Collaborating With Student Parents as Participatory Researchers in a Qualitative Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 152483992110465
Author(s):  
Lauren Rauh ◽  
Meredith G. Manze ◽  
Dana Watnick

When embarking on research within a community where little empirical research exists, the inclusion of a structured participant group—such as a steering committee or advisory board—can formalize the participant–research team partnership, increase community buy-in for action items, and reinforce the trustworthiness of research findings. These were among the aims of the multimethod design of the Student Parent Project, a qualitative study to determine the barriers and facilitators of academic achievement and well-being at six community colleges within a large, urban, public university system. The initial step of the study was to create a Student Advisory Board by recruiting one student parent from each of the participating campuses. The Student Advisory Board then met intermittently to review the research approach, data collection instruments, and preliminary findings at different stages. In this article, we describe the process of convening and collaborating with the advisory board and identify key areas in which their participation influenced the study design, findings, and recommendations. Based on lessons learned, we offer recommendations for the design and implementation of a participatory advisory board within qualitative studies.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keiko Shikako-Thomas ◽  
Ebele RI Mogo ◽  
Valerie Grand-Maison ◽  
Robert Simpson ◽  
Lesley Pritchard-Wiart ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND The gap between research and its practical application in community settings limits its impact on public health. Closing this gap has the potential to improve the well-being of underserved groups, such as children with disabilities. Mobile health holds promise in closing this gap by helping underserved populations build community and improve their access to community resources and supports that can lead to improved health behaviours. OBJECTIVE In this feasibility pilot, we describe the development of the mobile app, Jooay. Jooay was developed in partnership with stakeholders to facilitate access to leisure and physical activity community programs for children and youth with disabilities. We also reflect on the lessons learned throughout the implementation process that are relevant for improving health behaviours for children with disabilities. METHODS We used a participatory action research approach in the development of the app. We also administered a cross-sectional survey to current Jooay users and analysed various app usage indicators to explore use patterns and user feedback and preferences. Finally, we critically appraised the implementation process, using the best practices for implementation research by Peters et al. (2013). RESULTS Our analysis of usage data revealed that access to the Jooay app is concentrated in urban areas. Perceptions, attitudes, and information needs varied according to the type of user. Use of the mobile app changes over time, with usage decreasing after download, showing a need for sustained engagement of app users. Users found value in using the app to identify activities they would not otherwise know about. However, app use alone was not enough to improve participation. We also encountered challenges with survey recruitment and attrition, suggesting the need for more seamless and engaging means for data collection within this population. CONCLUSIONS Using the information gained from this study, we intend to improve the next iteration of the Jooay app to sustain user engagement and behaviour change. We will also conduct a larger study assessing the relationship between urban design and access to inclusive and adaptive leisure programs. This study will inform the improvement of app listings and an understanding of the different user groups.


Author(s):  
Rachael Crowder ◽  
Jennifer Lock ◽  
Evelyn Hickey ◽  
Mairi McDermott ◽  
Marlon Simmons ◽  
...  

Being prepared for the intensity and complexities that educators face in their work means building strategies for managing well-being. This qualitative study explored educators’ conceptualizations about their well-being using an arts-based, community-based participatory research (AB-CBPR) methodology. After a brief mindfulness meditation and contemplation of prompting questions, educators were invited to participate in drawing and writing reflections. The artifacts were coded to determine themes. Themes suggested the importance of human connectedness and interconnection, self care and nurturance, the healing qualities of the natural word, and the recognition that institutions need to provide space and resources to support educator well-being. The mindfulness-based art-as-meditation process was itself a salutogenic process and provided a means for developing a deeper understanding of educator well-being through a community-based participatory research approach.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 229-260
Author(s):  
Pilinszki Attila ◽  
Gyetvai Anna

Tanulmányunk célja áttekintést nyújtani a válás utáni közös szülőségre, a szülők együttműködésére és konfliktusaira vonatkozó főbb kutatási eredményekről. A közös szülőség fogalma a szülők közötti interakciókat, kapcsolatot jelenti, amit a válást követően is szükséges fenntartani. Tanulmányunkban egyrészt kitérünk a közös szülőség egyes aspektusaira (szülői kommunikáció, egymás támogatása–aláásása, konfliktusok és konfliktuskezelés), másrészt a vonatkozó vizsgálatokban leggyakrabban megjelenő háttérváltozókra (válási folyamat, elhelyezés típusa). A válás következményei, az új helyzethez való alkalmazkodás sikeressége mind a szülők, mind a gyerekek részéről jelentős társadalmi fontossággal bír, ennek ellenére a válás utáni közös szülőség témája csak egy-egy hazai publikációban jelenik meg. Jelen tanulmánnyal célunk ennek a hiánynak a pótlása, valamint a kérdéskör hazai kutatásának inicializálása. A vizsgált szakirodalom alapján elmondható, hogy a párkapcsolat felbomlása után kiemelten fontos egy új egyensúlyi állapot kialakítása, mivel a közös szülőség minősége összefüggést mutat a gyermekek és a felnőttek jóllétével is. A vonatkozó empirikus szakirodalom egy része azokra a preventív képzési programokra irányul, amelyek a válás utáni közös szülőség minőségének fejlesztését tűzték ki célul. Említést teszünk ezért több ilyen programról, röviden ismertetve a sajátosságaikat és a kapcsolatos empirikus eredményeket. Következtetésként elmondható, hogy a válást követő közös szülőség komplex témaköre és a szülők sokszor eltérő narratívája miatt olyan diádikus kutatási megközelítés választása indokolt, amellyel ez az összetettség megragadható. Felhívjuk továbbá a figyelmet arra, hogy hazánkban hiányoznak az elvált szülőknek kínált edukációs programok, pedig a szülők és gyermekek jóllétének érdekében fontos lenne ezek kifejlesztése, hatékonyságuk vizsgálata és a megfelelő hatékonyságú programok rendszerszintű elterjesztése. This study aims to provide a review of the main research findings on coparenting after divorce, parental cooperation and conflicts. The concept of coparenting refers to the interactions and relationship between parents which must be maintained even after divorce. In our paper, we cover some aspects of coparenting (parental communication, mutual support, undermining, conflicts and conflict management) and the most common background variables in the relevant studies (divorce process, type of custody). The consequences of divorce and the success of adapting to the new situation are of significant importance for both parents and children, however, the topic of coparenting after divorce appears in few Hungarian publications. With the present study, we aim to fill this gap and to initialize domestic research on the issue. Based on the examined literature, it can be stated that the formation of a new state of equilibrium after the dissolution of the relationship is of great importance, as the quality of coparenting is related to the well-being of children and adults as well. Some of the relevant empirical literature relates to preventive training programs aimed at improving the quality of coparenting after divorce. We, therefore, mention several such programs, briefly describing their specifics and related empirical results. In conclusion, due to the complex topic of coparenting after divorce and the often different narratives of parents, it is justified to choose a dyadic research approach that can capture this complexity. We would also like to draw attention to the fact that there is a lack of educational programs for divorced parents in Hungary, although it would be important to develop and disseminate them widely for the well-being of parents and children.


2021 ◽  
pp. 000841742199438
Author(s):  
Melinda J. Suto ◽  
Shelagh Smith ◽  
Natasha Damiano ◽  
Shurli Channe

Background. Sustaining well-being challenges people with serious mental health issues. Community gardening is an occupation used to promote clients’ well-being, yet there is limited evidence to support this intervention. Purpose. This paper examines how facilitated community gardening programs changed the subjective well-being and social connectedness of people living with mental health issues. Method. A community-based participatory research approach and qualitative methods were used with 23 adults living in supported housing and participating in supported community gardening programs. A constructivist approach guided inductive data analysis. Findings. Participation in community gardening programs enhanced well-being through welcoming places, a sense of belonging, and developing positive feelings through doing. The connection to living things and responsibility for plants grounded participants in the present and offered a unique venue for learning about gardening and themselves. Implications. Practitioners and service-users should collaborate to develop leadership, programs, places, and processes within community gardens to enhance well-being.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katie Grogan ◽  
Hannah O’Daly ◽  
Jessica Bramham ◽  
Mary Scriven ◽  
Caroline Maher ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Resilience research to date has been criticised for its consideration of resilience as a personal trait instead of a process, and for identifying individual factors related to resilience with no consideration of the ecological context. The overall aim of the current study was to explore the multi-level process through which adults recovering from EDs develop resilience, from the perspectives of clients and clinicians. The objective of this research was to outline the stages involved in the process of developing resilience, which might help to inform families and services in how best to support adults with EDs during their recovery. Method Thirty participants (15 clients; 15 clinicians) took part in semi-structured interviews, and responded to questions relating to factors associated with resilience. Using an inductive approach, data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results The overarching theme which described the process of developing resilience was ‘Bouncing back to being me’, which involved three stages: ‘Who am I without my ED?’, ‘My eating disorder does not define me’, and ‘I no longer need my eating disorder’. Twenty sub-themes were identified as being involved in this resilience process, thirteen of which required multi-level involvement. Conclusion This qualitative study provided a multi-level resilience framework for adults recovering from eating disorders, that is based on the experiences of adults with eating disorders and their treating clinicians. This framework provided empirical evidence that resilience is an ecological process involving an interaction between internal and external factors occurring between adults with eating disorder and their most immediate environments (i.e. family and social). Plain English summary Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder demonstrate high rates of symptom persistence across time and poor prognosis for a significant proportion of individuals affected by these disorders, including health complications and increased risk of mortality. Many researchers have attempted to explore how to improve recovery outcomes for this population. Eating disorder experts have emphasised the need to focus not only on the weight indicators and eating behaviours that sustain the eating disorder during recovery, but also on the psychological well-being of the person recovering. One way to achieve this is to focus on resilience, which was identified as a fundamental aspect of eating disorder recovery in previous research. This study conceptualises resilience as a dynamic process that is influenced not only at a personal level but also through the environment in which the person lives. This study gathered data from adults with eating disorders and their treating clinicians, to devise a framework for resilience development for adults recovering from eating disorders. The paper discussed ways in which these findings and the framework identified can be easily implemented in clinical practice to facilitate a better understanding of eating disorder resilience and to enhance recovery outcomes.


Author(s):  
Shefali Juneja Lakhina ◽  
Elaina J. Sutley ◽  
Jay Wilson

AbstractIn recent years there has been an increasing emphasis on achieving convergence in disaster research, policy, and programs to reduce disaster losses and enhance social well-being. However, there remain considerable gaps in understanding “how do we actually do convergence?” In this article, we present three case studies from across geographies—New South Wales in Australia, and North Carolina and Oregon in the United States; and sectors of work—community, environmental, and urban resilience, to critically examine what convergence entails and how it can enable diverse disciplines, people, and institutions to reduce vulnerability to systemic risks in the twenty-first century. We identify key successes, challenges, and barriers to convergence. We build on current discussions around the need for convergence research to be problem-focused and solutions-based, by also considering the need to approach convergence as ethic, method, and outcome. We reflect on how convergence can be approached as an ethic that motivates a higher order alignment on “why” we come together; as a method that foregrounds “how” we come together in inclusive ways; and as an outcome that highlights “what” must be done to successfully translate research findings into the policy and public domains.


2021 ◽  
pp. 088626052110219
Author(s):  
Aiala Szyfer Lipinsky ◽  
Limor Goldner

Studies dealing with the experiences of non-offending mothers from the general population and minority groups after their child’s disclosure of sexual abuse are scarce, and studies on mothers from the Jewish ultra-Orthodox community are non-existent. This study takes an initial step in filling this gap by exploring how the normalization of sexual abuse shapes these mothers’ experiences. A qualitative phenomenological study was conducted on a sample of 21 mothers from the ultra-Orthodox sector whose children had been sexually abused. It consisted of in-depth, semi-structured interviews of the mothers followed by a drawing task on their experience. The analysis of the interviews yielded four central themes: the role of social stigmatization and religion on the mother’s ability to share her child’s abuse; the effect of the disclosure on the mothers’ mental state and maternal competency; the mothers’ ongoing experience in the shadow of this unprocessed/unresolved trauma; and the mothers’ coping strategies, including acceptance, faith, and meaning making. The findings highlight the influence of the tension between the need to adhere to religious norms and preserve the social fabric and the need to enhance mothers’ and children’s well-being.


Author(s):  
Renato M. Liboro ◽  
Sherry Bell ◽  
Brandon Ranuschio ◽  
Lianne Barnes ◽  
Jenna Despres ◽  
...  

Evidence-based research has highlighted the need for exploring factors that support the mental health of men who have sex with men living with HIV/AIDS (MSMLWH), and environmental influences that promote their resilience to HIV/AIDS. This exploratory study utilized a community-based participatory research approach to investigate barriers and facilitators to promoting resilience to HIV/AIDS, specifically among racial and ethnic minority, middle-aged and older MSMLWH, a population that continues to be significantly impacted by HIV/AIDS today. This collaborative, qualitative study recruited participants who identified as racial or ethnic minority MSMLWH, were aged 40 or older, and resided in Ontario, Canada. Participants (n = 24) discussed in their interviews barriers and facilitators to promoting resilience to HIV/AIDS, which they recognized from their lived experiences. Utilizing thematic analysis, themes related to barriers and facilitators to promoting resilience to HIV/AIDS were identified. Themes related to identified barriers included: (1) language proficiency, (2) racism, (3) pernicious norms in North American gay culture, and (4) HIV stigma. Themes related to identified facilitators included: (1) compartmentalization, (2) perseverance, and (3) community-based health and social services. This article discusses the implications of the study’s findings, particularly on how they may influence the development of future services for racial and ethnic minority, middle-aged and older MSMLWH.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 757-757
Author(s):  
Marie Boltz ◽  
Karin Wolf-Ostermann ◽  
Katie Maslow

Abstract Dementia poses a societal challenge that is life-changing not only for persons with dementia (PWD) but also for family members and friends (informal carers) directly involved in the care arrangement. Informal carers (IC) have typically poorer outcomes in terms of well-being, quality of life (QoL), health status, and use of health care resources. Dyads of PWD and IC living with dementia are characterized by strong reciprocal relationships and complex living contexts. Therefore, research should investigate home based dementia caregiving from a dyadic perspective to yield interventions that support the PWD, the IC, and the unit as a whole. However, it is an ongoing challenge to investigate dyadic needs and preferences in daily practice and develop effective interventions. Challenges are related to incomplete understanding of dyadic characteristics, attitudes and beliefs within the dyad, as well as how to adapt research approach to engage and retain the dyad in research. This international symposium will therefore address these issues. The first presentation will describe a typology of dementia care dyad characteristics and needs in Germany. The second presentation will examine the challenges and opportunities associated with recruiting and retaining dementia dyads. The third presentation will explore ethical challenges posed in communication with dyads and possible solutions for the researcher. The final presentation reports on the Meeting Centre Support Program as an example of an effective psychosocial intervention employing research strategies that transcend cultural barriers. Our discussant, Katie Maslow, will synthesize the presentations and lead a discussion of future directions for policy and practice.


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