Becoming disabled: The association between disability onset in younger adults and subsequent changes in productive engagement,social support,financial hardship and subjective wellbeing

BackgroundVery few population-based studies have investigated the association between the onset of health conditions/impairments associated with disability and subsequent well-being.ObjectiveTo examine the association between the onset of disability and four indicators of well-being (full-time engagement in employment or education, financial hardship, social support, subjective well-being) among a nationally representative sample of Australian adolescents and young adults.MethodsSecondary analysis of the first eight waves (2001–2008) of the survey of Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia.ResultsFor financial hardship and subjective well-being, the majority of participants belonged to trajectory classes for which there was no evidence that the onset of disability was associated with a subsequent lowering of well-being. For participation in employment and education, the majority of participants belonged to trajectory classes for which there was evidence of a modest immediate reduction in participation rates followed by subsequent stability. For social support, the majority of participants belonged to trajectory classes for which there was evidence of a modest temporary reduction in support followed by rebound back to initial levels. Membership of classes associated with poorer outcomes was associated with a number of covariates including: male gender; younger age of disability onset; being born overseas; not living with both parents at age 14; lower proficiency in the English language; and parental education being year 12 or below.ConclusionsThe results of our analyses illustrate the existence of clear empirically defined trajectory classes following the onset of disability across a range of indicators of well-being.     

Ever-changing but always constant: “Waves” of disability discrimination during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States

The ongoing novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had considerable effects on the disability community. As the pandemic has progressed and changed, the manifestations of these effects have differed, and yet the underlying causes—ableism including the devaluation of disabled lives—have remained consistent. In this commentary, we explore the impact of the pandemic on the disability community in the United States, conceptualizing four distinct but overlapping “waves” of discrimination: 1) healthcare rationing and missed opportunities for disability inclusion, 2) access to resources, supplies, and accommodations; 3) vaccine access; and 4) long COVID and disability identity. Throughout our discussion of these waves, we detail the discrimination faced by people with disabilities, the underlying ableism that perpetuates it, and the resilience shown by the disability community. We end with a call for combating systemic ableism in healthcare and public health systems.     

How do people with learning disability experience the city centre? A Sheffield case study

The use of city centre spaces by people with learning disability is not much debated in the literature. Here we include the thoughts and opinions of groups of people with learning disability as we undertook some guided walks through Sheffield city centre.We found that few of the participants had independent access to the city centre. Many cited concerns over personal safety and the most, on few occasions when they did visit, did so with family and/or paid staff for pre-planned purposes, usually linked to shopping. The need for appropriate support figured prominently. There is also a need to re-assess what we mean by social inclusion for this cohort.     

"They don't want our blood": social inclusion and blood donation among African migrants in Australia

The current study examines how feelings of social inclusion influence migrant communities' predisposition to donate blood, focusing specifically on Sub-Saharan African communities in Australia. We begin by explicating the theoretical links between social inclusion, citizenship and blood donation before discussing local and international perspectives of blood donation among African migrant communities. Using qualitative methods comprising nine focus group discussions, held between March and April 2010, we argue that blood donation intentions are mediated by whether or not individuals feel included in their new host society. Real and perceived discrimination experienced by African migrants in their everyday social interactions or in institutional settings can act as a barrier to blood donation. We conclude that removing such barriers, thereby increasing rates of donation in migrant communities, will help to build social capital and inclusion. Strategies for how this can be achieved are outlined.     

Development and validation of a tool to measure the impact of childhood disabilities on the lives of children and their families

OBJECTIVE: Information on registers of children with special needs will be more meaningful if a validated measure of the severity of impact of a child's disability on life and family is included. DESIGN: We describe the development and initial validation of a parent-completed questionnaire (Generic Lifestyle Assessment Questionnaire LAQ-G) aimed at measuring such impact. RESULTS: Data were collected on 95 case children, representing various disabilities, and 65 control children without disability, and analysed for case-control, test-re-test and inter-reporter reliability. Multidimensional scaling techniques were then used to derive six domains, representing impact of disability in a structure analogous to the participation domains of the revised International Classification ICF (WHO 2001). CONCLUSIONS: Initial results suggest that the LAQ-G is a reliable measure of the impact of disability for children with a range of common disabling conditions.     

How can we reach long-lasting inclusive participation for all? A vision for the future

In 2022, an international conference was held focusing on ‘participation’. We shared current evidence, identified knowledge gaps and worked together to understand what new knowledge and community and practice changes were needed. This brief communication is a summary of the conference delegates' discussions. We present the key assumptions we make about participation and propose what is needed to create change for societies, communities, families and individuals. While we have some robust evidence to support participation approaches, more is needed, and it is everyone's responsibility to build an inclusive society where participation for all is the reality.     

《深圳经济特区控制吸烟条例》的社会接受度分析

目的了解大众对《深圳经济特区控制吸烟条例》（以下简称《条例》）的接受度。方法于《条例》实施一周后在深圳机场和深圳大学对３２２人进行记调查。结果７１％的人知道有《条例》;８４％的人表示有必要制定《条例》。但无人通读过《条例》;对《条例》各条款的知晓率由１５％～９４％参差不齐。认为《条例》与自己关系不大、无意关心其实行情况、无意制止违规行为的分别达３％、５８％和６１％,尤以大学生为甚（５９％、７１％、     

西南地区老年人社会参与对生命质量的影响研究

目的 了解西南地区老年人社会参与现状,并以生命质量作为评价健康的指标,分析社会参与对老年人健康的影响。方法 利用2016—2017年在成都市和昆明市进行的入户调查数据,选取60岁及以上调查对象共3 698名。从有组织的活动参与、人际交往及参与群体性锻炼三个方面分析老年人的社会参与状况,并运用多因素logistic回归分析老年人的社会参与对生命质量的影响。结果 被调查对象人际交往总体较好,参与群体性锻炼较差。多因素分析显示,人际交往中的关系密切的朋友数量（OR = 1.476 及OR = 2.029）及家庭关系（OR = 1.241 及OR = 2.140）对躯体生命质量及心理生命质量均有影响;有组织的活动参与中的社会团体活动参加情况（OR = 1.482）仅对躯体生命质量有影响;有组织的活动参与中的“小区公共项目不直接对您有利时是否会参与”（OR = 1.298）以及参与群体性锻炼（OR = 1.608）对心理生命质量有影响。结论 老年人的社会参与对其生命质量有较为明显的影响。政府及社区对老年人的社会参与应该给予更多的关注。     

学习困难儿童的家庭因素和社会适应能力分析

目的 为了解儿童学习困难与家庭因素、社会适应能力的相关影响。方法 应用学习情况家庭因素调查表“婴儿－初中学生社会生活能力量表”、采用多元Ｌｏｇｉｓｔｉｃ回归分析,对５８例学习困难和４２名学习正常儿童的家庭因素及社会适应能力进行了分析。结果学习情况家庭因素中儿童学习态度、家庭经济、父母教育方式和管理方法等有显著性意义。社会量表显示,独立生活能力和自我管理能力具有显著性意义。结论 在进行儿童学习困难     

The Role of Social Support in Machismo and Acceptance of Violence Among Adolescents in Europe: Lights4Violence Baseline Results

PurposeTo analyze the potential association between social support, experiences of violence, and sociodemographic characteristics of adolescents and the likelihood of acceptance of violence and machismo in different European countries.MethodsCross-sectional design. We recruited 1,555 participants ages 13–16 from secondary schools in Alicante (Spain), Rome (Italy), Iasi (Romania), Matosinhos (Portugal), Poznan (Poland), and Cardiff (UK). We used linear regression models to identify how social support from teachers and parents, experiences of violence—dating violence, bullying, cyberbullying, abuse in childhood—and sociodemographic characteristics were associated with violent thinking, specifically: machismo and acceptance of violence. The analysis was stratified by sex.ResultsAcceptance of violence was higher for those who had lower perceived social support from parents (β_girls = ?154, p < .001; β_boys = ?.114, p = .019) for both sexes. Perpetration of bullying and/or cyberbullying was associated with higher scores for machismo and acceptance of violence for both sexes (β_girls = .067, p = .035; β_boys = .225, p < .001; (β_girls = .118, p < .001; β_boys = .210, p < .001). Being the victim of dating violence, having suffered physical and/or sexual abuse in childhood, and lower perceived social support from teachers were associated with higher scores for both machismo and acceptance of violence. These associations differed between girls and boys.ConclusionsMachismo and acceptance of violence are widely present amongst adolescents in different European countries. Our results suggest the importance of providing educational/psycho-educational interventions with boys and girls to prevent these attitudes and, in turn, prevent interpersonal violence, including bullying and dating violence.     

The Relationship between Perceived Discrimination and Psychotherapeutic and Illicit Drug Misuse in Chicago, IL, USA

Based on several stress-coping frameworks, recent studies have suggested that perceived experiences of discrimination, a psychosocial stressor, may be associated with various risky health behaviors. The 2001 Chicago Community Adult Health Study (n = 3,101), a face-to-face representative probability sample of adults in Chicago, IL, USA, was used to examine the relationship among lifetime everyday discrimination, major discrimination, and the use of illicit and psychotherapeutic drugs for nonmedical reasons. We used negative binomial logistic and multinomial regression analyses controlling for potential confounders. Approximately 17 % of the respondents reported using one or more illicit drugs and/or misusing one or more psychotherapeutic drug. Adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics, other stressors and various personality-related characteristics, results from negative binomial regression suggest that respondents who experienced moderate to high levels of everyday discrimination misused on average 1.5 different kinds of drugs more than respondents that experienced relatively low levels of everyday discrimination (p < 0.05). Similarly, an increase in one lifetime major discrimination event was associated with an increase of misusing 1.3 different drugs on average regardless of experiences of everyday discrimination (p < 0.001). When examining the types of drugs misused, results from multinomial logistic regression suggest that everyday discrimination was only associated with illicit drug use alone; however, lifetime major discrimination was associated with increased odds of using any illicit and both illicit/psychotherapeutic drugs. Mental health and substance use clinical providers should be aware of these potential relationships and consider addressing the harmful effects of perceived discrimination, in all patients not only among racial/ethnic minority patients.