Stronger together than apart: The role of social support in adopting a healthy plant-based eating pattern.

The influence of the social environment on health behaviors is well documented. In recent years, there is mounting evidence of the health benefits of a plant-based eating pattern, yet little is known about how the social environment impacts the adoption of a plant-based eating pattern, specifically. In this convergent parallel mixed-methods study, we analyzed quantitative survey data and qualitative focus group data to assess how social support impacted participants of a lifestyle medicine intervention focused on the adoption of a plant-predominant eating pattern. Regression analysis of survey data showed a positive association between positive social support and healthy plant-based eating, while no association was found between negative social support and healthy plant-based eating. Focus groups yielded further insights into how positive aspects of social relationships with family and friends facilitated the adoption of plant-predominant eating among participants. Qualitative findings also showed the ways in which negative social support hindered progress to adopt a plant-predominant eating pattern including not eating the same foods as participants, being judgmental about new dietary behaviors, and encouraging participants to eat non-plant-based foods. Taken together, social support appears to be an important factor for individuals adopting a plant-predominant eating pattern. Future research is needed to explore mechanisms to enhance positive social support while mitigating negative aspects of social relationships for individuals participating in similar lifestyle medicine interventions that emphasize on plant-predominant eating.

Friends' Perspective: Young Adults' Reaction to Disclosure of Chronic Illness.

Chronic illness can negatively impact adolescents' and young adults' social support. Social support can buffer the negative impact of living with chronic illness. The purpose of this study was to test the acceptability of a hypothetical message to promote social support after a recent diagnosis of a chronic illness. Young adults (18-24; m = 21.30; N = 370), the majority of which were Caucasian, college-students, and female, were asked to read one of four vignettes and to imagine this situation happened while they were in high school. Each vignette contained a hypothetical message from a friend diagnosed with a chronic illness (cancer, traumatic brain injury, depression, or eating disorder). Participants answered forced-choice and free-response questions asking about the likelihood they would contact or visit the friend, and feelings about receiving the message. A general linear model was used to assess quantitative results, and qualitative responses were coded using the Delphi coding method. Participants responded positively, reporting a high likelihood to contact the friend, and feeling glad to receive the message regardless of vignette viewed; however, those who read the eating disorder vignette were significantly more likely to express discomfort. In qualitative responses, participants described positive emotions associated with the message and desire to support the friend. However, participants reported significantly greater discomfort with the eating disorder vignette. The results provide evidence for the potential of a short, standardized disclosure message to promote social support following chronic illness diagnosis with some additional considerations for those recently diagnosed with an eating disorder.

United we thrive: friendship and subsequent physical, behavioural and psychosocial health in older adults (an outcome-wide longitudinal approach).

AIMS: Three factors converge to underscore the heightened importance of evaluating the potential health/well-being effects of friendships in older adulthood. First, policymakers, scientists, and the public alike are recognizing the importance of social relationships for health/well-being and creating national policies to promote social connection. Second, many populations are rapidly aging throughout the world. Third, we currently face what some call a 'friendship recession'. Although, growing research documents associations between friendship with better health and well-being, friendship can also have a 'dark side' and can potentially promote negative outcomes. To better capture friendship's potential heterogeneous effects, we took an outcome-wide analytic approach. METHODS: We analysed data from 12,998 participants in the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) - a prospective and nationally representative cohort of U.S. adults aged >50, and, evaluated if increases in friendship strength (between t0; 2006/2008 and t1; 2010/2012) were associated with better health/well-being across 35 outcomes (in t2; 2014/2016). To assess friendship strength, we leveraged all available friendship items in HRS and created a composite 'friendship score' that assessed the following three domains: (1) friendship network size, (2) friendship network contact frequency and (3) friendship network quality. RESULTS: Stronger friendships were associated with better outcomes on some indicators of physical health (e.g. reduced risk of mortality), health behaviours (e.g. increased physical activity) and nearly all psychosocial indicators (e.g. higher positive affect and mastery, as well as lower negative affect and risk of depression). Friendship was also associated with increased likelihood of smoking and heavy drinking (although the latter association with heavy drinking did not reach conventional levels of statistical significance). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that stronger friendships can have a dual impact on health and well-being. While stronger friendships appear to mainly promote a range of health and well-being outcomes, stronger friendships might also promote negative outcomes. Additional research is needed, and any future friendship interventions and policies that aim to enhance outcomes should focus on how to amplify positive outcomes while mitigating harmful ones.

Peer effects on health-related behaviours of adolescents in Scotland using social network analysis: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Previous research suggests that adolescent norms and behaviours may be influenced by peers. The aim of this study was to investigate social clustering of health outcomes among school friendship groups. METHODS: Cross-sectional surveys were collected from Oct 26, 2022, to March 30, 2023, in four secondary schools in Scotland's central belt, and all Secondary 2 (12-13 years) and Secondary 4 (14-15 years) students were invited to take part. Schools self-selected into the study, between 6% and 27% had a free school meal registration (Scotland average 25%). The survey asked about health and about friendships in school. The outcomes of interest were binary indicators of: mental health and self-esteem using validated scales, smoking, drinking without parents knowing (DWPK), and trying drugs. Ethics approval for the study was given by the University of Glasgow (200190035) and all participants gave consent via an online form. We used Auto-Logistic Actor Attribute Models (ALAAMs) to model the association between features of individuals' social networks and their health outcomes. We specified a model for each health outcome separately including parameters: indegree, outdegree, and simple contagion, and combined using meta-analysis. FINDINGS: Response rate was 74% (n=1097; 50% boys, 46% girls, 4% other). Based on self-report measures, 40% participants had poor mental health, 15% had low self-esteem, 6% smoked regularly, 4% tried drugs, and 18% were drinking without parents knowing. Preliminary unadjusted analysis found evidence of social contagion for mental health. Odds of poor mental health for each additional friend with poor mental health was 1·15 (95% CI 1·05-1·26). There was no evidence of contagion for self-esteem (1·13, 0·95-1·34), smoking (1·14, 0·46-2·82), DWPK (0·88, 0·71-1·10), and having tried drugs (0·91, 0·38-2·19). Some networks had low or zero prevalence of the outcomes, increasing the uncertainty in the pooled estimate for the contagion parameter. INTERPRETATION: A cross-sectional study cannot differentiate between social contagion and selecting similar friends, and low prevalence and social desirability bias might have masked associations. However, the unique combination of social network data with advanced statistical modelling gives initial findings on the potential communicable nature of mental health and health behaviours in adolescence. Preliminary results indicate preventive approaches in schools could benefit from social network methods. FUNDING: Medical Research Council (MRC) and Chief Scientist Office (CSO).

Relações de amizade nos transtornos alimentares: revisão integrativa da literatura / Friendship relationships in eating disorders: an integrative literature review / Relaciones de amistad en los trastornos alimentarios: revisión integradora

Ainda é desconhecido o papel da amizade enquanto constitutiva da rede de apoio social nos transtornos alimentares (TAs). Esta revisão integrativa teve por objetivo analisar a produção científica sobre relações de amizade em pessoas com TAs. Foram consultadas as bases PubMed/MEDLINE, LILACS, PsycINFO, Web of Science e EMBASE, de 2010 a 2020. Dos 1126 artigos recuperados, 15 preencheram os critérios de elegibilidade. A maioria tem abordagem qualitativa e delineamento transversal, sem indicar referencial teórico. Aspectos qualitativos das relações de amizade foram associados com redução da frequência e intensidade de sintomas quando o vínculo era considerado de boa qualidade. Já amizades que envolviam comentários depreciativos e influências negativas acerca do corpo e hábitos alimentares foram considerados fatores de risco para desencadeamento dos transtornos. Investir na qualidade dos relacionamentos entre pares pode contribuir para fortalecer a rede de proteção social e reduzir a vulnerabilidade psicossocial de adolescentes com risco para desenvolver TAs. (AU)

There is still little knowledge about the role of friendship within the social support network in eating disorders (EDs). This integrative review aimed to analyze the scientific production about friendship relationships in people with EDs. The literature review was conducted using the PubMed/MEDLINE, LILACS, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases in the period from 2010 to 2020. Among the 1126 articles retrieved, 15 met the eligibility criteria, most with a qualitative approach and cross-sectional design, without indicating a theoretical framework. The qualitative aspects of friendship were associated with a reduced frequency and intensity of symptoms when the bond was considered to be of good quality. On the other hand, friendships that involved derogatory comments and negative influences related to body image and eating habits emerged as potential risk factors for triggering disorders. Investing in the quality of peer relationships can contribute to strengthening the social safety net and reducing the psychosocial vulnerability of adolescents at higher risk for developing EDs. (AU)

El papel de la amistad como constitutiva de la red de apoyo social en los trastornos alimentarios (TAs) es aún desconocido. Este estudio tiene como objetivo analizar la producción científica sobre las relaciones de amistad en personas con TAs. Se consultaron las bases PubMed/MEDLINE, LILACS, PsycINFO, Web of Science e EMBASE, entre 2010 y 2020. De los 1126 artículos recuperados, 15 cumplían los criterios de elegibilidad. La mayoría tiene enfoque cualitativo y diseño transversal, sin indicar el marco teórico. Los aspectos cualitativos de las relaciones de amistad se asociaron con una menor frecuencia/intensidad de los síntomas cuando el vínculo se consideraba de buena calidad. Amistades que implicaban comentarios despectivos e influencias negativas sobre el cuerpo y los hábitos alimentarios se consideraron factores de riesgo. Invertir en la calidad de las relaciones entre pares puede contribuir a reforzar la red de protección social y reducir la vulnerabilidad de adolescentes con riesgo de desarrollar TAs. (AU)

Histórias de lésbicas irmanadas em uma confraria em Belo Horizonte (MG) / Stories of lesbians joined in a "queer confraternity" in the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil / Historias de lesbianas unidas en una cofradía de entendidas en la ciudad de Belo Horizonte, Brasil

Resumo Este artigo apresenta histórias de uma Confraria de lésbicas hoje idosas que viveram a juventude na cidade de Belo Horizonte. O objetivo é descrever como um grupo de lésbicas se constituiu em uma Confraria a partir do final dos anos 1970 e início dos 80 e, partindo dessas experiências, refletir sobre a invisibilidade lésbica à luz da heteronormatividade. Utilizando o conceito de estigma, busca-se captar os elementos que mantiveram essa geração de mulheres homossexuais entre o gueto, o armário e a invisibilidade, bem como conhecer as alternativas adotadas para estabelecer suas relações homoafetivas. Os dados coletados nas entrevistas em profundidade trazem à tona as estratégias adotadas para a construção de suas identidades e dos territórios seguros que lhes permitiram vivenciar seus desejos homoeróticos e se sociabilizarem entre iguais. Os guetos encontrados ou por elas construídos proporcionaram a vivência de seus proibidos afetos e a criação de longevos e persistentes laços de amizade que se consolidaram em uma potente rede de apoio entre elas na velhice.

Abstract This article presents stories of a fraternity of lesbians now elderly who lived their youth in the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The objective here is to describe how a group of lesbians formed a fraternity from the late 70's and early 80's, and departing from their experiences, reflect on lesbian invisibility in the light of heteronormativity. We use the concept of stigma to capture the elements that kept the generation of homosexual women between the ghetto, the closet and invisibility, as well as to learn about the alternatives adopted by them to establish amorous relationships with other women. The data collected in the in-depth interviews bring to light the strategies adopted by to construct their identities and safe territories that allowed them to experience their homoerotic desires and socialize among equals. The ghettos found or built by them provided the experience of their forbidden affections and the creation of long-lived and persistent bonds of friendship that ended up consolidated in a powerful support network among them in old age.

Resumen Este artículo presenta historias de una Cofradía de lesbianas hoy ancianas que vivieron su juventud en la ciudad de Belo Horizonte. El objetivo es describir cómo un grupo de lesbianas constituyó una Cofradía desde finales de los años 70 y principios de los años 80 y, a partir de sus experiencias, reflexionar sobre la invisibilidad lésbica a la luz de la norma y del concepto de estigma, captando los elementos que mantuvieron a la generación de mujeres homosexuales entre el gueto, el armario y la invisibilidad, así como conociendo las alternativas adoptadas para la constitución de sus relaciones homoafectivas. Los datos recogidos en las entrevistas ponen profundamente de manifiesto las estrategias adoptadas para la construcción de sus identidades y de los territorios seguros que les permitieron experimentar sus deseos homoeróticos y socializar entre iguales. Los guetos proporcionaron la vivencia de sus afectos prohibidos y la creación de lazos de amistad duraderos y persistentes que se consolidaron en una poderosa red de apoyo entre ellas en la vejez.

Forças-valores orientadoras do grupo de estudos e pesquisas em enfermagem, corpo e saúde / Fuerzas-valores orientadoras del grupo de estudios e investigaciones en enfermería, cuerpo y salud / Guiding strength-values of the study and research group in nursing, body and health

Objetivo: refletir sobre as forças-valores orientadoras do grupo de estudos e pesquisas em enfermagem, corpo e saúde. Método: ensaio organizado em três linhas reflexivas que versam sobre o trabalho em equipe, amizade e a tríade enfermagem, corpo e saúde. Resultados: O grupo de estudos e pesquisas desenvolve atividades de ensino e investigativas sobre a formação dos trabalhadores da saúde e produz conhecimentos sobre os cuidados de enfermagem em articulação interdisciplinar no campo da saúde. Considerações finais: as forças-valores orientadoras do referido grupo são: união, trabalho em equipe, integração dos membros nas atividades e alcance de objetivos coletivos. A amizade estimula a confiança para troca de ideias, facilita a comunicação, diminui a possibilidade de falhas na execução das ações e, assim a enfermagem, o corpo e a saúde são objetos basilares da produção de saberes científico do grupo.

Objetivo: reflexionar sobre los valores-fortalezas rectores del grupo de estudio e investigación en enfermería, cuerpo y salud. Método: ensayo organizado en tres líneas reflexivas que tratan sobre el trabajo en equipo, la amistad y la tríada enfermería, cuerpo y salud. Resultados: El grupo de estudio e investigación desarrolla actividades de docencia e investigación sobre la formación de trabajadores de la salud y produce conocimientos sobre el cuidado de enfermería en articulación interdisciplinaria en el campo de la salud. Consideraciones finales: los valores-fortalezas rectores del grupo son: la unión, el trabajo en equipo, la integración de los miembros en las actividades y el logro de los objetivos colectivos. La amistad favorece la confianza para el intercambio de ideas, facilita la comunicación, reduce la posibilidad de fallas en la ejecución de las acciones y, así, la enfermería, el cuerpo y la salud son objetos básicos de la producción de conocimiento científico del grupo.

Objective to reflect on the guiding values-strengths of the study and research group in nursing, body and health. Method: essay organized into three reflective lines that deal with teamwork, friendship and the nursing, body and health triad. Results: The study and research group develops teaching and research activities on the training of health workers and produces knowledge about nursing care in interdisciplinary articulation in the field of health. Final considerations: the group's guiding values-strengths are: union, teamwork, integration of members in activities and achievement of collective objectives. Friendship encourages trust for the exchange of ideas, facilitates communication, reduces the possibility of failures in the execution of actions and, thus, nursing, the body and health are basic objects of the group's production of scientific knowledge.

Pediatric Brain Tumor Survivors' Understanding of Friendships: A Qualitative Analysis of ADOS-2 Interview Responses.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric brain tumor survivors (PBTS) are at risk of experiencing social competence challenges, but only a limited number of studies have used a qualitative approach to understand their social relationships. We examined PBTS responses to social interview questions within the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, 2nd edition (ADOS-2), which includes questions related to their understanding of their own relationships, as well as the construct of friendship more generally. METHODS: Twenty-four PBTS (ages 9-17 years; M = 14.2 years from diagnosis; 50% male; 42% received radiation treatment) completed the ADOS-2. ADOS-2 social interview responses were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Themes were derived using an inductive thematic analysis approach. RESULTS: PBTS reported that they considered trust, acceptance, respect, emotional support, and spending time together to be important aspects of friendships in general. When describing their own social relationships, some PBTS noted a lack of intimacy or closeness, spending time with their friends almost exclusively at school, with structured activities outside of school being an additional basis for friendship. Challenges to their social relationships included loneliness and reliance on family for social support, experiences of teasing and bullying, social skills deficits, and lack of insight into social situations. CONCLUSION: Although PBTS were able to acknowledge many important qualities of friendships in general (e.g., trust, emotional support), these were not necessarily reported in their own friendships. PBTS also appeared to have difficulty identifying whether someone was their friend. These findings offer potential opportunities for supporting PBTS in achieving friendships consistent with their conception of this important relationship.

Remembering Friends: Exploring the Bereavement Support Needs of Teenagers and Young Adults Experiencing the Death of a Friend in the Cancer Setting.

Introduction: Bereavement is often difficult for adolescents to cope with particularly when the death experienced is a friend due to cancer, while the young person is undergoing their own cancer treatment. There is limited research on this specific type of bereavement. The Teenage & Young Adult (TYA) team at The Christie in Manchester recognized the complicated nature of bereavement in this cohort and identified the need to research this area further. Methods: A mixed method research strategy was used to explore bereavement experiences of young people, gathering qualitative and quantitative data from a TYA bereavement advisory group and an online survey. Inductive thematic analysis was used to establish themes from the qualitative data. Results: Data from the advisory group and survey elicited four main themes: prevalence and emotional impact; maintaining and valuing friendships; communication and conversations; and support and space to grieve. Young people experienced multiple exposures to death, long-term emotional reactions, reflections on mortality, and fears of making new friendships. How a death was communicated was difficult, and bereavement support was lacking. Young people want a formalized bereavement service, provided by specially trained staff, and their own "space" to grieve. Conclusion: Young people in this study highlight the complicated nature of bereavement when their friend dies, while undergoing their own cancer treatment. Bereavement support is essential at the time of a death. TYA services bring young people together for peer support so more emphasis needs to be focused on providing bereavement support to reduce the risk of young people experiencing long-term psychological difficulties and negative outcomes later in life.

Questions and emotional expressions from patients and companions while participating in multidisciplinary tumor conferences in breast and gynecological cancer centers.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate (a) how many questions and negative emotions (cues/concerns) breast and/or gynecologic cancer patients and companions express during their case discussion in multidisciplinary tumor conferences (MTCs), (b) with which topics the emotions are linked, and (c) which patient- and context-related characteristics determine patients' communicative behavior. METHODS: This observational study included audio/video recordings of MTCs with patient participation in three breast and gynecological cancer centers. Using the Verona Coding Definitions of Emotional Sequences, patients' and companions' questions and negative emotions expressed were analyzed. Multiple regression analyses were used to determine associations between communicative behavior and patient- and context-related characteristics. RESULTS: We identified 607 questions and 230 cues/concerns expressed by patients/companions in 82 case discussions in MTCs. The number of questions was significantly associated with the hospital. In case discussions with patients who had need for psychological support and who were accompanied, more questions were asked by patients/companions. CONCLUSION: The results show that active patient participation does not depend only on patient characteristics, but also on the hospital setting. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: If cancer centers want to enable patient participation in MTCs, they must define the role of the patient before. Subsequently, conditions must be created to enable this role expectation.

O convívio entre adolescentes em medida socioeducativa de internação / La convivencia entre adolescentes en medida socioeducativa de internamiento / The coexistence between juvenile offenders at a treatment facility

RESUMO. O objetivo desta pesquisa é caracterizar o convívio entre adolescentes em medida socioeducativa de internação, a partir da perspectiva dos adolescentes. Foram realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas com dez adolescentes entre 16 e 18 anos em uma unidade socioeducativa de Porto Alegre. Os dados gerados nas entrevistas foram organizados a partir de uma análise temática de perspectiva êmica, isto é, geraram-se categorias nativas de acordo com a percepção dos participantes. Os adolescentes revelaram que facções criminosas eram o ponto de partida para o estabelecimento de relações amistosas ou de rivalidade; também descreveram um conjunto de normas que configuravam um pacto coletivo a favor de uma ordem institucional. Relações de amizades foram descritas, indicando a confiança e a segurança como facilitador do momento de internação. Houve ainda o relato da ocorrência de relações sexuais consentidas como resultado do longo período de internação. Os resultados indicam, sobretudo, um clima interpessoal hostil que promove o sofrimento psicológico e agrava a situação de vulnerabilidade. Ademais, a convivência entre adolescentes ociosos sem o devido acompanhamento pedagógico favorece a perpetuação de valores e interesses relacionados ao envolvimento com a criminalidade.

RESUMEN. El objetivo de este artículo es caracterizar la convivencia entre adolescentes en medida socioeducativa de internamiento, desde la perspectiva de los adolescentes. Se realizó entrevistas semiestructuradas con diez adolescentes, entre 16 y 18 años, internos en una unidad socioeducativa en Porto Alegre. Los datos generados en las entrevistas fueron tratados a partir de un análisis temático émico, esto és, generando categorías nativas de acuerdo con las percepciones de los participantes. Los adolescentes revelaron que las facciones criminales eran el base para el establecimiento de relaciones de amistad y rivalidad. Describieron también un conjunto de normas que configuraban un pacto colectivo en favor de una orden institucional. Relaciones de amistad fueron retratadas, lo que indica la confianza y la seguridad como facilitadores del tiempo de internación. Había también el relato de relaciones sexuales consentidas en consecuencia del longo período de internación. Los resultados indican un clima interpersonal hostil que promueve el sufrimiento psicológico y empeora la situación de vulnerabilidad. Además, la convivencia entre adolescentes ociosos sin el apoyo pedagógico adecuado favorece la perpetuación de los valores e intereses relacionados con la implicación con la criminalidad.

ABSTRACT. The objective of this research is to characterize the coexistence among adolescents in a juvenile detention facility from their perspective. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten adolescents between 16 and 18 years of age in a social-educational unit in Porto Alegre. The data generated in the interviews were organized based on thematic analysis from an emic perspective, that is, generating native categories according to the perception of the participants. The adolescents revealed that criminal factions were the starting point for the establishment of friendly or rivalry relationships. They also described a set of norms that configured a collective pact in favor of an institutional order. Friendly relationships were described, indicating trust and safety as a facilitator of the moment of deprivation of liberty. There were also reports of consensual sexual relations as a result of the long period of detention. The results mainly indicate a hostile interpersonal climate that promotes psychological suffering and aggravates the situation of vulnerability. Furthermore, the coexistence of idle adolescents without the proper pedagogical following favors the perpetuation of values and interests related to involvement in criminal behaviors.

Escala McGill-UFRGS para avaliação dos grupos de amigos: adaptação e propriedades psicométricas / McGill-UFRGS Scale for evaluation of groups of friends: adaptation and psychometric properties / Escala McGill-UFRGS para la evaluación de los grupos de amigos: adaptación y propiedades psicométricas

O objetivo deste artigo é apresentar o processo de adaptação e as propriedades psicométricas da Escala McGill-UFRGS de avaliação das funções de amizade em grupos de amigos. Participaram do estudo 521 jovens adultos com idades entre 18 e 30 anos (M = 22,68; DP = +-3,21). A estrutura de seis fatores da escala apresentou bons índices de ajuste (CFI = 0,968, TLI = 0,965, RMSEA = 0,067, IC90% = 0,063-0,071) na análise fatorial confirmatória e demonstrou invariância de medida entre gêneros e grupos etários. Os coeficientes de confiabilidade dos fatores da escala foram bons, com alfas de Cronbach variando entre 0,875 e 0,912, e confiabilidade composta variando entre 0,956 e 0,966. A Escala McGill-UFRGS mostra-se uma adaptação válida e confiável para a avaliação das funções de amizade em grupo de amigos entre jovens adultos. (AU)

The purpose of this article was to present the adaptation process and psychometric properties of the McGill-UFRGS Scale for the assessment of friendship functions in peer groups. A total of 521 young adults aged 18 to 30 years (M = 22.68; SD = + 3.21) participated in the study. The six-factor structure of the scale had good fit indices (CFI = 0.968, TLI = 0.965, RMSEA = 0.067, CI90% = 0.063-0.071) in confirmatory factor analysis and demonstrated measurement invariance across sex and age groups. The reliability estimates of the factor scores were good, with Cronbach's alphas ranging from .875 to .912 and composite reliability ranging from .956 to .966. The McGill-UFRGS Scale proved to be a valid and reliable instrument for assessing friendship group functions among young adults. (AU)

El objetivo de este artículo es presentar el proceso de adaptación y las propiedades psicométricas de la Escala McGill-UFRGS para la evaluación de las funciones de amistad en grupos de amigos. Participaron del estudio un total de 521 adultos jóvenes de 18 a 30 años (M = 22,68; DS = +-3,21). La estructura de seis factores de la escala mostró buenos índices de ajuste en el análisis factorial confirmatorio (CFI = 0.968, TLI = 0.965, RMSEA = 0.067, IC90% = 0.063-0.071) y demostró invarianza de medición entre géneros y grupos de edad. Los coeficientes de confiabilidad de los factores de la escala fueron buenos, con alfa de Cronbach oscilando entre 0,875 e 0,912 y confiabilidad compuesta entre 0,956 e 0,966. La escala McGill-UFRGS se presenta como un instrumento válido y fiable para la evaluación de las funciones de amistad en un grupo de amigos entre adultos jóvenes. (AU)

Factors Associated with Serious Injuries among Adolescents in Ghana: Findings from 2012 Global School Health Survey.

INTRODUCTION: Injuries are of public health concern and the leading cause of residual disability and death among teenagers, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In Ghana, the burden of injury among adolescents is under-reported. Hence, the study sought to determine the prevalence of serious injuries (SI) and the potential factors influencing these injuries among school children in Ghana. METHODS: This study was conducted in Ghana among Junior High School (JHS) and senior high school students (SHS) using the 2012 Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS) data. The GSHS employed two-stage cluster sampling method. Serious injuries (SI) and independent factors were measured via self-administered questionnaires. Pearson chi-square test between each explanatory variable and serious injuries was conducted and the level of statistical significance was set at 5%. The significant variables from the chi-square test were selected for multiple logistic regression analysis. Multiple logistic regression was performed to estimate the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) at 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: The prevalence of SI in the past 12 months was 66% [CI=61.8-70.2] . The most common cause of SI was fall, 36%. The common types of injuries were cut/stab wounds and broken/dislocated bone. In the multiple logistic regression analysis, after controlling for other variables, educational level (AOR = 0.64, CI = 0.44-0.90, p < 0.015), suicidal ideation (AOR = 1.58, CI = 1.00-2.48, p < 0.002), suicidal attempt (AOR = 1.88, CI = 1.29-2.72, p < 0.001), having at least one close friend (AOR = 1.49, CI = 1.17-1.89, p < 0.002), school truancy (AOR = 1.66, CI = 1.31-2.09, p < 0.000), smoking marijuana (AOR = 2.64, CI = 1.22-5.69), and amphetamine use (AOR = 2.95, CI = 1.46-5.69) were independently associated with SI. CONCLUSION: The findings of the study established a high prevalence of SI among adolescents in Ghana, with cut/stab wound and broken/dislocated bone being the most reported type of injuries. This study also revealed that factors such as educational level, suicidal ideation, suicidal attempt, at least one close friend, school truancy, smoking marijuana, and amphetamine use are associated with SI among the adolescents. Therefore, pragmatic interventional programs should be targeted at these factors to curb the rate of SI among junior and senior school students.

Not Just Bystanders: A Qualitative Study on the Vicarious Effects of Surgical Training on the Wellness of Support Persons for Trainees.

OBJECTIVE: To obtain insights into the effects of surgical training on the well-being of support persons. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Surgical trainee wellness is a critical priority among surgical educators and leaders. The impact of surgical training on the wellness of loved ones who support trainees has not been previously studied. METHODS: This qualitative study employs semi-structured interviews of 32 support persons of surgical trainees at a single tertiary care center with multiple surgical specialty training programs. Interviews focused on perceptions about supporting a surgical trainee. Transcripts underwent thematic analysis with semantic and conceptual coding. Key themes regarding the effects that caring for a trainee has on support persons are reported. RESULTS: Three key themes were identified: (1) Sacrifices-support persons report significant tangible and intangible sacrifices, (2) Delaying life-life is placed on hold to prioritize training, and (3) A disconnect-there is a disconnect and a lack of recognition of support person needs that require greater awareness and targeted interventions. CONCLUSIONS: The impact of surgical training can extend beyond trainees and can affect the wellness of their support persons who endure the effects of training alongside trainees. Programs should be aware of these effects and develop meaningful strategies to aid trainees and their support persons.

Morality is relative: Anger, disgust, and aggression as contingent responses to sibling versus acquaintance harm.

Angry reactions to moral violations should be heightened when wrongs befall oneself in comparison with when wrongs befall acquaintances, as prior research by Molho, Tybur, Güler, Balliet, and Hofmann (2017) demonstrates, because aggressive confrontation is inherently risky and therefore only incentivized by natural selection to curtail significant fitness costs. Here, in 3 preregistered studies, we extend this sociofunctional perspective to cases of wrongs inflicted on siblings. We observed equivalently heightened anger in response to transgressions against either oneself or one's sibling relative to transgressions against acquaintances across studies, whereas transgressions against acquaintances evoked greater disgust and/or fear (both associated with social avoidance) in 2 of the 3 studies. Studies 2 and 3, which incorporated measures of tendencies to confront the transgressor, confirmed that the elevated anger elicited by self or sibling harm partially mediated heightened inclinations toward direct aggression. Finally, in Study 3 we compared tendencies to experience anger and to directly aggress on behalf of siblings and close friends. Despite reporting greater affiliative closeness for friends than for siblings, harm to friends failed to evoke heightened anger relative to acquaintance harm, and participants were inclined to directly aggress against those who had harmed their sibling to a significantly greater extent than when the harm befell their friend. These overall results broadly replicate Molho et al.'s (2017) findings and theoretically extend the sociofunctionalist account of moral emotions to kinship. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Trends in Social Norms Towards Smoking Between 2002 and 2015 Among Daily Smokers: Findings From the International Tobacco Control Four Country Survey (ITC 4C).

OBJECTIVE: To assess trends in daily smokers' social norms and opinions of smoking between 2002 and 2015 in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. METHOD: Data were from wave 1 (2002) to wave 9 (2013-2015) of the longitudinal International Tobacco Control Four Country Survey (Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia), involving 23 831 adult daily smokers. Generalized estimating equation logistic regression models, adjusted for demographics and survey design effects, assessed associations of wave and country with outcomes: (A) over half of five closest friends smoke, (B) agreeing that people important to you believe you should not smoke, (C) agreeing that society disapproves of smoking, and (D) negative opinion of smoking. RESULTS: Between 2002 and 2015, adjusting for covariates, (A) over half of five closest friends smoke did not change (56% vs. 55%; adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.95 [95% Confidence Interval = 0.85-1.07]), (B) agreeing that people important to you believe you should not smoke generally decreased (89% vs. 82%; AOR = 0.54 [0.46-0.64]) despite an increase around 2006-2007, (C) agreeing that society disapproves of smoking increased between 2002 and 2006-2007 (83% vs. 87%; AOR = 1.38 [1.24-1.54]) then decreased until 2013-2015 (78%; AOR = 0.74 [0.63-0.88]), and (D) negative opinion of smoking decreased between 2002 and 2010-2011 (54% vs. 49%; AOR = 0.83 [0.75-0.91]) despite an increase around 2005-2006 and at the final wave (2013-2015). Except friend smoking, Canada had the greatest, and the United Kingdom the lowest, antismoking social norms and opinions. CONCLUSIONS: Except friend smoking and opinion of smoking, daily smokers' social norms became less antismoking between 2002 and 2015 despite increases around 2006-2007. Several potential explanations are discussed yet remain undetermined. IMPLICATIONS: Increasingly comprehensive tobacco control policies alongside decreasing smoking prevalence in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia have led to the assumption that smoking has become denormalized in these countries. Absent from the literature is any formal assessment of social norms towards smoking over time. Contrary to our hypotheses, this study found that the injunctive social norms of daily smokers became less antismoking between 2002 and 2015, despite increases around 2006-2007. There was no change over time in the proportion of daily smokers who report that over half of their five closest friends smoke.

Social Support, Basic Psychological Needs, and Social Well-Being Among Older Cancer Survivors.

This study examined the contribution of social support and satisfaction of basic psychological needs in predicting social well-being among older cancer survivors, from the perspective of self-determination theory. The sample for this study derived from the third wave of the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States. Participants consisted of 376 cancer survivors who had completed cancer treatment. The results of this study suggested that social support from family members and friends was a significant predictor of social well-being. Satisfaction of the basic psychological needs (autonomy, competence, and relatedness) was a significant predictor of social well-being. The fulfillment of basic psychological needs among older cancer survivors is important to the experience of greater social well-being, a finding that contributes to the development of a dynamic model of motivation, engagement in social activity, and successful reintegration into one's community.

Effect of COVID-19 on delivery plans and postnatal depression scores of pregnant women.

INTRODUCTION: Owing to the coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak Hong Kong hospitals have suspended visiting periods and made mask wearing mandatory. In obstetrics, companionship during childbirth has been suspended and prenatal exercises, antenatal talks, hospital tours, and postnatal classes have been cancelled. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of these restrictive measures on delivery plans and risks of postpartum depression. METHODS: We compared pregnancy data and the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) scores of women who delivered between the pre-alert period (1 Jan 2019 to 4 Jan 2020) and post-alert period (5 Jan 2020 to 30 Apr 2020) in a tertiary university public hospital in Hong Kong. Screening for postpartum depression was performed routinely using the EPDS questionnaire 1 day and within 1 week after delivery. RESULTS: There was a 13.1% reduction in the number of deliveries between 1 January and 30 April from 1144 in 2019 to 994 in 2020. The EPDS scores were available for 4357 out of 4531 deliveries (96.2%). A significantly higher proportion of women had EPDS scores of ≥10 1 day after delivery in the post-alert group than the pre-alert group (14.4% vs 11.9%; P<0.05). More women used pethidine (6.2% vs 4.6%) and fewer used a birthing ball (8.5% vs 12.4%) for pain relief during labour in the post-alert group. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnant women reported more depressive symptoms in the postpartum period following the alert announcement regarding coronavirus infection in Hong Kong. This was coupled with a drop in the delivery rate at our public hospital. Suspension of childbirth companionship might have altered the methods of intrapartum pain relief and the overall pregnancy experience.

Illness perceptions and perceived social support among glioblastoma survivors during hospitalization.

BACKGROUND: Glioblastoma (GBM) is a terminal form of illness. Illness perceptions play vital role in illness behavior and managing the disease. GBM cancer survivor's illness perceptions and their perceived social support is not systematically studied. Therefore, study aimed to understand the illness perceptions and perceived social support of GBM survivors during hospitalization. METHODOLOGY: The study used cross sectional-descriptive research design. A total of 40 GBM survivors were recruited by using convenience sampling method. The Illness Perception Questionnaire Revised (IPQ-R) by Moss-Morris, Weinman et al. (2002), and Perceived Social Support from Family (FSS-Family) and Perceived Social Support from Friends (PSS-Friends) scales by Mary E. Procidano and Kenneth (1983) were administered on recruited participants. Semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect the personal and illness details of participants. Free R software was used to analyse the data. Descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation were calculated on selected variables. RESULTS: Half of the participants 50% (n = 20) did not aware of illness and 50% (n = 20) partially aware of their illness. Past sins 90% (n = 36), personal stress 90% (n = 36), increased work load 65% (n = 26), head Injury/smoking 55% (n = 22), personal dietary habits 50% (n = 20) were attributed as reasons for GBM. Participant's partially believed GBM was life threatening illness, causes emotional disturbances but not aware of consequences of illness. Perceived social support from family members and friends during hospitalization was found to be poor. CONCLUSION: GBM survivor's informational and educational needs were not met adequately. Psychoeducational programmes, addressing negative believes associated with brain cancer and enhancing social support for glioma patients are recommended during hospitalization.

Adolescents with chronic disease and social media: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the attitude of adolescents with chronic diseases toward social media exposure, focusing in particular on Facebook. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: An anonymous semistructured survey was distributed to an Italian hospital-based cohort of adolescents with chronic disease to explore the role of Facebook in their daily life. PATIENTS: We recruited 212 adolescents (aged between 13 and 24 years) with a diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease, coeliac disease, diabetes mellitus type 1 and cystic fibrosis. RESULTS: Two hundred and seven of the 212 (97.6%) expressed the need of sharing their illness experience with friends, 201 out of 212 (94.8%) usually searched information on the internet to find new therapies and to discover their prognosis. One hundred and forty-nine out of 212 adolescents (70.3%) perceived dependence on their parents as the most negative aspect of having a chronic disease, and 200 out of 212 (94.3%) were looking for friends with the same disease on Facebook. Two hundred and ten out of 212 (99.1%) did not want their doctors or nurse on their social media platforms. During the active disease periods, the time spent with social media increased from an average of 5 to 11 hours. CONCLUSIONS: This descriptive analysis focused on the Facebook impact on chronic disease perception among affected adolescents. It showed that they used to spend an increased amount of time on this platform during disease flare-up and highlighted their wish of keeping doctors and nurses away from their social dimension.