Skin Deep: Body Image and Interpersonal Relationship Quality in College Women

Abstract: The relationship between body image and interpersonal relationships (of all sorts) in college women is not well understood, as the limited number of available studies focus primarily on marital relationships and fail to address cross-cultural differences. Thus, this study sought to determine how body satisfaction levels might differ between ethnicities in college women. Participants completed the Howard Body Image Relationship Quality Inventory (H-BIRQI) which examined body satisfaction, depression, and demographic variables. Participants were 40 women aged 18-29 (M = 20.30, SD = 2.20). Three null hypothesis and three research questions were tested using a One-Way ANOVA and Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient. Results yielded several statistically significant correlations, some of which include the evidence that as body image satisfaction goes down there is a tendency for quality of interpersonal relationship to increase. Additionally, as body satisfaction increases, depression decreases. Future research should include factors that affect relationship quality as well as a larger sample size

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Stress and Burnout Related Experiences of the Infection Preventionists in the Greater Houston Area

Objective: With many studies revealing that the pandemic created stress and burnout for physicians and nurses, these same stressors could have created mental and emotional challenges for the Infection Prevention staff at healthcare institutions. Efforts are needed to better understand the stress, anxiety, and burnout-related experiences that the pandemic created for these team members who worked in the greater Houston area between March 2020-September 2022. Methods: This qualitative study used focus group sessions to obtain data. Two sessions were held in person and two sessions were hosted virtually. All sessions were audio recorded and transcribed. The transcripts were coded using Nvivo software. The general inductive approach as described by Thomas (2006) was the methodology used to develop the thematic framework from the data. Results: A total of eleven codes were densely represented across all four sessions. From the eleven codes, four themes emerged to help set the framework for the results and serve as the outcome of the study. The four themes are as follows: (1) IP staff experienced drastic changes in their daily workflow, (2) IP staff experienced physiological symptoms and emotions, (3) IP staff supported the emotional state of the healthcare worker staff, and (4) IP staff felt organizational support but were not always direct recipients of appreciation efforts. Conclusion: From the data we see a positive relationship between the impact of the work of the IP on the stress, anxiety, and burnout-related experiences during the pandemic. While the study participants contributed the change in workload to the feelings of stress, anxiety, and burnout, they also commented that the constant changes and the longevity of the pandemic exacerbated these feelings. In some cases, the IP staff developed physiological symptoms in response to the stress. In addition to managing their workload, they also commented that they were thrust into managing the emotions of the staff caring for the patients

African Americans participation and counseling

The purpose of this literature reviewed is to understand African Americans\u27 underutilization of mental health services available to them. It is also important to understand barriers that keep African Americans from seeking mental health services, so this population of people can maintain a healthy life. This review also addresses implications for Caucasian clinicians. The following literature review will explore: The kind of support and treatment African Americans seek or receive to help them with mental health problems, effectiveness of these programs, and barriers to treatment when services are available

SkillsIdentifier: A Tool to Promote Career Identity and Self-efficacy Among Underrepresented Job Seekers

Today\u27s employment applications enable job seekers to improve their skill sets and build social networks with potential employers and colleagues. However, many of these tools cater to higher-educated and relatively affluent job seekers. Research suggests that underrepresented job seekers face challenges associated with articulating their skill sets and understanding those skills\u27 transferability across jobs and might prefer employment tools to address these types of challenges over others. Because such articulation is vital in today\u27s job market, we designed, developed, and evaluated SkillsIdentifier, a tool to assist job seekers in identifying their current skill set. We evaluated the tool with 20 U.S. job seekers and found that it helped to enhance their career identity and self-efficacy. We contribute the empirical results of our evaluation and design implications for supporting these constructs among underrepresented job seekers

Combating Fake News with “Reasonable Standards”

Fake news is an intractable concern around the globe, sowing division and distrust in institutions, and undermining election integrity. This Article analyzes the spectrum of private and public regulation of “fake news” from comparative law and normative perspectives. In the United States, combating fake news shares surprising bipartisan support in an ever-divided political landscape. While several proposals have emerged that would strip Internet media companies of the liability shield for third-party content, it is unlikely that they would survive the seemingly insurmountable First Amendment scrutiny. This Article argues for a different tact—an amendment to the Communications Decency Act that addresses platform design choices rather than speech. In doing so, the Article addresses constitutional concerns of online expression and censorship and demonstrates that a “reasonable standard” is consistent with the existing Internet regulatory framework

Preparing Genetic Counselors for Patient Disclosure of Intimate Partner Violence: An Assessment of an Intervention Toolkit

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) defines intimate partner violence (IPV) as physical, sexual, or psychological harm by a current or former partner or spouse (Breiding, Basile, Smith, Black, & Mahendra, 2015). Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) can occur among heterosexual or same-sex couples and does not require sexual intimacy. Studies conducted by the CDC in 2011 found that IPV affected approximately 29% of women and 10% of men in the U.S. When considering the relationship between IPV disclosure to healthcare providers and the receipt of intervention, McCloskey et al. found that patients who spoke with their healthcare providers about IPV were more likely to utilize interventions such as advocacy groups, shelters and restraining orders (2006). Additionally, the majority of victims who left abusive partners had interventions in place prior to leaving (2006). Despite the ability of healthcare providers to aid victims in leaving abusive relationships, barriers to aid remain. Some common barriers include financial dependency, lack of social or family support and desire to avoid separating children from an abusive parent (Gharaibeh & Oweis, 2009). Resta et al. define genetic counselling is a communicative process, which aims to help individuals, couples and families understand and adapt to the medical, psychological, familial and reproductive implications of the genetic contribution to specific health conditions (Resta et al., 2006) . However, that definition is not representative of the strong psychosocial component of genetic counseling sessions. Genetic counselors often discuss sensitive topics with patients such as family dynamics, personal and family diagnoses, and access to resources. Genetic counseling education also provides genetic counselors with psychosocial knowledge and skills. Domain two of the Accreditation Counsel for Genetic Counseling (ACGC) competencies stresses the importance for genetic counseling students to attain interpersonal, psychosocial and counseling skills within their genetic education program (2015). Some of the skills required by this domain include: employ active listening and interviewing skills to identify, assess, and empathically respond to stated and emerging concerns; promote client-centered, informed, non-coercive and value-based decision-making; and understand how to adapt genetic counseling skills for varied service delivery models. Another role of genetic counselors is to be an advocate for their patients and communities. All of these skills are useful in working with victims of IPV. By creating a safe place for patients, where they can feel heard, genetic counselors build rapport. Providers can dedicate anywhere from 30 minutes to one hour to a patient during a session. This may provide adequate time for patients to disclose IPV, and for genetic counselors to access hospital/department resources such as social workers and security. Furthermore, some patients may see the same genetic counselor, or the same genetic counseling department several times depending on the nature of their clinical situation. For example, a woman with an ultrasound anomaly may keep coming back for the same ultrasound. This may provide enough time and encounters between patient and counselor for the patient to gain enough trust in a counselor to disclose IPV. To determine if patients would feel comfortable to be asked about IPV by a genetic counselor, Chen et. al surveyed 50 patients about IPV disclosure Sixty-eight percent of patients felt comfortable having IPV asked about and 78% of patients felt comfortable having IPV addressed by a genetic counselor in a genetics session. In an unpublished follow up study, genetic counselors were asked about their feelings about IPV disclosure. With over 200 genetic counselors taking the survey, the majority of genetic counselors supported including IPV screening questions into their practice. In addition, over 1/3 of those genetic counselors who took the survey had experienced IPV disclosure during a session. Additionally, the majority of these individuals did not feel properly equipped to handle the disclosure. Systematic reviews of UK IPV screening tools found that several short screening tools were valid and reliable for use in healthcare settings (Feder et al., 2009). The HITS (Hurts, Insults, Threatens and Screams) scale had the best predictive power (sensitivity ranged from 86% to 100%, specificity ranged from 86% to 99%), concurrent and construct validity (r ranged from 0.75 to 0.85, p \u3c 0.001) and reliability (Cronbach’s alpha ranged from 0.61 to 0.80), with a suitable cut-off score. Similarly, a systematic review identified 11 trials (including 13,027 participants in total) assessing the effect of universal, routine IPV screening of women in healthcare settings, without subsequent intervention beyond information giving, safety planning or referral that was offered to women immediately following suspicion (O’Doherty et al., 2014). The study found that screening increased the identification of women who had experienced IPV, but identification was still low compared with estimated prevalence rates. There is currently a debate about whether universal or targeted screening would be more effective at helping identify victims of IPV (Valpied & Hegarty, 2015). More targeted identification strategies involve asking victims about IPV if they present with psychosocial or physical symptoms that often occur as a result of IPV, or are in a high-risk category. Psychosocial “risk factors” for asking about IPV include anxiety, depression, eating, or panic disorders, alcohol abuse, suicide ideation or attempts and self-harm. There are various situational and physical signs of abuse as well. Based on observations and questions genetic counselors ask during genetic counseling sessions, it seems they are in an excellent position to recognize these signs in a patient

Designing Technology to Support Safety for Transgender Women & Non-Binary People of Color

This work provides a preliminary understanding of how transgender women and non-binary people of color experience violence and manage safety, and what opportunities exist for HCI to support the safety needs of this community. We conducted nine interviews to understand how participants practice safety and what role technology played, if any, in these experiences. Interviewees expressed physical and psychological safety concerns, and managed safety by informing friends of their location using digital technologies, making compromises, and avoiding law enforcement. We designed U-Signal, a wearable technology and accompanying smartphone application prototype to increase physical safety and decrease safety concerns, reduce violence, and help build community.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154051/1/StarksDesigningTechnology.pdfDescription of StarksDesigningTechnology.pdf : Main articl

Educating Nurses on Mental Fatigue

Education correlates with nurse performance and avoiding mental fatigue. This project attempted to answer the question, “Educating nurses on mental fatigue will increase knowledge” focusing on educating rehabilitative nurses regarding mental fatigue. The project was guided by the Analysis, Design, Develop, Implement, and Evaluate model. Twenty rehabilitative nurses were administered a pretest consisting of 10 multiple-choice test questions. They received education on mental fatigue through PowerPoint presentations and handouts. After completing the education, participants were administered a posttest with the same 10 questions. An evaluation tool consisting of six questions was completed measuring an increase in knowledge after the posttest. The average score on the test before attending the staff education was 40%. The highest score earned was 80%, and the lowest was 10%. After the staff education, the average test score increased to 58.5%. The minimum score after the staff education was 20%, and the maximum score after attending the staff education was 90%, demonstrating increased knowledge. This project has the potential to impact social change as nurses can recognize mental fatigue resulting in enhanced self-care, increased nurse retention, and positive patient outcomes

Opportunities to address information poverty with social search

https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/147350/1/Wheeler et al. Opportunities-address-information-pov CHI LBW2017.pd

Understanding factors of successful engagement around energy consumption between and among households.

ABSTRACT An increasing number of researchers are using social engagement techniques such as neighborhood comparison and competition to encourage energy conservation, yet community reception and experience with such systems have not been well studied. We also find that researchers have not thoroughly investigated how different households use these systems and how their uses differ from one another. We explore these questions in a 4-10 month field deployment of a social-energy monitoring application across 15 households, in two distinct locations. We contribute results that describe conditions under which these techniques were effective and ineffective. Our results imply that understanding factors such as a building, or community's layout, context knowledge of community members, accountability and adherence to social norms, trust, and length of residence are key for future design of social-energy applications