An Evaluation of the Methodist Children\u27s Home GAP Program

Methodist Children’s Home’s (MCH) GAP Program provides services for grandparents raising their grandchildren. This single case study explores whether the services provided by the GAP Program will reduce the risk factors for grandparents raising their grandchildren while increasing their ability to care for the child in a way that will promote well-being in today’s complex world. The literature shows some challenges for these grandparents include: role ambiguity, limited legal rights, lack of resources, inadequate living arrangements, employment and retirement, health issues, and outdated parenting skills and disciplinary methods. Protective factors for grandparents include: adaptive coping skills, self-care, positive relationships, support, and access to resources. The well-being of the grandchildren can be negatively affected by the level of attention they are receiving from their grandparents, maladaptive behaviors and coping skills, a sense of fear of abandonment and feeling unwanted, as well as a lack of support. Protective factors for these children include strong support systems, stability, feeling loved, and being around family. Being placed with their grandparents can provide felt-safety, improvements in school, as well as positive personality and behavioral characteristics. Successful interventions for this population include in-home services, case management, and group interventions. This single case study supports that the GAP Program has the ability to reduce the stress levels for grandparents and increase the competence in parenting

Bildungsinnovationen in Zeiten von Corona: Was eine Eule mit einer Schatztruhe und einem iPad zu tun hat

Die Autorin stellt in ihrem Beitrag den "EduThon 2020: Transfer together" vor und zeigt damit einen Weg aus der mangelnden Digitalisierung in deutschen Schulen auf, die in Zeiten von Corona noch einmal an Brisanz gewonnen hat

Impression Management during Evaluation and Psychological Reactions Post-donation of Living Kidney Donors

Many healthcare providers have been concerned about the extent to which potential kidney donors use impression management or concealment of important information regarding their medical history, current functioning, or other circumstances that could affect whether they are accepted as donors. To date, however, there has been very little empirical examination of these questions. It is also not known whether donors\u27 use of impression management pre-donation is related to their reactions and adjustment post-donation. Methods This study surveyed 76 individuals who had donated a kidney one to six yr previously regarding their use of impression management and their concealing of information during their psychological evaluations. They were also asked about their reactions to the donation and whether they would make the same decision again. In addition, 21 of these donors participated in focus groups that explored these questions in depth. Results Many of the kidney donors reported that they possessed very strong motivation to donate and consequently used impression management in their interactions with medical professionals pre-donation. Very few donors, however, indicated that they concealed information during their pre-donation evaluations. The donors\u27 psychological reactions post-donation were generally positive, and nearly all indicated that they would make the same decision again

Vertrauensvolle interprofessionelle Kooperation in inklusiven Grundschulen

Der Beitrag geht der Frage nach, wie eine vertrauensvolle Zusammenarbeit mit der Ausgestaltung interprofessioneller Kooperationen von Lehr- und Fachkräften in Grundschulteams zusammenhängt. Zunächst wird die Bedeutung von Vertrauen in der Zusammenarbeit als Voraussetzung für interprofessionelle Kooperation behandelt und anschließend durch die Darstellung und Diskussion quantitativer Ergebnisse eines Forschungs- und Entwicklungsprojektes zur interprofessionellen Kooperation in inklusiven Grundschulen konkretisiert. Die Studienergebnisse zeigen, dass die befragten Lehr- und Fachkräfte (n=208) enger und intensiver zusammenarbeiten, je stärker das Vertrauensniveau im Kollegium ausgeprägt ist. Schlussfolgernd sollten Fort- und Weiterbildungsangebote für Lehr- und Fachkräfte inklusiver Grundschulen auch die Entwicklung, Aufrechterhaltung und Intensivierung einer vertrauensvollen interprofessionellen Kooperation unterstützen

Kidney transplantation in childhood: mental health and quality of life of children and caregivers

Our objective was to assess the mental health and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in children and their parents after renal transplantation (TX) compared to healthy controls and children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and to identify possible health status variables associated with impaired mental health and HRQOL. Thirty-eight TX children with a median age of 13 (range 3–19) years were investigated. Mental health was assessed by the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) 4.0 Generic Core Scales and the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ-20). Each mother’s own mental health and QOL were assessed by the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-30) and the Quality of Life Scale (QOLS). Forty children with ALL [median age 11 (8.5–15.4) years] and 42 healthy children [median age 11 (8.9– 15) years] served as controls. Treadmill exercise results from 22 of the 38 patients were included in the analysis. TX children showed significantly higher levels of mental health problems and lower HRQOL at 2 to 16 years after transplantation compared to both control groups. Body mass index and maximal oxygen uptake (n = 22/38) were significant predictors of child mental health (SDQ) and child QOL (PedsQL), respectively. Based on these results, we suggest that rehabilitation after TX should include a focus on physical activity and QOL to reduce interconnected physical and psychological morbidity in kidney TX children

Multiple dimensions of health locus of control in a representative population sample: ordinal factor analysis and cross-validation of an existing three and a new four factor model

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Based on the general approach of locus of control, health locus of control (HLOC) concerns control-beliefs due to illness, sickness and health. HLOC research results provide an improved understanding of health related behaviour and patients' compliance in medical care. HLOC research distinguishes between beliefs due to Internality, Externality powerful Others (POs) and Externality Chance. However, evidences for differentiating the POs dimension were found. Previous factor analyses used selected and predominantly clinical samples, while non-clinical studies are rare. The present study is the first analysis of the HLOC structure based on a large representative general population sample providing important information for non-clinical research and public health care.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The standardised German questionnaire which assesses HLOC was used in a representative adult general population sample for a region in Northern Germany (N = 4,075). Data analyses used ordinal factor analyses in LISREL and Mplus. Alternative theory-driven models with one to four latent variables were compared using confirmatory factor analysis. Fit indices, chi-square difference tests, residuals and factor loadings were considered for model comparison. Exploratory factor analysis was used for further model development. Results were cross-validated splitting the total sample randomly and using the cross-validation index.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A model with four latent variables (Internality, Formal Help, Informal Help and Chance) best represented the HLOC construct (three-dimensional model: normed chi-square = 9.55; RMSEA = 0.066; CFI = 0.931; SRMR = 0.075; four-dimensional model: normed chi-square = 8.65; RMSEA = 0.062; CFI = 0.940; SRMR = 0.071; chi-square difference test: p < 0.001). After excluding one item, the superiority of the four- over the three-dimensional HLOC construct became very obvious (three-dimensional model: normed chi-square = 7.74; RMSEA = 0.059; CFI = 0.950; SRMR = 0.079; four-dimensional model: normed chi-square = 5.75; RMSEA = 0.049; CFI = 0.965; SRMR = 0.065; chi-square difference test: p < 0.001). Results were confirmed by cross-validation. Results based on our large community sample indicated that western general populations separate health-related control-beliefs concerning formal and informal assistance.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Future non-clinical HLOC studies in western cultures should consider four dimensions of HLOC: Internality, Formal Help, Informal Help and Chance. However, the standardised German instrument needs modification. Therefore, confirmation of our results may be useful. Future research should compare HLOC structure between clinical and non-clinical samples as well as cross-culturally.</p

Ethische Dimensionen Inklusiver Bildung

Für multiprofessionelle Kita- und Schulteams ergeben sich bei der Implementierung inklusiver Bildungsangebote vielfältige ethische Fragen. Die Beiträge dieses Bandes behandeln zentrale ethische Dimensionen der Inklusion sowie ihre anwendungsorientierten Implikationen für die (früh-)pädagogische Praxis. Im ersten Teil werden grundlegende ethische Prinzipien erörtert, der zweite Teil lotet ethische Spannungsfelder inklusiven Handelns aus und der dritte Teil beleuchtet ethische Fragestellungen, die sich in der Ausbildung von Lehr- und Fachkräften für inklusive Bildungseinrichtungen stellen