Tracing the Past: Renewing Life Narratives Through Robots

Abstract The study explores the effectiveness and efficacy of using robotics in clinical settings to facilitate Life Review. Life Review is a process in which subjects retrospectively analyze major life events with a conversation partner in order to find meaning and to synthesize a narrative. In this experiment, Life Review was conducted with 5 elderly subjects and two types of partners: a human and a robot. The partners utilized a set of trigger questions to review past events with their subjects. Two sequences of Life Review, each comprising four sessions, were completed. Four sessions involved a human partner, and four involved a robot partner. The recorded correspondences in Life Review were transcribed, and the utterances of the participants with the two partners were compared and analyzed qualitatively. This preliminary study was the first attempt to explore the benefits of conducting Life Review with robotic conversation partners. The results showcased distinct differences between a human partner and a robotic partner. Specifically, subjects in sessions with a human partner showed stronger awareness of generational gaps between the human partner rather than the robotic partner. In contrast, sessions with a robotic partner included more universally transmissive values. The outcome suggests Life Review with robots can potentially provide elderly patients greater safety and comfort in telling their unique life narratives. The usage of robotic partners in Life Review provides a promising and novel research area into improving and re-imagining mental health access and outcomes for patients.

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Taking the ups and downs at the rollercoaster of love: Associations between major life events in the domain of romantic relationships and the Big Five personality traits.

Developmental Psychology ◽

10.1037/dev0001047 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 56 (9) ◽

pp. 1803-1816 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Eva Asselmann ◽

Jule Specht

Keyword(s):

Romantic Relationships ◽

Personality Traits ◽

Life Events ◽

Big Five ◽

Big Five Personality Traits ◽

Big Five Personality ◽

Major Life Events ◽

Major Life

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Supplemental Material for A Dimensional Taxonomy of Perceived Characteristics of Major Life Events

Journal of Personality and Social Psychology ◽

10.1037/pspp0000291.supp ◽

2020 ◽

Keyword(s):

Life Events ◽

Major Life Events ◽

Major Life

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Physical Activity Patterns After Retirement: The REGARDS Study

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1704 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 528-529

Author(s):

Eric Shiroma ◽

J David Rhodes ◽

Aleena Bennet ◽

Monika M Safford ◽

Leslie MacDonald ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Light Intensity ◽

Racial Differences ◽

Activity Patterns ◽

Accelerometer Data ◽

Tv Viewing ◽

Major Life Events ◽

Major Life ◽

Physical Activity Patterns ◽

Regards Study

Abstract Major life events, such as retirement, may lead to dramatic shifts in physical activity (PA) patterns. However, there are limited empirical data quantifying the magnitude of these changes. Our aims were to objectively measure PA before and after retirement and to describe changes in participation in various types of PA. Participants were employed black and white men and women enrolled in REGARDS (REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke), a national prospective cohort study (n=581, mean age 64 years, 25% black, 51% women). Participants met inclusion criteria if they retired between their first and second accelerometer wearing (2009-2013 and 2017-2018, respectively) and had valid accelerometer data (>4 days with >10 hours/day pre- and post-retirement). Accelerometer-based PA was categorized into average minutes per day spent in sedentary, light-intensity, and moderate-to-vigorous PA. Participants reported changes (less, same, more) in 12 types of PA. After retirement, participants decreased both sedentary time (by 36.3 minutes/day) and moderate-to-vigorous PA (by 5.6 minutes/day). Conversely, there was an increase in light-intensity PA (+18.1 minutes/day) after retirement. Participants reported changes in their participation level in various PA activities. For example, 41% reported an increased amount of TV viewing, 42% reported less walking, and 31% reported increased participation in volunteer activities. Findings indicate that retirement coincides with a change in the time spent in each intensity category and the time spent across a range of activity types. Further research is warranted to examine how these changes in physical activity patterns influence post-retirement health status.

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Cancer-related fatigue: an overview

British Journal of Nursing ◽

10.12968/bjon.2021.30.4.s36 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 30 (4) ◽

pp. S36-S43

Author(s):

Mohammed Al Maqbali

Keyword(s):

Negative Impact ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Background Information ◽

Clinical Settings ◽

Measurement Scales ◽

Major Life ◽

Patients With Cancer ◽

Cancer Related Fatigue ◽

Diagnosis Of Cancer ◽

Life Stressor

A diagnosis of cancer is a major life stressor that can affect the physiological, psychological and physical state of the person concerned. Fatigue is a particularly common and troubling symptom that has a negative impact on quality of life throughout all phases of treatment and stages of the illness. The aim of this review is to provide background information on cancer-related fatigue. This review discusses cancer-related fatigue (CRF) in terms of the definition, prevalence, risk factors, aetiology, and the measurement scales used. The differences between definitions of symptoms and relevant theories will be explored and discussed to help explain the variety of instruments used in its measurement. The prevalence of fatigue will be assessed by looking critically at the evidence of fatigue and the factors that affect it. Potential treatment and management strategies for CRF will also be discussed. Finally, there will be an overview of the instruments used to measure fatigue. This review also provides important evidence for measuring and managing CRF that can help nurses to understand fatigue among patients with cancer. Assessing CRF should be routinely undertaken in clinical settings to help identify the proper interventions, treatments and management to reduce fatigue among cancer patients.

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