Although research shows the link between flow and social interaction, this study explores the role of ICT skills in order to experience flow and social interaction. I used constructivism theory as it explains how humans make meaning from personal experiences, social interaction and tools (e.g., language and computer). The theory of flow was applied because it stipulates that people experience flow when they are fully engaged in any activity (Nakamura & Csikszentmihalyi 2002). Four participants were recruited for this study. A pilot study with three stages was conducted to design a research protocol used in the main study. A pre and post-test was answered to determine the significance of ICT skills in relation to the experience of flow and social interaction during gameplay experience. I described the experiences of each participant using a case study approach and all the participants reported flow and social interaction in relation to their level ICT skills. I found that the participant with low ICT score required more social interaction to experience flow and participants with high ICT score required social interaction to maintain flow.

The purpose of this qualitative, exploratory study was to develop a deeper understanding of educational and other social experiences and relationships of post-secondary students who were clinically diagnosed with primary obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The researcher also investigated their strengths, weaknesses, coping strategies, and quality of life through mental and physical health. The majority of people with OCD have obsessions and compulsions that last greater than an hour each day or severely impact daily life. Obsessions are irritating feelings or mental pictures that individuals try to block or mitigate with irrational physical or mental compulsions, often appearing as excessive hand washing in reaction to a contamination obsession. Participants comprised seven university students who completed three self-report questionnaires and two semi-structured interviews with the researcher. Five participants submitted self-report journals. These data were examined using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA).The present study advanced previous research as it documented extensive lifelong characteristics, experiences, and relationships from these students. It yielded salient findings related to their OCD functional impairment and quality of life. Further, it showed that as students, their intellectual integration seemed to play a greater role in academic persistence than did their social integration. In addition, participants’ university policy and practice recommendations were congruent with a similar study from about a decade ago indicating that perhaps few or none of the past recommendations were implemented for the benefit of such students. Present recommendations should be implemented accordingly.

Throughout human history, people have migrated from one area to another for many reasons, including searching for better economic, political or other conditions that are assumed to improve the human standard of living (Kotkin 2016:6; United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs 2014). Migration to urban areas has increased over the past century, and is only expected to continue doing so. In 2016, 54% of earth’s human population lived within urban areas, making it the largest urban population ever to occur on the planet (Brenner & Schmidt 2014:733; United Nations Population Fund 2014). A 2013 study by El Din, Shalaby, Farouh and Elariane states that, with more of the human population residing in urban areas than in the past, studies around human life in urban areas are more significant and necessary for the sake of increasing knowledge bases for the development of sustainable human environments (El Din et al. 2013:87, 88). Architects and urban planners focus on improving the quality of life of the end users of their designs at a contextual level, which in turn is beneficial as a good quality of life is considered to be one of the most important aspects for sustainable urban development (Othman, Aird & Buys 2015:22). Over the past 15 years there has been a knowledge shift towards global parameters for measurement of quality of life that are not uniform or based solely on economic indicators, but rather are developed so that these indicators can be used to measure quality of life at a contextual level in order to supply informative data and results (United Nations Population Fund 2016; Vermuni & Costanza 2006:124). There are contextual differences, similarities and variations for the definition of a good quality of life between the large urban areas in the developed world as well as in countries within the Global South, which contains the majority of the world’s Third World countries (Rigg 2007:8-10). With the global continuation of the urbanisation of the human population in different contexts, along with the migration of individuals between different parts of the world, urban planners and architects are challenged to design spaces that provide good quality of life within any urban context for an end user coming from any urban or rural context. This study seeks to investigate the means of assessing quality of life in residential spaces of end users who share similar values in terms of quality of life, but will be studied in three varied urban contexts, namely Zimbabwe, South Africa and the United Kingdom. Zimbabwe, is classified as a Low Income country by the United Nations Department of Economics and Social Affairs (2014), has experienced high levels of migration out of the country over the past 16 years (Humphris 2010), with the highest number of migrations into South Africa, which is classified as an Upper Middle Income Country, and the United Kingdom, classified as a High Income country (United Nations Department of Economics and Social Affairs 2014). This research paper seeks to measure and compare quality of life in the homes of Zimbabweans in the three contexts mentioned above, in order to gauge what aspects of residential design impact positively or negatively on the end user’s quality of life. / Mini Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / Architecture / MSc Applied Sciences in Architecture / Unrestricted

Background: Physical distancing and social isolation impacted people on a large scale and deterioration in the peoples’ quality of life under the COVID-19 pandemic was noted. The purpose of the study was to examine the association between social isolation and the quality of life among elderly people aged between 63 and 79 years. Method: This is a cross-sectional analytical study, and data were collected using the purposive sampling technique. Chi-square test was used to see the difference between groups, and to assess prospective associations between independent and dependent variables, a simple logistic regression was used. Results: The results of the study showed that elderly people who felt isolated during COVID-19 experienced a stressful life, compared to those who did not feel isolated (OR=0.14; 95% CI:0.03-0.55). Similarly, those who had mandatory isolation were also related to stressful life, and the result was statistically significant (OR=0.12; 95% CI:0.29-0.48). Moreover, elder people who had chronic health problem was associated with stressful life during COVID-19 (OR=0.22; 95% CI:0.06-0.86). Conclusion: The present findings suggest that social isolation has decreased the quality of life for elderly people under COVID-19. Moreover, elderly people who had health problems had also experienced stressful life.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(医学) / 甲第18858号 / 医博第3969号 / 新制||医||1008(附属図書館) / 31809 / 京都大学大学院医学研究科医学専攻 / (主査)教授 福原 俊一, 教授 古川 壽亮, 教授 村井 俊哉 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Medical Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

Bakgrund: Spinal stenos är en förträngning av ryggmärgskanalen längs med hela ryggmärgen. Akupunkturbehandling vid tillståndet har sedan 2013 konstaterats vara av låg evidensgrad, men viss behandlingseffekt går att se trots bristande studiekvalitet från tidigare forskning. Trots detta använder en majoritet av fysioterapeuter behandlingsmetoden vid spinal stenos. Syfte: Syftet med studien är att sammanställa litteratur gällande huruvida akupunkturbehandling har effekt på smärta, funktionell förmåga och livskvalitet hos individer med spinal stenos. Metod: PICO-modell användes för att definiera sökning till en litteraturöversikt. Sökningarna avgränsades till att avhandla studier skrivna efter 2013. Studier granskades utifrån studiekvalitetenligt EPHPP och PEDro. Resultaten för varje enskild studie granskades och sammanställdes sedan i en sammantagen bedömning för att besvara syftet. Resultat: Sju studier omfattades av sökningen varav tre studier med case-series design och fyra studier med RCT-design. Övervägande andel av studierna var av låg eller måttlig kvalitet. Av sex studier som undersökte smärta redovisade samtliga studier minskad smärta av akupunkturbehandling och fem av sex studier konstaterade statistiskt signifikant skillnad. Fyra studier som undersökte gångförmåga konstaterade förbättring, men utan tydlig skillnad mot andra interventioner. Övriga utvärderingsinstrument av funktionell förmåga visade tvetydiga resultat mellan studier. Tre studier som undersöker livskvalitet visar tvetydiga resultat. Slutsats: På grund av bristande urval och låg studiekvalitet går det inte att dra en slutsats huruvida akupunktur går att rekommenderavid spinal stenos. Resultaten tyder dock på positiva behandlingseffekter av akupunkturbehandling mot smärta vid spinal stenos. För att ge belägg för eventuella behandlingseffekter behöver mer forskning av högre kvalitet genomföras.

Litteraturöversikten behandlar begreppen kognitiv sjukdom, personcentrering och livskvalitet. Kognitiv sjukdom drabbar varje år ett ökande antal människor.  Konsekvensen av kognitivsjukdom är omfattande med ett ökande antal drabbade på samhällsnivå. Ett personcentrerat förhållningssätt inom vården kan bidra till god omvårdnad och ökad livskvalitet. Syftet med studien var att belysa inverkan av personcentrerad vård på livskvalitet hos personer med kognitiv sjukdom. Använd metod var en allmän litteraturöversikt med systematisk sökmetod. Databassökning genomfördes med sökorden demens, Alzheimer, personcentrerad vård och livskvalitet, vilket bedömdes svara väl mot syftet. Efter urval kvarstod 15 artiklar, kvalitativa och kvantitativa, vilket gav en mixad metod.  Resultatet extraherades genom tematisk syntes, genom vilken analytiska teman genererats. Resultatet presenterades under tre teman: ökad livskvalitet genom (1) aktiviteter, (2) sociala interaktioner och (3) emotioner. Personcentrerade aktiviteter i dagliga livet visade sig ha påverkan på livskvalitet hos personer med kognitiv sjukdom. Personer som erhöll högre andel personcentrerad vård värderades ha högre livskvalitet och bättre förmåga att genomföra aktiviteter i dagliga livet. Personcentrerad vård förbättrade sociala interaktionerna, vilket gav positiv påverkan på livskvalitet. Positiv påverkan på interaktioner kunde ses oavsett grad av kognitiv sjukdom. Personcentrerad vård minskade agitation, ökade livskvalitet och välbefinnande.  Slutsatsen visade att personcentrerad vård har betydelse för livskvalitet hos personer med kognitiv sjukdom. Personcentrerad vård har inverkan på en rad områden i livet vid ökad livskvalitet exempelvis ökad förmåga till aktiviteter i dagliga livet. Det påvisades också att valfrihet och upplevd kontroll påverkade livskvalitet positivt. / The literature review deals with the concepts of cognitive disease, person-centeredness and quality of life (QoL). Cognitive disease affects an increasing number of people every year. The impact of cognitive disease is extensive with an increasing number of people affected at the societal level. A person-centered approach can add to good care and increased QoL. The aim of the study was to highlight the impact of person-centered care on QoL in people with cognitive disease. The method used was a literature review with a systematic search method. A database searchwas conducted using the keywords dementia, Alzheimer, person-centered care and quality of life, which were assessed to respond well to the aim of the study. 15 articles remained after selection, both qualitative and quantitative, which resulted in a mixed method approach. The results were extracted through thematic synthesis, through which analytical themes were generated.The results were presented under three themes: increased QoL through 1) activities, 2) social interactions and 3) emotions. Person-centered activities in daily life were found to have an impact on the QoL of people with cognitive disease. Persons who received a higher proportion of person-centered care were valued as having a higher QoL and a better ability to carry out activities in daily life. Person-centered care improved social interactions, which had a positive impact on QoL. Positive influence could be seen regardless of the severity of the cognitive disease. Person-centered care also reduced agitation and increased QoL and wellbeing. The conclusion showed that person-centered care is important for the QoL of persons with cognitive disease. Person-centered care has an impact on several areas in life when QoL is increased, as for instance increased ability to carry out activities of daily life. Freedom of choice and perceived control was shown to affect QoL positively.

Syftet med denna litteraturstudie är att belysa de psykiska aspekterna av att drabbas avhypertyreos och hur det påverkar individens dagliga liv. Studien vänder sig tillsjuksköterskor som kan använda studien i sitt arbete för att underlätta omvårdnaden kringpatienter med hypertyreos, vilket på så sätt ger kunskap åt blivande kollegor. Hypertyreosär en sjukdom som blir alltmer vanlig i Sverige och som kan ge stora inverkningar påindividens dagliga liv om den inte upptäcks och behandlas i tid. Metoden som valts är enlitteraturstudie där tio vetenskapliga artiklar blivit systematiskt och kritiskt granskadeutifrån Polit & Hunglers kriterier för vetenskap. Resultatet visar att ett flertal psykiskasymtom påverkar som kan ge stora inverkningar på individens dagliga liv, vilket leder tillreducerad generell hälsa och minskad vitalitet och känslomässighet, därmed uppleverpatienter begränsningar i det dagliga livet. / The aim of this study is to elucidate the psychic aspects of hyperthyroidism and how itinfluences on the daily life. The study turns to nurses who can use it in the work tofacilitate the caring of the individual and gives deeper knowledge for future colleagues.Hyperthyroidism is a disease that is more common in Sweden & that can give biginfluence on the individual’s daily life if it is not getting discovered and treated in time.The method that has been chosen is a literature study, ten scientific articles has beensystematically and critically checked by using Polit & Hunglers critical check for science.The result showed a several psychical symptoms that affect the daily life that leads toreduced general quality of life and reduced vitality and emotionality that make patientsfeel limits in their daily life.

Food insecurity has been documented on college campuses. Exploring the barriers that factor into food access can provide insight into how to combat food insecurity in higher education. Furthermore, exploring how these barriers play a role in students' Quality of Life (QoL) can help improve a student's success while in school. Little research has been done on food access and its impact on QoL, and research is completely absent in regard to its effects on agriculture students specifically. As the desire for degrees increases, students from more diverse backgrounds are attracted to college. Many students from underrepresented populations experience barriers to attaining a degree that other students may not. First-generation students, being the first in their family to attend college and have little to no knowledge of how to navigate the challenges of degree attainment., International students experience living in a completely different culture and having to adjust to a new country and a new educational environment. This mixed-method study focused on how food access barriers impact the QoL of first-generation, international, rural, and urban College of Agriculture and Life Science students at Virginia Tech. The study involved a concurrent phase (1) of a cross-sectional survey consisting of multiple choice and open-ended questions. The sequential phase (2) of the study constructed interview questions from themes found in phase 1 and then were used to interview students. Once interviews were completed, phase 1 and phase 2 results were then compared to provide a broad view of how food access impacts QoL for agriculture students. The results from the study showed an adjusted R square explained .277 or 27% of the variance in the dependent variable QoL to be affected by the independent variables. The independent variables of food access, first-generation, Asian, and undergraduate classification of senior were shown to be significant in the first stepwise linear regression model. In the 6 stepwise linear regression models that examined the QoL of students based on department/schools, each model was found to be significant and have food access as significant predictor variable. An additional 6 stepwise linear regression models were completed to examine the significant independent variables from the department/school QoL scores models. The QoL scores explored were Asian, Hispanic/Latino, first-generation, international, rural, and undergraduate senior status and all showed food access as a predictor value to impact QoL. In addition, lack of awareness of resources, lack of options that are affordable and available, demanding schedules, running out of meal plan money, lack of acknowledgment of food access concerns, and environment impacted students' ability to access food. Students also voiced that lack of access to food impacted their QoL in the following ways: concentrating in class, studying, attending social events, maintaining a positive physical and mental health status. The impact of food access is a multidimensional problem that was shown to impact the QoL of CALS students at Virginia Tech. Preventing hunger and overcoming food access barriers are not problems to solve overnight. Finding solutions will take time and dedication from leadership, faculty, staff, and students. In addition, just because you may not be experiencing low food access doesn't mean you never will or that your friends are not going through the situation. Demonstrating love, empathy, and kindness when talking about hunger will be needed to lead the fight against this all-too-prevalent problem. / Doctor of Philosophy / "I often feel like when I'm running on fumes when I haven't eaten something nourishing. Depending on my commute to campus, I park and still have to walk/bike to get to my final destination. I often worry about falling faint when I'm operating on limited sleep and food. I even feel impacted by my ability to focus on class or work. On another side, I often focus so much on my daily tasks that I forget to eat entirely." One of the most basic needs an individual requires to complete daily life tasks is food, according to the theory of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs (MHoN). Food insecurity is a prevalent concern for both higher education professionals as well as the college students who are experiencing the problem. Students face barriers that hinder their ability to access the quantity and quality of food they need to be successful in school. Food access is a multidimensional problem that can involve accessibility to food, the availability of food, affordability to purchase food, and awareness of resources. It is crucial to better understand how food access can have an impact on students' Quality of Life (QoL) (physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and environment) as well as the student's success in school. This understanding will advise higher education institutions on what their role can be in tackling the barriers students face when accessing food. This should improve the QoL of students, thus creating better outcomes for academic success at their institutions. Leadership, faculty, and staff can work to address the problem of hunger on campuses by listening to the voices of students on this ever-evolving problem. The issue is complex, but, ultimately, for students to be successful, their basic needs will need to be met. As such, supporting a student's access to food is absolutely essential.

Background: The Public Health Agency of Canada published a strategic document recognising the elements associated with person-centred dementia care, including interactions with stakeholders and research mandates. One essential element identified was advanced therapies, containing non-pharmacological interventions, such as creative arts-based interventions. Objective: This thesis investigates the impact of creative arts-based interventions on individuals with dementia, living in residential care through a scoping review (ScR) and a mixed-methods systematic review (MMSR). Methods: The ScR surveyed the current literature base to identify which creative arts-based interventions improved the personhood, quality of life and well-being of persons with dementia (PwD); five studies were included. The MMSR explored the impact of dance interventions on the symptoms of dementia on persons with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, as dance was unrepresented in the ScR; three studies were included. Both reviews were narratively synthesized due to the heterogeneity in the results. Results: Each included study spoke of the impact the creative arts had on the PwD and which element(s) of their health improved. Results also showed that the creative arts were beneficial for the personhood of the PwD (ScR) and for decreasing symptoms while promoting the person (MMSR). Conclusion: We must continue to look past the condition and recognize that creativity, psychosocial needs, and creative arts are all interconnected in promoting the personhood of PwD. Creative arts-based interventions can be designed to promote the individual creativity of the person and showcase their intact abilities.