Relations Between Sexual and Gender Minority Stress, Personal Hardiness, and Psychological Stress in Emerging Adulthood: Examining Indirect Effects via Human-Animal Interaction

Introduction: Although there is emerging evidence that companion animals are important sources of comfort and support for many LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and other sexual and gender minority identities) individuals, little is known about the interplay between sexual and gender minority (SGM) stress, human-animal interaction (HAI), and psychological adjustment in this population. To address this gap in the literature, the current study examined the role of HAI in relations between SGM stress (i.e., microaggressions, victimization) and psychological adjustment (i.e., self-efficacy, psychological stress) during emerging adulthood. Methods: Our sample included LGBTQ+ young adults between the ages of 18 and 21 years (N = 136; 37.5% racial/ethnic minority; 49.2% transgender or gender-expansive; 98.5% sexual minority). Participants were recruited via convenience sampling methods in partnership with community agencies. We tested a mediation model using structural equation modeling with a bootstrapping approach to examine direct and indirect associations between SGM stress, HAI, and psychological adjustment, controlling for the effects of demographic factors. Results: The hypothesized mediation model fit the data well (Χ2/df = 1.71, CFI = 0.96, TLI = 0.93, RMSEA = 0.07, SRMR = 0.04). Results indicated that SGM microaggressions were significantly associated with HAI (β = 0.45, p \u3c .001, 95% CI [0.24, 0.62]) and psychological stress (β = 0.36, p \u3c .001, 95% CI [0.19, 0.54]), but not self-efficacy. Victimization was not significantly associated with HAI, self-efficacy, or psychological stress. HAI was significantly and positively associated with self-efficacy (β = 0.31, p \u3c .001, 95% CI [0.13, 0.47]), but was not significantly related to psychological stress. Finally, we found evidence of only one indirect-only effect of SGM microaggressions on self-efficacy via HAI (β = 0.14, p = .001, 95% CI [0.07, 0.24]). Conclusion: This is the first study, to our knowledge, that explored the potential mediating role of HAI in the relations between SGM microaggressions, victimization, self-efficacy, and psychological stress. Results of this study suggest that exposure to SGM stress may lead LGBTQ+ young adults to seek out relationships with pets, which in turn, may promote self-efficacy, a factor associated with resilience. However, due to the cross-sectional nature of our data, we cannot infer causation. Further research is needed to explore the longitudinal reciprocal associations between SGM stress, HAI, and psychological adjustment over time, and mechanisms through which HAI may promote resilience in this population.https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/gradposters/1129/thumbnail.jp

Victimization and Psychological Wellbeing among Sexual and Gender Minority Emerging Adults: Testing the Moderating Role of Emotional Comfort from Companion Animals

Introduction: Human-animal interaction science is a growing field, largely due to the potential psychosocial benefits companion animals provide to humans. One way companion animals may influence psychosocial outcomes is through their ability to provide emotional comfort, though few studies have examined relationships between sexual and gender minority stressors (i.e. discrimination, victimization, rejection), human-animal interaction, and psychological wellbeing. To address this gap in the literature, the current study evaluates whether, and to what extent, the association between gender-based victimization and psychological wellbeing (i.e., anxiety, depression, self-esteem) varies as a function of emotional comfort from companion animals among emerging adults. Methods: Data were collected from young people between the ages of 18 and 21 years who self-identified as a sexual and/or gender minority (N = 134; 37.3% ethnic/racial minority; 49.2% gender minority; 98.5% sexual minority). We conducted three simple moderation analyses that examined whether, and to what extent, gender-based victimization was associated with mental health (i.e., anxiety, depression, self-esteem) as a function of comfort from companion animals. Additive multiple moderation models were also conducted to examine comfort from companion animals and social support as moderators between victimization and each psychological wellbeing indicator. Results: Results of the simple moderation models suggest that the effect of gender-based victimization on self-esteem was moderated by comfort from companion animals (ΔR2 = .03, F(1, 125) = 4.66, β = .22, t(125) = 2.16, p = .03) and that the relationship is statistically significant only at low levels of comfort from companion animals (β = -0.38, t = -2.41, p = .02). Further, our additive multiple moderation model with both comfort from companion animals and social support as moderators of the relation between victimization and self-esteem found that victimization was significantly moderated by comfort from animals (ΔR2 = .03, F(1, 123) = 5.38, β = .24, t(123) = 2.32, p = .02), but not social support. The relation between victimization and self-esteem was significant and negative at low levels of comfort from companion animals, but only for those with high levels of social support (β = -0.43, t = -2.65, p \u3c .01). In contrast, when high levels of comfort from companion animals were reported, the effect of victimization on self-esteem was no longer statistically significant, regardless of whether social support was low or high. We did not find evidence of moderation in models with either anxiety or depression as the dependent variable. Conclusion: These results suggest that high levels of comfort from companion animals may be a protective factor against the harmful effects of victimization on self-esteem. However, our results suggest that comfort from companion animals may not provide the same benefits for anxiety and depression. Further research is needed to replicate our results and to elucidate whether other aspects of HAI, such as attachment to pets or caretaking for pets, may play a role in associations between victimization and anxiety and depression. Given the harmful effects of gender-based victimization and other stressful circumstances that LGBTQ+ youth are disproportionately at risk of experiencing (i.e., employment issues, housing insecurity), this study highlights the importance of exploring how, and for whom, comfort from companion animals and other aspects of HAI may provide protective benefits.https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/gradposters/1145/thumbnail.jp

A pilot study investigating the impact of glycogen storage disease (type III) on skeletal muscle properties and habitual physical activity patterns in young and middle-aged adults

Glycogen storage disease type III (GSDIII) is an autosomal recessive condition, characterised by skeletal muscle (SM) impairment leading to functional limitations. Previous research has identified both handgrip strength to decline following the age of 37 and sit-to-stand time to increase post 30 years old (Decostre et al., 2017, Molecular genetics and metabolism, 122, 108-16). However, the age-related drop in SM strength is noted to be more prominent in loaded antigravity SM in comparison to the upper extremities (Delmonico et al., 2009, American Journal Clinical Nutrition, 90, 1579-1585) and may not adequately detail the impact of GSDIII on SM and physical function. Therefore, the aim of this study is to preliminary detail the impact of GSDIII on antigravity SM properties and investigate habitual physical activity (PA) patterns that may contribute to a loss strength. With institutional and NHS ethics approval, five participants were recruited and categorised into two age groups (Mean±SD: 8 hours classed as sedentary) and no medium/vigorous intensity PA bouts lasting >10mins, potentially explained through substrate utilisation and availability. In conclusion, preliminary data suggests that there is a substantial drop in muscle strength post 30 years of age in antigravity SM. However, whilst further research is needed confirm these findings, future investigations should focus on neuromuscular and structural differences that may contribute to the substantial drop in strength that was observed

The Moderating Effect of Comfort from Companion Animals and Social Support on the Relationship between Microaggressions and Mental Health in LGBTQ+ Emerging Adults

Introduction: Sexual and/or gender minority (SGM; e.g., lesbian, transgender, nonbinary, LGBTQ+) individuals are frequently exposed to various forms of minority stress that impact their mental health and wellbeing. Microaggressions, a form of minority stress, are defined as unconscious behaviors or statements directed at members of marginalized groups that reflect a hostile or discriminatory message. Microaggressions have been associated with several detrimental outcomes, such as depression and anxiety. Social support has been found to be an important protective factor for SGM emerging adults. Additionally, relationships with companion animals are an underexplored source of support that may be important for SGM individuals. This study aims to explore whether, and to what extent, social support from humans and comfort from companion animals moderates the relationship between SGM-related microaggressions and depressive and anxiety symptoms. Methods: We partnered with five community organizations to recruit our sample, which consisted of 134 SGM emerging adults between the ages of 18 and 21 (Mage = 19.31). Approximately 98.5% of our sample identified with a sexual minority identity, 49.5% identified with a gender minority identity, and 37.3% identified as a racial/ethnic minority. All participants had lived with a companion animal within the past year, with the majority of participants living with a dog and/or a cat. We conducted eight simple moderation analyses to explore whether, and to what extent, comfort from companion animals and human social support individually moderated the relationship between two forms of microaggressions (i.e., interpersonal, environmental) and anxiety and depressive symptoms. Further, we ran four additive moderation analyses to investigate whether comfort from companion animals and social support from humans moderated the relationship between each form of microaggressions and mental health symptoms, when the other moderator was held constant. Results: The results of our simple moderation analyses indicated that social support moderated the relationship between both forms of microaggressions and depressive symptoms (interpersonal: ΔR2 = 0.03, F(1, 125) = 4.74, ꞵ = -0.17, t(125) = -2.18, p = .03; environmental: ΔR2 = 0.02, F(1, 124) = 3.93, ꞵ = -0.19, t(124) = -1.98, p = .05). Our findings suggest that social support acted as a protective factor, because the relationship between exposure to microaggressions and depressive symptoms was not significant when participants reported high levels of social support. Comfort from companion animals also moderated the relationship between interpersonal microaggressions and depressive symptoms (ΔR2 = 0.03, F(1, 125) = 4.78, ꞵ = 0.18, t(125) = 2.19, p = .03). However, comfort from companion animals seemed to exacerbate the association between interpersonal microaggressions and depressive symptoms, as there was a positive and significant relationship between these two variables when participants reported medium or high levels of comfort from companion animals. The results of the additive moderation analyses found that the relationship between exposure to microaggressions and depressive symptoms was positive and significant when social support was low or medium and comfort from companion animals was high or medium. However, when social support was high, the relationship was no longer significant, regardless of the level of comfort from companion animals. Discussion: Our results suggest that social support from humans may be a key protective factor that buffers the relationship between microaggressions and depressive symptoms. Further, these findings also highlight the need to continue investigating the complex role of relationships with companion animals on mental health outcomes for SGM emerging adults. In particular, longitudinal studies are needed to clarify the direction of these relationships, as we are unable to make causal inferences with this cross-sectional study. The results from this study have important implications for future research in this area and practice with SGM populations.https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/gradposters/1142/thumbnail.jp

The Commonwealth Games as an Example of Bringing States Closer Through Sport

The aim of the article is to investigate the issue of positive sports diplomacy directed at bringing countries closer and deepening cooperation between them. Generally, sports diplomacy is a broader term and may include various ways of utilizing sport, both negative and positive, even for the sake of nation-branding. Positive sports diplomacy most commonly refers to bringing hostile states closer together, but it may also be used to deepen political alliances or foster friendship and cooperation between states that are not mutually hostile. The research focuses on the latter form of positive sports diplomacy. The investigation is a case study concerning the Commonwealth Games, a sports event that is held once every four years and gathers countries and territories that used to belong to the former British Empire. The research therefore aims to determine whether this event, the second largest multisport event in the world, is significant from political and diplomatic perspectives. A second research question concerns whether the Commonwealth Games should be seen as an attempt by Great Britain to maintain influence in its former colonies. The research attempts to test the hypothesis that the Commonwealth Games are an important contributor to sustaining ties between states of the former British Empire.The research has been financed by the National Science Centre of Poland, project number 2015/19/D/HS5/00513

The Role of Curriculum Design and Teaching Materials in Pronunciation Learning

This paper aims to provide insights into the role of curriculum design and teaching materials in the development of English pronunciation skills in EFL contexts. One of the main contextual factors negatively affecting the development of pronunciation abilities of EFL learners relates to the ‘often-unchanging’ curriculum design and the ‘blind’ choice of teaching materials without regard to students’ needs and goals. This study utilises structured interviews and focus group discussions (N=2 sessions) to elicit the views of a group (N=71) of third- and fourth-year English-major students at a university college in Saudi Arabia on the appropriateness of the curriculum design and teaching materials to their learning expectations in the area of English pronunciation. The results show that the great majority of students spoke unfavourably about the overall curriculum and teaching materials and considered those to be among the obstacles that they encounter in their learning of English pronunciation. This finding raises the question of curriculum design of English language teaching programs and the extent to which these curricula meet the needs of learners. The study suggests that a reformation of the structure of the curriculum in the study context is urgently needed and that more involvement of students’ perspectives on the design of curricula is of major importance

Impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia in women with type 1 diabetes in pregnancy: Hypoglycaemia fear, glycaemic and pregnancy outcomes.

Funder: Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International; Id: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100000901Funder: Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Canada; Id: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100009881AIMS: To examine maternal fear of hypoglycaemia, glycaemia and pregnancy outcomes in women with impaired and normal awareness of hypoglycaemia. METHODS: A pre-planned sub-study of 214 pregnant women with type 1 diabetes who participated in the CONCEPTT trial. Participants completed hypoglycaemia fear surveys (HFS-II) at baseline. Logistic regression and Poisson regression analyses were used to obtain an adjusted estimate for the rate ratio relating awareness to the number of severe hypoglycaemic episodes, and for several neonatal outcomes in relation to the total HFS-II score. The role of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) use was examined. RESULTS: Overall, 30% of participants reported impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia (n = 64). Women with impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia had more episodes of severe hypoglycaemia (mean 0.44 vs. 0.08, p < 0.001) (12-34 weeks gestation) and scored higher on the HFS-II scale (43.7 vs. 36.0, p 0.008), indicating more fear of hypoglycaemia. They spent more time below range (CGM <3.5 mmol/L) and exhibited more glycaemic variability at 12 weeks gestation. Higher overall HFS-II scores were associated with a higher risk of maternal severe hypoglycaemia episodes (Rate Ratio 1.78, 95% CI 1.39-2.27). Women with impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia had less maternal weight gain but there were no differences in neonatal outcomes between women with impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia and normal hypoglycaemia awareness. Higher HFS-II scores were associated with more nephropathy (Odds Ratio 1.91, 95% CI 1.06-3.4). CGM use after 12 weeks was not associated with the number of episodes of severe hypoglycaemia (RR 0.75, 95% CI 0.49-1.15; p = 0.18). CONCLUSIONS: In pregnant women with type 1 diabetes, impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia is associated with more maternal severe hypoglycaemia episodes and more fear of hypoglycaemia. Having impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia and/or fear of hypoglycaemia should alert clinicians to this increased risk. Reassuringly, there was no increase in adverse neonatal outcomes

Impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia in women with type 1 diabetes in pregnancy: Hypoglycaemia fear, glycaemic and pregnancy outcomes.

Funder: Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International; Id: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100000901Funder: Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Canada; Id: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100009881AIMS: To examine maternal fear of hypoglycaemia, glycaemia and pregnancy outcomes in women with impaired and normal awareness of hypoglycaemia. METHODS: A pre-planned sub-study of 214 pregnant women with type 1 diabetes who participated in the CONCEPTT trial. Participants completed hypoglycaemia fear surveys (HFS-II) at baseline. Logistic regression and Poisson regression analyses were used to obtain an adjusted estimate for the rate ratio relating awareness to the number of severe hypoglycaemic episodes, and for several neonatal outcomes in relation to the total HFS-II score. The role of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) use was examined. RESULTS: Overall, 30% of participants reported impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia (n = 64). Women with impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia had more episodes of severe hypoglycaemia (mean 0.44 vs. 0.08, p < 0.001) (12-34 weeks gestation) and scored higher on the HFS-II scale (43.7 vs. 36.0, p 0.008), indicating more fear of hypoglycaemia. They spent more time below range (CGM <3.5 mmol/L) and exhibited more glycaemic variability at 12 weeks gestation. Higher overall HFS-II scores were associated with a higher risk of maternal severe hypoglycaemia episodes (Rate Ratio 1.78, 95% CI 1.39-2.27). Women with impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia had less maternal weight gain but there were no differences in neonatal outcomes between women with impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia and normal hypoglycaemia awareness. Higher HFS-II scores were associated with more nephropathy (Odds Ratio 1.91, 95% CI 1.06-3.4). CGM use after 12 weeks was not associated with the number of episodes of severe hypoglycaemia (RR 0.75, 95% CI 0.49-1.15; p = 0.18). CONCLUSIONS: In pregnant women with type 1 diabetes, impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia is associated with more maternal severe hypoglycaemia episodes and more fear of hypoglycaemia. Having impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia and/or fear of hypoglycaemia should alert clinicians to this increased risk. Reassuringly, there was no increase in adverse neonatal outcomes