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Objectives: To investigate the effects of a mindfulness-based family psychoeducation (MBFPE) intervention on caregivers and the young adults with first-episode psychosis in mental health care. Methods: Sixty-five caregivers were randomly assigned to the MBFPE program (n = 33) or an ordinary family psychoeducation (FPE) program (n = 32). Eighteen young adults in recovery (YAIR) also participated in the study. All of the participants completed the assessments before participating in the intervention (T1), after the intervention (T2), and at 9-month follow-up (T3). Results: Intention-to-treat analyses were conducted. The caregivers reported a significant and large effect size on positive caregiving experiences based on a Time × Group analysis (g = 0.862, p = 0.006). Among the YAIR participants, between-group differences were significant in their perceptions of caregivers' expressed emotions, including large effect sizes of perceived criticism (g = 1.396, p = 0.049) and hostility (g = 1.444, p = 0.043). Caregiver demographics, including age, education level, socioeconomic status, and number of family members, were found to moderate the effect sizes of the variables studied. Conclusion: This study provides evidence of the effects of MBFPE programs on the outcomes of caregivers and the young adults with first-episode psychosis in their care. Specifically, the MBFPE program in this study played a greater role in promoting positive caregiving experiences and changing caregivers' expressed emotions, especially their expressed criticism of YAIR, compared with the regular FPE program. Therefore, the application of mindfulness training to promote family care and YAIR recovery should be encouraged. Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov , identifier NCT03688009. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate the effects of a mindfulness-based family psychoeducation (MBFPE) intervention on caregivers and the young adults with first-episode psychosis in mental health care. Methods: Sixty-five caregivers were randomly assigned to the MBFPE program (n = 33) or an ordinary family psychoeducation (FPE) program (n = 32). Eighteen young adults in recovery (YAIR) also participated in the study. All of the participants completed the assessments before participating in the intervention (T1), after the intervention (T2), and at 9-month follow-up (T3). Results: Intention-to-treat analyses were conducted. The caregivers reported a significant and large effect size on positive caregiving experiences based on a Time × Group analysis (g = 0.862, p = 0.006). Among the YAIR participants, between-group differences were significant in their perceptions of caregivers' expressed emotions, including large effect sizes of perceived criticism (g = 1.396, p = 0.049) and hostility (g = 1.444, p = 0.043). Caregiver demographics, including age, education level, socioeconomic status, and number of family members, were found to moderate the effect sizes of the variables studied. Conclusion: This study provides evidence of the effects of MBFPE programs on the outcomes of caregivers and the young adults with first-episode psychosis in their care. Specifically, the MBFPE program in this study played a greater role in promoting positive caregiving experiences and changing caregivers' expressed emotions, especially their expressed criticism of YAIR, compared with the regular FPE program. Therefore, the application of mindfulness training to promote family care and YAIR recovery should be encouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a reduced version of the Perception of Family Support Scale (PFSS)—a measure of family support designed for research and clinical purposes—and examine construct validity, invariance, and reliability evidence for scores obtained from the instrument. Data collection occurred in 2019. Using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses with college student samples from Australia, Brazil, Hong Kong, and Turkey (N = 1,256), we identified an oblique three-factor model corresponding to the original scale's internal structure (e.g. affective consistency, family maladaptation, and family autonomy). We also found configural, metric, and scalar invariance, good reliability coefficients, and significant relationships with distress (e.g. depression, anxiety, and stress) across the four studied countries. These results indicate good validity evidence for using the brief version of the PFSS. Applications of the PFSS and implications of the current results are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims to prospectively investigate the relationships between interconnectedness, compassion, and participation in private and public forms of collective action for people with mental illness. Public form refers to collective action at the macrolevel such as large-scale protests and demonstrations going on in the communities. Private form refers to collective action happening at the microlevel that targets promoting awareness of social inequalities and positive changes among personal social circles, such as calling out microaggressions or correcting others' stigmatizing language. Eligible responses from 501 participants were collected at baseline, with 345 and 318 participants retained at 6-month and 12-month follow-up assessments, respectively. Random-intercept cross-lagged panel models were conducted to investigate the mediating role of compassion in the relationships between interconnectedness and participation in private and public forms of collective action. Interconnectedness was consistently associated with a higher frequency of participation in private form, but not public form, of collective action at subsequent time points. Contrary to the hypothesis, results showed the nonsignificant mediating effect of compassion between interconnectedness and participation in both forms of collective action. The present study highlights the potential of interconnectedness in promoting a private form of collective action for the rights of people with mental illness. Public Policy Relevance Statement: Mobilizing collective efforts to advocate for people with mental illness is crucially important to address stigma and health inequities for people with mental illness. The findings of this study show that the awareness of interconnectedness can predict the people of a socially dominant group's participation in advocating for people with mental illness at the interpersonal level over time. In the future, educators and campaigners can emphasize how individuals are interconnected and accountable for the social inequalities faced by people with mental illness to encourage people in socially dominant groups to take collective action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study tested an integrated model of the maintenance of the ableist social system toward wheelchair users. The model focuses on the endorsed medical model of disability, and the witnessing of negotiation for environmental accessibility by people without disabilities. A cross-sectional sample of 821 university staff members and students from Hong Kong without self-reported disabilities completed a self-report questionnaire. Structural equation modeling obtained a satisfactory model fit (comparative fit index =.96, Tucker-Lewis Index =.95, root mean square error of approximation =.05, standardized root mean square residuals =.06). The findings inform remedial approaches to addressing ableism toward wheelchair users at cultural, social, mass media, and education levels. The study also calls for the development of more quantitative measures of the perceptions of people without disabilities toward disability models, environmental in/accessibility, and collective actions for social inclusion for further empirical research on ableism. Points of interest: This study attempts to fill the gap of research on discrimination and stereotypes against people with disabilities. It examines perspectives of people without disabilities toward wheelchair users and environmental barriers. For people without disabilities, their experiences of witnessing wheelchair users trying to negotiate environmental barriers is related to their stereotypes against wheelchair users. For people without disabilities, their experiences of witnessing wheelchair users trying to negotiate environmental barriers is related to their stereotypes against environmental accessibility. For people without disabilities, their experiences of witnessing wheelchair users trying to negotiate environmental barriers is related to their behavioral tendency to take part in advocacy for an inclusive society. This study recognizes the need to develop more measurements and survey tools for assessing the perceptions of people without disabilities. The tools should assess perceptions of people without disabilities toward disability, environmental accessibility, and behaviors of promoting social inclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parents of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) reported higher stress than those of typically developing children. The role of child problem behaviors in the relationship between autism spectrum symptoms and parenting stress is little known. A total of 731 parents of 177 children with ASD and 554 typically developing children in primary schools (6-11 years old) completed an ASD screening survey containing measures of parenting stress and child problem behaviors. While autism spectrum symptoms were positively associated with parenting stress, the relationship was mediated by child problem behaviors. Results suggest neither the severity of autism spectrum symptoms nor knowledge of ASD diagnosis was a primary source of parenting stress. A hypothesized path model was tested using structural equation modeling.

The present study examined whether, when, and how motivational messaging can boost the response rate of postal surveys for physicians based on Higgin's regulatory focus theory, accounting for its cost-effectiveness. A three-arm, blinded, randomized controlled design was used. A total of 3,270 doctors were randomly selected from the registration list. Results showed that motivational messaging was effective in boosting response rate among younger physicians at relatively low cost when the messages were sent during the delivery of generic invitation letter and questionnaire. However, message framing had no significant impact on postal surveys' response rate. Future postal surveys can consider using motivational messaging to maximize survey participation in physician population without incurring much extra cost.

Rumination and worry are common risk factors of depression and anxiety. Internet‐based transdiagnostic interventions targeting individuals with these specific risks may be an effective way to prevent depression and anxiety. This three‐arm randomized controlled trial compared the efficacy of Internet‐based rumination‐focused cognitive behavioral therapy (RFCBT), mindfulness‐based intervention (MBI), and psychoeducation (EDU) control among 256 at‐risk individuals. Participants' levels of rumination, worry, depressive, and anxiety symptoms were assessed at post‐intervention (6 weeks), 3‐month, and 9‐month follow‐ups. Linear mixed model analysis results showed similar levels of improvement in all outcomes across the three conditions. Changes in rumination differed comparing RFCBT and MBI, where a significant reduction in rumination was noted at a 3‐month follow‐up among participants in RFCBT, and no significant long‐term effect among participants in MBI was noted at a 9‐month follow‐up. All three conditions showed similar reductions in risks and symptoms, implying that the two active interventions were not superior to EDU control. The high attrition at follow‐ups suggested a need to exercise caution when interpreting the findings. Future studies should tease apart placebo effect and identify ways to improve adherence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP®) is a recovery-oriented program designed for people with mental illness to improve well-being and self-manage symptoms. This randomized controlled trial investigates the effectiveness of brief Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP®) as a mental health self-management tool for adults without formal clinical diagnoses in Hong Kong. 182 adults were randomly assigned to WRAP® or waitlist control condition to investigate whether WRAP® can promote mental well-being and reduce psychological distress for community adults with no known diagnosable mental disorders. Significant improvements were found in depressive (ηp2 =.11) and anxiety symptoms (ηp2 =.06), empowerment (ηp2 =.09), and personal recovery (ηp2 =.11) among WRAP® participants compared with waitlist control participants. Moreover, changes in anxiety symptoms, hope, empowerment, and reliance on others were found to sustain at 3-month follow-up. Brief WRAP® is an effective self-management tool in enhancing mental health and alleviating psychological distress for millennials living in the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]