Perceived ambidextrous leadership and nurses' mental health: a work-family perspective.

BACKGROUND: Nurses are particularly at risk from stress-related problems and face high mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is critical to pay attention to their mental health status and determine which factors are positively associated with nursing staff mental health from the perspective of work-family. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of perceived ambidextrous leadership on nurses' mental health mediated by work-to-family enrichment and moderated by work climate for sharing family concerns. METHODS: One time-lagged study with three waves was conducted. A total of 358 questionnaires were distributed to registered nurses working at 10 hospitals in Guangzhou, China, and 265 valid questionnaires were returned. The quantitative approach to test hypotheses involves hierarchical regression analyses, the bootstrapping method and the simple slope test. RESULTS: The research indicated that (a) perceived ambidextrous leadership had a positive influence on nurses' work-to-family enrichment; (b) nurses' work-to-family enrichment mediated the relationship between perceived ambidextrous leadership and nurses' mental health; (c) work climate for sharing family concerns moderated the relationship between perceived ambidextrous leadership and nurses' work-to-family enrichment. CONCLUSION: Nursing supervisors' ambidextrous leadership interacted with work climate for sharing family concerns benefit the conservation of nurses' personal resources, which in turn facilitates nurses' work-to-family enrichment and improve their mental health.

Family concerns and relationship problems in anxious pregnant women and their associations with postnatal functional disability in Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE: Expanding on existing research suggesting that strategies to reduce prenatal anxiety can decrease functional disability (e.g., difficulties in performing everyday activities and social participation), we examined if this effect varied by type of anxiety-producing problem (i.e., having family concerns and relationship problems versus other problems) reported during pregnancy. Further, we explored if perceived social support mediated this relationship. METHODS: We used longitudinal data on 310 anxious Pakistani women who received any psychosocial intervention sessions as part of a program that was based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. The Psychological Outcome Profiles (PSYCHLOPS) was used to assess whether women had 'family concerns and relationship problems' or 'other problems.' The WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 assessed functional disability at six-weeks after delivery. Lack of support was measured using a 12-item Multi-dimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. We employed linear regression to examine associations between types of problems reported during pregnancy and postnatal functional disability. Causal mediation analysis was used to assess whether postnatal social support mediated this relationship. RESULTS: Of anxious pregnant women, 34% reported family concerns or relationship problems as primary problems in pregnancy. They were more likely to report higher functional disability at six-weeks after delivery than women who reported other problems (adjusted B = 2.40, 95% CI: 0.83-3.97). Lack of overall social support (Estimateindirect = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.04-1.38) and lack of support from friends (Estimateindirect = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.01-1.29) significantly mediated the relationship. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that complementing pre- and post-natal care with support programs and services that address family concerns and relationship problems, as well as enhancing social support is important to functional disability.

Public/family concerns for providing DNA in missing persons cases: Paper 2: The main concerns raised and implications for policing policy.

Identification of unidentified human remains, and long-term missing persons (LTMP) is imperative, allowing for missing persons to be reunited with their families, which could provide closure to families experiencing ongoing ambiguity surrounding the situation. However, identification remains problematic for several reasons, including the absence of DNA provision in the investigation. The research reported here is the second in a two-part series exploring public/family support for providing DNA in LTMP cases. In the first study, quantitative results showed that participants had concerns when asked if they thought there would be implications for a person providing DNA to police in LTMP cases. The aim of this second study was to explore further using qualitative methods the nuances and themes underpinning concerns for providing DNA in LTMP cases. Participants described their concerns about providing DNA in four hypothetical LTMP case scenarios (a child, an adult with dementia, a runaway 19-year-old adolescent, and an estranged adult). Through thematic content analysis, ten themes were identified. Nine themes run across all four LTMP case scenarios. The tenth theme was only observed in two scenarios; cases involving adolescents with a history of runaway, and in cases involving adults estranged from their family. Results showed public concerns differed according to LTMP case circumstances. Key findings point to public education about how DNA is used in LTMP investigations, the applicable legislation relating to police use of DNA in investigations and increasing public awareness around the benefits of DNA use in LTMP investigations. Potentional policy options are discussed that could guide the future development of nuanced police practice in different types of LTMP cases.

Psychosocial impact of intestinal failure: a familial perspective.

Intestinal failure is a complicated long-term condition that can have profound physical and psychosocial consequences for a patient's life. Hospitalisation can be long, with many distressing and unpleasant medical procedures being endured. Patients often have to deal with large volumes of unmanageable faecal fluid from stomas or fistulae and usually require home parenteral nutrition (HPN) for the remainder of their life. The literature focuses on how patients often have to tolerate long periods of suffering, which can be the basis for significant emotional anguish. It also addresses how the condition can contribute to myriad psychosocial difficulties, which can have devastating effects on their body image and quality of life. However, there is a lack of information regarding the effects of this condition on the family, who not only have to provide ongoing support for the patient, but also have to attempt to function normally while coping with their own fears and emotions. This article reviews the experiences of two patients, father and daughter, living with intestinal failure; it discusses their experiences and reveals how they cope with the physical aspects. It also addresses how the condition can effect psychosocial disturbances, not only for them but for those living closely with them. The article addresses ways that nurses could develop their relationship with the patient, enabling them to recognise and act early on signs of emotional malady.