How we ripple: the interplay of psychological flexibility, wellbeing and relationship quality

The beneficial links between positive features of romantic relationships and health and wellbeing have been widely explored at both the individual level and the couple level. Deepening our understanding of how wellbeing and relationships are connected can inform interventions designed to facilitate growth in these areas. In addition, a growing body of evidence supports the idea that psychological flexibility is a useful concept in the development of wellbeing interventions. To this end, this thesis seeks to deepen our understanding of how individual wellbeing and psychological flexibility are associated with relationship quality at both the individual and the couple level, through a series of six studies. Studies 1-2 begin by discriminating between commonly used measures of psychological flexibility, wellbeing and relationship quality as a baseline for testing hypothesised associations between these constructs. The findings identified that measures largely represented discrete constructs. Studies 2-5 then formed the basis for understanding structural associations first at the individual and then the dyadic levels, with largely consistent findings. At the individual level, more psychologically flexible people reported higher levels of relationship quality directly and also through the mediating effects of higher positive affect and lower negative affect. Within dyads, psychological flexibility predicted relationship quality at both the actor and partner level two months later. There were variations in the way that affect mediated the relation between psychological flexibility and relationship quality, particularly at the partner level, with negative affect having a more pervasive and enduring impact on partner experiences of relationship quality. Finally, this research concludes with an experimental manipulation of psychological flexibility in study 6. Overall, this research illustrates that a psychologically flexible response style is not only important for individual functioning but also for partner experiences, with implications for relationship functioning over time. The malleability of psychological flexibility makes it an important area for future research as one way in which relationships may be supported both within individual’s themselves and at the dyadic level

How we ripple: The interplay of psychological flexibility, wellbeing and relationship quality

The beneficial links between positive features of romantic relationships and health and wellbeing have been widely explored at both the individual level and the couple level. Deepening our understanding of how wellbeing and relationships are connected can inform interventions designed to facilitate growth in these areas. In addition, a growing body of evidence supports the idea that psychological flexibility is a useful concept in the development of wellbeing interventions. To this end, this thesis seeks to deepen our understanding of how individual wellbeing and psychological flexibility are associated with relationship quality at both the individual and the couple level, through a series of six studies. Studies 1-2 begin by discriminating between commonly used measures of psychological flexibility, wellbeing and relationship quality as a baseline for testing hypothesised associations between these constructs. The findings identified that measures largely represented discrete constructs. Studies 2-5 then formed the basis for understanding structural associations first at the individual and then the dyadic levels, with largely consistent findings. At the individual level, more psychologically flexible people reported higher levels of relationship quality directly and also through the mediating effects of higher positive affect and lower negative affect. Within dyads, psychological flexibility predicted relationship quality at both the actor and partner level two months later. There were variations in the way that affect mediated the relation between psychological flexibility and relationship quality, particularly at the partner level, with negative affect having a more pervasive and enduring impact on partner experiences of relationship quality. Finally, this research concludes with an experimental manipulation of psychological flexibility in study 6. Overall, this research illustrates that a psychologically flexible response style is not only important for individual functioning but also for partner experiences, with implications for relationship functioning over time. The malleability of psychological flexibility makes it an important area for future research as one way in which relationships may be supported both within individual’s themselves and at the dyadic level

Exploring the links between psychological flexibility, individual well-being and relationship quality

The ability to engage flexibly with thoughts and behavior in line with the demands of a situation—termed psychological flexibility—has been linked to individual well-being. This registered report presents two studies that investigate the links between psychological flexibility, individual well-being, and relationship quality. Using structural equation modeling, Study 1 found that people who were more psychologically flexible reported higher levels of positive affect and lower levels of negative affect, which in turn were associated with higher relationship quality. Using dyadic mediation analysis, Study 2 replicated and extended these findings in a sample of 200 romantic couples, revealing both actor and partner effects. This research offers insight into the implications of psychological flexibility for relationship functioning

Prevalence and cumulative incidence of food hyper-sensitivity in the first 10 years of life

Background - Prevalence, incidence and natural history of food hypersensitivity (FHS) and its trends in an unselected cohort of older children are unclear.Methods - A birth cohort born on the Isle of Wight (UK) between 2001 and 2002 was followed up prospectively. Children were clinically examined and skin prick tested at set times and invited for food challenges when indicated. At 10 years of age, children were also invited for a blood test.Results - A total of 969 children were recruited at 12 weeks of pregnancy, and 92.9%, 88.5%, 91.6% and 85.3% were assessed at 1, 2, 3 and 10 years. Prevalence of sensitization to any allergen over 10 years was 186 of 969 (19.2%; 95% CI: 16.84–21.8) and 108 of 969 (11.2%; 95% CI: 9.31–13.29) children were sensitized to at least one predefined food allergen. Excluding wheat (due to cross-reactivity with pollen), 40 of 969 (4.1%; 95% CI: 3.19–5.32) children were sensitized to a predefined food allergen. Using food challenges and/or a good clinical history, the cumulative incidence of food hypersensitivity (FHS) in the first decade of life was 64 of 947 (6.8%, 95% CI: 5.2–8.4), while the prevalence of FHS at 10 years was 30 of 827 (3.6%, 95% CI: 2.54–5.15). The vast majority, 25 of 827 (3.0%, 95% CI: 1.8–4.2), suffered from IgE-mediated food allergy, while 5 of 827 (0.6%, 95% CI: 0.07–1.3) had non-IgE-mediated food allergy/food intolerance.Conclusions - By the age of 10 years, 6.8% of children suffered from FHS based on food challenges and a good clinical history. There was a large discrepancy between reported and diagnosed FHS

Very low prevalence of IgE mediated wheat allergy and high levels of cross-sensitisation between grass and wheat in a UK birth cohort

BackgroundPatients often report adverse reactions to wheat. Interpretation of sensitization to wheat pollen and flour with/without sensitization to grass pollen is a clinical problem.AimWe set out to determine the prevalence of wheat allergy in a birth cohort (10/11 year olds) and investigate the usefulness of performing skin prick tests (SPT), specific IgE tests and component resolved diagnostics to wheat pollen and flour.MethodsThe Food Allergy and Intolerance Research (FAIR) birth cohort included babies born on the Isle of Wight (UK) between September 2001–August 2002 (n = 969). Children were followed up at 1, 2, 3 and 10/11 years. 588 children had SPTs to wheat pollen and grass during the 10 year follow-up. 294 children underwent further SPT to wheat flour and 246 had specific IgE testing to wheat and grass.ResultsEight children underwent oral food challenges (OFC). We diagnosed 0.48 % (4/827; 95 % CI 0–1 %) children with wheat allergy based on OFC. 16.3 % (96/588) were sensitized to grass pollen, 13.4 % (79/588) to wheat pollen; 78 % (75/96) sensitized to both. Only one child was sensitized to wheat flour and wheat pollen, but not grass pollen. For specific IgE, 15.0 % (37/246) and 36.2 % (89/246) were sensitized to wheat and grass pollen, with 40.5 % (36/89) sensitized to both. Of the 37 children sensitized to wheat, 3 (8.1 %) were sensitized to omega 5 gliadin, 1 (2.7 %) to wheat lipid transfer protein and 1 to wheat gliadin.ConclusionClinicians should be aware of the high level of cross-sensitization when performing tests to wheat and grass pollen i.e. sensitisation to wheat specific IgE and wheat pollen SPT should be assessed in the presence of grass pollen SPT and/or specific IgE

Exploring the links between psychological flexibility, individual well-being and relationship quality

The ability to engage flexibly with thoughts and behavior in line with the demands of a situation—termed psychological flexibility—has been linked to individual well-being. This registered report presents two studies that investigate the links between psychological flexibility, individual well-being, and relationship quality. Using structural equation modeling, Study 1 found that people who were more psychologically flexible reported higher levels of positive affect and lower levels of negative affect, which in turn were associated with higher relationship quality. Using dyadic mediation analysis, Study 2 replicated and extended these findings in a sample of 200 romantic couples, revealing both actor and partner effects. This research offers insight into the implications of psychological flexibility for relationship functioning

Very low prevalence of IgE mediated wheat allergy and high levels of cross-sensitisation between grass and wheat in a UK birth cohort

BackgroundPatients often report adverse reactions to wheat. Interpretation of sensitization to wheat pollen and flour with/without sensitization to grass pollen is a clinical problem.AimWe set out to determine the prevalence of wheat allergy in a birth cohort (10/11 year olds) and investigate the usefulness of performing skin prick tests (SPT), specific IgE tests and component resolved diagnostics to wheat pollen and flour.MethodsThe Food Allergy and Intolerance Research (FAIR) birth cohort included babies born on the Isle of Wight (UK) between September 2001–August 2002 (n = 969). Children were followed up at 1, 2, 3 and 10/11 years. 588 children had SPTs to wheat pollen and grass during the 10 year follow-up. 294 children underwent further SPT to wheat flour and 246 had specific IgE testing to wheat and grass.ResultsEight children underwent oral food challenges (OFC). We diagnosed 0.48 % (4/827; 95 % CI 0–1 %) children with wheat allergy based on OFC. 16.3 % (96/588) were sensitized to grass pollen, 13.4 % (79/588) to wheat pollen; 78 % (75/96) sensitized to both. Only one child was sensitized to wheat flour and wheat pollen, but not grass pollen. For specific IgE, 15.0 % (37/246) and 36.2 % (89/246) were sensitized to wheat and grass pollen, with 40.5 % (36/89) sensitized to both. Of the 37 children sensitized to wheat, 3 (8.1 %) were sensitized to omega 5 gliadin, 1 (2.7 %) to wheat lipid transfer protein and 1 to wheat gliadin.ConclusionClinicians should be aware of the high level of cross-sensitization when performing tests to wheat and grass pollen i.e. sensitisation to wheat specific IgE and wheat pollen SPT should be assessed in the presence of grass pollen SPT and/or specific IgE

Factors influencing uptake of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) immunization in site-dwelling Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (G&T) communities: a qualitative study of G&T parents' beliefs and experiences

Background: Increasing immunization in the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (G&T) community is a key priority for improving health outcomes in this community. This study aimed to explore G&T parents: (1) beliefs about childhood immunization; (2) beliefs about the risks of immunization and nonimmunization; (3) perceived obstacles to, and facilitators of, immunization and (4) views on increasing immunization levels. Method: A cross-sectional, qualitative study was conducted comprising of five focus groups with 16 site-dwelling G&T women with pre-school aged children. Data were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. Results: Five main themes were identified: 1 Lay understandings of causation and risk; 2 Timing of immunization; 3 Children being perceived as vulnerable; 4 The fit between lifestyle and healthcare provision; 5 The impact of living with a high burden of disease. Conclusion: Understanding of the risks and benefits of measles, mumps and rubella immunization did not differ significantly from the wider population or those promoted by the health service. The majority of barriers stemmed from living with the effects of long-standing health inequalities, which posed further barriers to accessing immunization, and shaped beliefs about immunization. Factors facilitating uptake occurred where access to immunization services was made flexible, e.g. immunization on traveller sites

Teaching Writing: a situated dynamic

publication-status: Publishedtypes: ArticleThe paper is theoretically grounded in Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) which holds that human development is founded within participation in social and cultural practices. In particular, the teaching of literacy is shaped not only by the curriculum as designated by policy makers and the institution in which it is located but also by the individuals’ understanding of what literacy and learning involves and how they act to achieve their goals. The paper explores data from a project that investigated the relationship between classroom talk and the teaching of writing in six early years classrooms. Participants’ own understandings of teaching and learning need to be taken into account by researchers and policy makers. CHAT has been used to explore the dynamic relationship between activity at societal, institutional and individual levels. It is argued that researchers and policy makers need to take account of the wider socio-cultural context in planning and evaluating curriculum development initiatives