Search

Emma Smith discusses the effect of the current staffing crisis on low-risk birth environments, and explores how the challenges that they face may be overcome [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate prospective associations between participation in sports/recreational activities and the occurrence of moderate‐to‐severe psychological distress over 2 years in a sample of mid‐aged Australians. Methods: This prospective study used data from 6699 adults aged 40+ years, living in Brisbane in 2007, and surveyed in 2009, 2011 and 2013. Participants provided self‐reported data on frequency of participation in each of 11 sports/recreational activities in past 12 months and completed the Kessler Psychological Distress 6‐item Scale (K6). Generalized estimating equation (GEE) models with a 2‐year lag were used to assess the associations of participation in sports/recreational activities in 2009 and 2011 with new cases of moderate‐to‐severe psychological distress (K6 score ≥ 5) in 2011 and 2013. Results: From 2009 to 2013, 22.4% of participants without moderate‐to‐severe psychological distress at baseline (N = 4943) developed this outcome in at least one survey. Overall, there were no clear patterns of association between frequency of participation in sports and recreational activities and occurrence of moderate‐to‐severe psychological distress. In unadjusted models, weekly participation in some activities (e.g., tennis, golf, and exercise classes) was associated with reduced odds of moderate‐to‐severe psychological distress over the next 2 years, but these associations were attenuated in most adjusted models with sociodemographic, lifestyle, and health covariates. Participation in home‐based exercise and running/jogging were associated with higher odds of psychological distress. Conclusion: Our findings do not provide strong evidence of beneficial associations of frequency of sport/recreational activities with psychological distress but show surprising negative associations of home‐based exercise and running/jogging with occurrence of moderate‐to‐severe psychological distress over 2 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a systematic review with meta-analysis to examine the short- and long-term effects of virtual reality training (VRT) on pain, range of motion (RoM), kinesiophobia and perceived function in patients with chronic neck pain (CNP). We searched the PubMed, Scopus, and PEDro databases for studies assessing effect of VRT against conventional therapy in CNP patients. Separate analyzes were performed for short-term (immediately after the intervention) and long-term (at follow-up) outcomes. Risk of bias was assessed with PEDro scale and the quality of evidence was assessed according to GRADE guidelines. We found 11 studies, 8 of which were eligible for meta-analysis. Most studies had good methodological quality (6–8 points on the PEDro scale). The analysis showed significant differences in favour of VRT for neck disability index (long-term), kinesiophobia (long-term), and neck flexion RoM (short-term). No significant differences were found for pain intensity in the short- and long-term assessments. Heterogeneity between effect sizes was high in most analyzes, and the quality of evidence was low. Low quality evidence suggests that VRT may contribute to long-term improvements in perceived function and kinesiophobia in CNP patients compared with conventional training programs. However, VRT and conventional training programs have similar effects on overall neck RoM and pain intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is increasing evidence that prenatal stress elevates the risk of children's social–emotional development, but the mechanisms underlying this association are unclear. Home environment provides learning opportunities and stimulation required for children's early development and can be influenced by prenatal maternal stress. This study aimed to examine whether home environment can mediate the association between prenatal stress during the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and their offspring's social–emotional problems thereafter. A pilot sample was derived from 2020 to 2021 Maternal and Child Health Cohort study (N = 82) with the pregnant women recruited during the COVID-19 lockdown period in 2020. Prenatal stress was assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale. Home environment was measured using the Child Home Nurture Environment Scales. Mother-reported toddler social–emotional problems were assessed at 12 months of age. The mediation model was used for data analysis. The mean scores of social–emotional problems, which include externalizing, internalizing, dysregulation, and competence, were 10.98 (5.08), 14.72 (6.49), 15.15 (6.31), and 36.73 (10.26), respectively. Prenatal stress, home environment, and social–emotional problems were significantly related (P < 0.05). Home environment significantly mediated the association between prenatal stress and social–emotional problems with the indirect effect [95% CI] of 0.06 [0.01, 0.14] for externalizing behaviors, 0.10 [0.00, 0.24] for internalizing behaviors, − 0.15 [− 0.31, − 0.01] for competence, 0.08 [0.01, 0.17] and 0.08 [0.01, 0.21] for dysregulation. These findings suggest that prenatal stress may affect offspring's social–emotional problems through the home environment. Screening for prenatal stress and promoting supportive home environment may be potential strategies for social–emotional problems interventions in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION Children are vulnerable to secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure, especially those with lower socioeconomic status. This study assesses the changes in prevalence and socioeconomic inequalities in SHS exposure in children younger than 12 years old in Spain between 2016 and 2019. METHODS We conducted two cross-sectional studies among representative samples of households with children aged <12 years in Spain, in 2016 (n=2411) and 2019 (n=2412). Families were interviewed to assess children's SHS exposure in private settings and outdoor public venues and their adoption of home and car smoke-free rules. We used the education level of the home main earner as a proxy for socioeconomic position. Changes over time in the prevalence and socioeconomic inequalities of SHS exposure and smoke-free rules were estimated through adjusted Poisson regression models with robust variance according to sociodemographic covariates (adjusted prevalence ratios, APRs). RESULTS In 2019, 70.5% of children were exposed to SHS in Spain. No changes between 2016 and 2019 were found for overall SHS exposure, exposure at home, and at school entrances. SHS exposure increased at public transport stations (APR=1.24; 95% CI: 1.03-1.49) and outdoor hospitality venues (APR=1.17; 95% CI: 1.07-1.29) while it decreased in cars (APR=0.74; 95% CI: 0.56-0.98) and parks (APR=0.87; 95% CI: 0.77-0.98). Households with lower education level had higher prevalence of SHS exposure at home in 2019 compared with those with university studies (primary: APR=1.30; 95% CI: 1.11-1.51; secondary: APR=1.12; 95% CI: 1.00-1.25) and were less likely to adopt home indoor smoke-free rules (primary: APR=0.88; 95% CI: 0.79-0.99; secondary: APR=0.95; 95% CI: 0.89-1.02). Socioeconomic inequalities in SHS exposure at home persisted between 2016 and 2019 (p>0.05), while decreased in smoke-free rules in cars (p=0.039). CONCLUSIONS Reported SHS exposure among children in Spain remained high between 2016 and 2019. Inequalities persisted at home, highlighting the need for measures to reduce such exposure with an equity perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Elastomeric infusion devices or 'Infusors' are commonly used to administer 24‐h continuous intravenous infusions to hospital patients at home, a service which can increase hospital capacity. Aim: This study sought to determine Infusor efficiency by measuring infusion lengths administered by Infusors to patients in the community setting and reviewing any impacting factors on varying infusion rates, if observed. Method: Patients and nurses completed data collection forms daily over a 12‐month period. The following information was recorded: time Infusor attached to patient, time Infusor emptied, Infusor 'empty' or 'not empty' when removed, volume of antibiotic solution remaining, Infusor storage details, antibiotic solution and dose, indication for treatment, and date (season). Statistical analyses was conducted using Stata. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, including median and range for continuous variables, and frequency counts and percentages for categorical variables. Ethical approval was granted by Northern Sydney Local Health District (NSLHD) Research Office (Reference no: RESP/14/184), the Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) (Reference no: LNR/14/HAWKE/265) and the study conforms to the Australian National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research. Informed consent was obtained from all participants via a study information leaflet that was provided with the patient questionnaire and patients were informed that their participation in the study was optional. Patients indicated their consent by completing the data collection form for each day of treatment. Results: A significant number of Infusors (27%) emptied outside the expected infusion duration of 24 h ± 10% (21.6–26.4 h) and Infusors were removed 'not empty' when the nurse visited >24 h on 35% of occasions. Infusors were more likely to empty >24 h if they contained piperacillin‐tazobactam 13.5 g (predicted probability = 1.0), in winter (predicted probability = 0.83), and in cooler overnight storage locations (predicted probability = 0.64). Infusors were more likely to empty <24 h if they contained vancomycin (predicted probability = 0.12). Conclusion: Infusors delivering 24‐h continuous intravenous infusions in the home setting may empty at unpredictable times and may be affected by temperature or solutions with varying doses. Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy clinicians should be aware of possible unfinished infusions from Infusors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Esports gambling has steadily grown in popularity alongside esports itself. While research has been increasing in the field of esports-related gambling, no study has yet reviewed the relevant literature on esports gambling. The present study aimed to comprehensively review all empirical research conducted in the wider field of esports gambling. A systematic review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines was undertaken using PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Only empirical studies were included and were also assessed for potential biases using the ROBUST guidelines. A total of 30 studies from eight countries were included in the review. Esports gamblers were found more likely to be young males, likely to score high on problematic gambling scales, and likely to belong to households speaking a non-English language at home in English speaking countries. Esports gamblers are a unique type of gambling population, with rare characteristics and behaviors compared to other types of gamblers. Given the limited number of studies, there is a need for further research in this field to understand these populations, as well as the need for longitudinal research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To explore and describe older persons' unique experiences of care encounters with home care nurses in a real‐life context. Background: The increasing number of older persons in society contributes to increases in age‐related impairments compromising their quality of life. Future care consists of "hospitals at home" where care encounters occur in a person's private domain, partly becoming a clinical workplace. Scant research has focused on how older persons experience care encounters with home care nurses and needs to be highlighted. Design: Multiple‐case study. Methods: The cases relied on replication logic and five purposive sampled older persons were interviewed. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis and differences within and between cases were explored and findings across the cases were replicated. Findings: The cross‐analysis emerged in three categories: "Nursing routine rules the care encounters", "Lack of knowledge and information" and "Dependency on support from others". Conclusions: Our research has found that older persons face challenges while receiving home care, including limited engagement in their care and the need for enhanced support. Implementing person‐centred care in homes poses ethical challenges that require careful consideration. Home care nurses should prioritise understanding each patient individually, recognising them beyond their patient role, which necessitates more thorough and time‐sensitive care encounters. Reporting Method: Findings were reported using COREQ guidelines. Patient or Public Contribution: Patients were interviewed and contributed with data for this study. Implications for the Profession and Patient Care: This study emphasises the need to prioritise individualised care in home settings and listen to the voices of older individuals to enhance quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The physical and societal characteristics of home have been established as important in influencing the health and wellbeing of older adults, yet these have rarely been explored together. There is also limited research into variation across age groups, with older adults often examined as a homogenous group of those 65 years and over. This study advances the knowledge base by using the concept of person–environment (P-E) fit to analyse differences in personal and home environment (physical and societal) characteristics between young-old (65–74 years) and old-old (75 and above) age groups, and to assess how these characteristics influence their self-perceived health. This cross-sectional study draws upon survey data from 1,999 older adult participants from the Australian Housing Conditions Dataset. Descriptive statistics and inferential analysis were used to assess for significant differences between age groups and a binomial logistic regression was utilised to examine influences on health. The analysis found that the factors which influence health varies appreciably between age groups. For the young-old financial strain, being on the fixed-income pension and hypertension were important contributing factors, in contrast for the old-old gender (being male), having depression and the home being modified for disability were key influences. For both age groups heart disease was a contributing factor to perceived health. The results indicate the important contribution to knowledge of incorporating a wide range of person and environment characteristics when exploring P-E fit for older adults. The inclusion of societal aspects, such as financial strain, fixed-income pension, tenure and access to community aged care services when exploring influences on health, arises as a key conclusion of the study. In terms of impact, this research is significant given rising inequalities globally and specifically in the Australian context, the need for policy measures to address income inequality, and its health and social implications for older households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Greater neural similarity between parents and adolescents may reduce adolescent substance use. Among 70 parent–adolescent dyads, we tested a longitudinal path model in which family economic environment is related to adolescent substance use, directly and indirectly through parent–adolescent neural similarity and parental monitoring. Neural similarity was measured as parent–adolescent pattern similarity in functional brain connectivity at Time 1. Parents reported socioeconomic status and parental monitoring at Time 1. Adolescents reported parental monitoring at Time 1 and substance use at Time 2. Higher family socioeconomic status was associated with greater neural similarity. Greater neural similarity was associated with lower adolescent substance use, mediated through greater adolescent-perceived parental monitoring. Parent–adolescent neural similarity may attenuate adolescent substance use by bolstering parental monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Learning to descend stairs requires motor and cognitive capacities on the part of infants and opportunities for practice and assurance of safety offered by caregivers. The American Academy of Pediatrics prescribes the age strategy to teach toddlers to safely descend stairs but without much consideration for individual differences in infants' skills or caregivers' techniques. The purpose of this study was to observe the natural ways in which caregivers teach infants to descend stairs at home and the extent to which infants abide. Of particular interest was to examine the dynamic nature of caregivers' teaching and infants' learning over the session with attention to individual differences. Dyads (N = 59) were videorecorded on Zoom for 10 min interacting on stairs at home in the United States, Brazil, Canada, Italy, and Spain. Infants (n = 30 girls, 29 boys; 13-month-olds ± 1 week) were novice walkers (M = 2.04 months walking experience). Caregivers used a variety of teaching strategies and focused on "backing" and "scooting." Infants were more likely to heed caregivers' guidance when caregivers provided hands-on support and verbal encouragement suggesting infants were engaged and responsive to caregivers' overtures. Infants' walking experience predicted change in descent strategy over the session. Although infants did not show evidence of learning over the session, consistent caregiver instruction suggested caregivers were persistent, if not effective, teachers. Teaching and learning motor skills in a potentially risky task creates a unique opportunity for interaction, allowing infants and caregivers to learn from one another. Public Significance Statement: This work contributes to the general body of knowledge regarding infant motor development and problem solving in specific contexts. This study is one of the first to explore the nature of caregiver-infant interaction on stairs and identifies caregiver teaching strategies and infant motor characteristics that are associated with safe infant stair descent. By doing so, we hope to encourage further investigation of infant behavior in this context, upon which recommendations to caregivers for safe infant descent may be based. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Studying transmission within the home is essential to understand the transmission dynamics of numerous infectious diseases. For Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19), transmission within the home constitutes the majority exposure context. The risk of infection in this setting can be quantified by the household/intra-family secondary attack rate (SAR). In the literature, there are discrepancies in these values and little information about its social determinants. The aim of this study was to investigate transmission in the home by analyzing the influence of occupational social class, country of origin and gender/sex. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of a population registry of cohabiting contacts with COVID-19 cases diagnosed from 15 June to 23 December 2020, in the Murcia Region. The household SAR was analyzed considering the characteristics of the primary case (sex, age, symptoms, occupational social class, country of origin and number of people in the household) and contact (age and sex) using a multilevel binary logistic regression model. Results Among the 37 727 contacts included, the intra-family SAR was 39.1%. The contacts of confirmed primary cases in the migrant population (Africa and Latin America) had higher attack rates, even after adjusting for the other variables. Older age and female sex were independent risk factors for contracting Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) within the home. Conclusion There was greater intra-domiciliary transmission among immigrants, likely related to the conditions of the home and situation of social vulnerability. Women were more likely to be infected by transmission from a cohabiting infected individual. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the impact of home literacy environment (HLE) on the acquisition of English as a second language (L2) and reading skills in Chinese-speaking kindergarten children. The sample was 354 kindergarten children (mean age: 60.37 months, SD = 7.25; 186 boys, 52.5%) in Hong Kong, China. Mothers completed a questionnaire measuring family socioeconomic status (SES), parent-directed HLE, and child-initiated HLE in learning English. Children were assessed on their English language and reading skills: phonological awareness, letter knowledge, vocabulary, word reading, and rapid naming. After the role of family SES was controlled, child-initiated HLE instead of parent-directed HLE was found to uniquely predict phonological awareness, letter knowledge, and rapid naming, which jointly contributed to English word reading. Family SES was also a significant correlate of cognitive-linguistic skills and English language skills. The findings highlighted the importance of child-initiated HLE in promoting children's English language learning as L2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital Voice Assistants (DVAs) have become a ubiquitous technology in today's home and childhood environments. Inspired by (Bernstein and Crowley, J Learn Sci 17:225–247, 2008) original study (n = 60, age 4–7 years) on how children's ontological conceptualizations of life and technology were systematically associated with their real-world exposure to robotic entities, the current study explored this association for children in their middle childhood (n = 143, age 7–11 years) and with different levels of DVA-exposure. We analyzed correlational survey data from 143 parent–child dyads who were recruited on 'Amazon Mechanical Turk' (MTurk). Children's ontological conceptualization patterns of life and technology were measured by asking them to conceptualize nine prototypical organically living and technological entities (e.g., humans, cats, smartphones, DVAs) with respect to their biology, intelligence, and psychology. Their ontological conceptualization patterns were then associated with their DVA-exposure and additional control variables (e.g., children's technological affinity, demographic/individual characteristics). Compared to biology and psychology, intelligence was a less differentiating factor for children to differentiate between organically living and technological entities. This differentiation pattern became more pronounced with technological affinity. There was some evidence that children with higher DVA-exposure differentiated more rigorously between organically living and technological entities on the basis of psychology. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study exploring children's real-world exposure to DVAs and how it is associated with their conceptual understandings of life and technology. Findings suggest although psychological conceptualizations of technology may become more pronounced with DVA-exposure, it is far from clear such tendencies blur ontological boundaries between life and technology from children's perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Household consumption significantly affects the quality of life and successful aging of older adults. However, prior research has often overlooked the connection between household consumption and long-term care insurance (LTCI). This study aims to investigate the influence of LTCI on consumption patterns within older Chinese households. Methods We used harmonized data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study and merged it with data from cities that implemented LTCI in China. We analyzed a total of 6,494 households consisting of individuals who were 60 years of age or older. To ensure accurate and stable research findings, we employed a series of difference-in-differences models. Results We found that LTCI has a significant impact on consumption levels, including total and per capita consumption within older households. Furthermore, our research demonstrates that LTCI significantly enhances enjoyable consumption across the consumption types. Through a heterogeneous analysis, it is shown that LTCI has a unique effect on both the total and enjoyable consumption of urban older households and also promotes comprehensive consumption improvements in older rural and disabled households. Discussion These findings highlight the crucial role of LTCI in improving the financial security and well-being of older households. They also have considerable policy implications for dealing with the challenges of an aging population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives Gerontology offers a range of participatory research options with more commonly used community participatory-based research or participatory action research approaches. Photovoice's visual representation of lived experiences offers a unique opportunity for older adults to fully cocreate research. This article describes the process of codesigning a virtual photovoice study with older adults. The design process is described in 3 phases: codesign during the initial study design, throughout the study and data-collection process, and during dissemination. Research Design and Methods In this methodological article, substantive findings from an Institutional Review Board approved study where older adults created photos of the meaning of "home" through Zoom interviews are used to illustrate codesign in a virtual photovoice study. The process includes engagement with the Aging PCOR Learning Collaborative's Older Adult Subcommittee, Healthier Black Elders' Community Advisory Board, and older adults in the study. Results Work with advisory groups offered more dimensions to the study's planning, conduction, and dissemination, expanding the study's reach, inclusion, and framing. This collaboration created a greater exchange of dialogue and bidirectional flow of expression. The researcher became the subject, and older adults navigated study protocols. Older adults' increased self-reflection, spontaneous essays, and shared resources with the researcher expanded understanding. Older adults' revisions of this manuscript deepened content exploration. Discussion and Implications This article highlights the role of codesign throughout all a study's phases, where a researcher can work within the hyphen expanding connections with older adults. Their empowerment lets more complex, varied ideas develop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formation of proper handwashing techniques and habits from childhood is important for disease prevention. However, there are few studies that comprehensively and longitudinally evaluate the effectiveness of handwashing education for kindergarteners. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of continuous handwashing education using multiple activities to improve handwashing practices and skills among first- to third-grade students at a kindergarten in central Japan. A quasi-experimental one group pre- and post-test design was used. The education program consisted of three activities: (i) a 1-day teaching session by a researcher in January 2021, (ii) a 1-month follow-up activity led by kindergarten teachers and (iii) a 1-month follow-up activity led by parents at home, both occurring from late January to late February 2021. The study used questionnaires and handwashing skill experiments to investigate the kindergarteners' handwashing practices and comprehensive handwashing skills (handwashing steps, handwashing time, rinsing time and areas of the hands left unwashed) before and after Activities 1, 2 and 3. Data were obtained from 56 kindergarteners (64.4%). Second and third graders showed a significant improvement in their handwashing practices after coughing or sneezing. With the exception of rinsing time, handwashing skills significantly improved in all grades after the 1-day teaching session. After 1-month follow-up activities, the number of areas left unwashed by first graders significantly decreased, and the score for handwashing steps significantly improved. This study indicated that continuous handwashing education is partially effective at improving and maintaining handwashing practices and skills, except for rinsing time, among kindergarteners of all grades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Delinquent behaviours among youth harms health and social trajectories, and public health broadly. Despite evidence that engaging in and being victimized by delinquent behaviours often cluster, most studies have examined the clustering of delinquent behaviours or victimization experiences independently. Information on patterns of co-occurrence is crucial to design appropriate interventions. Objectives: The primary purpose was to identify latent classes of delinquency and victimization among youth from the general population. The secondary purpose of this study was to examine associations of individual, household, and classroom covariates on latent class membership. Method: The sample consisted of 1948 youth aged 4–14 from the 2014 Ontario Child Health Study. Latent class analysis was performed to identify patterns of delinquent behaviours and experiences of victimization, while multinomial regression was conducted to examine how covariates were associated with likelihood of class membership. Results: The analysis identified four classes of youth in the OCHS sample: (1) low delinquency and low victimization (75.4%), (2) moderate victimization and moderate school delinquency (7.8%), (3) high victimization and moderate home delinquency (11.8%), and high victimization and high home and school delinquency (5.0%). Youth sex, household income, ethnicity, parental education, and parental depression were associated with differences in class membership. Conclusions: Approximately one quarter of youth engaged in delinquent behaviours, with patterns of co-occurrence suggesting these youth engage in delinquent behaviours and are victimized by delinquent behaviours across environments. Interventions should approach youth delinquency and victimization as a spectrum of clustered behaviours and experiences in these environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to determine the effect of economic motivation, gender, perception, family environment, and work environment on students' interest in becoming a public accountant. The research object originated from Muria Kudus University, with a purposive sampling method for sampling. The total samples were 262 samples. The research used a quantitative approach with primary data sourced from respondents through questionnaire answers. The data analysis method used was multiple linear regression analysis. The analytical tool used was SPSS 26. The results showed that economic motivation, perceptions, family environment, work environment had a positive effect on students' interest in becoming public accountants, while gender had no effect on students' interest in becoming public accountants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study examines the impacts of urbanisation‐induced displacement on rural older villagers and the issues of rebuilding ageing in place in Suzhou Municipality in China's Jiangsu Province. Methods: The study employed a qualitative research method involving three measures of data collection, including 20 older‐adult interviews, 14 key informant interviews (with street and community administrators, managers of service companies, managers of nursing homes and community doctor) and participant observation of older villagers' daily life in urban resettlement communities. Results: The displacement and resettlement of villagers for urbanisation had serious negative impacts on older villagers, including financial insecurity, relative deprivation and radical changes to the living environment. The community services were limited and insufficient, but the resettlement of the whole village in the same place enabled the village community to maintain social and cultural continuities, which facilitated older villagers' adaptation to the new urban place. Filial piety, though weakened and transformed, continued to play an important role in regulating old‐age support, but descending familism reduced family resources for old‐age support. Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of examining the impacts of external social and economic forces, such urbanisation in China, on ageing in place. We draw three conclusions based on empirical research in Suzhou: (1) the resettlement of older villagers in urban areas did not significantly narrow the rural–urban gap in old‐age support in Suzhou; (2) urbanisation‐induced displacement in China affected older residents differently from gentrification in Western countries, due to different processes of compensation and resettlement as well as China's rural–urban welfare gap; and (3) community services for displaced older villagers are limited, but social and cultural continuities before and after resettlement have helped older villagers adapt to the new urban place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of clients receiving home‐based dietetic intervention and to evaluate the effectiveness of these interventions in improving nutritional status, functional status, and quality of life in a culturally and socioeconomically diverse client group. Methods: Participants referred to a home‐based dietetic service were recruited to this prospective cohort study. Dietetic interventions were recommended at baseline and reviewed at 3‐month follow‐up. Assessment of nutritional, functional and quality of life markers was measured using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), Timed Up and Go (TUG) and EQ‐5D‐5L, respectively, at baseline and after home‐based dietetic intervention. Results: Participants (n = 99) were recruited from consecutive referrals. Participant's weight, body mass index (BMI), total daily energy and protein intake, MNA total score, and TUG significantly improved after a 3‐month nutrition intervention (effect sizes 0.257, 0.257, 0.580, 0.533, 0.577 and 0.281, respectively). The most common interventions dietitians utilised were nutrition education, use of oral nutritional supplements (ONS) and meal fortification. In total, 339 dietetic interventions were recommended to participants at baseline with 197 (58.11%) implemented at 3 months, with meal planning and referral to other relevant allied health or Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) services the most implemented interventions. Conclusions: Home‐based dietetic intervention improves nutritional status, functional status and quality of life in community‐dwelling older adults referred for dietetic input. Improvements observed in nutritional and functional status were consistent with benchmarks of change from published literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Food insecurity and obesity are increasing both globally and in the UK. In this review we systematically assess the lived experiences of people with obesity who are food insecure and often turn to food banks. Methods We systematically searched electronic databases from January 2007 until October 2022. Data from eligible studies were extracted and the studies assessed for quality. Thematic analysis and narrative synthesis approach was used to analyse the extracted data. Results Six themes were identified among 25 included studies, including: the financial cost of food; psychological aspects related to food insecurity; geographical access and the food environment; food practices in the home; experience of food assistance; and parental-child relationships. The cost of healthy food and psychological factors were identified as key driving factors of the relationship between food insecurity and obesity. Psychological factors such as depression, low self-esteem and stress played an important part in the lived experience of people with obesity and food insecurity. Conclusion The food environment provides context in which food decisions are made, therefore, systems change is necessary to ensure families can afford the food that enables a healthy diet. For clinicians, identification, and attention to the impact of food insecurity on people with obesity are important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is recommended that health promotion activities in the community focus on residents' strengths. Hence, this study explored the community strengths perceived by older adults living alone in a semi-mountainous rural region of Japan. A qualitative, descriptive approach was used. Content analysis was performed using data obtained through face-to-face interviews. Interview data were coded; codes were classified based on similarity to create subcategories and categories. The strengths within the community, as perceived by older adults living alone in a semi-mountainous rural region, were revealed in four categories related to ten subcategories: "loose connections with others", "active community participation", "close relationships with community professionals", and "familiarity with the living environment". Strengths within the community perceived by older adults living alone in a semi-mountainous rural region were cultivated in an environment formed by their past lives. Utilizing these resources may help support community-based societies in semi-mountainous rural regions where depopulation and aging are expected to continue in the future. This study was not registered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Knowledge of the correct names of private parts is one of the main axes of children's personal safety programing and a first step in potentially preventing or disclosing sexual abuse in children. Parent–child agreement (shared terminology) on the correct names of private body parts is critical for effective communication and an important first step in child sexual abuse prevention. This study examined the words used by parents and children for private body parts to ascertain agreement. Methods: This was a prospective descriptive and quantitative study conducted during early to mid-2021. Parents and their preschool children in Gorgan, Iran (N = 134) were individually interviewed about the names of the private body parts to determine the level of agreement between them. Conducted at community health centers for convenience, parents were shown a schematic drawing of a child and asked to provide the names they had taught their children for their private parts while separately using the same drawing, children were asked to provide the names they have been taught. Results: Sixty-nine percent of all parents stated that they have taught their children names for their private parts (i.e., breast, buttocks and genital area). Twenty-six percent of parents taught the correct names of all three private parts to their children, while 34% of children knew the correct names for all three private parts. The frequency of agreement between children and parents in correctly naming all private parts was 20.7%. Conclusion: The results show that children and parents have limited knowledge about the correct names of private body parts resulting in low agreement among them. More children knew correct names for all three private parts than their parents. This finding may be related to children being educated in spaces other than their family environment and parents' reluctance to teach the correct names. Since parents, especially mothers, play an important role in protecting their children from sexual abuse, their key role in socializing children and educating them about CSA is undeniable. Policy Implications: This empirical evidence can contribute to the development of education and child sexual abuse prevention programs for both parents and children, tailored to Iran or other countries with similar cultural mores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Social & Cultural Studies / Toplum ve Kültür Araştırmaları Dergisi is the property of Journal of Social & Cultural Studies and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Through a thematic analysis of firsthand posts from 258 abuse survivors in online forums from 2016 to 2023, this research examines the barriers that Chinese children encounter when disclosing sexual abuse. The anonymous narratives shed light on the motives behind survivors' reluctance to reveal abuse, the outcomes following disclosure, and the wider implications for survivors and their families under culture. The findings underscore the need for early intervention upon disclosure, aiming to safeguard children from further harm and foster the development of an effective child protection framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To understand the prevalence of home-related anxiety among adolescent athletes during the novel coronavirus pandemic and to ascertain the factors influencing this anxiety. Methods: We employed cluster sampling to select 1150 adolescent athletes (aged 8–18 years) from six sports training schools in Yantai City, Shandong Province. Mental health status was assessed and recorded. Chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression were used to analyze the factors contributing to athletes' anxiety. Results: The survey revealed a COVID-19 infection rate of 38.23% (437 individuals) with an anxiety score of 40.98 ± 8.20 and an anxiety detection rate of 11.29% (129 individuals) during the COVID-19 epidemic. Female athletes exhibited a higher anxiety rate of 14.40% compared to 8.40% in male athletes. Multivariate analysis identified female gender as a risk factor for anxiety (OR = 1.64), while participation in aquatics emerged as a protective factor (OR = 0.24, 95% CI: 1.08–2.48). Professional training duration exceeding three years increased anxiety risk (OR = 3.05, 95% CI: 1.67–5.58), as did not seeking help during difficulties (OR = 2.59, 95% CI: 1.33–5.01). Interestingly, parental care was linked to increased anxiety risk (OR = 2.44, 95% CI 1.34–4.44), while care from friends was protective (OR = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.36–1.01), which was possibly due to the pressure associated with parental expectations. Conclusions: Adolescent athletes, particularly females and those with extended training durations, exhibit a heightened susceptibility to anxiety. This study also highlights that athletes who proactively seek assistance during challenging situations tend to experience lower anxiety levels. Additionally, a lack of COVID-19 infection and the involvement of concerned parents contribute to reduced anxiety among these young athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of ABEI Journal: The Brazilian Journal of Irish Studies is the property of Associacao Brasileira de Estudos Irlandeses and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Buddhism in Tainan was first introduced to Baihe from Chiayi. Due to geographical barriers and a lack of transportation, Baihe had limited contact with other administrative districts in Tainan City, except for some interactions with neighboring Dongshan and Houbi. Instead, more frequent contacts took place with inland mountain areas in Chiayi County, which profoundly influenced Baihe's customs and culture. This area has been home to many Buddhist altars and masters, making it a significant center of Buddhism in Taiwan and giving rise to one form of Buddhist culture known as the Chiayi School. The introduction of Buddhism from Chiayi to Baihe could be seen as a natural phenomenon of a strong culture spreading outward. Buddhist masters and Taoist Lingbao priests built a business ecosystem for staging salvation rituals on behalf of Tainan residents. However, the Taoist Lingbao School is dominant, while Buddhism is a relatively small traditional culture scattered in border areas that is now gradually waning. Furthermore, as the elder generation fades away, there is a risk that the local history of Buddhism will barely be remembered. This article combines fieldwork, in-person visits to Buddhist altars in Tainan City, and in-depth interviews with altar owners and the Buddhist masters who cooperate with them to better understand the historical evolution, development, regional distribution, and transmission of Buddhist altar traditions in Tainan City. Its goal is to preserve local cultural heritage as well as provide insight into the significance of Tainan City's Buddhist altars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of a positive living group climate is currently used as a key strategy to substantially realise the citizenship of youngsters in residential youth care. The concept focuses mainly on what happens inside the residential youth care facility, as the interpersonal relationships between the professionals and the youngsters are identified as the main component of a positive living group climate. How the youngsters practise and experience their citizenship in their everyday lives is also socio-spatially shaped and accommodated outside the residential youth care facility. We implement a multi-method qualitative research approach to explore how the pedagogical climate in residential youth care is socio-spatially shaped and accommodated as a living environment. The findings show that residential youth care is embedded in a wider social living environment in which youngsters navigate physically and socially through different relationships, circumstances and pedagogical milieus. This results in a synergy between dynamics in residential youth care and the wider social living environment, in which meaningful pedagogical interventions can take place. We consider it necessary to deepen and broaden the concept of a positive living group climate in residential youth care, revisiting the pedagogical climate as a citizenship climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For my final assignment in a university course called "Arts Education: Pedagogical Theory and Practical Applications in the Teaching of Developmental Drama, Dramatic Forms, Improvisation and Theatre Art"1 I had to do a four-minute monologue performance. I chose to perform Gloria's (America Ferrera) monologue from Barbie (2023)2 because it constitutes a message about how women and girls in society are stressed by thinking about, and aiming for, perfection as well as by finding ways to please everyone in their work, school, and home environment. The monologue articulates the struggles that women experience in feeling constantly that they must please everyone. However, it also points out that we cannot make everyone happy all the time. As girls and women, we must stop thinking constantly about every detail of every task that society tells us to do and every role we are told to perform. We must stop thinking all the time about how we are meant to be. As women, we must not compete; we must be there for each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One primary goal of laboratory animal welfare science is to provide a comprehensive severity assessment of the experimental and husbandry procedures or conditions these animals experience. The severity, or degree of suffering, of these conditions experienced by animals are typically scored based on anthropocentric assumptions. We propose to (a) assess an animal's subjective experience of condition severity, and (b) not only rank but scale different conditions in relation to one another using choice-based preference testing. The Choice-based Severity Scale (CSS) utilizes animals' relative preferences for different conditions, which are compared by how much reward is needed to outweigh the perceived severity of a given condition. Thus, this animal-centric approach provides a common scale for condition severity based on the animal's perspective. To assess and test the CSS concept, we offered three opportunistically selected male rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) choices between two conditions: performing a cognitive task in a typical neuroscience laboratory setup (laboratory condition) versus the monkey's home environment (cage condition). Our data show a shift in one individual's preference for the cage condition to the laboratory condition when we changed the type of reward provided in the task. Two additional monkeys strongly preferred the cage condition over the laboratory condition, irrespective of reward amount and type. We tested the CSS concept further by showing that monkeys' choices between tasks varying in trial duration can be influenced by the amount of reward provided. Altogether, the CSS concept is built upon laboratory animals' subjective experiences and has the potential to de-anthropomorphize severity assessments, refine experimental protocols, and provide a common framework to assess animal welfare across different domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The persisting gendered division of domestic labor in Western societies remains puzzling. Beyond standard economic and normative explanations, more recent approaches emphasize affective, cognitive, and incorporated aspects of housework and the production, reproduction, and negotiation of gendered expectations via social interactions. However, the relevant indicators for these more implicit mechanisms are not routinely included in social surveys. Based on a unique set of items and a representative sample of heterosexual couples (N = 1396) from pairfam (wave 10), we analyze the mutual effects of both partners' enjoyment, quality standards, and reciprocally perceived competencies on the division of housework. Actor–partner interdependence models (APIM) are applied, which explicitly model the partner dyad. Both an actor's own and their partner's assessments of competences and preferences—and particularly men's attributes and perceptions—prove to be powerful predictors of housework share. The results contribute quantitative evidence on processes of doing and undoing gender in context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interactive technologies have recently been used to capture shoppers' attention, encourage their interaction with a product, and create a positive impression of a store being perceived as progressive in setting up new trends. This study examined the role of interactive technologies in developing new trends in the design of home furnishings. A quantitative online survey of randomly selected 526 shoppers in furniture stores in Jeddah, KSA, was conducted and analyzed using SPSS. The findings of the study are as follows: First, the study identified several design issues in home furniture stores that impede meeting the requirements and needs of shoppers; there was support for the use of interactive technologies such as smart applications, VR technology, and interactive screens in the ceilings, walls, and floors of stores home furniture, and these techniques depend on the sense of sight. Second, it was found useful to use modern interactive technologies to provide solutions that contribute to the development of home furniture store design trends, achieve excitement, attract attention, influence the decision to buy products, share and interact, build trust with the shopper, and create a positive impression as well as achieve excellence and uniqueness for stores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To reduce home accidents, which is one of the critical public health problems, it is necessary to evaluate the home environment first. The aim of this study was to develop the Home Environment Risk Rating Scale (HERRS) and examine its psychometric properties in elderly and adult individuals. Subject and methods: This study was conducted on 220 elderly and adult individuals (63.68±10.31 years old, 68.2% female, 31.8% male) living in their homes. The participants completed the Sociodemographic Information Form, Home Environment Conditions Evaluation Form for Falls, and Home and Environment Risk Rating Scale. In addition, psychometric measurement results for horizontal and vertical measurements were analyzed by exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) methods. Results: It was found that the Kaiser–Mayer–Olkin (KMO) value for horizontal and vertical measurements were 0.613 and 0.704, respectively. Results of EFA for horizontal and vertical measurements revealed that five factors together explain 72.033% and three factors together explain 68.368% of the total variance, respectively. The result of CFA for horizontal and vertical measurements demonstrate that the 5-sub-dimension horizontal scale structure and the 3-sub-dimension vertical measurement structure generally fit acceptable in this scale. Cronbach's alpha was satisfactory in all of the measurements (0.73 and 0.80 respectively); the ICCs were good/excellent in all of the measurements (0.99 and 0.90, respectively). Conclusion: The results show that HERRS has the potential to examine the risks of the home environment adequately for the home structure of Turkish society in detail and is a valid and reliable test that health professionals can use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study considered the influences of socioeconomic status (SES), home learning environment, and age of enrollment in early childhood education and care (ECEC) on early literacy and numeracy development of 5-year-olds in England (N = 2,577), Estonia (N = 2,110), and the United States (N = 2,234) by leveraging data from the International Early Learning and Child Well-being Study (conducted by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in 2018). Structural equation modeling indicated that, in all three countries, SES was positively associated with earlier ECEC enrollment, emergent literacy and numeracy. Earlier ECEC enrollment was positively related to emergent literacy and numeracy in England. The home learning environment was positively related to emergent literacy in the United States and emergent numeracy in England and the United States. Overall, SES had a positive indirect effect on emergent literacy and numeracy through ECEC enrollment age in England. Findings are interpreted against country-specific ECEC policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assistive robots have the potential to support independence, enhance safety, and lower healthcare costs for older adults, as well as alleviate the demands of their care partners. However, ensuring that these robots will effectively and reliably address end-user needs in the long term requires user-specific design factors to be considered during the robot development process. To identify these design factors, we embedded Stretch, a mobile manipulator created by Hello Robot Inc., in the home of an older adult with motor impairments and his care partner for four weeks to support them with everyday activities. An occupational therapist and a robotics engineer lived with them during this period, employing an immersive participatory design approach to co-design and customise the robot with them. We highlight the benefits of this immersive participatory design experience and provide insights into robot design that can be applied broadly to other assistive technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ImportanceThe potential role of living alone in either facilitating or hampering access to and use of services for older adults with cognitive impairment is largely unknown. Specifically, it is critical to understand directly from health care and social services professionals how living alone creates barriers to the access and use of supportive health care and social services for racially and ethnically diverse patients with cognitive impairment.ObjectiveTo identify the potential role of living alone in the access and use of health care and social services for diverse patients with cognitive impairment by investigating professionals' perceptions of caring for such patients who live alone in comparison with counterparts living with others.Design, setting, and participantsThis qualitative study of 76 clinicians, social workers, and other professionals used semistructured interviews conducted between February 8, 2021, and June 8, 2022, with purposively sampled professionals providing services to diverse patients with cognitive impairment in Michigan, California, and Texas.Main outcomes and measuresClinicians, social workers, and other professionals compared serving patients with cognitive impairment and living alone vs counterparts living with others. An inductive content analysis was used to analyze the interview transcripts.ResultsA total of 76 professionals were interviewed (mean [SD] age, 49.3 [12.7] years); 59 were female (77.6%), 8 were Black or African American (11%), and 35 were White (46%). Participants included physicians, nurses, social workers, and home-care aides, for a total of 20 professions. Participants elucidated specific factors that made serving older adults living alone with cognitive impairment more challenging than serving counterparts living with others (eg, lacking an advocate, incomplete medical history, requiring difficult interventions), as well as factors associated with increased concerns when caring for older adults living alone with cognitive impairment, such as isolation and a crisis-dominated health care system. Participants also identified reasons for systematic unmet needs of older adults living alone with cognitive impairment for essential health care and social services, including policies limiting access and use to public home-care aides.Conclusions and relevanceIn this qualitative study of professionals' perspectives, findings suggest that living alone is a social determinant of health among patients with cognitive impairment owing to substantial barriers in access to services. Results raised considerable concerns about safety because the US health care system is not well equipped to address the unique needs of older adults living alone with cognitive impairment.

The HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study, a multi-site prospective longitudinal cohort study, will examine human brain, cognitive, behavioral, social, and emotional development beginning prenatally and planned through early childhood. This article outlines methodological considerations and the decision-making process for measurement selection for child behavior, parenting/caregiver-child interactions, and the family/home environment for HBCD. The decision-making process is detailed, including formation of a national workgroup (WG-BEH) that focused on developmentally appropriate measures that take a rigorous and equitable approach and aligned with HBCD objectives. Multi-level-observational and caregiver-report measures were deemed necessary for capturing the desired constructs across multiple contexts while balancing the nuance of observational data with pragmatic considerations. WG-BEH prioritized developmentally sensitive, validated assessments with psychometrics supporting use in diverse populations and focused on mechanistic linkages and prediction of desired constructs. Other considerations included participant burden and retention, staff training needs, and cultural sensitivity. Innovation was permitted when it was grounded in evidence and filled key gaps. Finally, this article describes the rationale for the selected constructs (e.g., temperament, social-emotional development, parenting behaviors, family organization) and corresponding measures chosen for HBCD visits from early infancy through 17 months of age.

Introduction: Aging is a natural, irreversible physiological process that depends on genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Many physiological, biological, psychological, and other factors play a major role. According to the World Health Organization, falls are the second leading cause of unintentional injury death in the world and represent a major global public health problem. Falls are most commonly caused by intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors. A comprehensive assessment of fall risk is critical to the development of effective fall prevention programs. The screening protocol is brief, easy to use, and multifactorial and allows the identification of risk factors for falls. The aim of this study is to investigate the importance of the presence of risk factors in the home environment and the impact on increasing the risk of falls in people in the third age. Methods: The study was conducted in the municipality of Podgorica. 109 elderly people from urban and rural areas were included in the study using the snowball method. The instruments used in our study are a standardized checklist for assessing risk factors in the home environment, inside and outside the home (HASSAT), and a self-assessment scale of one’s own concern about a possible falls efficacy scale international. The survey was conducted from the end of October to the end of November 2023. Results: There is a statistically significant difference in social and physical activities of daily living in the area of concern about falling. When analyzing the overall result of the fear of falling scale in relation to gender, a significant statistical difference is found. The analysis of the individual rooms in relation to the age of the respondents shows that there is a significant statistical difference. Conclusion: The results obtained show that the high risk of falling is present in all rooms of the home environment for people in their 3rd year of life and that fear of falling increases with age.

Type 2 diabetes is one of the diseases of civilization that affects older people relatively more often. It is called the plague of the 21st century. As the body ages, insulin sensitivity decreases significantly, which often results in impaired insulin secretion in the body. Type 2 diabetes in the elderly is currently a major clinical problem. Improperly treated diabetes leads to many dysfunctions in the body, such as: diabetic nephropathy, coronary artery disease, and in some cases it may lead to atherosclerosis occlusive of the arteries of the lower limbs. The theoretical part of the work included information about type 2 diabetes. The practical part included a case report of an 80-year-old patient with type 2 diabetes.

Purpose: Understanding which physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior correlates cluster in children is important, particularly in the home, where children spend significant time. Therefore, this study aimed to assess clustering of physical and social activity-related factors at home, and whether these clusters are related to home-based sitting and PA in children. A secondary aim was to explore whether the clusters were associated with child, parent, and family characteristics. Methods: Altogether, 235 children (55 % girls, mean age = 10.2 [0.7] y) and their parents took part. Physical (eg, PA and electronic media equipment, house and garden size, layout) and social (eg, activity preferences, priorities, parental rules) home environmental factors were obtained via the Home- SPACE-II audit and self-report, respectively. Principal component analysis was used to identify clusters of physical and social environmental factors. Backward regression analysis and partial correlations were used to examine relationships between clusters, children's device-measured home-based activity behaviors, and background characteristics. Results: The findings show that physical and social environment activity-related factors at home cluster. The clusters were associated with several background characteristics, with socioeconomic factors appearing to be particularly influential. The clusters were also associated with homebased activity behaviors in the hypothesized directions. Conclusion: Interventions which target clusters of social and physical factors at home, especially among low-socioeconomic status families. are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]