Associations Between Voice and Gestural Characteristics of Transgender Women and Self-Rated Femininity, Satisfaction, and Quality of Life

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Teresa L. D. Hardy ◽  
Jana M. Rieger ◽  
Kristopher Wells ◽  
Carol A. Boliek
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Rating Scales ◽  
Training Programs ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Transgender Women ◽  
Communication Training ◽  
Communication Satisfaction ◽  
Subjective Ratings ◽  
Subjective Measures

Purpose Client-based subjective ratings of treatment and outcomes are becoming increasingly important as speech-language pathologists embrace client-centered care practices. Of particular interest is the value in understanding how these ratings are related to aspects of gender-affirming voice and communication training programs for transgender and gender-diverse individuals. The purpose of this observational study was to explore relationships between acoustic and gestural communication variables and communicator-rated subjective measures of femininity, communication satisfaction, and quality of life (QoL) among transfeminine communicators. Method Twelve acoustic and gestural variables were measured from high-fidelity audio and motion capture recordings of transgender women ( n = 20) retelling the story of a short cartoon. The participants also completed a set of subjective ratings using a series of Likert-type rating scales, a generic QoL questionnaire, and a population-specific voice-related QoL questionnaire. Correlational analyses were used to identify relationships between the communication measures and subjective ratings. Results A significant negative relationship was identified between the use of palm-up hand gestures and self-rated satisfaction with overall communication. The acoustic variable of average semitone range was positively correlated with overall QoL. No acoustic measures were significantly correlated with voice-related QoL, and unlike previous studies, speaking fundamental frequency was not associated with any of the subjective ratings. Conclusions The results from this study suggest that voice characteristics may have limited association with communicator-rated subjective measures of communication satisfaction or QoL for this population. Results also provide preliminary evidence for the importance of nonverbal communication targets in gender-affirming voice and communication training programs.

Thinking Beyond Language: Intervention for Severe Aphasia

2009 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Simmons-Mackie
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Communication Training ◽  
Language Intervention ◽  
Specific Training ◽  
Environmental Support ◽  
Total Communication ◽  
Communication Partners

Abstract Purpose: This article addresses several intervention approaches that aim to improve life for individuals with severe aphasia. Because severe aphasia significantly compromises language, often for the long term, recommended approaches focus on additional domains that affect quality of life. Treatments are discussed that involve increasing participation in personally relevant life situations, enhancing environmental support for communication and participation, and improving communicative confidence. Methods: Interventions that have been suggested in the aphasia literature as particularly appropriate for people with severe aphasia include training in total communication, training of communication partners, and activity specific training. Conclusion: Several intervention approaches can be implemented to enhance life with severe aphasia.

Cathartic Effect of Suicide Attempts Not Limited to Depression

Crisis ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 73-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yves Sarfati ◽  
Blandine Bouchaud ◽  
Marie-Christine Hardy-Baylé
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Personality Traits ◽  
Rating Scales ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
World Health ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Short Term

Summary: The cathartic effect of suicide is traditionally defined as the existence of a rapid, significant, and spontaneous decrease in the depressive symptoms of suicide attempters after the act. This study was designed to investigate short-term variations, following a suicide attempt by self-poisoning, of a number of other variables identified as suicidal risk factors: hopelessness, impulsivity, personality traits, and quality of life. Patients hospitalized less than 24 hours after a deliberate (moderate) overdose were presented with the Montgomery-Asberg Depression and Impulsivity Rating Scales, Hopelessness scale, MMPI and World Health Organization's Quality of Life questionnaire (abbreviated versions). They were also asked to complete the same scales and questionnaires 8 days after discharge. The study involved 39 patients, the average interval between initial and follow-up assessment being 13.5 days. All the scores improved significantly, with the exception of quality of life and three out of the eight personality traits. This finding emphasizes the fact that improvement is not limited to depressive symptoms and enables us to identify the relative importance of each studied variable as a risk factor for attempted suicide. The limitations of the study are discussed as well as in particular the nongeneralizability of the sample and setting.

scholarly journals Addiction Problems, Aggression, and Quality of Life in People with Different Occupations in South Korea

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 141
Author(s):  
Hwee Wee ◽  
Gweon-Young Kang
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Alcohol Use Disorder ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Smartphone Addiction ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Regional Survey ◽  
Occupation Group

Addiction is related to aggression and quality of life. This study examined the relationship between these three factors according to occupation group in a mixed urban/rural area to better understand adult addiction problems. This study was a secondary data analysis of cross-sectional data collected by a 2017 regional survey of adults living in Gunsan City, South Korea. The survey included 500 people split into the unemployed (Group1), full-time homemakers (Group2), and primary (Group3), secondary (Group4), and tertiary (Group5) industry workers. Addiction problems and aggression were positively correlated (p < 0.01). Aggression and alcohol use disorder were correlated in Group3 (r = 0.31), Group4 (r = 0.34), and Group5 (r = 0.32), and aggression and smartphone addiction were correlated in Group2 (r = 0.39) and Group4 (r = 0.31). Problem gambling was correlated with aggression in Group5 (r = 0.39). A negative relationship between quality of life and alcohol use disorder occurred in Group1 (r = −0.36). According to the occupation group, the relationships between addiction problems, aggression, and quality of life were different. These findings suggest that addiction management for adults should be implemented in consideration of occupation groups.

scholarly journals The Effect of Baseline Patient and Caregiver Mindfulness on Dementia Outcomes

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-23
Author(s):  
Ashley D. Innis ◽  
Magdalena I. Tolea ◽  
James E. Galvin
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Rating Scales ◽  
Present Moment ◽  
Health Related Quality ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Caregiver Rating

Background: Mindfulness is the practice of awareness and living in the present moment without judgment. Mindfulness-based interventions may improve dementia-related outcomes. Before initiating interventions, it would be beneficial to measure baseline mindfulness to understand targets for therapy and its influence on dementia outcomes. Objective: This cross-sectional study examined patient and caregiver mindfulness with patient and caregiver rating scales and patient cognitive performance and determined whether dyadic pairing of mindfulness influences patient outcomes. Methods: Individuals (N = 291) underwent comprehensive evaluations, with baseline mindfulness assessed using the 15-item Applied Mindfulness Process Scale (AMPS). Correlation, regression, and mediation models tested relationships between patient and caregiver mindfulness and outcomes. Results: Patients had a mean AMPS score of 38.0±11.9 and caregivers had a mean AMPS score of 38.9±11.5. Patient mindfulness correlated with activities of daily living, behavior and mood, health-related quality of life, subjective cognitive complaints, and performance on episodic memory and attention tasks. Caregiver mindfulness correlated with preparedness, care confidence, depression, and better patient cognitive performance. Patients in dyads with higher mindfulness had better cognitive performance, less subjective complaints, and higher health-related quality of life (all p-values<0.001). Mindfulness effects on cognition were mediated by physical activity, social engagement, frailty, and vascular risk factors. Conclusion: Higher baseline mindfulness was associated with better patient and caregiver outcomes, particularly when both patients and caregivers had high baseline mindfulness. Understanding the baseline influence of mindfulness on the completion of rating scales and neuropsychological test performance can help develop targeted interventions to improve well-being in patients and their caregivers.

scholarly journals Epilepsy and quality of life in Iranian epileptic patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bahareh Honari ◽  
Seyed Mehran Homam ◽  
Maryam Nabipour ◽  
Zahra Mostafavian ◽  
Arezou Farajpour ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Subscale Score ◽  
Social Consequences ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Epileptic Patients ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Spss Software

Abstract Background Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders with physical, emotional, and social consequences. Previous studies indicate that epilepsy symptoms can highly affect the epileptic patients’ satisfaction in life. The aim of the present study is to investigate the QOL of People with Epilepsy (PWE) in Khorasan Razavi province, Iran. Methods In this study, 100 patients were randomly selected. After confirmation of the diagnosis of epilepsy by neurologists and fulfilling the entrance criteria, patients completed the Quality of Life in Epilepsy-31 inventory (QOLIE-31) questionnaire. Finally, data was analyzed statistically by SPSS software. Results The study sample comprised 100 PWE, aged 18–74 years (34 ± 13), of whom 58 (58%) were females. Tonic-colonic seizure was the most common (60%) type of seizure. The obtained score of each subscale and the range of the QOLIE-31 total score was 16.40–79.18 with the mean of 50 (SD = 16). The energy-fatigue subscale score was significantly higher in patients younger than 35 (p = 0.018). The data analysis showed that the seizure worry subscale was significantly higher in single patients (p = 0.04). Duration of epilepsy had a positive correlation with QOLIE-31 total score (p = 0.038), and a negative relationship with energy-fatigue subscale (p = 0.018). In contrast with previous studies, which reported the frequency of the epileptic episodes as the most important predictor of QOL, our results showed no significant correlation between the number of the episodes and overall QOL score (p = 0.063). However, the number of episodes was significantly correlated with emotional well-being and cognition subscales. Furthermore, the results indicated that poor QOL score is correlated with depressed mood. Conclusion In fact, the ultimate and preferred outcome of all treatments and care interventions is the patient’s QOL. Thus, improvement of the QOL by means of obtaining more information about its contributing factors, in PWE should be one of the main goals in the patients’ treatment.

scholarly journals Occupational Stress, Psychological Well being and Quality of Life among Indian Army Personnel

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 211-216
Author(s):  
Dolly Bansal ◽  
Vijendra Nath Pathak ◽  
J. Pradhan ◽  
Anu Chaudhary
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Occupational Stress ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Stress Index ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Army Personnel

The study aims to highlight the occupation level on occupational stress, psychological well-being, and quality of life of Indian Army Personnel. The study was conducted on one hundred fifty Indian male Army Personnel of different rank belonging to 25 years to 45 years of age group. The cross-sectional design was used. The sample was selected through the purposive sampling technique. The tools measures like the Occupational Stress Index, Psychological Well-Being Scale and WHO Quality of Life-BREF Hindi was individually administered. The data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. One way Analysis of Variance results revealed that there is a significant difference in occupational levels on occupational stress, psychological well-being, and quality of life among Indian Army personnel. Pearson product-moment correlations coefficient showed a significant negative relationship between occupational stress with psychological well-being and quality of life and showed a significant positive relationship between psychological well-being and quality of life among Indian Army Personnel.

scholarly journals Improving the Quality of Life of Family Caregivers of People with Alzheimer’s Disease through Virtual Communities of Practice: A Quasiexperimental Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Montse Romero-Mas ◽  
Anna Ramon-Aribau ◽  
Dyego Leandro Bezerra de Souza ◽  
Andrew M. Cox ◽  
Beni Gómez-Zúñiga
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Communities Of Practice ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Virtual Communities ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Ambiguous Result ◽  
Virtual Communities Of Practice ◽  
The Impact

Caring for a person with dementia burdens family caregivers, and there is a close negative relationship between this burden and their quality of life (QoL). Research suggests that caregivers’ main needs are information and training about the disease and support from others experiencing the same situation, and Internet interventions hold considerable promise for meeting these needs. Virtual communities of practice (VCoPs) are Internet frameworks to share knowledge where members collaborate and achieve a sense of trust in the community. This paper seeks to evaluate the impact of participating in a VCoP (developed through an App) on the QoL of caregivers to people with Alzheimer’s. Results show QoL before and after the intervention changed significantly. The impact of VCoP on caregivers’ overall QoL is moderated by age and relation with the person with Alzheimer’s, specifically those over 65, and spouses. VCoPs allow interaction and knowledge sharing among caregivers which provide them mainly with information and support from peers helping them to meet their needs. Furthermore, caregivers’ QoL did not decrease when their relative deteriorated functionally, which could be due to the participation in VCoP. Although we found significant pre- and post differences in caregivers’ health literacy, we must report the ambiguous result that this variable only impacts on QoL’s physical domain. Participants also reported that they had a positive experience because the App was perceived to be a useful tool, because they could manage their own participation and they met peers and felt less lonely. Results suggest that participation in a VCoP impacts positively on caregivers’ QoL.

scholarly journals STRUCTURAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS, QUALITY OF LIFE AND COPING STYLES AMONG BRAIN DISORDER PATIENTS

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-19
Author(s):  
Priscilla Das
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Panic Disorder ◽  
Positive Relationship ◽  
Emotional Functioning ◽  
Coping Styles ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Brain Disorder ◽  
And Coping

Objective: Brain and nervous system cancer incidence was one of the ten most common cancers in Malaysia. The study intends to model the structural relationship of MDD, anxiety disorders, other psychiatric disorders, quality of life, coping styles and their associated factors among neurological disorder (brain tumour / brain disorder) patients. Methods: The EORTC-Quality of Life, Brief COPE, Single Item Social Support, MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview and Patient Health Questionnaires were utilised in the study. Results: The multivariate normality kurtosis was 6.174 with c.r = 2.440 obtained in this SEM model. Chi-square normalized by degrees of freedom, (χ̰2 /df) =1.086, p= 0.353. The RMSEA was 0.03, TLI = 0.988 and CFI =0.999 were obtained in the study. All 8 paths out of 10 paths were significant with p-values less than 0.05 (two-tailed) with R2 values ranging from 0.48 to 0.55 which indicates that the variance explained ranged from 48% for emotional functioning to 55% for severity of depression. The severity of MDD has positive relationship with insomnia and panic disorder lifetime and negative relationship with self distraction coping styles. Meanwhile emotional functioning had negative relationship with fatigue, venting and panic disorder lifetime and positive relationship with global health status. The emotional functioning also was correlated negatively with the severity of MDD (p < 0.005).  Conclusion: Therefore based on the path analysis, the main contributing factors of MDD severity were emotional functioning, insomnia, self distraction coping and panic disorder lifetime. The emotional functioning of the patients were influenced by the fatigue, global health status, venting coping styles and panic disorder lifetime and this increased the severity of MDD among the patients.  Therefore the role of quality of life and coping styles on depression and anxiety should not be neglected. The clinician, health psychologist, psychiatrist, and counselor in this country need to implement better treatments for the effected patients.

scholarly journals Good, Bad, and Ugly: Partner Support and Quality of Life Among Couples Facing Skin Cancer

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 430-430
Author(s):  
Laura Butner-Kozimor ◽  
Jyoti Savla
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Skin Cancer ◽  
Cancer Diagnosis ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Perceived Support ◽  
Older Couples ◽  
Path Analyses ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Negative Support

Abstract When older adults in partnered relationships face a skin cancer diagnosis of one partner, couples may rely on one another for support. Previous studies have found that perceived support can influence one’s adjustment to the stressors associated with the skin cancer diagnosis, as well as influence the overall quality of life. Using dyadic data from 30 older couples (Mage = 70; SD = 7.25), this study examined positive and negative relationship-focused support strategies each partner provided and effects on the dyad’s quality of life. Dyadic path analyses simultaneously examined the impact of support received by one’s partner and its association with their own quality of life (actor effects) and their partner’s quality of life (partner effects). Positive support received by either partner, in the form of active engagement, was not associated with quality of life. In contrast, negative support in the form of protective buffering received from supporting partners was associated with poorer quality of life for themselves (β = -.37, p = .05) as well as for partners with skin cancer (β = -.43, p = .01). Similarly, overprotection, also a negative support strategy, by supporting partners was associated with poorer quality of life for partners with skin cancer (β = -.63, p &lt; .001). Findings illustrate that not all types of support are beneficial for the overall couple relationship and couple outcomes. Implications for practice and interventions for older couples facing a cancer diagnosis will be discussed.

scholarly journals Atypical depression in growth hormone deficient adults, and the beneficial effects of growth hormone treatment on depression and quality of life

2004 ◽  
pp. 325-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
T Mahajan ◽  
A Crown ◽  
S Checkley ◽  
A Farmer ◽  
S Lightman
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Growth Hormone ◽  
Rating Scales ◽  
Nottingham Health Profile ◽  
Psychiatric Evaluation ◽  
Gh Therapy ◽  
Gh Treatment ◽  
Psychiatric Interview ◽  
Atypical Depression

OBJECTIVE: Some growth hormone deficient adults (GHDAs) have an impaired quality of life, which may improve with growth hormone (GH) treatment. The objective of our study was to make an in-depth psychiatric evaluation of patients with adult-onset (AO) and childhood-onset (CO) GH deficiency (GHD), and to assess the time course of changes in their quality of life and symptoms of depression in response to GH treatment. DESIGN: The study design was a 4-month, double-blind, cross-over, placebo-controlled trial of GH therapy. METHODS:We used a detailed psychiatric interview to characterise 25 patients with proven GHD at baseline. They were reassessed at monthly intervals during treatment with GH or placebo, using the Nottingham Health Profile and two well-recognised depression rating scales. RESULTS: 11/18 (61%) of the patients with AO-GHD, but 0/7 of the patients with CO-GHD, were found to have atypical depression at baseline. There were significant improvements in the depression rating scale scores after 2 months of GH therapy, with significant improvements in emotional reaction and social isolation scores from 1 month, and in energy levels and sleep disturbance from 2 and 3 months respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study confirm that a large proportion of GHDAs have unequivocal psychiatric morbidity, and suggest that a response to treatment can be seen after a short trial of GH therapy. We hypothesise that this rapid improvement of symptoms of atypical depression represents a direct central effect of GH therapy.

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