Self-reported sources of social support : comparing young people with foster and residential care experiences to their non-care peers

The aim of this thesis is to compare sources of social support reported by young people in care with those reported by young people in the general population. The stressor specific model of social support (Wilcox and Vernberg 1985) is used in this explorative and descriptive study. The Social Support Measure for Adolescents was devised to examine young people's reported sources of support to particular stressors. The measure was examined for validity and reliability, using cluster analysis on 100 young people in the general population, and the test-retest method on a sample of 62 students. Fifty young people in care were interviewed using the SSMA, while 100 young people in the comparison group filled in the questionnaire. Furthermore, a subset of 15 young people with care experiences were followed up three to six months after the first interview. Demographical data was obtained from both samples relating to living arrangements, education, employment and social relationships. In addition, young people in care were asked about their care histories and reasons for entry into care. Statistical analyses revealed marked differences in reported sources of support, with young people in care mentioning more numerous, and more different sources, while the young people in the comparison group consistently mentioned members of their affiliative network: parents and friends. The findings suggest that only the young people in care report using particular support sources for specific stressors, supporting the stressor specific model. Furthermore, friendships are viewed differently in the two groups, with the in-care group reporting fewer sharing and reciprocal friendships. Conclusions are presented, highlighting that relationship development in the in-care group differed from the comparison group, as the young people in the comparison group embedded their support needs within their emotional relationships, while the in-care group relied on less intimate, more pragmatic sources. Gaps in the research on social support and on adolescence are discussed. Finally, some policy and practice implications of the findings are presented

There’s just huge anxiety: ontological security, moral panic, and the decline in young people’s mental health and well-being in the UK

This study aims to critically discuss factors associated with a recent dramatic rise in recorded mental health issues amongst UK youth. It draws from interviews and focus groups undertaken with young people, parents and professionals. We offer valuable new insights into significant issues affecting young people’s mental health and well-being that are grounded in their lived experiences and in those who care for and work with them. By means of a thematic analysis of the data, we identified an increase in anxiety related to: future orientation, social media use, education, austerity, and normalization of mental distress and self-harm. We apply the notion of ontological security in our interpretation of how socio-cultural and political changes have increased anxiety amongst young people and consequent uncertainty about the self, the world and the future, leading to mental health problems. There are also problems conceptualizing and managing adolescent mental health, including increased awareness, increased acceptance of these problems, and stigmatisation. We relate this to the tendency for moral panic and widespread dissemination of problems in a risk society. In our conclusion, we highlight implications for future research, policy and practice

Addressing Religion and Spirituality in Psychotherapy: Clients\u27 Perspectives

Twelve adult clients described the role of religion and spirituality in their lives and in therapy as a whole, as well as their specific experiences of discussing religious-spiritual topics in individual outpatient psychotherapy with nonreligiously affiliated therapists. Data were analyzed using Consensual Qualitative Research (CQR; Hill, Thompson, & Williams, 1997). Results indicated that clients were regularly involved in religious-spiritual activities, usually did not know the religious-spiritual orientation of their therapists, but often found them open to such discussions. Specific helpful discussions of religion-spirituality were often begun by clients in the 1st year of therapy, were related to clients\u27 presenting concerns, were facilitated by therapists\u27 openness, and yielded positive effects. Specific unhelpful discussions were raised equally by clients and therapists early in therapy, made clients feel judged, and evoked negative effects. Implications for practice and research are addressed

Tight focusing of plane waves from micro-fabricated spherical mirrors

We derive a formula for the light field of a monochromatic plane wave that is truncated and reflected by a spherical mirror. Our formula is valid even for deep mirrors, where the aperture radius approaches the radius of curvature. We apply this result to micro-fabricated mirrors whose size scales are in the range of tens to hundreds of wavelengths, and show that sub-wavelength spot sizes can be achieved. This opens up the possibility of scalable arrays of tightly focused optical dipole traps without the need for high-performance optical systems.Comment: 8 pages, 5 color figures, 1 .sty file; changes made in response to referee comments; published in Optics Expres