Social isolation consequences: lessons from COVID-19 pandemic in a context of dynamic lock-down in Chile.

BACKGROUND: Chile did not adopt general and unified lockdowns for the whole nation but organized itself with dynamic and sometimes irregular lockdowns. These dynamics and consequences of social isolation could be generalized to other contexts of isolation such as those affecting minorities such as immigrants, prisoners, refugees. METHODS: In this study, we investigated the physical and mental health symptoms associated with lifestyle changes due to lockdown among university students in Chile. We examined psychopathological variations in relation to mental health problems in a healthy young population. Our goal was to develop interventions to address these new psychosocial problems in potentially comparable post-pandemic contexts. From May 10th 2021 to June 2th 2021, 420 University students took part in an anonymous survey asking for information on habits and symptoms that emerged during the lockdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Three health outcomes were assessed: digestive disorders; headache; fear of COVID-19. Covariates including conditions and lifestyle during the pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 infections in the family, financial situation and productivity were considered in the analysis. RESULTS: Participants experienced headache and fear of COVID-19 quite frequently during the lockdown period. More than half of the sample also experienced social isolation. Female gender, sleep quality, memory difficulties, and a change in eating habits resulted associated with an increased risk of health outcomes such as headaches and digestive disorders. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study fit within an original pandemic context: The results of this study can help identify needs and promote solutions applicable to different contexts. Future interventions should focus on the promotion and implementation of healthy habits focused on sleep hygiene, psychoeducation on the use of mobile devices and gender medicine with the support of healthcare organizations and University.

COVID-19 Aftermath: Exploring the Mental Health Emergency among Students at a Northern Italian University.

In this study, we investigated the symptoms of physical and mental health associated with lifestyle changes due to a lockdown among the students of a university in Northern Italy, one of the most affected areas in Europe during the first wave of COVID-19. We examined the psychopathological variations in relation to mental health problems in a young population. The goal was to develop interventions to resolve these new psychosocial problems. From June to July 2020, students participated in an anonymous survey asking about habits and symptoms that emerged during the lockdown and the COVID-19 pandemic. Five health outcomes were assessed: digestive disorders; headaches; fear of COVID-19; panic and anxiety crises; and depression/sadness. The conditions and duration of the social isolation, lifestyle, SARS-CoV-2 infection in the household, financial situation, and productivity were considered in the analysis. A total of 3533 students completed the survey. The participants experienced headaches, depression and sadness, digestive disorders, a fear of COVID-19, and anxiety/panic crises. The duration of isolation was associated with an increased risk of digestive disorders, headaches, and COVID-19 fear. The female gender, medium-intense telephone usage, sleep quality, memory difficulties, and performance reduction were associated with an increased risk of the health outcomes. Future interventions should focus on promoting and implementing different habits with the support of health and university organizations.

Factor structure of a standards-based inventory of competencies in social work with groups.

PURPOSES: This study extends previous findings on a measure of competencies based on Standards for Social Work Practice with Groups. The Inventory of Competencies in Social Work with Groups (ICSWG) measures confidence in performing the Standards. This study examines the latent structure of the Inventory, while illuminating the underlying structure of the Standards. METHODS: A multinational sample of 586 persons completed the ICSWG. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA), reliability estimates, standard error of measurement estimates, and a range of validity tests were conducted. RESULTS: The EFA yielded a six-factor solution consisting of core values, mutuality/connectivity, collaboration, and three phases of group development (planning, beginnings/middles, endings). The alphas were .98 for the scale and ranged from .85 to .95 for the subscales. Correlations between the subscales and validators supported evidence of construct validity. DISCUSSION: The findings suggest key group work domains that should be taught and practiced in social work with groups.

Evidence for optimism: behavior therapies and motivational interviewing in adolescent substance abuse treatment.

This article reviews behavior therapies, motivational interviewing interventions, and combined behavioral-psychosocial therapies across 34 peer-reviewed publications. Studies were included if they involved youth with alcohol and other drug (AOD) use, included measures of AOD outcomes, and used controlled research designs with a control or comparison condition. The level of empirical support of the interventions was evaluated using established guidelines. The article determined that behavior therapies were "probably efficacious," and motivational interviewing interventions easily met the criteria for "promising." Because of small sample sizes, combined behavioral-psychosocial therapies marginally met the criteria for "promising." The findings from this article underscore the value of individual and group behavior therapies and motivational interviewing in helping reduce mild to serious AOD use among adolescents.

A critical review of adolescent substance abuse group treatments.

OBJECTIVE: Evidence-based social work requires the use of interventions that are supported by good research evidence. This article reviews the empirical research on adolescent alcohol and other drug (AOD) abuse group treatments. Despite the popularity of group work, searches of the academic literature yielded only 13 adolescent group treatments for which AOD use outcomes have been reported. These treatments and the studies that evaluated them are systematically reviewed. METHOD: Methodological, efficacy rating, and treatment factor criteria are applied to these studies. RESULTS: Statistically significant reductions in pre-, post-, and/or follow-up use rates of one or more substances were reported for 10 of the 13 reviewed treatments, but only two met Chambless and Hollon's (1998) criteria for "possible efficacy." Similarities between the two possibly efficacious treatments, as well as among the three treatments with no indication of positive outcomes are described. A major limitation of the studies overall was the lack of group treatment factor descriptions and analyses. CONCLUSION: If the state of the science is to advance, adolescent AOD group treatment researchers must improve study designs and reporting on group-related treatment factors. Based on the limited information provided, treatment factors and/or active ingredients that may distinguish effective vs. ineffective group work are discussed. Finally, the evidence suggests that group work is a viable modality for treating adolescent AOD abuse despite recent concerns to the contrary. Recommendations for advancing the state of the science are made.

Perceptions of sex offenders about treatment: satisfaction and engagement in group therapy.

Surveying the views of sex offender clients can help ensure that treatment is relevant and responsive to client needs. The purpose of this exploratory study is to elicit sex offender clients' perceptions of their experiences in treatment in order to better understand the components of treatment perceived to be helpful in preventing reoffense. Samples (N = 338) of male sex offenders in outpatient group therapy are found to be generally satisfied with treatment services and have positive perceptions of treatment effectiveness. Offenders in treatment value the role of group therapy, and they find accountability, victim empathy, relapse prevention, and "good lives" concepts to be most helpful in managing their behavior. Their engagement in group therapy is assessed using the Group Engagement Measure, and a positive correlation is found between engagement and treatment satisfaction. Eliciting client opinions about the helpfulness of program content and process, and adjusting treatment protocols accordingly, is consistant with the principles of risk, need, and responsivity, a model recommended for therapeutic interventions with criminal offenders.

Iatrogenic Effects of Group Treatment on Adolescents with Conduct and Substance Use Problems: A Review of the Literature and a Presentation of a Model.

Group therapy is the most popular approach in the treatment of adolescent substance use problems. Recently, concerns have mounted about possible iatrogenic effects of group therapy based on studies on adolescents with conduct disorder. This paper reviews three possible contributors to response to group treatment among adolescents, and proposes a model of the relations among these variables, specifically in regard to how they independently and interactively contribute to outcomes among youth with conduct and substance use problems.

Engagement, denial, and treatment progress among sex offenders in group therapy.

This study investigates the relationship between engagement, denial, and treatment progress among a sample of 61 male sex offenders in outpatient group therapy. Three hypotheses were posed: (1) that denial is inversely related to engagement in group therapy; (2) that denial is inversely related to treatment progress, and (3) that engagement is correlated with treatment progress. Results revealed a strong correlation between engagement in group therapy, measured by the Group Engagement Measure, and sex offender treatment progress, assessed by the Sex Offender Treatment Rating Scale. Denial, measured by the Facets of Sexual Offender Denial Scale, demonstrated a strong inverse relationship to treatment progress. Engagement and denial were also strongly inversely related. Together, engagement and denial explained a significant amount of the variance in treatment progress. The findings provide support for current standards of practice that maintain that admitting to a sex crime is a necessary condition for progress and engagement in treatment. Strategies for increasing engagement and treatment progress, and reducing denial, are discussed.

Increasing the cultural responsiveness of family group conferencing.

Child welfare struggles to manage child abuse and neglect and to seek permanency for children, while being culturally responsive to the communities it serves. Family group conferencing, piloted in New Zealand and now used in the United States and other countries, is a strengths-based model that brings together families and their support systems to develop and carry out a plan that protects, nurtures, and safeguards children and other family members. This article describes the model and a culturally competent method for assessing and adapting the model for the African American, Cherokee, and Latino/Hispanic communities in North Carolina.