How do professionals, parents/carers and children view the role of the learning mentor in a multi-agency setting?

"This project will enable the learning mentor team to establish what links have been made with outside agencies and how professionals view the role of the learning mentor. There is little research locally into this area and it is hoped important learning can be fed back to policymakers and strategists within the local authority." - Page 5

THE MEDIATING ROLE OF INTERPERSONAL SKILLS IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMATOLOGY AND DATING VIOLENCE IN YOUNG MOTHERS

Young mothers are an understudied group at high-risk for dating violence (DV) victimization and perpetration. Psychological distress, such as depression, increases young mothers\u27 risk for DV (Thomas et al., 2019). In turn, depressive symptomology is associated with difficulties in interpersonal competence (Jones et al., 2019), which may increase DV risk (Bonache et al., 2017). In addition, young mothers may have few chances to learn the interpersonal skills associated with healthy adult romantic relationships due to a mismatch in developmental level and parenting status (Herrman et al., 2019; Moore et al., 2007). Using interpersonal stress generation theory (Hammen, 1991, 2006), we hypothesized that young mothers (N = 238) with elevated depressive symptomology would report higher rates of DV victimization and perpetration, and that this association would be mediated by self-reported interpersonal competence. We conducted a mediation analysis to examine the average causal mediation and average direct effects. Results demonstrated that interpersonal competency did not mediate the relationship between depressive symptomatology and DV victimization and perpetration. Direct effects were present between depressive symptomatology and DV victimization and perpetration. Although interpersonal competency was not a mediator, both depressive symptomatology and interpersonal competency were independently related to DV. Taken together, these data may inform future DV prevention-interventions for young mothers

Health of American Indian and Alaska Native Elders in California

Analyzes the health risks, health status, and utilization of and access to health services among American Indians/Alaska Natives age 55 and older in California, as well as trends in demographics and underlying factors including economic security

Factors Influencing First-Generation Students\u27 Ability To Obtain A Doctoral Degree In Clinical Psychology: An Intersectional Approach

Although first-generation college students aspire to obtain graduate education, we know they are less likely to earn these advanced degrees compared to their non-first-generation counterparts (Engle & Tinto, 2008). There are several identified reasons for this discrepancy including differences in social identity from their families, financial barriers, and lack of social support (Gardner & Holley, 2011; King, 2017; Michalski et al., 2011). For example, it has been described how, many of our families have difficulty understanding why anyone would go to school after finishing college (Cook-Morales et al., 1995). The first half of this symposium will provide insight and discussion on previous literature relative to first-generation students aspiring to obtain doctoral degrees in clinical psychology. Next, presenters will transition to a panel discussion with attendees regarding their roads to successfully being admitted into a clinical psychology Ph.D. program. Our objective is to present students with various pathways to achieving this goal and how we overcame certain challenges as first-generation students while acknowledging intersectional factors at play

Cardiovascular risk and emotion regulation contribute to depression symptomatology in middle-aged and older autistic adults

Background: Cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) and executive function difficulties increase during later-life and are associated with depression symptoms among non-autistic older people. These associations, however, have not yet been explored among middle-aged and older autistic people. Methods: Using data collected via Simons Foundation Powering Autism Research (SPARK), Research Match, we examined the frequency of CVRF, and associations between CVRF, executive function and depression symptoms in 387 middle-aged and older autistic people (aged 40-83 years). Results: Autistic adults reported high rates of CVRF (two, 28.9%; three or more, 23.2%). Rates of high cholesterol and obesity were greater among middle-aged and older autistic adults compared to the general population. CVRF, age, and emotion regulation (but not inhibitory control), were significantly associated with depression symptoms in middle-aged and older autistic adults. Conclusions: CVRF occur at high rates in middle-aged and older autistic adults, and it is important that healthcare providers monitor risk factors in order to implement preventative strategies. CVRF are associated with depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older autistic adults, but may not be as important as difficulties with emotion regulation

Building Common Ground: Public Engagement, Promising Practices

With increasing frequency, people in both the government and civic spheres are asked to find and use evidence-based solutions for community problems: solutions that have been proven to produce effective results. Public sector employees often lack the resources and time to mine for promising practices to address challenges their cities and towns are facing. In response to this need, Fels Research & Consulting Group created the Promising Practice series, which compiles public sector solutions on timely subjects in accessible reports. This report is the fourth in the Promising Practices series. To view the Promising Practices series, visit: www.fels.upenn.edu/Consulting-Publication

Self-medication practices of pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in northern Ghana: An analytical cross-sectional study

In Ghana, despite the dangers that self-medication poses to maternal and fetal health, there has been limited examination of self-medication among pregnant women. This study examines the practice of self-medication among pregnant women in Wa Municipality, Ghana. An analytical cross-sectional survey of 367 pregnant women was conducted in three health facilities. The prevalence of self-medication practice was 74.1%. The majority (68.4%) of pregnant women obtained unprescribed medicines from chemical shops; others utilized leftover drugs from previous hospital visits (15.8%) or herbal medications (9.9%), while others took unprescribed drugs from relatives or friends (5.9%). Analgesics (76.1%), antibiotics (24.6%), and antimalarials (16.2%) were the most frequently self-medicated drugs. The most common illnesses or symptoms for which pregnant women self-medicated were headaches (34.2%), back pain (33.1%), waist pain (32.7%), lower abdominal pain (20.6%), and malaria (16.2%). After adjusting for potential confounders, easy access to medication without prescription (AOR= 8.4), illness perceived as minor (AOR=4.1), availability of health facilities (AOR=4.2), and frequent lack of medicines at health facilities (AOR=1.7) were significantly associated with self-medication. Enforcing legislation to prevent the stocking and sale of certain analgesics and antibiotics, increasing service points, and improving service quality at antenatal clinics, outpatient departments and pharmacies could reduce self-medication.   Au Ghana, malgré les dangers que l'automédication fait peser sur la santé maternelle et foetale, l'examen de l'automédication chez les femmes enceintes a été limité. Cette étude examine la pratique de l'automédication chez les femmes enceintes de la municipalité de Wa, au Ghana. Une enquête transversale analytique auprès de 367 femmes enceintes a été menée dans trois formations sanitaires. La prévalence de la pratique de l'automédication était de 74,1 %. La majorité (68,4 %) des femmes enceintes ont obtenu des médicaments sans ordonnance dans les magasins de produits chimiques ; d'autres utilisaient des restes de médicaments provenant de visites antérieures à l'hôpital (15,8 %) ou des médicaments à base de plantes (9,9 %), tandis que d'autres prenaient des médicaments non prescrits de parents ou d'amis (5,9 %). Les antalgiques (76,1 %), les antibiotiques (24,6 %) et les antipaludiques (16,2 %) étaient les médicaments les plus fréquemment auto-médiqués. Les maladies ou symptômes les plus courants pour lesquels les femmes enceintes s'automédicament étaient les maux de tête (34,2 %), les maux de dos (33,1 %), les douleurs à la taille (32,7 %), les douleurs abdominales basses (20,6 %) et le paludisme (16,2 %). Après ajustement pour les facteurs de confusion potentiels, accès facile aux médicaments sans ordonnance (AOR = 8,4), maladie perçue comme mineure (AOR = 4,1), disponibilité des établissements de santé (AOR = 4,2) et manque fréquent de médicaments dans les établissements de santé (AOR = 1,7) étaient significativement associés à l'automédication. L'application de la législation pour empêcher le stockage et la vente de certains analgésiques et antibiotiques, l'augmentation des points de service et l'amélioration de la qualité des services dans les cliniques prénatales, les services de consultation externe et les pharmacies pourraient réduire l'automédicatio