Children as next of kin's experiences, practices, and voice in everyday life: a systematic review of studies with Norwegian data (2010-2022).

Aims: This systematic review aims to identify and describe how children of parents with mental illness, substance dependence, or severe physical illness/injury, experience and practise their everyday life. Methods: The review followed the four stepwise recommendations of Harden and colleagues when including quantitative and qualitative studies on peoples' experiences and views. In all, 23 studies with data from Norway (2010-2022) have been included. Brown and Clark's thematic analysis was applied. Results: Three themes were constructed from the reviewed articles: (a) Children practice their relational agency by actively doing practical tasks, occasionally jobs to maintain family economy, and organising fun activities with the ill parent. (b) Emotional ambivalence when their own needs were set aside in favour of the parents. They loved their parents but also felt guilt, anger, disappointment, shame, fear of inheriting the illness and longed for a 'normal' everyday life. (c) Supportive contextual factors were, for example, at least one significant adult recognising them, participating in leisure activities, socialising with friends, and talking with other peers who shared similar experiences as next of kin. Obstructive factors were lack of information and recognition as well as silence and lack of dialogue within the family and/or health professional. Conclusions: There is a strong need for more knowledge and competence on the situation and needs of these children when it comes to professionals, parents and the public. Public health initiatives are needed to honour their agency and recognise their contributions in present time to prevent psychosocial problems later in life.

From public health to public good: Toward universal wellbeing.

We aim to consolidate recent trends in public health into a reconceptualization of the field as public good. We build on several strands of theory, research and action to formulate a more impactful future for the field. Our argument comprises three main parts. In the first part, we describe the central components of the proposed public good: conditions of justice, experiences of mattering, and outcomes of subjective and objective wellbeing. In the second section, we identify continua of practices that paint a trajectory from traditional public health to ecological and participatory public health, to universal wellbeing framed as a public good. The continua are defined in terms of assumptions, practices and roles. Among others, these continua pertain to capabilities, scope of the field, ecological focus, timing of intervention, role of citizen, role of professional, role of settings and role of government. Finally, the third section introduces a series of strategies and recommendations to make the narrative of universal wellbeing as public good a reality.

Health Promotion and Identity Construction in Norwegian Kindergartens - A Qualitative Study on Children with and without Disabilities.

This article focuses on how children, independent of abilities, create healthy identities and spaces in kindergarten,and is based on a qualitative CGT-study carried out in Norwegian Kindergartens. Data sources include Life-forminterviews with 24 children, with and without disabilities. Children placed health in the context of their daily-lifeexperiences. They underlined the importance of aspiring to social well-being and creating healthy spaces throughinternally driven physical exertion and child-controlled activities. Children described how they relate to the staff?srestrictions and legal requirements as "the staff" versus "we, the children?. They advocate for the staff?sengagement in play and activities. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10643-022-01382-7.

«If you give them your little finger, they'll tear off your entire arm¼: losing trust in biobank research.

Why do some people withdraw from biobank studies? To our knowledge, very few studies have been done on the reflections of biobank ex-participants. In this article, we report from such a study. 16 years ago, we did focus group interviews with biobank participants and ex-participants. We found that the two groups interestingly shared worries concerning the risks involved in possible novel uses of their biobank material, even though they drew opposite conclusions from their worries. Revisiting these interviews today reveals a remarkable relevance to present concerns, since the possible developments that worried ex-participants and participants 16 years ago now are becoming realities. Drawing on conceptual distinctions by sociologist and philosopher Niklas Luhmann, we argue that while ex-participants express a loss of trust in the biobank institution to manage the use of their biobank material in a legitimate way, remaining participants expressed confidence in the management of the biobank institution to secure their interests. This analysis brings out important aspects of emerging trends in biobank research participation.

When everyday life becomes a storm on the horizon: families' experiences of good mental health while hiking in nature.

Hiking in nature is often presented as a yearning for lost harmony premised on an alleged divide between nature as authentically healthy and society as polluted. This paper's aim is to question this strict divide and the strong belief in nature as having an innate health-providing effect, the biophilia hypothesis, by examining what Norwegian families with young children experience when walking in the forest. Twenty-four conversations with families during a hiking trip in the forest were recorded, and the data were analysed with Giorgi's descriptive phenomenological research method. The paper introduces the general descriptive meaning structure of the phenomenon 'family-hiking with young children'. It shows that a hiking trip clears space for the family in their everyday lives which is largely dominated by relations with non-family members at both work and leisure. The families experience that they actively generate a different existence with a sense of here-and-now presences that can strengthen core family relations and also provide the opportunity to pass down experiences that can be recollected and realized by future generations. This experience is complex and constituted by social practices, which indicate that the biophilia hypothesis seems to be an insufficient explanation of why families go hiking in nature. Nature rather represents a peaceful background that allows for the perpetuation of the family as a social institution and the recreation of cohesion in everyday life.

Inaccessible Possibilities: experiences of using ICT to engage with services among young persons with disabilities.

PURPOSE: The use of Information and communications technologies (ICT) in the public sector is widespread and on the increase. There is a need to develop knowledge regarding the end users experiences of using ICT to engage with services. This study aims to provide knowledge regarding young persons with disabilities or chronic disease experience using ICT to engage with health- and social care services. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nine young persons between 16 and 25, living with chronic disease or physical disability, participated in this study. The data was collected using semi-structured interviews. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using Constructivist Grounded Theory. RESULTS: Three categories were identified that reflected the young persons' experiences with using ICT to engage with health and social care services. (1) Navigating in an information overflow, (2) Experiencing disparate dialogues, (3) Utilising the potential of ICT. The young persons experienced that ICT used for engaging with health and social care services did not necessarily fit their need, yet, they saw how ICT had potential to increase engagement with services, especially with an increased focus on dialogue. The findings can be subsumed by the core category Inaccessible Possibilities, illustrating both the potentials and the challenges ICT presented. CONCLUSION: The study shows that although young persons are perceived as digitally native, they experienced challenges using ICT to engage with health- and social services. The poor fit of ICT combined with navigation- and accessibility issues, hinder engagement. However, ICT inhabit a potential to increase engagement, especially communication.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONYoung persons' experiences show that ICT can be useful for enhancing engagement with health and social care servicesICT provided by health and social services does not necessarily meet young persons need for dialogueAn increased focus on accessibility and design is necessary to ensure people with disabilities access to ICT used by health- and social care services.

Health and meaning through "doings": A qualitative study with young unaccompanied refugees in Norway.

BACKGROUND: Young unaccompanied refugees who settle in a new country are at substantial risk of developing health problems while striving to uphold a meaningful, new life. We lack knowledge about how they use their personal agency to self-care in the context of their local communities. This article examines how young unaccompanied refugees create healthy identities and looks into the social structures that promote health in their everyday life. METHODS: Nineteen in-depth interviews were conducted with young unaccompanied refugees settled in Norway, originating from Afghanistan, Eritrea, and Syria. Interpretive phenomenological analysis was used. Our theoretical framework combined Antonovsky's (1987) theory of health, Honneth's (2005) philosophy of recognition, and Prilleltensky's (2020) social psychological concept of mattering. RESULTS: Young unaccompanied refugees create healthy identities through "doings", i.e. meaningful activities that provide recognition and the feeling of adding value. They confirm health as a relational phenomenon, including horizontal relations at, for example, school, work, gym, and other leisure activities in the local community. Vertical relations involving legal status, residence permits, and community values, were also highly important. The participants' relation to parents/families in their country of origin was often complex, associated both with burdensome obligations to provide and a potential to care and matter. CONCLUSION: Young unaccompanied refugees are dependent on inclusive, supportive policies and structures which enable them to develop healthy identities. These findings should encourage policymakers and society to strengthen and expand arenas for "doings" and meaning for young unaccompanied refugees.

Feeling Valued and Adding Value: A Participatory Action Research Project on Co-creating Practices of Social Inclusion in Kindergartens and Communities.

Background: Contemporary public health problems connect to the social determinants of health, with a growing recognition of social inclusion as imperative to sustainable development. In this quest for social inclusion, early childhood and families are of particular interest. Although co-creation is suggested as viable path to support well-being, less is known how social inclusion might be co-created in practice. The aim of this study was to explore how Participatory Action Research (PAR) can be a tool for transformative practices in a local community, pointing to kindergartens as meeting places for recognizing social inclusion as a common value in early childhood. Methods: A qualitative PAR study was embedded in a Norwegian municipality as an integrated part of their local public health work. The study involved a wide range of participants and stakeholders in three kindergartens and the wider community. Together, we explored potentials for co-creating social inclusion to achieve well-being through cycles of transformative actions and reflections. Reflexive thematic analysis was applied to generate patterns and themes in the data. Results: The participants formulated and took on ownership to an inclusive agenda through the PAR-process. Acts of inclusion was framed by an intersection between political aims of achieving health and well-being for all and public value co-creation unfolding at the level of the place, in the context of the Norwegian welfare regime. To feel valued and adding value was seen as important aspects for social inclusion. Four themes were generated from analysis; (1) Co-creating a shared vision of inclusive communities, (2) Becoming aware and empowered through caring, sharing and collaboration, (3) Places and spaces of inclusiveness in kindergartens and beyond, and (4) Valuing and practicing inclusion, and signs of transformative change. Conclusions: Through the PAR process, parents, kindergartens employees, community members and policy makers appear to have opened a creative toolbox for inclusive and transformational change through formulating and co-creating inclusion and well-being as public values. The results suggest that local actors might support adaptive social systems to taking on relational responsibility for inclusive processes and outcomes in the pursuit of well-being for all.

Pregnant women's experiences with a pelvic floor muscle training program in Nepal.

BACKGROUND: In Nepal, pelvic floor disorders affect about 24% of the women in reproductive age whereof 10% suffer from pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Still, many do not seek health care. Strengthening exercises for the pelvic floor muscles for prevention and treatment of POP has shown strong evidence internationally, but for women in Nepal surgery is primarily offered. To amend this, a novel pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) program for pregnant women was introduced. OBJECTIVE: To learn about how the PFMT-program was received by the participating women, their understanding of the importance of doing the exercises, and the constraints of daily life for performing the program. METHODS: A qualitative study design based on a sub-sample (N = 10) from a strategic sample (N = 235) who participated in the PFMT-program. Ten semi-structured in-depth interviews were interpreted according to a phenomenological analytical tradition. RESULTS: The 10 women were representative for the women who had participated in the PFMT-program with regard to urban residence, socioeconomic, and educational standing. The program was well received and compliance satisfactory. In line with the PFMT's learning outcomes, the women described risk factors, showed knowledge about the pelvic floor muscles, and understood the importance of doing the exercises. They had managed to fit the exercises into their busy daily routines. Meeting peers in exercise groups and understanding from family were positive factors for compliance. CONCLUSION: The Nepalese women appear interested in self-care and are making an effort to fit the exercises into their busy schedule. Although the communicative validity was satisfactory, the pragmatic validity cannot be generalized to women in rural areas and under less fortunate socioeconomic and educational circumstances.

The art of maintaining everyday life: collaboration among older parents, their adult children, and health care professionals in reablement.

Background: A shift in the work-divide among generations and an ageing population have altered the balance of care and support between families and welfare states. Although state policy has increasingly acknowledged that older adults ageing in place receive support from family members, how adult children perceive their collaboration with their parents and health care professionals in reablement services remains unclear. The aim of this study is to identify how adult children perceive the collaboration between older parents, family members, and health care professionals in reablement services. Methods: This study has a qualitative research design with a constructivist grounded theory approach. In total, 15 adult children - 6 sons, 8 daughters, and a daughter-in-law, aged 47-64 years - whose parents had received reablement services, participated in in-depth interviews. Results: Our findings clarify how children and their older parents' reablement services can collaborate to support how the adult children manage and maintain both their own and their parents' everyday lives. The core category derived from our data analysis was the art of maintaining everyday life, with four subcategories indicating the different dimensions of that process: doing what is best for one's parents, negotiating the dilemmas of everyday life, managing parents' reablement, and ensuring the flow of everyday life. Conclusion: To promote collaboration among older adults, their children, and health care professionals in reablement, health care professionals need to proactively involve older adults' family members in the reablement processes, particularly because older adults and their children do not always express all of their care-related needs to reablement services.

The "double life" of bulimia: patients' experiences in daily life interactions.

This qualitative study, using interviews with 38 subjects, explored how and why they conceal bulimic symptoms and the understanding of concealing in terms of social interaction. A "double life" was described as a dichotomy between being active and outgoing versus performing shameful bulimic behaviors and constantly living with fear of stigmatization, and striving against exposure. Concealing was well planned to avoid such fear, and to preserve dignity. Bulimia may be understood as volitional exertion of interaction control, not just as a result of poor impulse regulation. Understanding the meaning of secrecy and "double life" may facilitate help seeking behavior and guide treatment.