder treatment and overdose prevention services offered at three SSPs and which services their clients accessed. Across the three SSPs, 45 clients (people who inject drugs [PWID]), 11 staff, and five stakeholders were interviewed. Results: Most clients (n = 34) reported accessing SSP services weekly and primarily for sterile syringes and injection-related supplies. All clients reported testing for HIV at least once, though concern for acquiring or transmitting HIV was divided between some or no concern. Most clients (n = 43) reported testing for hepatitis C virus (HCV). Concern for acquiring or transmitting HCV was also mixed. Vaccination for hepatitis A and/or B teetered around half (HAV: n = 23) to a third (HBV: n = 15). Most clients (n = 43) knew where to access the overdose countering medication, Narcan. Feelings about substance use treatment options varied, yet most felt not enough were available. Of note, not all assessed services were offered by the sampled SSPs. Conclusions/Importance: The findings help us understand PWIDs' rationale regarding services accessed and preference for particular services. The need for some services was not perceived by those at risk for the illness the services addressed. Discussing risk and providing tailored education is important when providing SSP services to rural residing PWIDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to acknowledge essential matters to be taken under consideration when working with Muslim Americans in social services in an effort to provide culturally appropriate services and promote social justice. Interviews were conducted with service providers who identify themselves as formerly or currently Muslim and have previously or are currently working with Muslim Americans. The themes found were: 1) oppression, discrimination, and stereotypes; 2) consequences for social work; 3) help-seeking; and 4) providing culturally appropriate services. Recognition of service workers' insider perspectives of working with Muslims will offer further insight on providing culturally appropriate services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a dearth of available supports and services aimed specifically at parents with disabilities. The Parent-Centered Planning (PCP) intervention was developed to fill this gap, aiming to enhance supports for parenting for parents with disabilities. This brief approach was modeled after person-centered planning, with a focus specifically on parenting. This qualitative paper explores the experiences of a sample of parents (N = 13) with physical, intellectual and/or developmental disabilities who participated in a pilot study of PCP. Our study found that nearly all parents participating in the intervention strengthened relationships during the process of participation in PCP, clarified their goals related to parenting, and made progress toward their identified goals. The study also found that parents had mental health concerns, often related specifically to their disability supports. The article describes the nuances of these findings and discusses the implications for practice and future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The way consumers get and seek health information reflects the current information landscape. To gather updated insights on consumer experiences with and attitudes towards direct-to-consumer (DTC) promotion of prescription drugs, we conducted a nationally representative survey of 1,744 US adults using a mail-push-to-web methodology with paper nonresponse follow-up. Results showed high exposure and indifferent attitudes to DTC promotion. Respondents reported DTC promotion has prompted action, particularly searches for more information, increased use of online resources, and some reported that they refused to take or stopped taking a prescription drug because they saw or heard about the drug's side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the adaptation of a web-based safety planning intervention for Native American women exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV). We conducted interviews with Native American women exposed to intimate partner violence (n = 40) and practitioners who work with Native American survivors (n = 41) to gain an understanding of culturally specific risk and protective factors for IPV. Participants were from three regions of the U.S. – the Northeast, Southeast, and Southwest – from a mixture of rural (reservation and non-reservation) and urban settings. These data were then used to inform culturally responsive adaptation of a web-based safety app, called myPlan (renamed ourCircle) by infusing it with culturally specific safety priorities and safety strategies. This research has implications for the Grand Challenges for Social Work, specifically the Challenges to End Family Violence, Harness Technology for Social Good, and Achieve Equal Opportunity and Justice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores disabled people's access to cross-border mobility within the context of refugee resettlement. The research presented in this paper stems from an ethnographic study involving in-depth interviews, focus groups and participant observations with 15 disabled Somali and Cambodian refugees resettled in the United States. The study combined ethnographic data with information obtained from key experts and interpretive analysis of refugee resettlement policies and guidelines. The findings revealed some shifts within refugee resettlement policies, both domestically within the United States and internationally within the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees(UNHCR). Corresponding to these policy shifts, the two refugee groups in the study reported disparate resettlement experiences. While the Cambodian participants reported delays and complications with getting approved for resettlement, the Somali participants described a smooth and streamlined resettlement process. The implications of these findings are discussed within the larger scheme of cross-border mobility for people with disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the grid of sentiment that structures medical travel to India. In contrast to studies that render emotion as ancillary, the paper argues that affect is fundamental to medical travel's ability to ease the linked somatic, emotional, financial, and political injuries of being ill 'back home'. The ethnographic approach follows the scenes of medical travel within the Indian corporate hospital room, based on observations and interviews among foreign patients, caregivers, and hospital staff in Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, and Bangalore. Foreign patients conveyed diverse sentiments about their journey to India ranging from betrayal to gratitude, and their expressions of risk, healthcare costs, and cultural difference help sustain India's popularity as a medical travel destination. However, although the affective dimensions of medical travel promise a remedy for foreign patients, they also reveal the fault lines of market medicine in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hospice social workers face many challenges in attempts to replicate or supplement the holistic support and unique services hospice provides for individuals discharged alive. This discontinuity in care can impact the types of supports needed by individuals and caregivers, which may or may not be accessible within their community. Patients and families who have access to community-based palliative care programs following a discharge generally tend to navigate the process with fewer challenges. This qualitative study (N = 24) explored both the challenges of the live discharge process and the opportunities within social work practice in the US. Results from this study emphasize the need for a framework to better approach a live discharge to ensure appropriate supports are accessible for all patients and caregivers. Specifically, results highlight both the concrete and psychosocial challenges in live discharges as a result of tension between current eligibility requirements and individual feelings and needs. Social workers also provided suggestions to improve the live discharge process, including attention to communication and preparation. This paper outlines specific challenges of live discharge from hospice, a framework for understanding presented challenges, and implications for policy and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) is a U.S.-based job-training program that serves unemployed workers aged 55 and older with incomes at or below 125% of the federal poverty level. While federal funds are set aside to serve Asian workers in SCSEP, little is known about their characteristics and experiences. In response, this pilot study aimed to document the health, well-being, and experiences of older Asian SCSEP participants in Massachusetts through the completion of a survey. Respondents (N = 39) ranged in age from 58 to 73 and identified as either Chinese (72%) or Vietnamese (28%). All were immigrants, and almost all spoke a language other than English at home. Most reported "good" health as well as financial difficulties. They also stated that their supervisors in their placements were supportive. On average, respondents noted moderate interest in searching for a paid job after exiting SCSEP, although more reported interest in searching for a volunteer role. Key to the success of this study was a robust collaboration with a local human services organization with strong ties to the Chinese and Vietnamese communities. The findings highlight the importance of this growing group of older workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper summarizes the development and evaluation of an assessment instrument for children ages 7–12. The CHILD CARRE measure is a semi-structured interview with 7 domains. Children from the USA and Argentina (N = 134) completed baseline and follow-up assessments. Substance use occurred at an average age of 8. Almost 33% of the children were taking medications for medical issues, more than 50% of them said that medical problem gets in the way of doing things they like to to do and almost 64% of the children stated that they would like to feel better. On average, children completed third grade in school, 56% of them knew how to read and 26% of the children started making money at age 8. Most children (74%) saw someone drunk or high and 23% of children reported alcohol or psychoactive substance use. Among these children using substances, such substance use occurred at an average age of 8, and in the past 30 days they used these substances an average for 5 days. The rating of level of risk on the part of the interviewer placed these children in the "risky" to "very risky" categories. Most children reported seeing their family members smoking (83%) or using alcohol (67%), and 49% reported seeing their family members high on drugs. Few children (10%) had conflicts with the law, while 46% of their family members had legal problems. Some children (30%) reported having serious problems getting along with family members, neighbors, or friends. These results suggest that this measure can serve as the first comprehensive measure to assess multiple life domains for young children at risk for or using psychoactive substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The smartphone app "My Wheelchair Guide" is designed to provide essential information about wheelchair use and service delivery for new wheelchair users. It aims to empower wheelchair users in taking ownership in acquiring appropriate wheelchairs, and guiding them to use their wheelchairs in a safe and effective manner. Objective: This paper describes the development of the "My Wheelchair Guide" app and the usability evaluation of one of the app sections "Use a Wheelchair". Method: Ten manual wheelchair users and four seating/mobility professionals completed a survey on the ease of use and perceived usefulness of the app, and a semi-structured interview. Wheelchair users used checklists in the app to self-assess their wheelchairs' fit and set-up, and their wheelchair skills. Two investigators independently conducted content analysis of the interview transcripts and identified salient themes. Results: All participants perceived the app to be easy to use. Both wheelchair users and wheelchair seating professionals recognized that the "Use a Wheelchair" section would be very beneficial for new wheelchair users. Self-assessment checklists facilitated participants to review their wheelchair set-up and skills. Participants also provided several suggestions and recommendations to revise and refine the app section. Conclusion: The app section was perceived to be a useful and easy-to-use educational tool by most of the study participants. Participants' feedback will be used to guide the app revision for a better user experience. Further studies could be conducted to assess the app effectiveness on improving wheelchair users' knowledge and facilitating self-advocacy for appropriate wheelchairs. Smartphone apps designed to support patient education and self-management regarding wheelchair use are perceived beneficial by both wheelchair users and clinical professionals. Smartphone apps support multimedia information presentation and user interaction, and can potentially create an effective learning environment for wheelchair users and their families to learn about their everyday devices. Users of educational apps prefer reduced text-based content and care about app aesthetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite significant research on purpose in adolescence and early adulthood, little is known about purpose in older adults. This paper defines purpose as ongoing commitment to and sustained action toward goals that are meaningful to the self and aim to contribute beyond the self. This study of purpose in later life draws on interviews of 102 respondents drawn from a U.S. nationally representative sample of 1198 men and women aged 50–92. Eighteen interviewees are identified as exemplars of purpose beyond the self and are matched with a comparison group of non-purposeful peers. Interview coding revealed that, in contrast to the non-purposeful comparison group, the purpose exemplars describe their lives as including several interconnected sources of well-being: purpose beyond the self, positive relationships, positive life engagement, a sense of competence, and freedom balanced with the desire to contribute. Implications for practitioners and the public are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Black Caribbeans in the United States have been the victims of major discrimination (e.g. unfairly fired, denied a promotion, denied housing). What is not known is the degree to which they also experience more routine forms of everyday discrimination such as receiving poor restaurant service, being perceived as dishonest, and being followed in stores. This paper investigates the distribution and correlates of everyday discrimination among a national sample of black Caribbeans in the U.S. Design: This analysis used the black Caribbean sub-sample (n = 1,621) of the National Survey of American Life. Demographic and immigration status correlates of ten items from the Everyday Discrimination Scale were investigated: being treated with less courtesy, treated with less respect, receiving poor restaurant service, being perceived as not smart, being perceived as dishonest, being perceived as not as good as others, and being feared, insulted, harassed, or followed in stores. Results: Roughly one out of ten black Caribbeans reported that, on a weekly basis, they were treated with less courtesy and other people acted as if they were better than them, were afraid of them, and as if they were not as smart. Everyday discrimination was more frequent for black Caribbeans who were male, never married, divorced/separated, earned higher incomes, and who were second or third generation immigrants. Black Caribbeans attributed the majority of the discrimination they experienced to their race. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first study to provide an in-depth investigation of everyday discrimination among the black Caribbean population. It provides the frequency, types and correlates of everyday discrimination reported by black Caribbeans in the United States. Understanding the frequency and types of discrimination is important because of the documented negative impacts of everyday discrimination on physical and mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the case study approach, this paper examines the formation of a pan-Asian American ethnic agency between leaders of corporate employee resource groups and Asian American subgroup ethnic agencies. Themes found consist of 1) formation of the partnership to raise funds for a natural disaster; 2) moving forward as a united pan-Asian American nonprofit organization; and 3) challenges ahead that include utilization of funds and power 4t agency community members. A better-resourced organization can facilitate increased chances of success as well as access to its services by the community in which it serves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the results of an 18 month study of a variety of participants involved in written reflection on their learning, both in classes at two universities in the Southern US or in voluntary focus groups. The purpose of the study was to analyze the effects of including autobiographical tools in written reflection. Participants used three tools from the genre of autobiography as they reflected on their learning inside either course content, internship experiences, experiential learning, or goal-setting. Over 500 samples were gathered, offering a large data set for analysis of what kinds of best practice produce quality reflective writing. Through analysis of the data and student surveys and interviews, results show increased attention to critical thinking and metacognition; expressed flexibility, adaptability, and ability to handle ambiguity; and value in connection to others/empathy-building as a result of incorporating autobiographical tools in reflective prompts. The study indicated that reflections using the same autobiographical tool over the course of several sessions seemed to produce deeper levels of reflection and more engagement with the autobiographical tool. Of the three autobiographical tools used in the study, the tool that seemed most helpful to participants was reflection as storytelling that revealed aspects of the self. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The ceremonial use of psychoactive/hallucinogenic plant based drugs, such as ayahuasca, psilocybin and others, is a growing trend in the United States (US) and globally. To date, there has been little research documenting how many people are using psychoactive substances in this context, who the users are, what benefits/risks exist in the use of these drugs and the relationship between ceremonial drug use and recreational drug use. In this paper we describe a cohort of plant medicine facilitators in the US and explore how they differentiate plant medicine use from recreational drug use. Methods: Using modified ethnography, individual interviews were conducted in 2016 with 15 participants who are currently facilitating plant medicine ceremonies in the US. Descriptive content analysis was performed to discover themes and to inform a larger mixed-method study. Results: Ceremonial drug use was seen by participants as a natural healing and treatment modality used in the context of community and ritual. Three main themes were identified relating to participants' differentiation between ceremonial plant medicine use and recreational drug use: (1) participants see a clear delineation between plant medicine use and recreational drug use; (2) plant medicine is seen as a potential treatment for addiction, but concerns exist regarding potential interference with recovery; and (3) plant medicine use may influence recreational use. Conclusions: More research is needed on who is using plant medicine, motivators for use, perceived and real risks and benefits of plant medicine use and harm reduction techniques regarding safe ingestion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The promise of egg freezing for women's fertility preservation entered feminist debate in connection with medical and commercial control over, and emancipation from, biological reproduction restrictions. In this paper we explore how women negotiate and make sense of the decision to freeze their eggs. Our analysis draws on semi-structured interviews with 16 women from the Midwest and East Coast regions of the USA who froze their eggs. Rather than freezing to balance career choices and 'have it all', the women in this cohort were largely 'freezing for love' and in the hope of having their 'own healthy baby'. This finding extends existing feminist scholarship and challenges bioethical concerns about egg freezing by drawing on the voices of women who freeze their eggs. By viewing egg freezing as neither exclusively liberation nor oppression or financial exploitation, this study casts egg freezing as an enactment of 'responsible' reproductive citizenship that 'anticipates coupledom' and reinforces the genetic relatedness of offspring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much of the expanding literature positions trans college students as an overly homogenous population, lacking agency and wrought with hardship and tragedy. Drawn from a broader study on transmasculine college students’ conceptualisations of masculinity, this paper draws attention to the multiplicity of transmasculine voices navigating sexuality and romantic relationships. This navigation is embroiled in their negotiations with masculinity, dominance and cissexism, as they chart affirming sexualities and relationships. Participants’ unique and nuanced articulations are suggestive of the gender liberatory possibilities that derive from trans youth’s perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthcare chaplains address broad social and emotional dimensions of care within a pluralistic religious landscape. Although the development and evaluation of chaplaincy interventions has advanced the field, little research has investigated factors influencing the implementation of new chaplain interventions. In this mixed-method study, we examined attitudes about evidence-based interventions held by chaplain residents (n = 39) at the outset of an ACPE-accredited residency program in the southeast United States. We also used semi-structured interviews (n = 9) to examine residents' attitudes, beliefs, and decision-making processes after they trained in the delivery of a novel manualized intervention, Compassion-Centered Spiritual Health (CCSH). Most residents reported favorable attitudes toward manualized approaches prior to training. Interviews revealed complex decision-making processes and highlighted personal motivations and challenges to learning and implementing CCSH. Implementation science can reveal factors related to motivation, intention, and training that may be optimized to improve the implementation of healthcare chaplaincy interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hospital-based chaplains provide crucial spiritual and emotional care to patients, families, and staff during times of intense life changes and crises. Chaplains are regularly exposed to suffering and their work may result in personal mental and emotional health challenges. To understand chaplains' perceptions of the impact of their work and methods to cope, a secondary analysis of a mixed-methods study on chaplain well-being was undertaken. Qualitative interviews were conducted with nine hospital-based chaplains and data were coded and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results revealed that participants perceive their work as offering both trials and rewards, and their efforts to cope with trials include interpersonal support, intrapersonal resources, and spiritual resilience. Personal insights into chaplains' experiences may help inform organizational interventions to support these essential members of the care team. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health sciences librarians often lack knowledge of the motivations behind faculty publishing behavior. This study establishes some understanding of their choices through interviews with academic health sciences faculty members. Knowledge of the concepts of open access was lacking, as was the differences between open access and predatory publishing. Faculty had varied opinions on publication without robust peer review, its ethical implications, manuscript quality, and trust in scientific publishing. Evidence from this study suggests that librarians must take an active role in shaping the future of scholarly communication through education, advocacy, and a commitment to moving science forward equitably and ethically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines professional identity construction within engineering. It is meant to contribute toward better understanding dynamics surrounding women's status within engineering in the United States, where women comprise only 11% of the engineering workforce and the culture has been described as gendered masculine. This article considers the multiple roles engineers enact at work and how the discourse surrounding these roles may help to maintain a gendered image of engineering despite the actual practice. Using interview data from women and men engineers, this paper identifies six different roles that the engineers enacted at work. These roles range from being more technical to more social and are not presented in an either/or fashion as the social/technical binary would expect. From the participants' narratives, I found that engineers manage these roles within the context of their professional identity using a process I call ‘role configuration,’ which takes three different forms: balancing, grafting, and swapping. Women and men alike were comfortable with their multi-faceted roles, yet at times participants discussed the roles in a gendered and stereotyped manner. This discourse may help to perpetuate the gendered masculine image of the engineering culture and work despite the actual practices in which engineers engage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Informing both program evaluation and practice research, this paper describes lessons learned during the planning, implementation, and pilot phases of an abstinence education program based in a rural community in a southern state in the USA. Although a number of challenges can emerge in successfully implementing and evaluating such a program in a school and community setting, few publications have focused on bringing these challenges to light and highlighting strategies that were used to overcome them. This paper fills this knowledge gap by describing a community-based abstinence education evaluation project, outlining the challenges in implementing and evaluating the pilot phase of the project, and presenting strategies to address these challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]