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Understanding how activities in natural settings, such as gardening, improve health and well‐being is important for designing nature‐based health interventions.Our study focused on a sociodemographic‐diverse group of new gardeners (n = 34) who had participated for one season in the community gardens as part of the Denver Urban Gardens initiative in Denver, CO USA. New gardeners participated in semi‐structured qualitative interviews to determine how and why gardening influenced their well‐being. Interview transcripts were analysed iteratively using grounded theory and comparative case study methodologies.Analysis revealed that new gardeners' previous gardening experience, social support systems and overcoming gardening challenges increased gardening engagement and improved outcomes. Within‐garden outcomes that were nearly universally experienced by new gardeners included food production, physical activity in the garden and a 'gardening triad': (1) caretaking, nurturance or love and sense of responsibility for garden plants; (2) feelings of accomplishment, success and pride and (3) connection to nature including appreciation, restoration and wonder.We found that the elements of the 'gardening triad' were meaningful to gardeners and connected to both continued engagement of participants and others in the garden, and social and emotional well‐being outcomes including new and/or strengthened social relationships; purpose and meaning; self‐learning, self‐worth and confidence; joy, immersion, restoration and respite; and management of mental health conditions. Gardening with others, including other gardeners, garden leaders, friends and family, amplified the well‐being effects of the 'gardening triad.'Identification of the 'gardening triad' expands understanding of the salient health‐promoting characteristics of gardening beyond simple exposure to nature, food production and physical activity. It embeds gardeners in relationship with their gardens as active participants eliciting universal emotional processes which, in turn, manifested as improved social and emotional well‐being. Gardening, as an avenue for improving well‐being, should be supported widely. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Understanding how activities in natural settings, such as gardening, improve health and well‐being is important for designing nature‐based health interventions. Our study focused on a sociodemographic‐diverse group of new gardeners (n = 34) who had participated for one season in the community gardens as part of the Denver Urban Gardens initiative in Denver, CO USA. New gardeners participated in semi‐structured qualitative interviews to determine how and why gardening influenced their well‐being. Interview transcripts were analysed iteratively using grounded theory and comparative case study methodologies. Analysis revealed that new gardeners' previous gardening experience, social support systems and overcoming gardening challenges increased gardening engagement and improved outcomes. Within‐garden outcomes that were nearly universally experienced by new gardeners included food production, physical activity in the garden and a ‘gardening triad’: (1) caretaking, nurturance or love and sense of responsibility for garden plants; (2) feelings of accomplishment, success and pride and (3) connection to nature including appreciation, restoration and wonder. We found that the elements of the ‘gardening triad’ were meaningful to gardeners and connected to both continued engagement of participants and others in the garden, and social and emotional well‐being outcomes including new and/or strengthened social relationships; purpose and meaning; self‐learning, self‐worth and confidence; joy, immersion, restoration and respite; and management of mental health conditions. Gardening with others, including other gardeners, garden leaders, friends and family, amplified the well‐being effects of the ‘gardening triad.’ Identification of the ‘gardening triad’ expands understanding of the salient health‐promoting characteristics of gardening beyond simple exposure to nature, food production and physical activity. It embeds gardeners in relationship with their gardens as active participants eliciting universal emotional processes which, in turn, manifested as improved social and emotional well‐being. Gardening, as an avenue for improving well‐being, should be supported widely. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

The question of what, exactly, makes a child "cute" began with paper, wherein he postulated a number of craniophysical traits which rendered a child "cute" with the resulting appeal and caretaking behavior on the observer. These facial traits became the focus of research. However, there is another trait that renders someone (or something) as "cute" and it is size. Children are essentially miniature adults. A total of 36 Ss of ages 5–86 were recruited to judge whether they considered inanimate objects to be "cute". It was found in this study that if an inanimate object is a miniature version of another larger object, it was judged to be "cute". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This case study seeks to address how COVID-19 has affected principals. We approach this study through the lens of Open Systems Theory (Katz & Kahn, 1978), as we attempt to understand how school leaders understand and act during a global pandemic. This research answers the following question: How has the role of a school principal changed since the onset of COVID-19? The data reveal two emerging themes: 1) principals taking on unique caretaker roles and 2) principals increasing their focus on a managerial approach to leadership. The findings support the evolution (and devolution) of leadership approaches that school principals go through during times of disruption and crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This case study seeks to address how COVID-19 has affected principals. We approach this study through the lens of Open Systems Theory (Katz & Kahn, 1978), as we attempt to understand how school leaders understand and act during a global pandemic. This research answers the following question: How has the role of a school principal changed since the onset of COVID-19? The data reveal two emerging themes: 1) principals taking on unique caretaker roles and 2) principals increasing their focus on a managerial approach to leadership. The findings support the evolution (and devolution) of leadership approaches that school principals go through during times of disruption and crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing body of literature suggests people are choosing to forego parenthood, bringing companion animals into the home as a focus for people’s attachment and caretaking behavior instead. This emergent “pet parenting” can be defined as the parent-like investment in companion animals and has been linked to countries that are experiencing or have experienced the Second Demographic Transition (SDT) marked by subreplacement fertility, changing marriage norms, increased educational attainment, and a flexible life orientation no longer focused solely on reproduction. In this research, we sought to determine if Finland, a country where the SDT has already been evidenced, is also experiencing an emergence of pet parenting and whether there is a difference between parents’, nonparents’, and future parents’ attachment and caregiving behaviors toward companion animals in the home. A total of 857 participants completed an online survey delivered in Finnish and English which included demographic questions, the Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale (LAPS), and a series of questions designed to probe topics regarding the training of companion animals, generalized caretaking, and the ascription of personhood or autonomy to companion animals under the respondent’s care. Future parents reported more agreement across all scales of the LAPS, followed by nonparents than parents. Future parents also reported more frequency of behaviors associated with Affective Responsiveness, while nonparents reported more frequency of behaviors associated with Training and Play and General Care. From our results, we argue that Finland does seem to be experiencing the emergence of pet parenting, likely in response to the SDT, and this is demonstrated by marked differences in attachment and caregiving behaviors directed at companion animals in the home.

This critical review describes research on affective and sexual development in early childhood in preschool and childcare settings. Studies are analyzed from the point of view of the regulatory and operational frameworks on which education on this topic in Costa Rica is based. The review was carried out using 4 international databases, examining empirical studies and review studies. Costa Rica has put in place a broad national-level policy framework that supports a comprehensive understanding of affective-sexual development from infancy. However, implementation of the policy in the national preschool program does not always meet the framework's standards. We find that the risk of sexual abuse tends to be prioritized in early sexual-affective education. Sexual-affective development is often addressed from a moralistic standpoint, advising for instance that the genitals should be named only in the last levels of preschool and not when the other parts of the body are first named. From a health-promotional perspective on national childcare and early education, we here propose a broader view that takes fully into account the complexities around the social determinants of sexual-affective development. We conclude that an update of the preschool program is required, accompanied by continuous training for staff and families of infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bitácora Urbano/Territorial is the property of Bitacora Urbano/Territorial 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.)

One-third of mothers experience emotional and psychological stress due to the demands of motherhood. This qualitative study analyzed the impact of enmeshment on the emotional and psychological well-being in the family of Armenian origin as well as new mothers current parenting styles and the impacts of their past experiences on their current families. Participants included 19 Armenian mothers, aged 20–40, living in Los Angeles, California, with at least one child in enmeshed paternal families. Results indicated that participants had minimal decision-making opportunities and open communication in their families. Participants experienced low confidence levels and increased pressure due to enmeshment, and how these experiences shaped parenting styles. This information can be used to encourage mental health professionals to assist with cultural dynamics within the Armenian population, while aiding mothers in improving parenting practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little has been documented of the journey that family and friends (F&F) undertake when supporting a young person aged 12–25 years struggling with mental illness. The experiences of family and friends were explored using an online qualitative survey (N = 58) and semi-structured interviews (n = 15). Recruitment was through a national youth mental health service Facebook page and website. An experiential thematic analysis was conducted focusing on participants' experiences and sense of their world. Strong feelings and challenging life circumstances made the context of help-seeking complicated. Despite following usual avenues for advice or support, F&F still came across professionals and a health/mental health system that compounded their distress. It was the simpler things that some professionals did that made their journey more bearable. Useful insights derived from the narratives allow service improvement recommendations such as reminding professionals of the multiplicity of stressors commonplace to families and the value of validation and acknowledgement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A growing body of literature suggests people are choosing to forego parenthood, bringing companion animals into the home as a focus for people’s attachment and caretaking behavior instead. This emergent “pet parenting” can be defined as the parent-like investment in companion animals and has been linked to countries that are experiencing or have experienced the Second Demographic Transition (SDT) marked by subreplacement fertility, changing marriage norms, increased educational attainment, and a flexible life orientation no longer focused solely on reproduction. In this research, we sought to determine if Finland, a country where the SDT has already been evidenced, is also experiencing an emergence of pet parenting and whether there is a difference between parents’, nonparents’, and future parents’ attachment and caregiving behaviors toward companion animals in the home. A total of 857 participants completed an online survey delivered in Finnish and English which included demographic questions, the Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale (LAPS), and a series of questions designed to probe topics regarding the training of companion animals, generalized caretaking, and the ascription of personhood or autonomy to companion animals under the respondent’s care. Future parents reported more agreement across all scales of the LAPS, followed by nonparents than parents. Future parents also reported more frequency of behaviors associated with Affective Responsiveness, while nonparents reported more frequency of behaviors associated with Training and Play and General Care. From our results, we argue that Finland does seem to be experiencing the emergence of pet parenting, likely in response to the SDT, and this is demonstrated by marked differences in attachment and caregiving behaviors directed at companion animals in the home.

Objective: This study describes the perceived work demands and family caregiving obligations associated with work–family life among URM faculty and the coping strategies used to negotiate the integration of roles. Background: Past research on families focuses primarily on professional majority‐culture families and often fails to include traditionally and historically underrepresented minority (URM) families. The study of how URM professionals negotiate work and family obligations and economic and institutional constraints remains relatively absent in the family science discourse. Method: In‐depth individual and group interviews (N = 58) were conducted with US‐born African American, Mexican American, and Puerto Rican faculty at research universities. Results: The overarching theorizing anchor that grounded the themes was sacrifice. Three themes emerged: excessive work demands/role strain; commitments and caregiving obligations to family of origin and nuclear family; and few coping strategies and resources to maintain a balanced life. Conclusion: This analysis offers insight into the multiple factors that affect the experiences of URM academics in their workplaces that deeply influence work roles and self‐care and its impact on family roles. These data fill a gap by applying alternative frameworks to explore the work–family nexus among racialized groups. Implications: New research frontiers are offered to study the work–family nexus for URM faculty and how higher education can respond to alleviate excessive work demands and work–family life conflicts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Maintaining exercise is essential for healthy aging but difficult to sustain. EngAGE is a socially motivated exercise program delivered over a voice-activated device that targets older adult-care partner dyads., Objective: This 10-week pilot study aimed to assess EngAGE feasibility and use, obtain user experience feedback, and estimate potential impact on function., Methods: In total, 10 older adults aged ≥65 years were recruited from an independent living residence together with their self-identified care partners. EngAGE delivered National Institute on Aging Go4Life exercises to older adults daily, while care partners received progress reports and prompts to send encouraging messages that were read aloud by the device to the older adult. Older adults' use was tracked, and physical function was assessed at baseline and follow-up. Follow-up focus group data provided qualitative feedback., Results: On average, participants completed 393.7 individual exercises over the 10-week intervention period or 39.4 exercises/wk (range 48-492, median 431, IQR 384-481, SD 112.4) without injury and used EngAGE on an average of 41 of 70 days or 4.1 d/wk (range 7-66, median 51, IQR 23-56, and SD 21.2 days). Mean grip strength increased nonsignificantly by 1.3 kg (preintervention mean 26.3 kg, SD 11.0; postintervention mean 27.6 kg, SD 11.6; P=.34), and 4 of 10 participants improved by a minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of 2.5 kg. Further, the time for 5-repeated chair stands significantly reduced by 2.3 seconds (preintervention mean 12, SD 3.6 s; postintervention mean 9.7, SD 2.7 s; P=.02), and 3 of 9 participants improved by an MCID of -2.3 seconds. Furthermore, 3-meter usual walk performance was brisk at baseline (mean 2.1, SD 0.4 s) and decreased by 0.1 seconds (postintervention 2, SD 0.4 s; P=.13), although 5 of 9 participants improved by a MCID of 0.05 m/s. Qualitative results showed perceived benefits, favored program features, and areas for improvement., Conclusions: We present a pilot study of a new voice-activated device application customized to older adult users that may serve as a guide to other technology development for older adults. Our pilot study served to further refine the application and to inform a larger trial testing EngAGE's impact on functional outcomes, a necessary step for developing evidence-based technology tools., (©Megan Huisingh-Scheetz, Roscoe F Nicholson III, Saira Shervani, Chelsea Smith, Margaret Danilovich, Laura Finch, Yadira Montoya, Louise C Hawkley. Originally published in JMIR Aging (https://aging.jmir.org), 12.09.2024.)

The deliberate control of facial expressions is an important ability in human interactions, in particular for mothers with prelinguistic infants. Because research on this topic is still scarce, we investigated the control over facial expressions in a Stroop-like paradigm. Mothers of 2–6 months old infants and nullipara women produced smiles and frowns in response to verbal commands written on distractor faces of adults or infants showing expressions of happiness or anger/distress. Analyses of video recordings with a machine classifier for facial expression revealed pronounced effects of congruency between the expressions required by the participants and those displayed by the face stimuli on the onset latencies of the deliberate facial expressions. With adult distractor faces this Stroop effect was similar whether participants smiled or frowned. With infant distractor faces mothers and non-mothers showed indistinguishable Stroop effects on smile responses; however, for frown responses, the Stroop effect in mothers was smaller than in non-mothers. We suggest that for frown responses in mothers when facing infants, the effect of mimicry or stimulus response compatibility, leading to the Stroop effect, is offset by a caregiving response or empathy.

Following the passage of the Minneapolis Sick and Safe Leave city ordinance, a community-based participatory research (CBPR) project was launched to examine the perceived accessibility and usage of paid sick leave by African American employed caregivers as a work-based family support tool. This paper presents qualitative findings from the Paid Sick Leave and African American Families study, in which four focus groups (n = 32) were conducted. Participants were employed African American caregivers from the Minneapolis metropolitan area. Participants discussed how the intersections of their work and family environments and how their families created family-level meaning making around employment, income, and family caregiving. Themes that arose from the focus groups were: (1) an importance of defining family for themselves expressed through kin affinity and family ascribed membership, (2) an expressed desire for their family to be together, (3) family prioritization over work conditions they felt was inconsiderate of their personal or family sense of worth and (4) family legacy expressed as the culmination of families' prioritization, togetherness, and defined membership and is the intergenerational transmission of the family's, identity. Implications for future research and policy are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A child's hospitalization affects the entire family system, with parents/caregivers reporting a myriad of stressors challenging family dynamics and coping efforts. Legacy-oriented interventions employ play- and arts-based techniques to promote collaboration and communication in families of hospitalized children and thereby foster resilience. Although offered in most children's hospitals, little is known about the impact of these interventions on pediatric patients and families, or the ways pediatric health care providers, parent/caregivers, and pediatric patients understand and describe the concept of legacy. This study explored the legacy perceptions of parents/caregivers of hospitalized children on acute or critical care units in an academic medical center. Ninety-three parents/caregivers completed a semi-structured, in-depth interview regarding their perceptions of the concept of legacy. Analysis yielded four themes: 1) legacy is a transgenerational process; 2) legacies can be actions, accomplishments, and experiences; 3) legacy can be a powerful tool for education and change; and 4) a 'good' legacy can be left in different ways. These findings together indicate that capturing and integrating a family's unique history, stories, strengths, and experiences appear to be a desirable and useful component of family-centered health care. Additionally, when considered along previous research and practice, it appears medical and psychosocial care providers should assess, recognize, and involve parent/caregivers' experiences with and understandings of legacy into legacy-oriented interventions or activities, as well as other aspects of care related to patient and family coping and functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Women with disabilities are at risk of experiencing multiple forms of severe and prolonged violence, yet guidelines for screening this population are unclear, screening rates are historically low, and screening tools may be inadequate to capture disability-related aspects of abuse. We conducted qualitative in-depth interviews with 33 rural women in the United States with diverse disabilities and experiences of violence. They described overarching healthcare provider and system factors that influenced their trust and confidence in healthcare delivery as an avenue to support their safety. Women described interactions with the healthcare system during their experience of violence as a missed opportunity for identifying and responding to their abuse and connecting them with resources. We conclude with policy and practice recommendations based on women with disabilities' perspectives and insights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human trafficking survivors experience elevated suicide risk in comparison to the general population. Anti-trafficking service providers in the Philippines have identified capacity building in suicide prevention as a critical priority given the insufficient number of trained mental health professionals and lack of culturally adapted evidence-based interventions in the Philippines. We conducted a focused ethnography exploring the experiences of non-mental health professionals working in the anti-human trafficking sector in the Philippines in responding to suicidality among survivors of human trafficking (n = 20). Themes included: emotional burden on service providers, manifestations of stigma regarding suicide, lack of clarity regarding risk assessment, lack of mental health services and support systems, transferring responsibility to other providers, and the need for training, supervision, and organizational systems. We discuss implications for training service providers in the anti-human trafficking sector, as well as cultural adaptation of suicide prevention interventions with human trafficking survivors in the Philippines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many studies have demonstrated a significant burden of maternal stress and depression for women living on the Galápagos Islands. Here, we aim to uncover burdens and needs of women with young children on San Cristóbal Island and then explore options for implementing evidence-based programs of social support to meet these needs. We conducted 17 semi-structured qualitative interviews with mothers of young children, healthcare workers, and community stakeholders. We then used Summary Oral Reflective Analysis (SORA), an interactive methodology, for qualitative analysis. Despite initial reports of a low-stress environment, women described many sources of stress and concerns for their own and their children's health and well-being. We uncovered three broad areas of need for mothers of young children: (1) the need for information and services, (2) the need for trust, and (3) the need for space. In response to these concerns, mothers, healthcare workers, and community leaders overwhelmingly agreed that a social support program would be beneficial for the health of mothers and young children. Still, they expressed concern over the feasibility of such a program. To address these feasibility concerns, we propose that a web-based education and social support intervention led by nurses would best meet mothers' needs. Women could learn about child health and development, develop strong, trusting friendships with other mothers, and have their own space to speak freely among experts and peers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Readmissions and emergency department (ED) visits after colorectal surgery (CRS) are common, burdensome, and costly. Effective strategies to reduce these unplanned postdischarge health care visits require a nuanced understanding of how and why patients make the decision to seek care. We used a purposefully stratified sample of 18 interview participants from a prospective cohort of adult CRS patients. Thirteen (72%) participants had an unplanned postdischarge health care visit. Participant decision-making was classified by methodology (algorithmic, guided, or impulsive), preexisting rationale, and emotional response to perceived health care needs. Participants voiced clear mental algorithms about when to visit an ED. In addition, participants identified facilitators and barriers to optimal health care use. They also identified tangible targets for health care utilization reduction efforts, such as improved care coordination with streamlined discharge instructions and improved communication with the surgical team. Efforts should be directed at improving postdischarge communication and care coordination to reduce CRS patients' high-resource health care utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Nővér is the property of Chamber of Hungarian Health Care Professionals 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.)

Research in women showed that testosterone is associated with decreased selective attention towards infant stimuli, which can be compensated for by oxytocin administration. In theory, caregiving behavior is thought to be mediated by oxytocin. Oxytocin binds to dopaminergic neurons and thus supposedly motivates aspects of caregiving through its influence on dopaminergic transmission. Most previous studies on caregiving behaviors were thereby performed in women under hormonal contraception to avoid hormonal fluctuations. However, recent studies repeatedly demonstrated decisive influences of the hormonal changes across the female menstrual cycle on dopamine-mediated behaviors, suggesting that estradiol acts as dopamine agonist in the follicular phase and progesterone as dopamine antagonist in the luteal phase. In the present study, we investigated selective attention towards infants as one central aspect of caregiving behavior over the natural menstrual cycle and in relation to interindividual differences of estradiol and progesterone. As expected, we found that women with higher estradiol in the follicular phase also showed higher selective attention towards infant faces among adult distractors, whereas the correlation disappeared in the luteal phase. In contrast, progesterone did not correlate with selective attention towards infants. The present findings collectively support the assumption that estradiol may act as dopamine agonist in the follicular phase, thereby supposedly promoting an important aspect of caretaking behavior. • Study assessed how menstrual cycle hormones modify selective attention to infants. • We used correlative hormone analyses and comparisons between cycle phases. • Positive correlation between estradiol and attention to infants in follicular phase • No influence of progesterone on selective attention to infants • Estradiol may act as dopamine agonist and influences caregiving behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates aging-in-place among seniors who live with caretakers, particularly domestic workers who immigrate to Israel from poorer countries. In recent decades, new apartment designs are intended for families with children. Drawing on Dolores Hayden’s (1980) ‘Non-Sexist City’, we expound on Non-Ageist architecture for the aging population and migrant caregivers. We examine how this kind of residence can include additional and vulnerable groups in the population, such as seniors and their caregivers. Our study explores the design of Tel Aviv Metropolis apartments. We argue that typical apartment design affects the ethics of everyday living. Following Michel de Certeau (2011), our research observes everyday behaviors and creative tactics through which seniors and caregivers re-appropriate shared living space. Most seniors house caretakers in a room within the bedroom area of the apartment, for instance, while others use a separate room by the entrance. These practices point to hierarchy and equality as spatial aspects of typical apartments’ layout and their effect on their usage by seniors and caregivers. Our research explores the potential of a planning proposal—dividing the seniors’ apartment into a primary apartment and a secondary unit—suggested by the inter-ministerial government team in the National Housing Headquarters and by the Israeli Affordable Housing Center, an academic-social organization. We argue this division could enable better housing solutions for shared residency. Thus, the article combines qualitative research of residence in old age with analysis of the role of social values such as equality, autonomy, inclusion, affordability and communal values in old-age housing and care.

The experiences of Tourette syndrome (TS) caregivers with supportive communication are examined in this qualitative investigation. TS is a childhood-onset neurodevelopmental disorder marked by a combination of involuntary verbal and motor tics lasting for more than 1 year. Although individuals are impacted the most by TS, the stress for caring for a child with TS takes an emotional and physical toll on the caregiver. Eleven participants shared their experiences with receiving supportive communication by taking part in semi-structured interviews. Data analysis yielded three themes: (a) TS caregivers describe their experiences as a struggle; (b) they seek out specific social support from friends and families; and (c) they frequently receive social support that increases instead of reducing stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Care provided by family is the backbone of palliative care in Canada. The critical roles performed by caregivers can at the same time be intensely meaningful and intensely stressful. However, experiences of caregiving can be enhanced when caregivers feel they are making informed and reflective decisions about the options available to them. With this in mind, the purpose of this five-phase research project was to create a Family Caregiver Decision Guide (FCDG). The Guide entails four steps: thinking about the current caregiving situation, imagining how the caregiving situation may change, exploring available options, and considering best options if caregiving needs change. The FCDG was based on available evidence and was developed and refined using focus groups, cognitive interviewing, and a feasibility and acceptability study. Finally, an interactive version of the Guide was created for online use (https://www.caregiverdecisionguide.ca). In this article, we describe the development, evaluation, and utility of the FCDG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Undertaking research with young people presents an array of methodological challenges. We report the findings from a qualitative study that took place alongside a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) prevalence study among detainees in Australia. Of 38 participants, 27 were Aboriginal youth. Interviews were conducted using "social yarning" and "research topic yarning," an Indigenous research method which allows for data collection in an exploratory, culturally safe way. A complex interplay emerged between social yarning and research topic yarning which provided a space to explore responsively with participants their experiences of FASD assessments. Flexibility, including language adaptation and visual descriptions about assessments, was utilized to assist participants recall and retell their experiences. There were, however, challenges in gathering data on the assessment experiences of some participants. We describe how employing a "yarning" method for collecting data could benefit children and young people undergoing neurodevelopmental assessments in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Miscarriage is common, affecting one in five pregnancies, but the psychosocial effects often go unrecognized and unsupported. The effects on men may be subject to unintentional neglect by health care practitioners, who typically focus on biological symptoms, confined to women. Therefore, we set out to systematically review the evidence of lived experiences of male partners in high-income countries. Our search and thematic synthesis of the relevant literature identified 27 manuscripts reporting 22 studies with qualitative methods. The studies collected data from 231 male participants, and revealed the powerful effect of identities assumed and performed by men or constructed for them in the context of miscarriage. We identified perceptions of female precedence, uncertain transition to parenthood, gendered coping responses, and ambiguous relations with health care practitioners. Men were often cast into roles that seemed secondary to others, with limited opportunities to articulate and address any emotions and uncertainties engendered by loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patient trust is positively related to health outcomes, but there remain barriers to patient trust in physicians. This narrative study analyzed patient experiences and highlights barriers to patient trust underlying communication with physicians in acute care. Snowball sampling was used. Informants were 12 participants, in poor physical health, upon discharge from a 3-week hospitalization in an acute-care setting at an Israeli public general hospital. Two narrative interviews were conducted with each participant upon and after discharge. Findings suggest presurgery barriers to trust (lack of acknowledgment of patient's crisis, underrating patient's autonomy, and use of unique empathy) and postsurgery barriers to trust (lack of attentive listening, lack of medical professionalism, and delegitimization to patients' self-alienation). Two common narrative identities emerged linking trust with self-worth. To build trust, physicians are called upon to extend their dedication from dedication to improve clinical outcomes to dedication to improve clinical outcomes and preserve patients' self-worth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After being left by her parents in the care of her unfeeling, economy-minded Aunt Fortune, Ellen Montgomery learns that Fortune has been withholding letters sent to her by her dying mother. Ellen runs, homesick and grief-stricken, to the arms of her best friend and spiritual mentor, Alice Humphreys, who later convinces Fortune to let her deliver one of the kept letters to an ailing Ellen.

Even in wealthy post-industrial countries where equity between men and women has improved in recent years, women are still significantly more likely than men to say they avoid the news, a gender gap that has important implications for political participation. This article employs a qualitative, inductive approach to examine the how and why behind the gender gap in news consumption. Using in-depth interviews with 43 working- and middle-class individuals in the United Kingdom who say they rarely or never access conventional news sources, we find that decisions around when and whether to engage with news are (1) often viewed through a gendered lens, which we call "news-is-for-men" perceptions, and (2) subject to structural inequalities that shape people's everyday media consumption habits. These include both gender-based divisions of labor in the consumption of news within households and the physical and emotional burdens of caretaking responsibilities, which fall predominantly on women and can interfere with staying up-to-date with news. We argue that efforts to close the gender gap that fail to address both of these entrenched underlying causes are unlikely to succeed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Life expectancy is increasing for people with intellectual disability, many of whom live with family. While there has been research about aging and future planning, there is limited evidence about the characteristics of the caregiving relationship. The aim of this study was to examine perspectives of caregiving for older people with intellectual disability and their family. A constructivist grounded theory approach was used, and 19 people with intellectual disability and 28 family members were interviewed. Caregiving was informed by transitions across the life course. Three interrelated concepts, Riding the Waves, Shifting Sands—Changing Tides, and Uncovering Horizons comprise the core components of the theoretical model— Navigating Ever-Changing Seas. This model informs complex, trans-generational relationships that impact decision-making for people with a long-term condition. Applications within health care indicate a need for systems to include individuals and their networks of care in policy, practice, research, and service delivery across the lifespan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The caretaking contract is the judicial bilateral act by which one party, the debtor of the caretaking obligation, is obliged to provide and care for another party or for a third party, the creditor of the caretaking obligation, all the necessary acts in order to provide and care for a certain amount of time or for the rest of the creditor's life. The current article presents aspects regarding the conclusion of the caretaking contract, in regard to its validity conditions as well as the creditor's possibility to forgo the benefit of the legal mortgage. As it is frequently used in practice, the detailed conditions of this contract are extremely important in order to avoid litigation which might arise from the vice of this contract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the concept of subjective quality of life in the nursing home setting is seen as a promising approach to discovering opportunities for improvement from the resident's perspective, it appears problematic in classical surveys that self-reported quality ratings on the basis of satisfaction questions tend to turn out overly positive. The aim of this article is to analyze how people in residential care facilities interpret and process response stimuli received from a questionnaire on subjective quality of life. In this analysis, we aim to gain methodological insights into the way a survey instrument on subjective quality of life can adequately represent individual ratings, as well as expectations regarding different aspects of quality of life. To test the feasibility of the proposed approach, we employed a range of probing techniques from the cognitive interviewing approach. The result is a promising design principle for constructing survey instruments to measure subjective quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing upon Giovanni Liotti's enormous contributions to the fi eld, this article will discuss the role of motivational systems in the challenging issue of dependency in therapy with individuals who experience complex trauma and dissociation. The central role of the separation cry in highly dependent clients will be explored, along its intersection with other animal defenses, attachment, collaboration and exploration, competition, sexuality, caretaking, and predatory motivational systems. The corresponding activation of the separation cry in the client and the caretaking system in the therapist will be highlighted as a natural but ultimately non-therapeutic pairing. When the therapist can recognize this counter-intuitive dilemma and make a harmonious shift to the collaboration system, dependency issues are more likely to be addressed therapeutically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Progress in psychoanalytic work can seem slow and arduous. Patients noticing this may harbor inner questions and doubts as to how and when—and even whether—they will finally "get better." After examining the status of the related concept of "repetition compulsion," this article explores such concerns by enumerating certain heretofore underappreciated barriers to psychic change; it also discusses various potential—but currently undersung—facilitators of such change. To help illustrate these factors, a case example is presented of someone struggling with a micro-traumatic pattern that might be called "subservient caretaking." In this maladaptive dynamic, the individual (often the male in the context of heterosexual couples) behaves in an overly nurturing, self-abnegating way toward his partner (often, female), who he perceives as weak and therefore needing this kind of "patronage." The relevant obstacles and potential aids to overcoming this sort of deeply ingrained pattern are explored in relation to the case example offered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of my article is to find out how living in the transnational space between two countries with significantly different histories changes family life. I discuss how working in a different country than one's homeland can change the way one thinks about family and at the same time encourage people to try out new caretaking patterns. I focus on the trend towards more a inclusive family role of Estonian men working in Finland. My results show that transnational working does change the father's role inside the family; it gives them the possibility to spend more time with their children and even to acquire the main caretaker role during the non-working period. Also, the fieldwork shows that men start to appreciate not only providing for economic well-being, but also being emotionally and socially more present in family life while at home. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coercion in mental healthcare does not only affect the patient, but also the patient's families. Using data from interviews with 36 family members of adult and adolescent people with mental health problems and coercion experiences, the present narrative study explores family members' existential and moral dilemmas regarding coercion and the factors influencing these dilemmas. Four major themes are identified: the ambiguity of coercion; struggling to stay connected and establishing collaboration; worries and distress regarding compulsory care; and dilemmas regarding initiating coercion. Subsequently, coercion can reduce, but also add burden for the family by creating strains on family relations, dilemmas, (moral) distress, and retrospective regrets; this is reinforced by the lack of information or involvement and low-quality care. Subsequently, it is a moral obligation to develop more responsive health services and professionals who provide more guidance and balanced information to increase the possibilities for voluntary alternatives and informed decision making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Belgium, Advance Care Planning (ACP) is not well implemented in hospital practice. One of the premises for successful implementation is involving the adopters in the implementation process. In hospital, important adopters of ACP are physicians, nurses, social workers, and psychologists. First, this study wants to understand what the characteristics are of ACP in hospital, according to professionals. Second, this study aims to give an insight in the experienced value of ACP. Third, the experienced barriers to have ACP conversations are explored. Twenty-four interviews were taken and analyzed with Content Analysis based on Grounded Theory. Three independent external auditors surveilled the analysis. ACP in hospital exists by the grace of the initiative of the actors involved in the case. Professionals perceive fields of tension between one another; barriers to ACP communication. ACP is mainly considered valuable because it is a process that creates time for exploration and reflection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the scope of collaborative care for persons with mental illness as implemented by traditional healers, faith healers, and biomedical care providers. We conducted semistructured focus group discussions in Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria with traditional healers, faith healers, biomedical care providers, patients, and their caregivers. Transcribed data were thematically analyzed. A barrier to collaboration was distrust, influenced by factionalism, charlatanism, perceptions of superiority, limited roles, and responsibilities. Pathways to better collaboration were education, formal policy recognition and regulation, and acceptance of mutual responsibility. This study provides a novel cross-national insight into the perspectives of collaboration from four stakeholder groups. Collaboration was viewed as a means to reach their own goals, rooted in a deep sense of distrust and superiority. In the absence of openness, understanding, and respect for each other, efficient collaboration remains remote. The strongest foundation for mutual collaboration is a shared sense of responsibility for patient well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]