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The author explores the importance of artmaking in expressing the trauma and feelings of loss and pain associated with disability experiences an analyzes her experiences from the theoretical perspective of disability studies (DS). She examines the role of DS in looking at her artworks as autoethnographies. She discusses the relationship between trauma, disability and visual representation of trauma and considers her artworks as subjective renderings of life situations or events.

Despite the vast developments in research on loss and grief, dominant grief models fall short in reflecting the comprehensive issues grieving persons are facing. Three causes seem to be at play: grief is usually understood to be connected to death and other types of loss are under-researched; the majority of research is done from the field of psychology and on pathological forms of grief, hardly integrating research from other disciplines; and the existential suffering related to grief is not recognized or insufficiently integrated in the dominant models. In this paper, we propose an integrated process model (IPM) of loss and grief, distinguishing five dimensions of grief: physical, emotional, cognitive, social, and spiritual. The integrated process model integrates therapies, tools, and models within different scientific theories and paradigms to connect disciplines and professions. The comprehensive and existential understanding of loss and grief has relevance for research, clinical settings and community support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article takes two artifacts belonging to two people the author met in the course of many decades of research in and on Palestine—a British Mandate-era identity card and a set of framed photographs of a Palestinian village destroyed in the Nakba (catastrophe) of 1948—as central objects of consideration in reflecting on how objects of absence incorporate historical and personal loss as well as continuing presence. The use of the term "objects of absence" to describe these materials points to how they are more than repositories of memory. They record, preserve, and animate forms of life that appear lost. Rather than being noisy eruptions into public life, their volume is more of a murmur. Their collective impact is in their repeated presence rather than their spectacular pronouncements. Palestinians preserve these objects for themselves, for their children and following generations, for their community, and for their nation. The work of these objects is thus personal and political, individual and collective. They help people locate themselves in the world, maintaining some continuity despite the devastation of the Nakba. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why you should read this article: • To read about contemporary UK-based literature on fathers’ experiences of having a child with a learning disability • To recognise that having a child with a learning disability can affect all aspects of a father’s life • To appreciate the need for tailored support for fathers of a child with a learning disability. Children with learning disabilities often require greater levels of support from their parents than other children. However, there can be differences in the caring experiences of mothers and fathers. This literature review aimed to develop an understanding of fathers’ experiences of caring for children with learning disabilities in the UK. Analysis of seven UK studies identified two overarching themes – gender stereotypes in parenthood and loss of imagined future. Findings suggest that parenting a child with a learning disability can be a positive experience for fathers but can involve a journey through loss and grief before eventual acceptance of their child’s condition. Tailored interventions, such as male-only support groups, might help fathers as they move through this journey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives The fourth age is considered a life stage with a high likelihood of age-related losses. However, very old age extends over decades, and little is known about how transitions that may happen during this age period (e.g. developing support needs or adopting caregiving roles) or lack thereof might change perceptions of age-related gains or losses. Many subjective age scales assume implicitly that they work across advanced old age, but data to support this assumption are scarce. This study reports findings on (1) diverging, age-specific understandings of age-related change and (2) whether very old adults' functional health, received social support, and caregiving roles, rather than chronological age, account for such differences. Methods Data came from the nationally representative survey "Old Age in Germany D80+" conducted in 2020/2021, comprising 10,578 individuals aged 80–106 years. Results At equivalent levels of perceived gains and losses, adults in the early fourth age reported more "freedom in daily life," less "dependency on others," and fewer "needs to reduce activities," whereas adults in the late fourth age reported more "appreciation of others." Chronological age, as such, was not the primary source of this response shift. Rather, functional health, social support, and caregiving responsibilities accounted for the differences in how older adults interpreted and reported specific age-related gains and losses. Discussion Findings underscore that across the multiple decades of the fourth age, interpretations of aging experiences vary and depend on a person's own late-life health and functioning and on that of significant others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soul Injury is defined as a wound that separates a person from their real self, caused by unmourned loss and hurt, unforgiven guilt and shame, and fear of helplessness or loss of control. Tools and interventions have been developed to guide people impacted by Soul Injury. This study assessed the effectiveness of 12 tools and interventions provided during a 4-day Soul Injury Leadership Institute. This 2-part investigation included an online survey of participants who had attended a 4-day Institute training and a post-Institute narrative inquiry conducted as virtual structured interviews. Ninety-one professionals completed the online survey, which inquired about the impact of specific Soul Injury tools and interventions on the respondents' personal and professional life. The Anchor Your Heart tool was the most frequently used tool and had the most enduring utilization across time and settings. Qualitative data collected in virtual interviews with 15 volunteers demonstrated the power of the Write/Tell Your Story technique in which storied narratives permit an individual to integrate powerful experiences such as traumatic events, serious illness, and even death, providing further validation that Soul Injury is an important human phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Losing a loved one in older adulthood affects one's emotional well-being profoundly. The grief experienced by older adults, who may have shared significant experiences and memories with their loved ones, can be intensified by cumulative losses and is often not acknowledged by themselves or their caregivers. This study uses a descriptive quantitative cross-sectional design to determine the relationships between potential predictors and grief among older adults. This cross-sectional study uses purposive sampling and involves 134 older adults aged 60 years or above who had experienced significant loss within the past 60 months. A self-administered questionnaire assessed participants' demographic characteristics, loss experiences, grief, spirituality, and meaning-making. Multiple linear regression analysis was carried out to determine the significant predictors of meaning-making and spirituality regarding grief. The findings indicated significant negative associations between spirituality, meaning-making, and grief. This study emphasizes the importance of addressing the spiritual and meaning-making dimensions in supporting older adults in effectively managing grief-related distress. Future studies should consider longitudinal designs and further explore additional predictors to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the complex factors influencing grief and the healing process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Floods are increasing in frequency and may increase the risk for experiencing emotional distress, anxiety, depression and PTSD. The aim of this study was to determine the extent of damage, loss, injury and death resulting from floods that occurred in and around the city of Durban, South Africa, in April 2022, and associated changes in mental health pre- to post-floods in a low-income setting. Seventy-three women between the ages of 18 and 45, residing in flood affected, low-income settings, were interviewed prior to the floods occurring. Mental health measures were repeated with 69 of the 73 women during the post-flood interview along with a questionnaire measuring flood-related exposures. Loss of infrastructure (lacked access to drinking water, electricity, fresh food, could not travel to work, had to stay in a shelter and could not get hold of friends or family) was a predictor of post-flood change in levels of emotional distress and anxiety. Higher levels of prior trauma exposure were associated with higher post-flood levels of emotional distress. Higher pre-flood food insecurity was also associated with higher post-flood anxiety. Women affected by poverty, food insecurity and a history of trauma are vulnerable to the additive adverse mental health effects of floods. Proactive approaches to diminishing the impact of floods on the livelihood of women is needed and post-flood relieve efforts may be more affective if they are enhanced by providing mental health support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recurrence of suicidal thoughts and behaviours represent a common threat to the wellbeing and lives of people who attempt suicide. It is not clear whether suicide risk models reflect risk for multiple suicide attempts, especially in high-risk groups. Factors associated with the recurrence of suicidal ideation and attempts was assessed in 82 military Veterans who had attempted suicide. Participants completed clinical diagnostic interviews and self-reported assessments of suicidal thoughts and behaviours, depression severity, hopelessness and burdensomeness. Hopelessness, perceived burdensomeness and beliefs about suicide were associated with the recent recurrence of suicidal ideation among Veterans who attempted suicide. Beliefs about suicide, suicidal planning and help seeking following a suicide attempt were significantly associated with multiple suicide attempts. Suicide postvention interventions should target beliefs about suicide and adaptive help seeking in depressed military Veterans who have attempted suicide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Informal caregivers play a vital role in caring for patients with chronic illnesses, but this care can significantly affect their mental health and well-being, particularly after the loss of the patient. Due to the significance of the issue and limited research in the field, it is important to identify factors associated with the mental health of informal caregivers. Method and Material: This study aimed to investigate the experiences of loss and their management by informal caregivers of people with chronic diseases. Specifically, it evaluated the relationship between experiences of loss and (1) mental health and (2) socio-demographic characteristics of informal caregivers. A quantitative survey was conducted on a sample of 98 informal caregivers of patients with chronic diseases, using the Core Bereavement scales BEQ-24 and DASS-21. Results: The data analysis revealed that 25.5% of informal caregivers were prepared to experience loss, while only 12.2% sought psychological support to manage their experiences. Informal caregivers often experienced loss with sadness, loneliness, and nostalgia while recalling memories with the deceased patient. Fewer caregivers experienced guilt, self-blame, and anger or sought to fulfill their emotional and existential needs. The study also found that experiences of loss were associated with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress in informal caregivers of people with chronic diseases. Conclusions: The study underscores the impact of caring for patients with chronic illnesses on mental health and wellbeing of informal caregivers, particularly after the loss of the patient. The results highlight the need for interventions to support informal caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A literary criticism is presented of the book "The Red Pony" by John Steinbeck. The story is set on a ranch in Northern California in the early 1900s, and follows the life of a young boy named Jody Tiflin, who lives with his parents and grandfather on their farm. The novel explores themes of childhood innocence, loss, and growing up, and is considered one of Steinbeck's most popular and enduring works.

To identify the experiences and needs of dependent children who have a parent with an acquired brain injury (ABI) using a systematic review and thematic synthesis. A systematic search of Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL Plus, and Web of Science was conducted. The search included variants of: "children," "parents," "acquired brain injury," and "experiences" or "needs." Eligible articles reported on the experiences/needs of dependent children who have a parent with an ABI, from the child's perspective. Thematic analysis was used to identify themes. A total of 4895 unique titles were assessed, and 9 studies met inclusion. Four themes were identified: (1) Sustained Emotional Toll (subthemes: (i) Initial Shock and Distress; (ii) Ongoing Loss and Grief; (iii) Present-Day Stress and Emotions), (2) Responsibilities Change and Children Help Out, (3) Using Coping Strategies (subtheme: Talking Can Help), and (4) Wanting Information about the Injury. Themes highlighted significant disruption and challenges to children's wellbeing across development, with ongoing and considerable impacts many years after the parent's injury. The nature of the experiences shifted with time since the parent's injury. These children need ongoing support starting shortly after their parent's injury that is grounded in their particular experiences. When a parent has an acquired brain injury (ABI), dependent children and adolescents face emotional upheaval, significant stressors, increased responsibilities, and lack of information about their parent's injury that persist even many years after injury. The nature of these experiences and therefore their needs change based on the acute versus later stages of the parent's injury. Children often do not ask questions or tell others how they feel, which means that they need support that asks about, and listens and responds to their needs. Support for children needs to start soon after the parent's injury, be grounded in the lived experiences of this group, consider their parent's recovery stage, and be embedded as part of service provision rather than rely on children or families to make service contact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This qualitative study aimed to explore the unheard grief of young people following the 2019 social movement in Hong Kong. Sixteen participants were interviewed in-depth. Thematic analysis was conducted. Participants perceived Hong Kong as no longer the place they knew and expressed collective grief over the loss of their hometown. The understanding of their hometown was shattered amidst losses of freedom and justice. They grieved because of their unique relationships with Hong Kong and their identity as Hongkongers. This symbolic home-loss grief can be better understood at both emotional and existential levels. Findings suggest the importance of acknowledging and articulating this grief and a deeper understanding of the collective grief emerging from losses, in which people were connected by shared values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Today there is an aspiration and desire for fathers to be caring masculinities that build long‐term father‐child relationships and emotional presence with their children. Previous research shows that life changes where fathers are deprived of the opportunity for equal parenting and close contact with their children affect the fathers' lives and mental health. The aim of this caring science study is thereby to gain a deeper understanding of life and ethical values when undergoing paternal alienation and experiencing involuntary loss of paternity. Design, Research Methods, and Participants: The study has a qualitative design. The data collection was carried out in 2021 through individual in‐depth interviews according to Kvale and Brinkmann. The five fathers who participated in the interviews had experiences of undergoing paternal alienation and involuntary loss of paternity. The interviews were analysed with a reflexive thematic analysis according to Braun and Clarke. Results: Three main themes emerged. Putting yourself aside includes forgetting one's own needs and prioritising the children's and being the best version of oneself for them. In playing with the cards you have been dealt lies an acceptance of life as it has become and also a responsibility not to let the grief take over, by creating new patterns for everyday life and holding up hope. Keeping your dignity as a human being includes being heard, affirmed and consoled, and a form of re‐awakening one's dignity as a human being. Conclusion: It is fundamental to understand the grief, longing and sacrifice that paternal alienation and involuntary loss of paternity cause human life and how every day can be a struggle to hold on to hope, find comfort and reconcile with the situation. The fundamental foundation that makes life worth living is love and responsibility for the good of the children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In forensic mental health care (FMHC), family caregivers perceive themselves as burdened in their relationships with the service user (the family member with mental illness) and by difficult collaboration with healthcare professionals (HCPs). There is a political objective to involve this group in the care and treatment of the service user in mental health care. To improve family caregiver involvement in care and treatment in FMHC, research about their perceptions is needed. This study aims to explore family caregivers' perceptions of their interactions with the service user and HCPs. The method used was qualitative. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 12 family caregiver participants were carried out and analyzed thematically. The analysis resulted in three interrelated main themes: Strategies to normalize everyday living; Distrust of the quality of care; and Loss and grief. Family caregiver feelings of loss and grief may be suppressed, which additionally could prevent them from supporting the service user. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper sets out to examine how the first-person plural narration form is used in diasporic Chinese American writer Yiyun Li's short story "Immortality" to represent the collective loss of subjectivity – namely how she represents the consequences of that loss from a psychological perspective as part of her experiment in artistic innovation. It explores Li's characterization – especially her realistic depiction of the collective narrators' psychology under totalitarianism and how she allows their psychology to affect the form of her representation. I argue that although through the ventriloquy in English, Li has given the "we"-narrators a discursive voice to articulate their hidden thoughts and feelings – something not possible in their mother tongue, the "we"-narrators are unable to exceed their existential limitations to speak a purely personal language immune from official appropriation. Li's story also underlines the extreme form as well as the emotional consequences of that collective loss of subjectivity, namely the "we"-community's avoidance of mass melancholia in reaction to the tragic end of their compatriot victim of the dictatorship in order to preserve their prevailing collective ego-ideal.1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Narrative counseling, narrative interviewing, or storytelling is a therapeutic approach to treating individuals with mental health conditions that is client-led. The approach can also employ the power of recall to reconstruct one's story and oneself through reframing. In this article, we explore the possibility of employing narrative counseling in vocational rehabilitation settings, with immigrants with disabilities experiencing grief through loss and migration. Autonomy, cultural relevance, and trauma-informed care present the rationale for consideration and further exploration of narrative counseling in vocational rehabilitation research, teaching, and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Certified music therapists use music within therapeutic relationships to address human needs, health, and well-being with a variety of populations. Palliative care and music therapy are holistic and diverse fields, adapting to unique issues within end-of-life contexts. Palliative care music therapy has been formally practiced since the late 1970s and affords a variety of benefits, including pain and anxiety reduction, enhancement of quality of life, emotional expression, and relationship completion. The training of music therapists varies around the globe, but clinical supervisors play a key role in skill acquisition. Clinical supervisors support pre-professionals as they realize the application of their training, foundational competencies, and authentic therapeutic approaches in end-of-life care, while navigating the challenges and rewards of this work. This article is a narrative review which offers background information on palliative care music therapy, and reports the authors' viewpoints and reflections on supervision strategies and models employed with music therapy interns in palliative care settings based on their experiences. Approaches are shared on supporting pre-professionals as they begin working in palliative care contexts, as well as implications for supervision practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores sense of presence (SOP) as an important feature of continuing bonds (CB) in the context of normal grief. A community sample of widows (N = 51) filled in a multidimensional grief questionnaire and a depression scale. A moderate positive association between sensing the deceased husband´s presence and cognitive and emotional impairments emerged. A positive relationship between SOP and guilt was found only if the influence of religiosity was controlled for statistically. There were no significant associations of SOP with long-lasting positive reactions to loss, such as personal growth and increase in sensitivity for others. Widows with clinically relevant depression indicated a stronger SOP than those with lower depression scores. These differentiated findings may stimulate the elaboration of an extended conception of grief beyond the focus on clinically relevant impairments [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports on a qualitative study to investigate what bereavement means to older people. Drawing upon 80 in-depth interviews collected from eight British and Australian retirement communities, our study revealed that facing bereavement while ageing includes experiences of losing both others and the wholeness of the self. Core themes identified how the experience of losing others can be compounded by ageing-related challenges, undermining older people's defence from bereavement and frustrating their fundamental meaning and being. The older people's dynamic responses were also captured, highlighting the importance of supporting their agency to deal with the deeper pain of loss. By extending the concept of bereavement in later life, we also called for a more grief literate culture to mitigate the multifaceted and often deeper distresses of bereavement that older people may face alongside ageing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this mixed methods systematic review was to identify factors associated with anticipatory grief, post-death grief, and prolonged grief in informal carers of people living with Motor Neuron Disease (MND) to inform future research and practice. Six electronic databases were searched and two quantitative and eight qualitative studies were identified. Five overarching themes were generated through thematic synthesis. The findings suggest that there are factors that may affect different grieving processes. It might be particularly important to target some factors prior and after the death of the person living with MND such as the knowledge about the progression of the disease, changes in relationships, anxiety and depressive symptoms of carers, and planning for death of the care recipient. Factors that may affect all three grieving processes were also identified such as negative experiences of caregiving, experiences of losses, end of life and psychological support, and emotional avoidance coping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children in out‐of‐home care may experience multiple losses, from separation from birth parents and siblings to loss of friendships, culture, and sense of belonging and normality. The impacts of these significant losses on a child's development and wellbeing have typically been the subject of childhood trauma research. While understanding the impact is important, children's experiences of the losses and the ways adults can support them to grieve are less explored in research. Recently, out‐of‐home care researchers have begun to address this knowledge gap by applying the concept of ambiguous loss to capture and understand children's grief and loss. This article builds on this work and reports findings of a qualitative study that involved 30 out‐of‐home care practitioners. Constructivist Grounded Theory was applied to analyse the research data which resulted in the HEAR model that outlines the practice components that out‐of‐home care practitioners considered important in effectively responding to children's experience of ambiguous loss. These components are (1) Honouring ambiguous loss; (2) Establishing a care community; (3) Attuning to the lack of finality of ambiguous loss and (4) Reducing ambiguity. This article presents research findings that supported the development of the HEAR model, and discusses its implications for out‐of‐home care practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence suggests that in old age, women are lonelier than men. Gender differences in loneliness are often explained by gender differences in longevity, social status and loss, health, and mobility—well-established predictors that may influence loneliness differently in "younger" (40–59 years) and "older" (60–80 years) groups of men and women in the second part of life. This study explores loneliness in men and women ages 40 to 80 years at baseline over a 15-year period using panel data from three waves of the Norwegian Life Course, Ageing and Generation Study (N = 2,315). Our analyses show that women were more lonely than men also in adjusted analyses. Logistic regression analyses indicated that loss of a partner and poor mental health are prospectively related to loneliness among men and women, whereas other factors like becoming a partner, stable singlehood, and poor physical health were related to loneliness among women but not men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying subpopulations that are particularly vulnerable to long-term adverse health consequences of disaster-related trauma is needed. We examined whether adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) potentiate the association between disaster-related trauma and subsequent cognitive disability among older adult disaster survivors. Data were from a prospective cohort study of older adults who survived the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. The baseline survey pre-dated the disaster by 7 months. We included participants who completed follow-up surveys (2013 and 2016) and did not have a cognitive disability before the disaster (n  = 602). Disaster-related traumas (i.e. home loss, loss of friends or pets) and ACEs were retrospectively assessed in 2013. Cognitive disability levels in 2016 were objectively assessed. After adjusting for pre-disaster characteristics using a machine learning–based estimation approach, home loss (0.19, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.09, 0.28) was, on average, associated with greater cognitive disability. Among individuals with ACEs, home loss was associated with even higher cognitive disability levels (0.64, 95% CI: 0.24, 1.03). Losses of friends (0.18, 95% CI: 0.05, 0.32) and pets (0.13, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.25) were associated with higher cognitive disability levels only among those with ACEs. Our findings suggest that individuals with a history of ACEs may be particularly vulnerable to adverse health consequences related to disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents an overview of past and current grief rituals and practices and existing grassroots and institutional initiatives seeking to address the complex, prolonged, and traumatic grief experienced by many Inuit living in Quebec. While conducting a study seeking to identify the strengths, resources, and challenges for Nunavik's Inuit communities related to end-of-life care, results emerged concerning how family caregivers' grief related to the dying process was compounded by the sequelae of historic loss experiences (e.g., losses related to Canada's federal policies, including residential schools, forced relocations, and dog slaughters) and by present loss experiences (e.g., tragic and sudden deaths in local communities). To better support caregivers, an understanding of these grief experiences and a vision of bereavement care inclusive of community mobilization efforts to develop bereavement training and support is needed. We conclude with a discussion of a community capacity approach to bereavement care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To explore the resilience of children, six to thirteen years old, living on a Northern Plains American Indian Reservation using a situation specific nursing theory. Background: American Indian and Alaska Native children experience mental health inequities compared to their white peers, including substance use, suicide, depression, and anxiety. Resilience is a strength of children that can be leveraged to improve their mental health. Design: A parallel convergent mixed methods design. Methods: A community advisory board culturally adapted resilience instruments. During two weeks in summer 2022, forty‐seven children/caregiver dyads completed surveys about the child's resilience. Descriptive statistics gave the scores of each child's personal, relational, and total resilience. A subset of 20 children participated in a semi‐structured interview. Results: Children scored high on overall resilience, and higher on the relational subscale than the personal subscale. Caregiver survey scores were not significantly correlated with their child's scores and were higher than the children's scores. Qualitative coding revealed six themes of resilience. Integration of data showed a concordance and expansion of the quantitative data across themes. Conclusion: The children reported high resilience supported by a strong ecosystem of relationships. Resilience, as explained through children's voices, corroborated with findings from the surveys. Implications for Nursing: Findings will help nurses across sectors of primary, secondary, and tertiary care create resilience‐enhancing interventions and prevent mental health crises in this community. Impact Statement: This findings from this study will inform local mental health interventions on the Reservation. The study provides a reproducible design to adapt to other Indigenous communities. Public Contribution: A community advisory board was a partner in every stage of the study. Children and caregivers participated in data collection. Contribution to the Wider Clinical Community: This research provides knowledge that will further social justice efforts within nursing to promote health equity across diverse populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Building on prior theory, we aimed to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of integrating novel, weight loss maintenance strategies into existing weight management programmes. We also piloted recruitment and data collection procedures for future research. Design: Two phases of action research nested within a single‐arm feasibility study. The intervention was refined between phases using feedback from intervention fidelity analysis and qualitative exploration of patient and provider experiences. Changes in outcomes were assessed up to 18 months post‐baseline. Methods: One hundred adults with a mean body mass index of 37 kg/m2 were offered the Skills for weight loss and Maintenance (SkiM) intervention. This included existing weight management programme content and additional weight loss maintenance techniques delivered fortnightly for 6 months in local community centres to groups of 11–15 people. Results: Of the 100 participants, 65%, 58% and 56% provided data at 7, 12 and 18 months. Across both phases, the mean initial weight loss was 4.2 kg (95% CI: 2.4–5.9) and 3.1 kg at 18 months (95% CI:.8–5.5). In Phase 2, we observed better weight loss maintenance (.5 kg [13.2%] regain from 7 to 18 months, vs. 1.7 kg [36.2%] in Phase 1). Variation in outcomes, high early dropout rates and qualitative feedback indicated that, although delivery of the intervention and trial procedures was feasible and acceptable, there was scope to refine the intervention to engage a wider range of participants. Intervention fidelity was acceptable, particularly in Phase 2. Conclusions: The SkiM intervention seems promising, but more research is needed to improve recruitment and retention prior to further evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Research among older adults reveals that the loss of core network members is a risk factor for loneliness. Still, it is not clear whether all such losses induce similar levels of loneliness, particularly as network members are distributed at varied geographic distances. Neither is it clear whether tie addition—the other ubiquitous aspect of network turnover in later life—offsets the loneliness that arises from different network loss scenarios. Methods This paper scrutinized core network losses across multiple relationship–distance scenarios. We used the fourth and sixth waves of data from the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe and estimated fixed-effect models. Results The loss of a child from a core network increases feelings of loneliness across variant distances, especially when not complemented by additional connections. Losing relatives or nonkin core connections in proximity (within 1 km and 5 km radius, respectively) is also associated with increased loneliness, yet such effects are also largely mitigated by the addition of new core network members. Discussion The relationship between core network member losses and loneliness can significantly differ based on the nature of the lost connection and its geographic distance. Active rebalancing of one's core network following losses and proactive network expansion can serve as pivotal strategies to prevent loneliness for the aging population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study, based on a joint photovoice inquiry by 9 social work educators, set out to examine their real-time lived experiences in the face of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. The study was based on a series of group sessions during which 29 photovoice were collected. These served as the basis for a group dialogue about the lecturers' lived experiences of the Coronavirus crisis. The findings of the study point to four main narratives: a) The Coronavirus crisis as an intermediate state; b) Loss and grief; c) Sacrifice; d) Hope, development, and growth. The findings are discussed in light of the conceptual framework of a shared traumatic reality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on therapeutic filmmaking and how it is used by analyzing selected works of Agnès Varda and Sophie Calle. I assert that these artists used this approach to assist them with processing grief after the deaths of their loved one by analyzing selected works from the genres of documentary, journal intime, and visual art. An overview of palliative care and palliative arts, and their relationship with therapeutic filmmaking is also included in this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This qualitative study of 19 long-term foster carers examined how they coped with traumatic events with children in their care and continued to foster children. Phenomenological methods revealed that they endured significant traumatic events regarding the children that had lasting impacts on them. While much of the related research focuses on indirect secondary trauma among foster parents, these incidents were experienced and interpreted more as primary trauma. Participants also reported an intense commitment to the children in their homes, a passion for providing a good home for them, and recognized that they benefitted personally from fostering children. Recommendations include solutions more closely aligned with primary trauma and a using veteran foster parents to support and mentor new carers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mounting losses and unprocessed grief can contribute to emotional exhaustion and ultimately burnout, but connection and compassion can heal us. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to understand how active coping with extreme loss takes place when creating memorial playgrounds, as well as in relation to existing memorial playgrounds. Using qualitative methods and drawing from 63 cases, the research enriches our understanding of bereavement by revealing the central mechanisms through which active coping takes place and by presenting the distinct elements that the mechanisms are composed of. The study contributes to the research on bereavement by showing how active coping takes place both as an outcome of and during the memorial creation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author talks about the journal including its articles published, members that joined the editorial board, and minor adjustments made to the guidelines that the journal utilized for a long time.

The negative impact on the psychological and physical health of the civilian population is one of the most significant consequences of war. This study was performed during the fourth to fifth months of the war in Ukraine and involved 1,243 respondents aged 18–61+ years. This study identified a pronounced trend, showing a significant deterioration in the indicators of psychological and physical health in the Ukrainian population that is aggravated by employment, financial, or housing losses caused by the war. Our findings indicate that there is a high need for psychological support for the Ukrainian population and show the direction of possible interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Burm reflects on the unintended consequences of overemphasizing a marathon mindset and their implications for the professional identity and wellbeing of trainees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is growing evidence to show increased mental ill health in women compulsorily separated from their babies at birth (Cantwell et al., MBRRACE‐UK, 2018:56). For imprisoned women, the risk of self‐harm and suicide may be exacerbated. This article draws on in‐depth interviews with a sample of 28 imprisoned pregnant women/new mothers, 10 prison staff and observations to discuss the experience of separation from or anticipation of separation of women from their babies. Oakley (Signs, 4:607–631, 1980) reflected on the transition to motherhood with reference to the sociology of loss of identity. Women who have been compulsorily separated from their babies experience subjugated loss out of place with societal norms. The experiences of compulsory separation, in relation to concepts of disenfranchised grief, resonate with Lovell's (Social Science & Medicine, 17:755–761, 1983) research into the altered identities of mothers when loss occurs through late miscarriage or stillbirth. Additionally, this type of complex loss also denies a woman her identity as a 'mother'. This article offers a fresh sociological perspective on the ways loss and grief are experienced by women facing separation from their babies in prison, drawing on concepts of uncertainty, loss and disenfranchised grief. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]