Benefit finding among parents of young children with type 1 diabetes

Benefit finding, perceived positive effects of adversity, has been associated with psychological well‐being in people with chronic illnesses and with better adherence for adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Our qualitative research with parents of young children (< 6 years old) with T1D indicated that benefit finding (BF) is a common parental coping mechanism, but no tools exist to measure BF in parents. We determined psychometric properties of the Diabetes Benefit Finding Scale for Parents (DBFS‐P), a 16‐item questionnaire adapted from the validated adolescent version. Parents of young children with T1D (n = 172) were participants in a randomized trial of an online intervention. We examined the DBFS‐P factor structure through principal component analysis (PCA); internal consistency through Cronbach’s alpha; convergent validity via bivariate correlations between the DBFS‐P and measures of parental depression, anxiety, T1D self‐efficacy, and hypoglycemia fear; and discriminant validity via bivariate correlations between the DBFS‐P and measures of parental somatization and child behavior problems. PCA revealed one factor (56.47% variance) with Cronbach’s α = 0.95. Convergent validity of the DBFS‐P was supported by significant correlations with parental depression (r = −0.35, P < 0.001), anxiety (r = −0.20, P = 0.008), T1D self‐efficacy (r = 0.36, P < 0.001), and hypoglycemia fear (r = 0.27, P < 0.001). Non‐significant correlations with parental somatization (r = −0.06, P = 0.42) and child behavior problems (r = −0.12, P = 0.14) support its discriminant validity. The DBFS‐P demonstrated good psychometric properties as a tool for assessing BF among caregivers.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/150510/1/pedi12860_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/150510/2/pedi12860.pd

Discrimination Against Muslim American Adolescents

Although there is ample evidence of discrimination toward Muslim Americans in general, there is limited information specific to Muslim American adolescents. The few existing studies specific to this age group suggest that Muslim American adolescents encounter much discrimination from teachers, school administrators, and classmates. This descriptive qualitative study complements the few existing studies on Muslim American adolescents by obtaining in-depth description of the discrimination they encounter. The sample was 14 Muslim American adolescents who participated in one of two gender-specific focus groups about their discrimination experiences. Findings identified school settings as rife with discrimination toward Muslims, portrayed Muslim girls as at risk for harassment by strangers in public places, and illustrated how Muslim youth cope with discrimination. The study findings sensitize school nurses to the nature of the problem and provide direction for intervention. © The Author(s) 2012

Adapting Large Batteries Of Research Measures For Immigrants

A four-step, streamlined process to adapt a large battery of measures for a study of mother-child adjustment in Arab Muslim immigrants and the lessons learned are described. The streamlined process includes adapting content, translation, pilot testing, and extensive psychometric evaluation but omits in-depth qualitative inquiry to identify the full content domain of the constructs of interest and cognitive interviews to assess how respondents interpret items. Lessons learned suggest that the streamlined process is not sufficient for certain measures, particularly when there is little published information about how the measure performs with different groups, the measure requires substantial item revision to achieve content equivalence, and the measure is both challenging to translate and has little to no redundancy. When these conditions are present, condition-specific procedures need to be added to the streamlined process. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

Research Considerations: Minimizing Mistrust And Maximizing Participation

Many aspects of the research process, such as recruiting study participants, obtaining informed consent, and collecting data, warrant special consideration when Arab Americans are the study population. First, a climate of Arabs being under surveillance as suspected radical Islamists and terrorists (El-Haj, 2007; Naber, 2006) generates mistrust among Arab Americans and this mistrust may make them unwilling to participate in research (Kahan & Al-Tamimi, 2009). Second, as with any research about an ethnic group, it is important to incorporate the group’s relevant cultural features so that the research process is culturally sensitive. Culturally sensitive research not only encourages study participation but also contributes to obtaining valid and meaningful study findings (Aroian, 2013)

The Early Postpartum Experience Of Previously Infertile Mothers

Objective: To explore the lived experience of becoming a new mother from the unique perspectives of previously infertile women. Design: A descriptive phenomenological design was used to extract the fundamental structure of the postpartum experience of previously infertile mothers. Setting: Central Florida. Participants: Twelve first-time, previously infertile mothers age 27 to 43 years. Methods: Face-to-face interviews were conducted twice with each participant. Recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using Colaizzi\u27s approach. Results: Two main themes emerged that described the early postpartum experience of first-time, previously infertile mothers: (a) lingering identity as infertile and (b) gratitude for the gift of motherhood. Participants reported that their lingering identities as infertile and immense gratitude for the gift of motherhood propelled them to establish unrealistic expectations to be perfect mothers. When they were unable to live up this expectation, they censored their feelings of inadequacy, guilt, and shame. Conclusion: Findings from this study may help to sensitize health care providers to the difficulties faced by previously infertile women during their transition to motherhood

First-Time Mothers With A History Of Infertility: Their Internalized Pressure To Breastfeed

Background: The meaning of breastfeeding and breastfeeding experiences has been studied extensively in general and specific populations. However, there is little research about the meaning of breastfeeding and breastfeeding experiences in first-time mothers who were previously infertile. Objective: This article aims to understand the breastfeeding experiences of new mothers with a history of infertility. Methods: Twelve women who were first-time mothers and conceived their infants through fertility treatments were interviewed about their early postpartum experiences as part of a larger phenomenological study. Interview transcripts were reviewed, and data about breastfeeding were extracted and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: One main theme from the breastfeeding data emerged, Internalized Pressure to Breastfeed, with 3 subthemes: My Only Chance to Breastfeed, The One Natural Thing I Should Be Able to Do, and Not Breastfeeding Means Failing at Motherhood. New mothers who have undergone fertility treatment equated breastfeeding with being the perfect mother and attached special meanings to the act of breastfeeding. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that mothers who were previously infertile have unique breastfeeding experiences. Health care professionals need to be sensitized to these women\u27s internalized pressure to breastfeed. Additional research is needed to fully explore the breastfeeding experiences of this group of women

Posttreatment Concerns Of Older Women With Early-Stage Breast Cancer

By exploiting recent developments associated with parity-time (PT) symmetry in optics, we here propose a new avenue in realizing single-mode large area laser amplifiers. This can be accomplished by utilizing the abrupt symmetry breaking transition that allows the fundamental mode to experience gain while keeping all the higher order modes neutral. Such PT-symmetric structures can be realized by judiciously coupling two multimode waveguides, one exhibiting gain while the other exhibits an equal amount of loss. Pertinent examples are provided for both semiconductor and fiber laser amplifiers. © 2012 Optical Society of America

A Bump In The Road-Older Women\u27S Views On Surviving Breast Cancer

Due to the aging of the Baby Boomer generation, surviving with breast cancer will become more common, but also more complicated, as older women are often dealing with additional chronic illnesses and problems of aging. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how older women view surviving breast cancer in context with aging. Findings suggest that most women are able to put their cancer experience in the background and come to view breast cancer as a bump in the road through expecting illness with aging, putting cancer in perspective, and sensing a partnership. © 2013 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC