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Yes

The state of the literature on the psychosocial adjustment of children and adolescents with cancer is primed for novel contributions to the promotion of quality of life and depletion of negative psychosocial outcomes. Many recent studies indicate that this population may be at increased risk for depressed and anxious symptomatology; however, there is a large degree of individual variation. Coping responses have been demonstrated as significant predictors of adjustment outcomes with these patients. Research focusing upon coping with childhood chronic illness is progressing toward levels of greater specificity of construct and application; therefore, it is timely to target specific coping mechanisms in response to specified stressors. Health psychology has examined the role of spirituality as promoting positive health outcomes in adult populations. However, the pediatric literature has not empirically addressed this potential coping mechanism for child populations. The current study sought to: (a) develop a preliminary child measure of spiritual coping, and (b) to employ this assessment tool in an empirical investigation of the relationship between spiritual coping and psychosocial adjustment in the childhood cancer population. This investigation included 55 child participants recruited from three hospital settings across the southeastern, Midwestern, and western United States. During the measure development phase, 22 children were interviewed regarding their use of coping strategies (specifically spirituality) to target illness-related stress. The spiritual coping measure was based upon the response set obtained during this phase, and incorporated items into two subscales: existential and religious coping. The rest of the sample (N=33) participated in an individual interview that assessed coping (approach, avoidant, and spiritual) as well as depression, anxiety, and quality of life. A pilot factor analysis was employed to examine the structure of the new spiritual coping measure. Additionally, hierarchical regression analyses were employed to examine the contributions of each coping variable to the prediction of child adjustment outcomes. The results indicated that depression is significantly predicted by the full coping model; however, the analyses for anxiety and quality of life were not significant. Furthermore, spiritual coping was not demonstrated to add significantly to the prediction of child adjustment in the full coping model. Post-hoc analyses revealed a mediation effect for social functioning upon the relationship of existential coping and depression. Additionally, religious coping was found to mediate the effect of emergency room utilization upon perceived efficacy of avoidant coping. The factor analysis for the measure, while preliminary in nature, reflected a two-factor solution with strong loadings that closely approximated the theoretical delineation of the subscales. / Ph. D.

The present study examined a psychosocial-cognitive model that integrates recent findings on the independent effects of early maladaptive cognitive schemas (EMSs; Young, 1994) and psychosocial factors/stressors; viz., social support, expressed emotion, stressful life events and daily hassles, on level of depressive symptoms in young adults. Consistent with Beck's theory of depression, the expectation was that individuals with the EMSs would be more likely to respond to psychosocial stressors with higher levels of depression. Questionnaires measuring the selected psychosocial factors and EMSs were administered to 244 (82 male and 162 female) undergraduate students, mean age 19. Previous findings on the direct relationships between stressful life events, social support and EMSs, and level of depression were replicated. Except for daily hassles, the moderator role of the EMSs was largely disconfirmed when a conservative statistical test (Bonferroni correction) was applied to moderator analyses. With regard to perceived social support received from family and friends, present results were promising for the moderator effect of the EMSs of self sacrifice, functional dependency/incompetence and abandonment. The prediction equation to the criterion of depression indicated independent contributions of stressful life events, and the EMSs of abandonment, functional dependency/incompetence, and insufficient self control, accounting for half of the variance in depression. Taken together, the present data provided little support for the moderator effect of the EMSs rather supported Young's theory (1990) that maladaptive cognitions in themselves can produce increased levels of depression regardless of the presence of triggering stressors. / Master of Science

Across the global educational spectrum, students with disabilities and special educational needs (SEN) face unique psychosocial challenges that transcend their academic endeavors. This diverse group, historically marginalized and often misunderstood, navigates a complex array of cognitive, physical, and behavioral hurdles. The term "SEN" has broadened to reflect this diversity, emphasizing the psychosocial difficulties these students encounter beyond their specific disabilities through counseling. Greece serves as a poignant case study, illustrating the evolution of attitudes and policies toward SEN students amidst its rich historical and cultural backdrop. From ancient times, where disability perceptions were mixed, through to the Orthodox Christian influence, which has oscillated in its view of disability, Greece's journey towards inclusivity mirrors global trends but with distinct characteristics. The 20th century marked significant strides towards integrating SEN students into mainstream education, a shift from segregation to inclusion that reflects broader societal changes. Globally, the landscape for SEN students is varied and influenced by a myriad of factors, including cultural perceptions, policy frameworks, and societal attitudes. Historical treatment of individuals with disabilities has evolved from exclusion to a more inclusive model, propelled by international conventions such as the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Developed nations typically allocate substantial resources towards SEN support, while developing countries may struggle with resource constraints and societal stigmas. Technological advancements have ushered in a new era of tools tailored for SEN students, promoting inclusivity and leveling the playing field. Despite progress, challenges persist, including societal stigmas and the marginalization of SEN students in crisis situations. Civil society organizations play a crucial role in advocating for SEN rights and fostering societal change through counseling. The educational system's role is pivotal in shaping SEN students' experiences. From the global shift towards inclusivity to the specific case of Greece, where the move from segregation to inclusive education has marked a significant transformation, educators play a crucial role. However, genuine inclusion requires more than physical integration into mainstream classrooms; it necessitates a comprehensive understanding of SEN students' psychosocial challenges and a systemic shift towards empathy, specialized skills, and inclusive policies. Innovative interventions, such as personalized learning approaches, peer support, and emphasis on social-emotional learning, highlight the ongoing efforts to address the psychosocial challenges faced by SEN students. Community engagement, policy reforms, and the pivotal role of families underscore the collective responsibility in creating a more inclusive society through counseling. Understanding the psychosocial intricacies of SEN students is essential for developing effective interventions and fostering an educational landscape that celebrates diversity and supports holistic growth. This requires a nuanced understanding of the cultural, societal, and educational factors that shape SEN students' experiences, emphasizing the importance of empathy, specialized training for educators, and inclusive policies to address the myriad challenges these students face through counseling.

Approximately 21,550 women were diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer (OVCA) in 2009 and 14,600 died from their disease, making it the number one killer of women among gynecological cancers. Seventy percent of cases of OVCA are not detected until the disease has progressed to stage III or stage IV. Both diagnosis and aggressive treatments for late-stage OVCA can have a negative impact on women's psychosocial well-being resulting in anxiety, depression, and fear. The purpose of this integrative review of literature was to evaluate interventions designed to improve psychosocial well-being in women with OVCA. This review of literature was conducted using the CINAHL, PsycINFO, and MEDLINE databases using various key terms including "ovarian cancer or neoplasm" and "psychological and psychosocial", "well-being", "fear or anxiety or depression". Five studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. These interventions include psychosocial, psychoeducational, and personal counseling interventions. The findings indicate that these interventions result in a significant improvement in participant's psychosocial well-being including decreased depressive symptoms, fear, and anxiety. This evidence supports that there is a need for psychosocial intervention in women with OVCA. It also suggests that women with OVCA benefit from tailored interventions and one-on-one educational and counseling sessions. Clinicians can use this information to anticipate potential problems in their client's psychosocial well-being and provide more education and support or refer them for counseling. More research is needed about reducing the psychosocial sequelae that results in women with OVCA.

Yes

Yes / This systematic review identifies and reports the extent and nature of evidence to support the use of Dementia Care Mapping as an intervention in care settings. The review was limited to studies that used Dementia Care Mapping as an intervention and included outcomes involving either care workers and/or people living with dementia. Searches were conducted in PubMed, Web of Knowledge, CINAHL, PsychINFO, EBSCO and Scopus and manually from identified articles reference lists. Studies published up to January 2017 were included. Initial screening of identified papers was based on s read by one author; full-text papers were further evaluated by a second author. The quality of the identified papers was assessed independently by two authors using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. A narrative synthesis of quantitative findings was conducted. We identified 6 papers fulfilling predefined criteria. Studies consist of recent, large scale, good quality trials that had some positive impacts upon care workers’ stress and burnout and benefit people with dementia in terms of agitated behaviours, neuropsychiatric symptoms, falls and quality of life. Available research provides preliminary evidence that Dementia Care Mapping may benefit care workers and people living with dementia in care settings. Future research should build on the successful studies to date and use other outcomes to better understand the benefits of this intervention.