95 research outputs found
Happiness as stable extraversion : internal consistency reliability and construct validity of the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire among undergraduate students
The Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ) was developed by Hills and Argyle (2002) to provide a more accessible equivalent measure of the Oxford Happiness Inventory (OHI). The aim of the present study was to examine the internal consistency reliability, and construct validity of this new instrument alongside the Eysenckian dimensional model of personality. The Oxford Happiness Questionnaire was completed by a sample of 131 undergraduate students together with the abbreviated form of the Revised Eysenck Personality Questionnaire. The data demonstrated good internal consistency reliability (alpha = .92) and good construct validity in terms of positive association with extraversion (r = .38 p < .001) and negative association with neuroticism (r = −.57 p < .001). The kind of happiness measured by the OHQ is clearly associated with stable extraversion
A window of opportunity: Describing and developing an evidence, theory, and practice-informed occupational therapy intervention for people living with early-stage dementia
Aim
There is a scarcity of evidence generated in a UK context to inform the practice of occupational therapists working with people living with early-stage dementia. This Thesis’ overarching aim was to describe and develop an evidence, theory, and practice-informed occupational therapy intervention for people living with early-stage dementia.
Methods
In accordance with the MRC Framework for the Development and Evaluation of Complex Interventions, an Intervention Mapping approach was utilised to guide the development process. Thesis Objectives were developed based on Intervention Mapping Steps 1 – 3, and to meet these Objectives, this Thesis consists of three studies.
Study 1 (a two-stage mixed methods evidence synthesis) and Study 2 (semi-structured interviews with people affected by dementia and occupational therapy practitioners) sought to understand the intervention population and context, as well as identify existing research and practice-based interventions. Study 3 involved describing and developing an intervention programme theory and programme design.
Findings
Studies 1 and 2: Multiple personal and environmental (social, physical, and occupational) determinants associated with the occupational performance problems that people living with early-stage dementia may experience were identified. Existing research and practice-based interventions were heterogenous in nature and no programme theories were reported; however, strategies that problem-solve occupational performance problems were identified as a primary intervention component. In practice contextual barriers were associated with resources, other professionals’ awareness and understanding of occupational therapy, and a lack of control and influence over service development and policy.
Study 3: A logic model of the problem and population, matrices of change, and a simple intervention logic model were developed to articulate a proposed programme theory. A broad overview of the proposed interventions’ design, including components and context, were specified and key uncertainties outlined.
Conclusion
This research has developed a robust foundation for further development work at Intervention Mapping Steps 4 – 6, including developing theoretically informed implementation strategies and producing materials in preparation for a feasibility evaluation
An exploration of engagement in community based creative activities as an occupation for older adults
Purpose – The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of older adults (aged 60 and over) participating in community-based creative
arts. With an ever increasing ageing population, understanding the benefits of leisure occupations such as community creative arts will be vital for
Occupational Therapists in facilitating participation and active engagement.
Design/methodology/approach – An empirical qualitative research design with an interpretive phenomenological approach was undertaken. A
purposive sampling method enlisted four older adult volunteers whose experiences of creative arts were explored through semi-structured
interviews. Interview data were analysed thematically.
Findings – Participants identified many benefits of engaging in community creative arts. Four main themes were identified, namely, “personal
benefits”, “choice” in their occupation, “encouragement” to and from others, with the environment facilitating “socialising”. These resulted in
improved occupational performance and positive well-being outcomes.
Originality/value – The study complements national policy and extends evidence-based practice on the potential well-being benefits on older
adults. In support of the preventative agenda, occupational therapists may apply these findings to increase social prescribing within practice
Exploring the impact of early-stage dementia on everyday activities
Introduction:
This paper explores the impact that early-stage dementia has on everyday activities from the perspective of people living with dementia, their supporters and occupational therapy practitioners.
Method:
People living with dementia and their supporters (n = 10), and occupational therapy practitioners (n = 21) took part in semi-structured interviews, with transcripts analysed thematically.
Findings:
Six primary themes were identified across participants, namely: (1) ‘Everybody seems to be different, [but] they are similar’; (2) An awareness of change: ‘Something’s not quite right’; (3) ‘Changes’ and ‘difficulties’ associated with complex and unfamiliar activities; (4) Social withdrawal and exclusion: ‘I’ve felt like I was a leper’; (5) Post-diagnostic mental health: ‘. . .a dark place’; and (6) A process of adaptation: ‘I’m still who I am, I can still do things. . .’
Conclusion:
Findings indicate that occupational therapy intervention programmes for people living with early-stage dementia should target difficulties associated with a broad range of activity types, and include components that target mental health and motivational needs. The study adds to existing knowledge about the need to personally tailor interventions to ensure that they meet individual needs, experiences, and circumstances. Findings will inform the development of an occupational therapy intervention programme theory (theory of change) for early-stage dementia
Real-world occupational therapy interventions for early-stage dementia: Characteristics and contextual barriers
Aim:
There is an absence of evidence generated in a UK context to support interventions based on occupational therapists’ core skills for people living with early-stage dementia. To inform the development of a programme theory and a future evaluation, this paper aimed to describe real-world (routine) community-based occupational therapy interventions for this population and contextual barriers.
Method:
Occupational therapy practitioners (n = 21) from five Health Boards in Wales, UK participated in semi-structured interviews (n = 17) which were audio recorded, transcribed, and analysed thematically.
Findings:
The availability of, and access to, real-world community-based interventions was variable, and associated with multilevel contextual barriers (resources, understanding of dementia specialist occupational therapy, professional influence, and evidence base). Where available and accessible, contents comprised a pre-intervention component (relational work, assessment, and goal setting) and intervention component (personalised problem-solving and coping strategies, emotional support, and advice and signposting), to meet needs associated with everyday activities and poor wellbeing. Variation in mode, duration, contents, and who received interventions, was associated with contextual barriers.
Conclusion:
Findings indicate that the development of an intervention programme theory and future evaluation design, will need to account for the impact context may have on the variability of real-world intervention characteristics, and how this in turn may influence outcomes
Prayer, personality and happiness: a study among undergraduate students in Wales
In order to examine the association between prayer and happiness, a sample of 131 undergraduate students attending a university in Wales completed three measures: the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire, the abbreviated Eysenck Personality Questionnaire Revised, and prayer frequency assessed on a 5-point scale. The data demonstrated a significant positive correlation between prayer frequency and happiness before controlling for individual differences in personality. After controlling for personality, however, this apparent association vanished
“Nobody knows, or seems to know how rheumatology and breastfeeding works”: Women's experiences of breastfeeding whilst managing a long-term limiting condition – A qualitative visual methods study
Background
Only around 1% of babies in the UK are breastfed exclusively until six months of age as recommended by the World Health Organisation. One in ten women who have recently given birth in the UK have a long-term illness and they are at increased risk of stopping breastfeeding early. We considered women with autoimmune rheumatic diseases as an exemplar group of long term illnesses, to explore the barriers and enablers to breastfeeding
Aim
To understand the experiences of infant feeding among women with autoimmune rheumatic diseases and to identify potential barriers and enablers.
Design
Qualitative visual timeline-facilitated interviews.
Participants and setting
128 women with autoimmune rheumatic diseases who were considering pregnancy, pregnant, or had young children took part in an online survey as part of the STAR Family Study. Of these, 13 women who had children were purposefully sampled to be interviewed. Interviews took place in person or on the telephone. Timeline-facilitated interviews were used to focus on lived experiences and topics important to the women, including early parenting. We conducted a focused thematic analysis of women's lived experiences of infant feeding.
Results
Three main themes were identified in relation to breastfeeding: lack of information about medication safety, lack of support in decision-making and maintaining breastfeeding, and maternal guilt.
Conclusions
Women with autoimmune rheumatic diseases found it difficult to access the information they needed about medications to make informed decisions about breastfeeding. They often also felt pressurised into breastfeeding and experienced feelings of guilt if they were unable, or did not wish to breastfeed. Tailored interventions are required that adopt a non-judgmental and person-centred approach to support decision-making in regard to infant feeding, providing women with information that can best enable them to make infant feeding choices
Identities of women who have an autoimmune rheumatic disease [ARD] during pregnancy planning, pregnancy and early parenting: A qualitative study
Objective
Women of reproductive age who have autoimmune rheumatic diseases [ARDs] have expressed a need to be better supported with making decisions about pregnancy. Women with ARDs want their motherhood identities and associated preferences to be taken into account in decisions about their healthcare. The aim of this study was to explore the interplay between illness and motherhood identities of women with ARDs during preconception decision making.
Methods
Timeline-facilitated qualitative interviews with women diagnosed with an ARD [18–49 years old]. Participants were purposively sampled based on the following three criteria: thinking about getting pregnant, currently pregnant, or had young children. Interviews were thematically analysed.
Results
Twenty-two women were interviewed face-to-face [N = 6] or over the telephone [N = 16]. Interview length ranged from 20 minutes to 70 minutes, with a mean length of 48 minutes. Three main themes were identified: prioritisation, discrepancy, and trade-off. Difficulties in balancing multiple identities in healthcare encounters were reported. Women used ‘self-guides’ as a reference for priority setting in a dynamic process that shifted as their level of disease activity altered and as their motherhood identity became more or less of a focus at a given point in time. Women’s illness and motherhood identities did not present in isolation but were intertwined.
Conclusions
Findings highlight the need for holistic person-centred care that supports women with the complex and emotive decisions relating to preconception decision-making. In practice, health professionals need to consider women’s multiple and sometimes conflicting identities, and include both their condition and family associated goals and values within healthcare communication
The Antarctic Peninsula Under a 1.5°C Global Warming Scenario
Warming of the Antarctic Peninsula in the latter half of the twentieth century was greater than any other terrestrial environment in the Southern Hemisphere, and clear cryospheric and biological consequences have been observed. Under a global 1.5°C scenario, warming in the Antarctic Peninsula is likely to increase the number of days above 0°C, with up to 130 of such days each year in the northern Peninsula. Ocean turbulence will increase, making the circumpolar deep water (CDW) both warmer and shallower, delivering heat to the sea surface and to coastal margins. Thinning and recession of marine margins of glaciers and ice caps is expected to accelerate to terrestrial limits, increasing iceberg production, after which glacier retreat may slow on land. Ice shelves will experience continued increase in meltwater production and consequent structural change, but not imminent regional collapses. Marine biota can respond in multiple ways to climatic changes, with effects complicated by past resource extraction activities. Southward distribution shifts have been observed in multiple taxa during the last century and these are likely to continue. Exposed (ice free) terrestrial areas will expand, providing new habitats for native and non-native organisms, but with a potential loss of genetic diversity. While native terrestrial biota are likely to benefit from modest warming, the greatest threat to native biodiversity is from non-native terrestrial species
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