Depression, Social Networks, and Social Support During the Perinatal and Postpartum Period Among Military-Affiliated Women

The purpose of this dissertation was to provide a foundation for future research aimed at understanding associations between social network analysis measures and perinatal depression symptoms among military spouses. This work summarizes how social network analysis measures have been associated with depression in adults (systematic literature review), what is known regarding perinatal depression in the military-affiliated population (scoping literature review), and provides a description of women’s experience of the perinatal period and social support during the COVID-19 pandemic (phenomenological qualitative study). There is a gap in the literature regarding how structural, compositional, and functional SNA characteristics associate with depressive symptoms among adults. However, it does appear that having similar others and various types of social support consistently associates with decreased symptomology. Future studies examining SNA properties and associations with depression in adults should adequately describe the population of interest and statistical analysis methodology. More specific information on which qualities of homophily relate to decreased depression will be helpful to design treatment interventions. I found 10 articles that warranted inclusion in the scoping review addressing perinatal depression among military-affiliated women—there is a scarcity of research being conducted in this field. Major findings include a lack of information from analytical and qualitative study designs. Documenting conflicts of interest and study limitations such as the self-report nature of PND screening tools, were not adequately addressed in the included studies. Future studies should define periods of separation to accurately reflect the influence of deployments and temporary duties as well as aim to capture risk and protective factors for military spouses versus active-duty military women. Lastly, I carried out a phenomenological qualitative study to better understand women’s perinatal and social support experiences during the pandemic. My findings indicate that women experienced a wide range of emotions, changes to their perinatal care and social support, other factors that compounded being pregnant or having a baby during a pandemic, and a dissatisfaction with postpartum care. Implications for more effective communication and information on how to receive support during a period of isolation are warranted among this population

Spouse Beliefs about Partner Chronic Pain

While research has shown that patients’ beliefs about their pain are related to pain adjustment and treatment outcomes, little is known about the beliefs of their significant others. The purpose of this study was to develop a measure of pain beliefs in significant others and to examine the correlates of these beliefs. Participants were 104 married couples in which one partner reported chronic pain. Spouses completed an amended version of the Survey of Pain Beliefs (SOPA) [14]. The scale development procedure described in Jensen et al.[12] was used to select appropriate items for the significant other version of the SOPA. This procedure yielded 7 subscales that closely resembled the original SOPA. Spousal pain beliefs about disability, emotion, control, and medication were significantly correlated with partners’ pain severity and other indicators of pain adjustment. Emotion, disability, and other beliefs were related to spouse responses to pain, and spouses’ depressive symptoms and marital dissatisfaction. Spouses’ personal experiences with pain were not related to their beliefs about their partners’ pain. Additional research on the pain-related beliefs of significant others may extend cognitive-behavioral theory concerning the social context of pain and provide an additional avenue through which clinicians can address cognition in patients and families

Employers' views on the promotion of workplace health and wellbeing: A qualitative study

Background: The evidence surrounding the value of workplace health promotion in positively influencing employees' health and wellbeing via changes to their health behaviours is growing. The aim of the study was to explore employers' views on the promotion of workplace health and wellbeing and the factors affecting these views. Methods: Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, 10 focus groups were conducted with employers selected from a range of industries and geographical locations within Western Australia. The total sample size was 79. Results: Three factors were identified: employers' conceptualization of workplace health and wellbeing; employers' descriptions of (un)healthy workers and perceptions surrounding the importance of healthy workers; and employers' beliefs around the role the workplace should play in influencing health. Conclusions: Progress may be viable in promoting health and wellbeing if a multifaceted approach is employed taking into account the complex factors influencing employers' views. This could include an education campaign providing information about what constitutes health and wellbeing beyond the scope of occupational health and safety paradigms along with information on the benefits of workplace health and wellbeing aligned with perceptions relating to healthy and unhealthy workers

A Case Study To Identify How Shared Decision Making and Collaboration between General and Exceptional Education Teachers Impact Effective and Ineffective Inclusion Practices

Sergiovanni (1994) believed that the rationale for shared decision making is that those who are closest to students are best equipped to make educational decisions to improve instructional programs. Liontos (1994) believed that change is most likely to be effective and lasting when those who implement it feel a sense of ownership and responsibility for the process. Building level administrators along with general and exceptional education teachers play a vital role in making educational practices a reality in schools (Kilgore, 2011). The administrator must have adequate knowledge of what the practices entail and how to mobilize staff so these educational practices are implemented effectively. In order to embrace the philosophy of inclusion, teachers must eliminate the focus on labels of students and make students with disabilities and support needs the determining factors in the provision of services and placement settings. This requires the school staff to shift paradigms when determining how best to meet the needs of students with disabilities. The overall purpose of this study was to determine whether or not general and exceptional education teachers working together had an impact on the inclusion process. These two groups of teachers collaborated to address challenges that students meet in the general educational setting. Their goal was to provide the best possible learning experience for students with disabilities in the least restrictive environment. While this study only took into account the challenges and successes of one school, in one school district, it is a glimpse of what other teachers, general and exceptional education are facing in inclusive settings. Results of the study showed that collaboration between general and exceptional education teachers clearly resulted in greater teacher efficacy. These teachers believed that they could make a positive difference. Teachers who exhibited this confidence were more likely to engage in collaboration. Some of the general education teachers who had the strongest desire for collaboration and worked closely with an exceptional education teacher exhibited a number of positive traits that led to more effective inclusion instruction. With this in mind, it is important for educational leaders to do all that they can to provide professional training and development to offer ideas and instances of collaboration to help the students with disabilities and teachers involved in educating them

Self-report and pain behaviour among patients with chronic pain

Objectives: To determine the relationship between pain behaviors and self-report of pain and disability in patients with chronic pain