Sexual minorities, or those who do not identify as straight, experience stigma that has been associated with a number of health issues and decreased quality of life. The current study expands on previous explanations of the relationship between stigma experienced by sexual minorities and quality of life by examining self-compassion and authenticity as potential mediators. We proposed and examined a mediation model in which self-compassion and authenticity would explain the relationship between stigma and quality of life, using data from a sample of 213 sexual minorities. Results of structural equation modeling revealed that there was no direct relationship between public stigma and quality of life but that public stigma and quality of life were indirectly related through internalized stigma, authenticity, and self-compassion. These findings have implications for the understanding of sexual minority experience of stigma and highlight potential points of intervention for increasing quality of life among sexual minority individuals.

No description available.

Kolorektal cancer är en sjukdom som drabbar individer över 60 års ålder och är den tredje vanligaste cancerformen i Sverige. Syftet med denna litteraturstudie var att redogöra hur individerna upplever livskvalitet efter kolorektal kirurgiskt ingrepp. Litteraturstudien gjordes utifrån ett systematiskt tillvägagångssätt. Litteratursökningen utfördes i databaserna Cinahl, Medline, PsychInfo, PubMed, Samsök samt The Cochrane Library. Kvantitativa studier inkluderades vilka kvalitetsgranskades av båda författarna oberoende av varandra med hjälp av ett modifierat granskningsprotokoll. Resultatet visade en sexuell dysfunktion, förändrad fysisk - social funktion, magtarm - urinblåse dysfunktion, psykiska - emotionella förändringar, förändrad kroppsuppfattning och framtidsperspektiv hos patienter som hade genomgått ett kirurgiskt ingrepp. Fler studier behövs för att slutsatser med hög evidensgrad skall kunna dras. / Colorectal cancer is a disease that affects individuals over age 60 and is the third most common cancer form in Sweden. The aim of this study was to report on how individuals experienced their quality of life after colorectal surgery. The literature review was made in accordance to a systematic procedure. The literature searching was made in the databases CINAHL, Medline, PsychInfo, PubMed, Search, and The Cochrane Library. Quantitative studies were included and the quality was assessed by both authors independently of each other using a modified audit protocol. The results showed a sexual dysfunction, changed physical-social function, gastrointestinal- bladder dysfunction, mental- emotional changes, and changes in body image and future perspectives in patients who had undergone a surgical procedure. Further studies needs to make conclusion with high evidence.

Individuals with fibromyalgia report lower levels of health-related quality of life (HRQL) compared to other chronically ill populations and interpersonal factors (i.e., social support) may influence risk. What is less understood is how intrapersonal factors (i.e., self-compassion) may impact the social support-HRQL linkage. We examined the association between social support and HRQL in a sample of persons with fibromyalgia and tested the potential mediating role of self-compassion. Self-identified adults in the United States with fibromyalgia (N = 508) were recruited from state, regional, and national organizations and support groups and completed an online battery of self-report questionnaires including: Multidimensional Health Profile-Psychosocial Functioning Index, Short-Form 36 Health Survey, and Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form. Individuals with greater subjective social support reported higher levels of self-compassion and, in turn, higher mental HRQL. These findings provide greater information about psychosocial constructs and HRQL and extend our understanding of self-compassion among individuals living with fibromyalgia.

Advancements made in the treatment of the physiological aspects of childhood cancer have resulted in a greater need to conceptualize the disease psychologically as a chronic illness that causes significant stress and requires ongoing adjustment. This study investigates the relationships among parental characteristics, child characteristics, and the quality of life of children diagnosed with cancer. Forty-seven mothers and sixteen fathers, as well as nineteen children diagnosed with cancer, completed measures of their own psychological functioning. Measures of the diagnosed children's quality of life also were completed. Mothers' ratings of their children's quality of life were found to be correlated positively with both fathers' and children's ratings. In addition, a significant relationship was found between mothers' depression and parenting stress and children's quality of life, as well as mothers' and fathers' anxiety and children's quality of life. Finally, mothers', fathers', and children's ratings of their own characteristics predicted significantly their ratings of children's quality of life. Overall, these results suggested the importance of examining the psychological characteristics of family members when assessing the quality of life of children with cancer.

Quality of life (QoL) in cancer survivors is an important area of research. While data are available about QoL and breast cancer, there is a paucity of research regarding older breast cancer survivors. The purpose of this research was to examine QoL in older women with early stage breast cancer, within the first year of post-treatment survivorship. The specific aims of this study were to: 1) Describe the changes in overall QoL and the four QoL domains of Physical, Psychological, Social, and Spiritual well-being; 2) Examine the effects of a psychoeducational support intervention on QoL outcomes in older women; and 3) Describe nurses' perceptions of their interactions with older breast cancer survivors. A descriptive, longitudinal design was used to answer the research questions. Data for this study were drawn from the Breast Cancer Education Intervention (BCEI), a longitudinal psychoeducational support intervention for women with early stage breast cancer. Fifty women from the BCEI who were 65 years of age and older were included in this sample, of whom 24 were assigned to the Experimental (EX) Group and 26 were assigned to the Wait Control (WC) Group. Data were collected at three time points: baseline, three months, and six months after study entry. Measurement tools included the BCEI Demographics Form, the Quality of Life-Breast Cancer Survey (QoL-BC), and field notes of the BCEI Research Nurses. The QoL-BC survey is a 50-item scale that measures QoL in women with breast cancer. Descriptive statistics, Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) methods and t-tests were used to answer research questions #1 and #2. Content analysis was used to answer research question #3. Subjects reported good overall QoL at baseline, but QoL declined over six months. Physical and Psychological well-being declined from baseline to six months later. Social well-being initially improved from baseline to three months but declined at six months. Spiritual well-being initially declined at three months and improved at six months. There was insufficient power to detect a difference in the effects of the BCEI Intervention between the two groups. However, the decline in overall QoL was less in the EX Group. Field notes focusing on nurses' perception of their interactions with older women revealed four themes. These themes include: continuing breast-related health, personal health issues, family health issues, and potential stressors. Results from this study suggest that: 1) changes in overall QoL and within the four QoL domains occur over time; 2) decline in overall QoL was lessened by the BCEI Intervention; and 3) concerns after treatment are both breast cancer and non-breast cancer related. Study findings can direct future research in the following areas: 1) identification of specific concerns within each QoL domain that could lead to an increase or decrease in well-being in older breast cancer survivors; 2) interventions tailored to the needs of older breast cancer survivors to maintain, improve, or lessen decline in QoL after treatment; and 3) reconceptualizing QoL in older breast cancer survivors to include non-cancer related factors.

No description available.

Background: Menopause is a natural part of life which can affect a woman's physical and mental health. Women's experience and knowledge of menopause varies globally, and insufficient knowledge can lead to unnecessary suffering. Knowledge of the menopause is important, both for the women themselves and for the healthcare system in order to guide the women to appropriate self-care methods, which can be crucial to health in this new phase of life. Purpose: The aim was to account for the effect health education, has on health and quality of life onwomen in menopause. Method: A general literature study consisting of quantitative studies which included four randomized controlled studies, five quasi and one semi-experimental study, without a control group. Results: The results showed that the knowledge that the women acquired during the educational interventions had a positive effect by improving the women's awareness and attitude towards the menopause, which empowered them to improve their lifestyles, and through this develop an increased health and thus a better quality of life. Conclusion: Knowledge is the key to an improved quality of life. Through a structured education, the nursing care can increase the awareness and knowledge of women regarding their self-care during the menopause. This strengthens women's autonomy and is cost-effective for healthcare.

Urininkontinens (UI) innebär att individen får ett ofrivilligt och besvärligt urinläckage.  Problemet är ett av våra största folkhälsoproblem och kan uppkomma hos alla i olika åldrar men det är främst kvinnor som drabbas. Resultatet är byggt på tio intervjuer som fokuserat på kvinnors upplevelser av att leva med UI efter vaginal förlossning. Att läcka urin efter en vaginal förlossning anses av många kvinnor som ett normalt tillstånd därför dröjer de med att söka hjälp. De försöker istället att hantera situationen på bästa sätt genom olika strategier för att klara det dagliga livet. Det innebär exempelvis att kvinnor minskar intag av dryck samt att de kissar innan de lämnar hemmet. Kvinnor blir begränsad i deras dagliga liv eftersom de inte kan utföra och delta i vissa fysiska aktiviteter och att umgås med andra på grund av rädsla att läcka och lukta urin. Kvinnor upplever att UI har negativ inverkan på deras sexualliv samt kan leda till en försämring i deras sexuella relationer. Kvinnor upplever även att de blir nonchalant bemötta av vårdpersonalen samt att det saknas kunskaper kring UI. Det framkommer känslor hos kvinnorna att vårdpersonalen struntar och ignorerar deras UI problem samt att ingen inom vården följer upp dem. Vårdpersonalen måste få ökad förståelse och kunskap för kvinnor med UI, för att bättre stödja och hjälpa dessa kvinnor så att de kan få en bättre livskvalitet. / Background: Urinary incontinence (UI) is an involuntary urinary leakage that affects the individual’s social life and quality of life. Urinary incontinence may occur in both sexes, but it is more common in women than men. Women may suffer from UI after vaginal delivery. Although UI causes a lot of suffering for women, there are few who seek help. In order for health professionals to be able to help and support these women, it is important to have knowledge and understanding of how UI affects women’s world of living. Aim: The aim of the study was to describe women’s experience of living with urinary incontinence after vaginal delivery. Method: Semi-structured qualitative interviews were performed with ten women with urinary incontinence after vaginal delivery. Qualitative content analysis was used for the analysis which resulted in seven categories. Results: The results show how UI affects women in daily life and how they handle the situation in the best way. The women experienced mixed feelings about the meeting with healthcare professionals. Seven categories emerged: How to handle urinary incontinence that is seen as a normal state, Experiencing limitations in life, To hide or share experiences with others, Urinary incontinence affects relationships, Urinary incontinence affects sex life, Meeting healthcare professionals and Experiencing urinary incontinence treatments. Conclusion: Women may suffer from urinary incontinence after vaginal delivery. They find it difficult to talk to others about this sensitive subject, which indicates that they are suffering in silence. Healthcare professionals and district nurses have an important role to catch, help and take these women's UI trouble seriously.

Background: The burden of breast cancer may contribute to elevated psychological distress. Conversely, distress may negatively impact the development, recurrence and diagnosis of cancer as it compromises the immune system and adherence to treatment, creating a vicious cycle. With the breast cancer fatality rate significantly higher in Sub-Saharan African women than in women living in higher income countries, further research is needed to limit the devastating impact of chronic diseases on this population. Purpose: The aim of the study was to determine if Ghanaian breast cancer patients were more susceptible to higher psychological distress and lower quality of life than healthy Ghanaian women and how their lived experiences affect their mental health. Method: Sixty-four breast cancer patients and 64 healthy participants were recruited to complete the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale and World Health Organization Quality of life-BREF scale. The life experiences of women living with breast cancer were assessed through semi-structured interviews. Results: Breast cancer patients had higher psychological distress than the healthy women and also scored lower on the quality of life domains of physical health, psychological well-being and environment. The lived experiences of the breast cancer patients followed a similar journey from suspicion of ill-health to difficulty navigating the health system, feeling the effects of breast cancer and lastly, regaining confidence. Breast cancer had affected the women’s daily activities, health, female identity, roles and responsibilities. However, financial, emotional and social support, together with individual coping mechanisms such as religion and physical exercise, mitigated the impact of the breast disease. Conclusion: Patient centered care approaches could ease the psychological distress of breast cancer patients. Finally, future research should investigate methods of improving the women’s psychological well-being, physical health and environment as it may positively impact the prognosis of Ghanaian breast cancer patients. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)