Positive Psychology and Hope as Means to Recovery from Mental Illness

The field of psychiatric rehabilitation has seen a paradigm shift in its perceptions of symptom reduction, recovery, and restoration of personal-growth and -development. Recovery is subjective in nature, as no two individuals achieve identical rehabilitation outcomes; the process is dynamic and influenced by an array of personal and environmental factors, all of which can facilitate a deeply personal, unique progression that changes one\u27s attitudes, values, feelings, goals, skills, and roles. The concept of positive psychology is relevant to the perception from mental illness. Positive psychology seeks to understand what makes life worth living and encourages the use of mental strengths that reside in every human to confront challenges and create meaningful life experiences. Among the constructs of positive psychology, hope is one the most important concerning recovery, as it is directly tied to whether one believes that one\u27s recovery is feasible. Having a sense of hope can enhance one\u27s motivation to engage in the recovery process. The application of positive psychology, especially the concept of hope and recovery-oriented interventions in real-life rehabilitation settings can enormously benefit the well-being of people with mental illness. Keywords: psychiatric rehabilitation, positive psychology, recovery, hop

Life Satisfaction among People with Progressive Disabilities

This study investigated the life satisfaction among 218 individuals with progressive disabilities, who were recruited through the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Participants completed questionnaires containing several scales measuring predictor and outcome variables. Regression analyses were performed to analyze the quantitative data. The results indicated that 49% of the variance in life satisfaction among individuals with neuromuscular and neurological diseases was explained in the regression model. The best predictors of life satisfaction were the level of acceptance of disability, hope, spiritual well-being; age, sex, marital status, and employment status. This study suggests the importance of understanding the role of psychological and spiritual constructs in life satisfaction among people with progressive disabilities

Assessing Companion Animal Attachment Among Future Latino Human Services Professionals

As the population of individuals from minoritized ethnic background continues to grow in the United States, the relationship between humans and their companion animals can provide valuable information for human services professionals. Attachment to companion animals can play a significant part in clients’ emotional well-being, family dynamics, and quality of life. This study aimed to examine the associations between human attachment with companion animals and their educational training and attitudes about animals. Analysis revealed that relational attachment was significant among Latino students in the study, and particpants’ positive attitudes and beliefs about animals significantly predicted their level of attachment to companion animals. Participants also reported having diverse species of companion animals that demanded different responsibilities. Considerations to enhance service delivery and educational preparation of future human services professionals have implications for humane education and improved client outcomes

Attitudes of College Students Toward People with Disabilities

The current study sought to explore attitudinal differences in college students toward people with disabilities (PWD) based on their demographic backgrounds and levels of prior contact. Participants were 311 undergraduate and graduate students at a large public university in the Midwest. Using the Attitudes Towards Disabled Persons Scale, Form-O (Yuker & Block, 1986) and the Contact with Disabled Persons Scale (Yuker & Hurley, 1987), a moderate positive correlation between attitudes and levels of contact was found (r = .302, p \u3c .001). Significant differences in the mean scores of the ATDP were observed for different demographic groups. A subsequent ANCOVA indicated that levels of prior contact were influential on attitudes towards PWD. Implications for rehabilitation practice and future research are discussed

Investigating Educators’ Views of Sexuality, HIV and AIDS Education in Working with Students with Disabilities in South African Schools

The misconception that persons with disabilities are asexual and sexually inactive often relegates teaching sexuality education in special needs schools to a priority of low importance. The access, or lack thereof, to such information causes students lvith disabilities to be at an increased risk of HIV infection; therefore, providing them with sexuality education is imperative. The purpose of the present study was to examine the teachers\u27 and childcare providers\u27 views of teaching sexuality, HIV, and AIDS programs in special needs schools. A survey questionnaire was employed to collect the data. The results showed that among the four major study constructs, teaching practices had the highest mean scores (M = 4.2). A correlation matrix among the 10 study variables indicates the strongest positive associations for teaching practices with cure for HIV (r = .37, P \u3c .01) and the seriousness of the AIDS problem (r = .35, P \u3c .05) with programs related to HIV and AIDS. The study confirmed the teachers\u27 high levels of knowledge regarding HIV and AIDS and that they were taking the teaching of sexuality education to students with disabilities seriously. The teachers, however, questioned who should be held responsible for teaching this sexuality education, which may have an impact on their attitudes and beliefs as well as their teaching practices of the topic

Acculturation and Filial Piety as Mediators of the Relationship Between Caregiver Burden and Gender-Role Expectations in Hispanic-American Rehabilitation Services Students

Purpose: Hispanic-Americans are the largest ethnic minority group in the United States. The need to care for older Hispanics has become an important issue as they now enjoy longer life expectancies due to better access to healthcare and less labor participation in hazardous occupations. The present study examined whether the association between caregiver burden and gender-role expectations is mediated by acculturation and filial piety. Method: The sample consisted of 93 Mexican-American rehabilitation services students enrolled at a large public university in Texas. The four instruments used in the study were the Zarit Burden Interview, the Bem Sex-Role Inventory, the Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican-Americans-Revised, and the Expectations of Filial Piety Scale. Participants visited an online survey site to respond to the questionnaire. Results: About half of the most common person towhom carewas being providedwas a parent 49.5% (n = 46)with 35.5% (n = 33) grandparents and 15.1% (n = 14) siblings. Acculturation scores were positively correlated with both genderrole expectations (r = .23, p = .027) and filial piety (r = .30, p = .003) scores. In addition, caregiver burden scores were negatively correlated with gender-role expectation scores (r = -.21, p = .046) and filial piety scores were positively correlated with gender-role expectation scores (r = .29, p = .005). The correlation between caregiver burden and filial piety was not statistically significant (r = -.10, P \u3e .05 n.s.). Moreover, neither acculturation nor filial piety mediated the relationship between gender-role expectations and caregiver burden. Conclusion: Mexican-Americans view aging positively, have a sense of caring for elders, and have strong ties to their culture. As a result of strong Hispanic family values, the obligation to care for family members (i.e., familism) tends to occur with little hesitance. Future replication studies are needed to better understand the effects of acculturation and filial piety on caregiver burden among Mexican-Americans residing in other regions of the country, including outside the cities along the United States-Mexico border. The rationale for further research is that living in predominantly-White states such as Minnesota and Wyoming, where Mexican- Americans make up a small fraction of the population, might have effects on their acculturation

Parental Awareness of Early Intervention for Hispanic Children with Communication Disorders

Purpose: Children at risk of delayed speech and language development and speech-language disorders come from a broad range of demographic backgrounds, including ethnicities, sexes, and socioeconomic statuses. A vast body of research in speech-language pathology has demonstrated that early intervention is crucial for helping children acquire the necessary communication skills they need to become effective communicators, successful students, and ultimately accomplished adults. Currently, commercials, billboards, online sources, and personal referrals are the methods most often used to promote awareness of early childhood intervention services. Method: This study aimed to identify whether the current promotional methods used to increase parental awareness of early childhood speech therapy intervention are effective in the Hispanic population in South Texas. A total of 299 parents and guardians recruited from 18 Head Start programs took part in the survey study. The 18-item Early Intervention Parental Awareness Questionnaire was utilized to assess the participants’ level of awareness. Results: The results of this study suggest face-to-face interaction is needed to increase awareness of services for early childhood intervention amongst the Hispanic population. Conclusion: These findings support the need for increasing recognition of the value of early intervention for children with communication disorders amongst the Hispanic population

A Comparison of Self-Acceptance of Disability between Thai Buddhists and American Christians

Having a disability can significantly change a person’s life in many aspects. Research has shown that people with disabilities collectively have diminished access and fewer opportunities to pursue education, find gainful employment, and engage in intimate relationships. Self-acceptance of disability is, therefore, critical to help build resilience, confidence, and psychological well-being in this population. The purpose of the study was to compare the self-acceptance of disability in international settings, specifically in the context of religions. The sample of the study included 98 Thai Buddhists and 95 American Christians with neuromuscular disorders. Constructs used for the study included demographic characteristics, Hope Scale (Snyder et al., 1991), Future Time Orientation Scale (Gjesme, 1979), Spiritual Well-Being Scale (Paloutzian & Ellison, 1991), and Acceptance of Disability Scale-Revised (Groomes & Linkowski, 2007). The self-acceptance of disability multiple regression model to predict Thai Buddhists shows their spiritual well-being, age, number of years since diagnosis, and sex are significant contributing variables. Significant predictors in the regression model to explain the variance of self-acceptance of disability among American Christians include hope, spiritual well-being, and number of years since diagnosis. Discussion, limitations of the study, and implications are also discussed

Effectiveness of Practicum Supervision as Perceived by Hispanic Undergraduate Rehabilitation Services Students

Practica are integral to the culmination of systematic learning in higher education, particularly in fields such as health sciences and human services. For undergraduate rehabilitation services students, these placements typically mark the first-time students apply textbook knowledge to real life situations. Therefore, effective site supervision is an important part of the undergraduate field experience. The purpose of the present study was to examine the perceived effectiveness of undergraduate rehabilitation services practicum site supervision. The sample consisted of 154 Hispanic undergraduate rehabilitation services students. The findings show that students were satisfied with the supervision they received. Students also rated the competency of their site supervisors to provide effective supervision as high. Suggestions for future research, and implications for rehabilitation services educators and site supervisors are discussed

Employment Outcomes among Individuals with Visual Impairments: The Role of Client Satisfaction and Acceptance of Vision Loss

This study examined the relationship of client satisfaction with the vocational rehabilitation (VR) process and acceptance of vision loss with respect to employment outcomes among former VR clients with visual impairments. Participants were 128 clients of the Michigan Commission for the Blind (MCB) whose cases were closed between fiscal years 2003 and 2004. The results of a logistic regression analysis indicated that participants who reported higher levels of client satisfaction and who focused on their remaining assets (e.g., functions, abilities) after vision loss were more likely to be employed at the time of case closure than their counterparts who did not. Implications for rehabilitation practice and suggestions for future research are provided