Learning to live with Parkinson’s disease in the family unit:an interpretative phenomenological analysis of well-being

We investigated family members’ lived experience of Parkinson’s disease (PD) aiming to investigate opportunities for well-being. A lifeworld-led approach to healthcare was adopted. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to explore in-depth interviews with people living with PD and their partners. The analysis generated four themes: It’s more than just an illness revealed the existential challenge of diagnosis; Like a bird with a broken wing emphasizing the need to adapt to increasing immobility through embodied agency; Being together with PD exploring the kinship within couples and belonging experienced through support groups; and Carpe diem! illuminated the significance of time and fractured future orientation created by diagnosis. Findings were interpreted using an existential-phenomenological theory of well-being. We highlighted how partners shared the impact of PD in their own ontological challenges. Further research with different types of families and in different situations is required to identify services required to facilitate the process of learning to live with PD. Care and support for the family unit needs to provide emotional support to manage threats to identity and agency alongside problem-solving for bodily changes. Adopting a lifeworld-led healthcare approach would increase opportunities for well-being within the PD illness journey

Coping and sickness absence

Objectives: The aim of this study is to examine the role of coping styles in sickness absence. In line with findings that contrast the reactive-passive focused strategies, problem-solving strategies are generally associated with positive results in terms of well-being and overall health outcomes; our hypothesis is that such strategies are positively related to a low frequency of sickness absence and with short lengths (total number of days absent) and durations (mean duration per spell). Methods: Using a prospective design, employees' (N = 3,628) responses on a self-report coping inventory are used to predict future registered sickness absence (i.e. frequency, length, duration, and median time before the onset of a new sick leave period). Results and conclusions: In accordance with our hypothesis, and after adjustment for potential confounders, employees with an active problem-solving coping strategy are less likely to drop out because of sickness absence in terms of frequency, length (longer than 14 days), and duration (more than 7 days) of sickness absence. This positive effect is observed in the case of seeking social support only for the duration of sickness absence and in the case of palliative reaction only for the length and frequency of absence. In contrast, an avoidant coping style, representing a reactive-passive strategy, increases the likelihood of frequent absences significantly, as well as the length and duration of sickness absence. Expression of emotions, representing another reactive-passive strategy, has no effect on future sickness absenteeism. The median time before the onset of a new episode of absenteeism is significantly extended for active problem-solving and reduced for avoidance and for a palliative response. The results of the present study support the notion that problem-solving coping and reactive-passive strategies are inextricably connected to frequency, duration, length and onset of sickness absence. Especially, active problem-solving decreases the chance of future sickness absence. © Springer-Verlag 2007

Dimensional and hierarchical models of depression using the Beck Depression Inventory-II in an Arab college student sample

Abstract Background An understanding of depressive symptomatology from the perspective of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) could facilitate valid and interpretable comparisons across cultures. The objectives of the study were: (i) using the responses of a sample of Arab college students to the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) in CFA, to compare the "goodness of fit" indices of the original dimensional three-and two-factor first-order models, and their modifications, with the corresponding hierarchical models (i.e., higher - order and bifactor models); (ii) to assess the psychometric characteristics of the BDI-II, including convergent/discriminant validity with the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL-25). Method Participants (N = 624) were Kuwaiti national college students, who completed the questionnaires in class. CFA was done by AMOS, version 16. Eleven models were compared using eight "fit" indices. Results In CFA, all the models met most "fit" criteria. While the higher-order model did not provide improved fit over the dimensional first - order factor models, the bifactor model (BFM) had the best fit indices (CMNI/DF = 1.73; GFI = 0.96; RMSEA = 0.034). All regression weights of the dimensional models were significantly different from zero (P Conclusion The broadly adequate fit of the various models indicates that they have some merit and implies that the relationship between the domains of depression probably contains hierarchical and dimensional elements. The bifactor model is emerging as the best way to account for the clinical heterogeneity of depression. The psychometric characteristics of the BDI-II lend support to our CFA results.</p

Leadership = Communication? The relations of leaders' communication styles with leadership styles, knowledge sharing and leadership outcomes

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relations between leaders' communication styles and charismatic leadership, human-oriented leadership (leader's consideration), task-oriented leadership (leader's initiating structure), and leadership outcomes. Methodology: A survey was conducted among 279 employees of a governmental organization. The following six main communication styles were operationalized: verbal aggressiveness, expressiveness, preciseness, assuredness, supportiveness, and argumentativeness. Regression analyses were employed to test three main hypotheses. Findings: In line with expectations, the study showed that charismatic and human-oriented leadership are mainly communicative, while task-oriented leadership is significantly less communicative. The communication styles were strongly and differentially related to knowledge sharing behaviors, perceived leader performance, satisfaction with the leader, and subordinate's team commitment. Multiple regression analyses showed that the leadership styles mediated the relations between the communication styles and leadership outcomes. However, leader's preciseness explained variance in perceived leader performance and satisfaction with the leader above and beyond the leadership style variables. Implications: This study offers potentially invaluable input for leadership training programs by showing the importance of leader's supportiveness, assuredness, and preciseness when communicating with subordinates. Originality/value: Although one of the core elements of leadership is interpersonal communication, this study is one of the first to use a comprehensive communication styles instrument in the study of leadership. © 2009 The Author(s)

Elaboração e validação da Escala de Depressão para Idosos Elaboration and validation of the Depression Scale for the Elderly

O objetivo deste estudo foi desenvolver e validar a Escala de Depressão para Idosos (EDI). Foi elaborado um modelo teórico explicativo da depressão, composto por três categorias: cognitiva, afetiva e somático-motora. Os itens elaborados foram submetidos à análise semântica e de juizes. O instrumento piloto foi aplicado a 340 sujeitos, sendo 88% do sexo feminino, com ensino fundamental completo (67,9%) e idade média de 63,74 (DP = 6,87) anos. A amostra respondeu também ao Inventário de Depressão de Beck (BDI). Para a validação da escala, foram realizadas análises fatoriais e análise da consistência interna dos itens (alfa de Cronbach). Regressões múltiplas avaliaram o poder de predição dos fatores da EDI sobre o escore final do BDI. A validação da escala demonstrou que a EDI é composta por dois fatores: cognitivo-afetivo e somático-motor, que explicam 53% do BDI (validade convergente). Pode-se afirmar, portanto, que a EDI é formada por fatores que avaliam diferentes aspectos do constructo depressão (validade fatorial), os quais apresentam índices de consistência interna dentro dos padrões psicométricos.<br>The objective of this study was to develop and validate the Depression Scale for the Elderly. An explanatory theoretical model was developed for depression, consisting of three categories: cognitive, affective, and somato-motor. The items elaborated thusly were submitted to semantic analysis and judges. The pilot instrument was applied to 340 subjects, 88% of whom were females, mostly with complete primary education (67.9%), and a mean age of 63.74 (SD = 6.87) years. The sample also responded to the Beck Depression Index (BDI). Validation of the scale was based on factor analyses (Principal Axis Factoring) and analysis of the items' internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha). Multiple regressions evaluated the predictive power of the factors in the depression scale for the elderly on the final BDI score. Scale validation demonstrated that the depression scale for the elderly is composed of two factors: cognitive-affective and somato-motor, which explain 53% of the BDI (convergent validity). One can thus state that the depression scale for the elderly consists of factors that assess different aspects of the depression construct (factor validity), which present internal consistency indices within the psychometric standards

Cognitive emotions recognition in e-learning: Exploring the role of age differences and personality traits

It is well known that emotions have a great impact on the learning process and this becomes especially important when moving to on-line education. Then, endowing e-learning systems with the capability of assessing the emotional state of learners, can be used to provide feedback about their difficulties and problems. In this paper, we present an empirical study performed with a group of first-year students aiming at getting information on users’ affective state during the learning process considering their personality traits. At this aim, we developed a tool for cognitive emotion recognition from facial expressions. Results show how detected emotions can be considered as an indicator of the e-learning process quality. Furthermore, another result is that cognitive emotions, experienced during e-learning process, can be strongly differentiated according to the learning activities, students age and personality