Evaluating internet interviews with gay men.

The final version of this paper has been published in Qualitative Health Research, 2009, Vol. 19, Issue 4, pp. 566 – 576 by SAGE Publications Ltd, All rights reserved. © It is available at: http://qhr.sagepub.com/content/19/4/566In this article we describe the use of the Internet to conduct online synchronous interviews on gay men's experiences of Internet sex-seeking and barebacking, using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). We then present the results of a separate IPA of the issues we encountered during the research. The analysis is focused around four superordinate themes: positive experience, technological issues, boundaries, and requests/expectations. We argue that online qualitative research is valuable in its own right, and that the advantages considerably outweigh the difficulties. This is particularly true in accessing individuals who might not participate in other types of research settings to discuss experiences that would otherwise be too difficult to talk about. Several issues that are problematic in more conventional research still apply, albeit in a different guise, but these must be situated in the context of who or what is being researched, and why, and can be largely overcome with more creative methodologies and considered preparation

First steps out of debt: Attitudes and social identity as predictors of contact by debtors with creditors

ArticleQuestionnaire research was carried out to identify factors that may encourage problem debtors to take the first steps towards getting out of debt. Consumers with debt problems were identified with the aid of creditor organisations and the Courts service for England and Wales. Responses were also sought from non-debtors from the same consumer groups as the debtors. Response rates from debtors were very low, but results confirmed the existence of a group of chronically poor consumers with widespread and long-lasting debt and also confirmed the demographic differences between this group of debtors and non-debtors found in previous research. These debtors showed marked attitudinal differences from non-debtors, with reduced optimism and financial self-esteem, and a less internal economic locus of control. They also showed a distinct social identity, identifying with fellow debtors and feeling stigmatised both generally and personally. Within the debtor group, engagement with creditors was higher in people reporting lower debt levels, but seeking advice was more frequent in those reporting higher debts. Engagement was associated with a stronger attitude of financial self-efficacy and with a perception of the debtor identity as more permeable. Neither demographic nor psychological factors significantly predicted which debtors would seek advice.Her Majesty’s Court Service for England and Wale

The Shared Experience of Caring: A Study of Care-workers’ Motivations and Identifications at Work

AcceptedThis article presents an analysis of long-term care workers’ work motivation that examines the way this is shaped by the social contexts in which they operate. We conducted a thematic analysis of 19 in-depth interviews with care-workers. Three core themes were identified as underpinning their motivation: those of ‘fulfilment’, ‘belonging’ and ‘valuing’, and together these contributed to a central theme of ‘pride’. We also found an overarching theme of ‘shared experience’ to be integral to the way in which care workers made sense of their motivation and work experience. We draw on the social identity approach to provide a conceptual framework through which to understand how this shared experience shapes careworkers’ motivation and the quality of care they deliver. In particular, we note the importance that care-workers’ attach to their relationships with clients/patients and highlight the way in which this relational identification shapes their collective identification with their occupation and organisation and, through this, their motivation.European Social Research CouncilSomerset Care Ltd

Associations between authoritative parenting and the sun exposure and sun protective behaviours of adolescents and their friends.

addresses: School of Psychology, Washington Singer Laboratories, University of Exeter, Exeter EX44QG, UK. [email protected]: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tThis is a postprint of an article published in Psychology and Health, 2011, Vol. 26, Issue 5, pp. 549 – 565 © 2011 copyright Taylor & Francis. Psychology and Health is available online at: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/gpsh20/currentAssociations between the sun exposure and sun protective behaviours of adolescents and their friends were examined along with the role played by authoritative parenting and other family and peer socialisation factors. Four hundred and two adolescents (198 males, 204 females) participated in the research. It was found that these adolescents and their friends shared similar sun exposure and sun protective behaviours and had similar parenting backgrounds. Parental authoritativeness was positively associated with the use of sun protection, even after the effects of other familial and peer variables were controlled, but not with the time spent sunbathing which was associated with friends' behaviours. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed

Development of a conceptual model for research on cyclical variation of patient reported outcome measurements (PROMs) in patients with chronic conditions: a scoping review

This is the final version. Available on open access from Springer via the DOI in this recordBACKGROUND: Although circadian, seasonal, and other cycles have been observed for a number of chronic conditions, their impact on patient reported outcomes measurements (PROMs) has not been systematically explored, rendering our understanding of the effect of time of measurement on PROM scores very limited. The aim was to conduct a scoping review to determine what is known about how intra-individual cyclical variation might affect the way individuals with chronic conditions respond to patient-reported outcome measures. METHODS: A protocol of a systematic scoping review was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42017058365). We developed a search strategy based on previous relevant reviews and implemented it in: MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and CINAHL. No restrictions were placed on article types and backward and forward citation searches were conducted. Screening and data extraction were independently completed by up to four reviewers. An adapted version of CASP criteria was used to appraise the quality of included articles. Concepts that were important in understanding the impact of cyclical variation on PROM scores were elicited from the papers and iteratively refined through discussion amongst the authors. RESULTS: 2420 references resulted from the searches, with 33 articles meeting the inclusion criteria. Most study designs included observational research (particularly ecological momentary assessment), 2 were RCTs and 2 were systematic reviews. Studies mainly focused on specific health conditions: mental health, respiratory and musculoskeletal. There was a lack of qualitative research and theoretical framework to explore these concepts more fully. Five overarching concepts emerged: variation in outcomes, variation of scores, psychological status, individual factors, and environmental/situational factors. A conceptual model was developed outlining the relationships between these concepts. CONCLUSIONS: There is empirical evidence that supports cyclical variation in PROM scores across different chronic conditions, with potential very significant implications for administration and interpretation of PROMs. The proposed conceptual model can support further research in this area.University of Exete

Duelli di carta e duelli in scena

JOURNAL ARTICLE"This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Neuropsychological Rehabilitation on 15 December 2014, available online: http://wwww.tandfonline.com/10.1080/09602011.2014.993403."Multiple sclerosis (MS) is typically associated with life-long adjustment to wide-ranging, changeable symptoms and psychosocial disruption as all relationships are changed or lost. Despite accumulating evidence, the therapeutic impact of harnessing social group factors in MS management and rehabilitation remains largely unexplored. We investigated their role specific to adjusting to MS. A qualitative approach was used with thematic analysis to induce a rich and developing account of the impact of social groups on adjustment for 15 individuals with MS. An adjustment questionnaire was used to provide a framework for its organisation and discussion. The analysis revealed three themes associated with loss, change and social processes that influenced adjustment. These features distinguished between those who were more or less able to adjust, and resonated well with processes previously identified as central to identity loss and change. Social factors enhanced adjustment through easing transition between pre- and post-MS diagnosis lives. Notably, maintenance of pre-existing social roles and relationships was critical in providing a meaningful basis for integrating the old with new senses of self. The capacity to join new social groups was as key in adjustment as was awareness of having access to multiple social groups to avoid being solely defined by MS. These concepts provided a more stable grounding upon which to nurture value systems and employ collective support to counter the negative consequences of living with MS

Development of a conceptual model for research on cyclical variation of patient reported outcome measurements (PROMs) in patients with chronic conditions: a scoping review

10.1186/s41687-021-00395-xJournal of Patient-Reported Outcomes51117

Poor Parental Supervision is Associated with Traumatic Brain Injury and Reactive Aggression in Young Offenders

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins via the DOI in this recordObjective. To establish whether poor parental supervision is associated with head injury and self-reported reactive aggression (i.e. aggression in response to perceived provocation or threat) in adolescents in a young offender’s institute, by examining correlations between these variables. Understanding this population is important as they are at a key pivotal age for intervention to prevent life-long re-offending. Method. Ninety-six male participants aged 16-18 were recruited from a UK Young Offender’s Institute. Self-report measures of remembered parenting, reactive aggression, and head injury history were administered during individual interviews. Results. 74% of participants reported having experienced a lifetime TBI, and 46% of participants reported experiencing at least one TBI leading to a loss of consciousness (LOC). We found that poor parental supervision, length of LOC following TBI, and self-reported reactive aggression, were all positively correlated. Conclusions. Findings show that there are correlational relationships between poor parental supervision, length of LOC following lifetime TBI, and higher levels of self-reported reactive aggression. This suggests there may be pathways resulting from poor parental supervision leading to both TBI with LOC, and reactive aggression. We advocate for future research with longitudinal designs and larger samples to examine the nature of these interactions, and to establish whether poor parental supervision is a prospective risk factor for more TBIs leading to LOC, and reactive aggression. This is key to understanding whether parenting interventions could help to reduce the disabling effects of TBI in adolescents, and help to prevent contact with the law.Barrow Cadbury Trus