Geographic and psychosocial correlates of homelessness or unstable housing among US veterans in the Midwest.

The purpose of this study was to explore (1) the prevalence of physical and mental health conditions among veterans stratified by homelessness and unstable housing (HUH) in several Midwestern states, and (2) the correlation between HUH and sociodemographic, military, financial, risky behavior, health, and geographical characteristics. The study cohort consisted of 7260 HUH veterans and stably housed veterans in 2018-2022 in Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 23. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed which revealed the strongest associations with HUH were any incarceration experience (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.21) and rural location (AOR = 0.33). Frontier and remote location scores (AOR = 1.23) were associated with increased risk of HUH among veterans. Our results suggest potential differences in risk for HUH among veterans living in rural versus frontier and remote locations, which may be important to consider to provide care to the many veterans in these areas.

Employment and emotional well-being in veterans with mental illness.

The purpose of this study is to examine group differences between employed and unemployed Veterans with mental illnesses utilizing the National Institutes of Health (NIH) emotion toolbox factors including negative affect, psychological well-being, stress, and social relationships. Data was collected from three samples from 2018 to 2020. The first sample (Sample 1) is 156 Veterans with mental illness from Amazon MTurk; the second sample (Sample 2), recruited from a higher education institution, is 232 veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms; and the final sample (Sample 3), recruited from a higher education institution, is 129 Veterans with disabilities, including psychiatric disabilities. Independent-samples t-tests were carried out to test our objectives. Sample 1 results revealed that employed Veterans with mental illnesses had lower levels of depression and stress and higher levels of positive emotion, life satisfaction, meaning in life, and social relationships compared to unemployed Veterans. Sample 2 results revealed that employed Veterans with PTDS symptoms had lower levels of stress and higher levels of positive emotion and lower levels of stress compared to unemployed Veterans with PTSD symptoms. Sample 3 results revealed that employed Veterans with disabilities including psychiatric disabilities had lower levels of depression and higher levels of positive emotion and social relationships. Our findings are consistent with the previous research documenting that employment plays a central role in optimal psychological and physical health in both civilians and veterans.

Stereoselective Synthesis of Fluoroalkanes via FLP Mediated Monoselective C─F Activation of Geminal Difluoroalkanes.

A method of desymmetrization of geminal difluoroalkanes using frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) mediated monoselective C-F activation where a chiral sulfide is the Lewis base component is reported. The stereoselective reaction provides generally high yields of diastereomeric sulfonium salts with dr of up to 95:5. The distribution of diastereomers is found to be thermodynamically controlled via facile sulfide exchange. The use of enantiopure chiral sulfides allows for high stereospecificity in nucleophilic substitution reactions and the formation of stereoenriched products.

Validation of the multiple disability multidimensional attitudes scale toward persons with disabilities.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the psychometric properties of a Multiple Disability Multidimensional Attitudes Scale Toward Persons with Disabilities (MD-MAS), focusing on four types of disabilities: anxiety disorder, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), blindness, and schizophrenia. We developed new vignettes describing the situation of interacting with an individual with each type of disability. RESEARCH METHOD/DESIGN: We recruited 991 participants from a crowdsourcing data collection tool (i.e., Prolific). Participants were randomly assigned to one of four online surveys depending on the disability type. Five MAS models were selected from the previous literature to conduct confirmatory factor analyses (CFA). RESULTS: CFA supported the German model of MAS with a four-factor structure (i.e., calm, negative affect, positive cognition, behavioral avoidance) as a good fit for the MD-MAS for four disability types. High internal consistency was found for four subscales across the disability types. CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS: This study modified the original MAS to assess attitudes toward persons with different types of disabilities. The adequate reliability and fit of the factor structure of the MD-MAS same across the four disability types allow researchers to compare attitudes based on disability types. This will provide significant implications for research and practice in understanding the nature of different attitudes by disability types. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Positive Organizational Psychology Factors as Serial Multiple Mediators of the Relationship between Organization Support and Job Satisfaction Among Peer Support Specialists.

BACKGROUND: Research has demonstrated the effectiveness of peer support specialists in helping people with severe mental illness increase community tenure, decrease hospitalization, boost treatment satisfaction, improve social functioning, and increase quality of life. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate positive organizational psychology constructs as serial multiple mediators of the relationships between perceived organizational support and job satisfaction among peer support specialists. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-one peer support specialists from the Texas statewide peer certification training programs and the National Association of Peer Supporters participated in the present study. These peer support specialists completed an online survey composed of self-report measures related to perceived organizational support, positive organizational psychology factors, and job satisfaction. A serial multiple mediation (SMMA) analysis was conducted to evaluate autonomous motivation to work, work engagement, and organizational commitment as mediators of the relationship between perceived organizational support and job satisfaction. RESULTS: The SMMA model accounted for 49% of the variation in job satisfaction scores (R2 =. 49, f2 = 0.96 [> 0.35], a large effect size). Autonomous motivation to work, work engagement, and organizational commitment were significantly associated with job satisfaction after controlling for the effect of perceived organizational support. CONCLUSIONS: Perceived organizational support increased autonomous motivation to work, work engagement, organizational commitment, and job satisfaction. Peer support specialists are integral members of the interdisciplinary mental health treatment team. Leaders of community-based mental health and rehabilitation agencies who are committed to hire and retain peer support specialists must provide strong organizational support and develop interventions to increase peer support specialists' autonomous motivation to work, work engagement, and organizational commitment as a job retention and career development strategy.

Resilience as a Moderator in the Relationship between Disability Related Stress and Community Participation in Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis.

Resilience can be defined as one's ability to maintain or return to relatively stable psychological and physical functioning despite stressful life events and adversity. For people with multiple sclerosis (MS), building resilience has been shown to contribute to enhanced positive rehabilitation and mental health outcomes. However, there is no literature examining the role of resilience influencing the relationship between disability-related stress and community participation in individuals with MS. The present study aimed to examine the moderating role of resilience between disability-related stress and community participation among people with MS. Our findings suggested that the effect of disability-related stress on community participation was influenced by resilience. Interventions targeting resilience may help individuals effectively cope with MS and increase community participation in meaningful life situations.

The association between hope and employment among individuals with multiple sclerosis: A hierarchical logistic regression model.

BACKGROUND: Most people with multiple sclerosis (MS) are employed at the time of their diagnosis; however, due to the unpredictable nature of MS, most exit the workforce shortly thereafter. A plethora of research has examined factors that negatively affect employment outcomes for people with MS. However, little is known about how hope, a modifiable positive psychology factor, affects employment. OBJECTIVE: This study examined the role of hope and its association with employment outcomes for people with MS. METHODS: Two-hundred and fifty-five adults with MS (mean ± SD age, 45.45 years ± 10.28) completed surveys about their MS, employment, disability-related stress, and hope. A three-step hierarchical logistic regression was conducted to examine the extent to which hope explains the variance in employment, over and above demographic and disability related covariates. RESULTS: The final model explained 28% of the variance in employment, suggesting that the model was able to distinguish people with MS who were employed versus those who were unemployed. Higher levels of hope were associated with an increased probability of being employed (OR = 4.65; 95% CI [1.98, 10.92]). CONCLUSION: This study supports that hope is associated with favorable employment outcomes for people with MS. Persons with MS may benefit from working with rehabilitation professionals to enhance their hope, and this study provides a foundation for the development of hope-based interventions to improve employment outcomes among this population.

The relationship between meaning in life and apathy in people with Parkinson's disease: a cross-sectional analysis.

BACKGROUND: Apathy remains a common and problematic neuropsychiatric feature associated with Parkinson's disease resulting in reductions in health-related quality of life, and effective treatments remain elusive. Meaning in life (MIL) has been implicated in a variety of positive health outcomes, and this study assesses the relationship between apathy and MIL while hoping to identify a potential new interventional target. METHODS: A cross-sectional sample of 237 PwPD completed surveys to evaluate MIL and a variety of non-motor symptoms (NMS), and a hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to evaluate relationships of interest. RESULTS: Correlational analysis indicated the presence of meaning in life was statistically negatively and moderately to strongly correlated with apathy (r = - 0.60, p < .001). Hierarchical regression analysis results showed that presence of meaning in life explained a total of 48% of variance in apathy. More specifically, the presence of meaning in life (ß = - 0.43, p < .001) was associated with apathy after controlling for sociodemographic and other potentially confounding variables. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the significant negative relationship between MIL and apathy. Considering the lack of effective treatments for apathy, which is one of the most disabling symptoms affecting PwPD, identifying a potential target for intervention is exciting. MIL has the potential to offer clinicians a novel intervention to provide a much-needed treatment option to improve both apathy and HRQoL.

Emerging vocational rehabilitation strategies for people with diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: People with diabetes mellitus constitute an emerging vocational rehabilitation (VR) consumer population. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this article is to (a) describe the characteristics and needs of Americans with diabetes mellitus, (b) examine the often devastating effects that this highly prevalent disease of the endocrine system has on employment and career development, and (c) suggest strategies that rehabilitation professionals can use to improve VR services and outcomes. METHOD: Following an overview of the etiology, incidence, prevalence, and impact of this high incidence endocrinological disease, the authors present strategies to meet the service and support needs of Americans with diabetes mellitus across the phases of the VR process. RESULTS: The importance of individualized case planning, employer consultation, workplace accommodations, interface with medical and mental health professionals, and adherence to self-care and symptom management regimens is emphasized throughout the article. CONCLUSION: Diabetes mellitus is an emerging disability that can affect people of any age, one that disproportionally affects people of color and people who live in poverty. Rehabilitation professionals must be prepared to meet the service needs of this growing clientele.

Relations among gratitude, adaptation to disability, and flourishing among adults with disabilities: A longitudinal mediation model.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE: Flourishing, a primary outcome of rehabilitation psychology, is understudied among adults with disabilities. Gratitude has emerged as an individual strength that is both malleable and robust in predicting flourishing and adaptation to disability. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of gratitude on flourishing over time and to analyze the potential mediating role of adaptation to disability on this relationship for a group of adults with disabilities. RESEARCH METHOD/DESIGN: Data were collected at 3 time points over 21 months (N = 429). A single mediator model with external demographic variables was tested to determine the relationship of gratitude (Time 1) with adaptation to disability (Time 2) and flourishing (Time 3). Approximately 40% of the initial sample was retained across all time points. RESULTS: Gratitude predicted later flourishing and adaptation to disability accounted for a significant portion of this relationship, accounting for 27% of the total effect. CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS: Results of this single mediator model indicate that adaptation to disability serves as a partial mediator of the relationship between gratitude and flourishing, with both gratitude and adaptation to disability having a significantly positive influence on flourishing. Understanding gratitude's influence on later adaptation and flourishing provides data to inform rehabilitation psychology interventions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Racial Differences in Associations of Cognitive Health Status With Happiness, Helplessness, and Hopelessness Among Older Adults: An Exploratory Study.

Background: The relationship between healthy and positive aging and dementia and cognitive impairment has received limited attention in the field of aging. Affect impacts cognitive changes and processes, and cognitive impairment is associated with affective comorbidities. The purpose of the study was to examine (a) whether happiness, helplessness, and hopelessness are linked to cognitive health status, and (b) whether these associations differ by race. Methods: Participants were enrollees in the Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center's Clinical Core (ADRC). Average age at baseline was 60.85 (SD = 8.65), 73.70 (SD = 8.02), and 73.80 (SD = 9.59) years for cognitively normal individuals, individuals with MCI, and individuals with dementia, respectively. Results: In the full sample, chi-square test results revealed associations between Cognitive Health Status (CHS) and (a) happiness, χ2(2) = 6.06, p < 0.05, (b) helplessness, χ2(2) = 6.44, p < 0.05, and (c) hopelessness, χ2(2) = 14.11, p < 0.01. Conclusion: This study provides support for the association of both positive and negative affect with cognitive health status in middle- to older-aged adults.

Examining the Role of Resilience and Hope in Grit in Multiple Sclerosis.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of resilience and hope on grit when controlling for demographic covariates, depression, and anxiety in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). This was a cross-sectional study with a sample of 348 participants with MS. Descriptive statistics were performed to examine participants' demographic characteristics. A three-step hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the extent to which resilience and hope explain the unique variance in grit while controlling for demographic covariates, depression, and anxiety. Findings suggested that resilience and hope explained a significant amount of variance in grit when controlling for demographic covariates, depression, and anxiety. Furthermore, higher resilience and hope scores were associated with higher grit scores. Given that resilience, hope, and grit are modifiable, rehabilitation and mental health professionals (e.g., psychologists, psychiatrists, rehabilitation counselors) can integrate strength-based interventions into their practices to bolster resilience, hope, and grit in people with MS. Our paper also has implications for interdisciplinary research and clinical practice.

Measuring COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among college students with disabilities: Sociodemographic and psychological correlates of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to explore characteristics of vaccine hesitancy and behaviors among college students with disabilities. Participants and Methods: Participants consisted of 105 college students with disabilities (Mage=26.82, SD = 8.42), and a majority of participants were female (69.5%) and Hispanic (85%). Results: No demographic differences were observed in vaccine hesitancy scores in this sample. Those who do not know where to get reliable information about COVID-19 vaccination had higher scores on vaccine hesitancy than those who know how to obtain reliable information; and participants who had a negative experience with a previous vaccination also had higher scores of vaccine hesitancy. Additionally, findings demonstrated COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy scores were negatively associated with openness to experience personality trait and COVID-19-related perceived stress. Conclusions: Implications provide additional insight into factors associated with vaccine hesitancy among college students with disabilities.

Character Strengths Across Disabilities: An International Exploratory Study and Implications for Positive Psychiatry and Psychology.

The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in character strengths for people with disabilities by using an international dataset by the VIA Institiute on Character. Specifically, we aimed to explore (a) the top and bottom five character strengths reported by different disability groups and all people with disabilities more broadly, and (b) group differences in each character strength and total character strengths. The investigator contacted the VIA Institute on Character (http://www.viacharacter.org/) for obtaining the dataset for the current study. After data cleaning, our sample size resulted in 11,699 people with disabilities. Among most people with disabilities, the top five character strengths scores were love of learning, honesty, appreciation of beauty and excellence, kindness, and fairness. The bottom five character strengths scores were self-regulation, perseverance, zest, spirituality, and prudence. Knowing that there is heterogeneity in character strengths across groups gives us a better understanding of the areas that people with different disabilities and conditions might thrive and provides clinicians and practitioners with a more nuanced understanding for how to possibly intervene with their clients. Positive psychiatry and psychology implications are discussed.

A serial mediation model of gratitude on life satisfaction in people with multiple sclerosis: The intermediary role of perceived stress and mental health symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Although prior research has explored the role of gratitude in individuals with disabilities, there is relatively limited research examining the positive influence of gratitude in decreasing psychological distress, promoting mental health, and ultimately improving well-being in the multiple sclerosis (MS) population. The study aimed to examine the cumulative mediating effect of perceived stress and mental health between gratitude and life satisfaction among people with MS. METHODS: This study was cross-sectional. Participants were 373 individuals with MS. Descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, and a serial mediation analysis were performed in this study. RESULTS: Gratitude was negatively associated with perceived stress and mental health symptoms, and was positively associated with life satisfaction. Perceived stress was positively associated with mental health symptoms and negatively associated with life satisfaction. Mental health symptoms were negatively associated with life satisfaction. The findings demonstrated that the relationship between gratitude and life satisfaction was partially mediated by perceived stress and mental health symptoms in individuals with MS. CONCLUSIONS: Findings provided implications on integrating gratitude interventions when working with people with MS. By increasing gratitude levels in people with MS, this may in turn lead to reduced perceived stress and mental health symptoms, which in turn may enhance their life satisfaction.

Is Gratitude Associated With Suicidal Ideation in Veterans With Mental Illness and Student Veterans With PTSD Symptoms?

ABSTRACT: The present study is aimed to identify the effect of gratitude as an adaptive regulating mechanism from suicidal ideation (SI) for veterans with mental illness (study 1) and student veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms (study 2) in the United States. Descriptive statistics and regression analyses were used to examine sociodemographic characteristics and relationships between gratitude and SI. Our study 1 consisted of 156 veterans with mental illness. The mean age for study 1 was 37.85. Our study 2 consisted of 232 student veterans with PTSD symptoms. The mean age for study 2 was 28.43. Higher gratitude scores in study 1 and study 2 were significantly associated with lower SI scores after adjusting for demographics and depression. This study partially supports the association between gratitude and SI in veterans with mental illness. Based on the results from this study, gratitude interventions may be effective in reducing SI when working with veterans with mental illness.

Prediction of labour onset in women who present with symptoms of preterm labour using cervical length.

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of preterm labour is difficult because initial symptoms and signs are often mild and may occur in continuing pregnancies. This study aims to investigate the utility of measuring cervical length, using transvaginal ultrasound, in women presenting to the delivery suite with symptoms of preterm labour. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study performed in KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore from September 2017 to July 2018. Women with singleton pregnancies, presenting with symptoms of contraction pain, between 24+ 0 to 36+ 6 weeks gestation, were included. Transvaginal ultrasound cervical length measurements were done at presentation to the labour ward, after four hours and in the following morning. The primary outcome of the study was delivery within 1 week. All statistical analyses were conducted with Microsoft Excel and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. RESULTS: A total of 95 subjects were included. A one-millimeter increase in the 1st cervical length increases scan-to-delivery time by 0.802 days (p-value 0.003, CI 0.280-1.323). Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis for prediction of delivery within 1 week showed an Area Under Curve (AUC) of 0.667, optimal cut-off value of 27.5mm (sensitivity 77.8 %, specificity 61.6 %). A one-millimetre increase in the 3rd cervical length increases scan-to-delivery time by 0.770 days (p-value 0.023, CI 0.108-1.432). ROC curve analysis for prediction of delivery within 1 week showed an AUC of 0.915, optimal cut-off value of 25.5mm (sensitivity 100 %, specificity 73.6 %). However, the change in cervical length over a period of 1 day was not significant in predicting delivery within 1 week. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that by using a cervical length cut off of 27.5mm at presentation, we would have predicted 77.8 % of deliveries within 1 week. If we were to repeat the cervical length scan the next day, with the same cut-off of 27.5mm, we would have predicted 100 % of deliveries within 1 week. In our study, measuring the transvaginal ultrasound cervical length is a reliable diagnostic test for delivery within 1 week. However, the results are limited by the small sample size. Further studies should be conducted with a larger sample size.

Psychometric validation of the Job Satisfaction of Persons with Disabilities Scale in a sample of peer support specialists.

OBJECTIVE: The primary purpose of the study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Job Satisfaction of Persons with Disabilities Scale in a sample of peer support specialists. METHOD: A total of 121 employed peer support specialists with lived experience of a serious mental health condition were recruited for this study from statewide peer certification training programs and the International Association of Peer Supporters. Respondents completed an online survey on job satisfaction and related constructs. A principal components analysis was used to explore and identify the instrument subscales. RESULTS: The findings identified 2 factors: (a) the 9-item job satisfaction with intangible benefits factor and (b) the 5-item job satisfaction with tangible benefits factor. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The Job Satisfaction of Persons with Disabilities Scale demonstrates good-to-excellent psychometrics. The use of this scale among peer support specialists within training and supervision practices in psychiatric rehabilitation settings is warranted. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Measuring grit in veterans with mental illnesses: Examining the model structure of grit.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the model structure, reliability, and validity of the Grit-S for veterans with mental illnesses. Method: A total of 156 veterans with mental illnesses (Mage = 37.85, SD = 10.74) were recruited from Amazon MTurk to complete an online survey consisting of the Short Grit Scale (Grit-S), the Brief Resilience Scale, the PERMA-Profiler, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule II. Results: Results revealed that grit is a multidimensional construct in veterans with mental illnesses. The Grit-S was found to have acceptable reliability and concurrent validity. Grit was found to be negatively associated with functional disability in veterans with mental illnesses after controlling for demographic variables. Conclusions and Implications: The Grit-S is a multidimensional, reliable, and valid scale for measuring grit in veterans with mental illnesses. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Pain intensity and mental health quality of life in veterans with mental illnesses: the intermediary role of physical health and the ability to participate in activities.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the intermediary role of physical health quality of life and ability to participate social roles and activities in the relationship between pain intensity and mental health quality of life in veterans with mental illnesses. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional correlational design study. Our participants are 156 veterans with self-reported mental illness (Mage = 37.85; SDage = 10.74). Descriptive, correlation, and mediation analyses were conducted for the current study. RESULTS: Pain intensity was negatively correlated with physical health QOL, ability to participate in social roles and activities, and mental health QOL. Physical health QOL and ability to participate in social roles and activities were positively associated with mental health QOL, respectively. Physical health QOL was positively correlated with a ability to participate in social roles and activities. Study results indicate that the effect of pain intensity on mental health QOL can be explained by physical health QOL and ability to participate. CONCLUSIONS: Specific recommendations for practitioners include implementing treatment goals that simultaneously focus on physical health and ability to participate in social roles and activities for clients who present with both physical pain and low mental health QOL.