Social participation of children age 8–12 with SLI

Purpose: Two objectives are being pursued: (1) to describe the level of social participation of children aged 8–12 presenting a specific language impairment (SLI) and (2) to identify personal and family factors associated with their level of social participation. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 29 children with SLI and one of their parents. Parental stress and family adversity were measured as risk factors. The measure of life habits (LIFE-H) adapted to children aged 5-3 was used to measure social participation. Results: The assumption that social participation of these children is impaired in relation to the communication dimension was generally confirmed. The statements referring to the “communication in the community” and “written communication” are those for which the results are weaker. “Communication at home” is made easier albeit with some difficulties, while “telecommunication” is totally preserved. A high level of parental stress is also confirmed, affecting the willingness of parents to support their child’s autonomy. Conclusions: The achievement of a normal lifestyle of children with SLI is upset in many spheres of life. Methods of intervention must better reflect the needs and realities experienced by these children in their various living environments, in order to optimize social participation, and consequently, to improve their well-being and that of their families. The need to develop strategies to develop children's independence and to reduce parental stress must be recognized and all stakeholders need to be engaged in the resolution of this challenge.

• Implications for Rehabilitation

• The realization of life habits of SLI children is compromised at various levels, especially in the domain related to “communication in the community” and “written communication”.

• Speech-language pathologists must consider providing ongoing support throughout the primary years of these children and during adolescence, to promote and facilitate the continued realization of life habits of SLI persons.

• Providing ongoing support throughout the primary years and thereafter is needed to facilitate the continuing realization of life habits of SLI persons.

• Parents of children with SLI experience considerable stress in relation to the exercise of their parental roles.

• It is important to intervene and to support parents to promote autonomy for their SLI children.

     

Which Social Problem-Solving Components Buffer Depression in Adolescent Girls?

Life stress is associated with depression, although it accounts for only about 10% of the variance. Social problem solving has been found to be a moderator of the stress–depression relationship in adults and children. This study extends research in this area by testing whether social problem solving moderates the relationship between stress and depression among adolescent girls and whether the moderating role of social problem solving is specific to certain domains of social problem solving. The hypothesized role of specific social problem-solving deficits in the association between stress and depressive symptomatology was supported.     

Costs and Outcomes in Children's Social Care – Messages from Research

The changes consequent upon the NHS and Community Care Act, 1990 inevitably gave rise to a good deal of confusion and uncertainty amongst the workforce. The subsequent introduction of The Health of the Nation in 1992 led to further confusion arising from its emphasis on multi-agency collaboration at a time when there was a prevailing tendency to erect protectionist barriers around organisations and professions. Implementing any new initiative which involves significant interprofessional collaboration is likely to be complex and protracted and requires significant amounts of goodwill from all concerned. Public Health professionals have traditionally played a facilitatory role in establishing a dialogue between different agencies and professionals but this role is now threatened by their explicit alignment with the purchaser function. Despite this unsettling climate of major change, interprofessional working in the planning of services in the interests of patients is still possible to achieve. It remains to be seen whether this will continue as the increasingly competitive market exerts its full influence on the professional culture of the NHS. These issues are discussed, using as a case-study recent experience in developing counselling in primary care.     

Is Social Anxiety Associated With Both Interpersonal Avoidance and Interpersonal Dependence?

We tested the hypothesis that social anxiety is associated with both interpersonal avoidance and interpersonal dependency. Specifically, we predicted that dependence would be evident in developmentally salient close relationships upon which socially anxious people may rely. One hundred sixty-eight young people undergoing the transition to adulthood completed self-report measures of anxiety and interpersonal patterns. Results indicated that both dependent and avoidant interpersonal styles in romantic relationships, but not other relationships, were uniquely associated with social anxiety. These results remained when controlling for depressive symptoms, anxiety sensitivity, and trait anxiety. Our findings illustrate that social anxiety is not characterized solely by interpersonal avoidance as current conceptualizations suggest. Implications for models and treatment of social anxiety are discussed.     

Social services and the Single Assessment Process: early warning signs?

Following the publication of policy documents such as the NHS Plan and the National Service Framework for Older People, health and social care agencies in the UK have been charged with devising and implementing a Single Assessment Process by April 2004. Although service users and carers are often frustrated at having to give the same information to many different professionals, this paper cites research which raises significant doubts about the present capacity of social services departments to deliver on this government initiative. Based on telephone interviews with 25 local authorities, this paper describes the findings of research into the use of dependency measures in residential and nursing care. Although this research was conducted prior to the introduction of the Single Assessment Process, the study suggests that some local agencies may lack the expertise and skills to develop effective assessment tools/scales and that considerable Developmental work may be required to prepare organisations for April 2004.     

Exploring Social–Contextual Correlates of Perfectionism in Adolescents: A Multivariate Perspective

One objective of this study was to examine whether young adolescents, who are invested in an achievement activity (i.e., sport), could be distinguished on their perceptions of social–contextual influences in their home. A second purpose was to explore whether youth differentiated with respect to their perceptions of their parental environment vary in terms of their perfectionistic tendencies and motivational characteristics (i.e., personal goal orientations, motivational regulations). In a sample of 196 athletes, perceptions of parental criticism, expectations, goal orientations, and flexibility were cluster analyzed. Results supported a 4-cluster solution composing of an Ego-Involving, Structured Environment (N=72); a High Ability Focused, Flexible Environment (N=34); a Task-Involving, Flexible Environment (N=65); and a Punitive, Structured Environment (N=24). The observed variability in perfectionistic tendencies and motivational characteristics associated with each cluster highlighted the importance of a multidimensional approach to the examination of parental influence and provided insight into how positive achievement striving in youth can be fostered.     

Social roles and long-term illness: is it time to rehabilitate convalescence?

The total extent of sickness in the population has increased while disease has decreased. Being sick is a role that offers the patient many advantages both directly, in terms of being absolved from undertaking many daily activities if necessary, and indirectly, through additional financial and other resources that may be offered. Because of these advantages, it is usual for any persistent sickness to be validated by health care professionals. Moreover sick people are expected to make every effort to leave the sick state, especially to make every effort using offered advice and resources such as rehabilitative treatments. However some people are sick longer than anticipated or apparently justified. The sick role developed based on assumptions that may no longer be valid, and the extended World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning (WHO ICF) model of illness provides a new analysis of the problem, emphasizing that sometimes sickness is caused or perpetuated by factors other than disease. Among other factors, the lack of a way out of the sick role might be one reason for increasing sickness. Therefore re-establishing convalescence as a role might facilitate people in leaving the sick role, and rehabilitation should consider promoting convalescence.     

Emerging Adults’ Attitudes and Beliefs About Suicide and Technology/Social Media

Suicide in emerging adults (18-29 years) is increasing in the United States, especially amidst coronavirus disease 2019. How the use of technology/social media affects suicidal behaviors is unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine attitudes and beliefs of emerging adults about suicide and identify whether relationships exist with technology/social media use. A total of 297 participants completed an online survey examining attitudes about suicide and technology use. Results indicate a normalization of suicide. Significant relationships were found with technology/social media, including a positive relationship between YouTube and glorification/normalization of suicide. Recommendations for primary and secondary suicide prevention are made for nurse practitioners in various settings.