A Qualitative Investigation into the Cultural Master Narrative for Overcoming Trauma and Adversity in the United Kingdom

Research in the field of narrative psychology has found that redemption – a narrative sequence in which people recount emotionally negative experiences as having positive endings – is a useful mechanism for coping with adversity. Redemption has been viewed as a cultural master narrative in North America, providing individuals with a socially valued script for narrating challenging life experiences. Presently little research has examined the presence and function of the redemption narrative outside of North American contexts. The aim of this qualitative study, therefore, was to identify themes in UK individuals’ narratives of trauma and adversity to gain insight into the content of the master narrative for meaning-making in the UK. Sixty-Five participants (57 females, Mage = 21.97, SD = 7.24) with little to no experience of lifetime adversity were recruited into an online survey. Participants answered open-ended questions adopting the perspective of a survivor from a selected UK national tragedy, focusing on how they felt survivors could recover from trauma. We identified two themes in our thematic analysis that were relevant to recovery: recuperation and redemption. Recuperation was most commonly reported, it was described as a gradual lessening of symptoms over time and the ability to cope with the lasting emotional and physical scars. Our findings suggest that redemption is not necessarily the dominant cultural script in the UK for guiding recovery in the aftermath of trauma.

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United Kingdom/Norway

The International Journal of Marine and Coastal Law ◽

10.1163/15718085-bja10044 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 36 (1) ◽

pp. 155-164

Author(s):

Richard Barnes

Keyword(s):

European Union ◽

United Kingdom ◽

Sustainable Management ◽

The European Union ◽

Framework Agreement ◽

The North ◽

The United Kingdom ◽

The North Sea ◽

The Uk ◽

Insight Into

Abstract On 30 September 2020, the United Kingdom and Norway signed the Framework Agreement on Fisheries that will provide the basis for future cooperation in the sustainable management of their fisheries. The Agreement is the first such agreement adopted by the UK following its decision to the leave the European Union. This note provides some background to the Agreement and examines its key features. Whilst the content of the Agreement appears to be rather basic, this is broadly consistent with other framework agreements, and it does provide some insight into the direction and focus of fisheries management in the North Sea, and how cooperation may develop between coastal States and the European Union.

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Trabeculectomy bleb needling and antimetabolite administration practices in the UK: a glaucoma specialist national survey

British Journal of Ophthalmology ◽

10.1136/bjophthalmol-2017-310812 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 102 (9) ◽

pp. 1244-1247 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Karl Mercieca ◽

Brett Drury ◽

Archana Bhargava ◽

Cecilia Fenerty

Keyword(s):

Online Survey ◽

Injection Technique ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The United Kingdom ◽

Treatment Room ◽

Corneal Toxicity ◽

Set Up ◽

The Uk ◽

Standard Techniques ◽

Current Practices

AimsTo evaluate, describe and quantify the diversity in postoperative antimetabolite administration and bleb needling practices among glaucoma specialists performing trabeculectomy surgery within the UK and Ireland.MethodsA cross-sectional online survey was distributed to all consultant glaucoma specialists who are on the United Kingdom and Eire Glaucoma Society (UKEGS) contact list. Participants were asked specific questions about their current practices for post-trabeculectomy antimetabolite administration followed by questions directly related to bleb needling procedures.Results60 (83%) of UKEGS glaucoma subspecialty consultants completed the survey. 70% of respondents administered 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in their clinic room while 30% used a separate treatment room. Doses of 5-FU varied considerably but 70% used 5 mg as standard. Techniques used to reduce corneal toxicity included precipitation with amethocaine (44%) or benoxinate (14%), saline wash (14%) and modified injection technique (8%). Topical antibiotics and/or betadine were used to prevent infection following 5-FU injection in just over 50%. Bleb needling was exclusively performed in operating theatre by 56% of respondents and solely at the slit lamp in the clinic room by 12%. A further 30% used a combination of both theatre and outpatient clinic rooms. Anti-metabolites used were 5-FU (72%) and mitomycin C (22%) with 12% using either of the two substances.ConclusionsThere is a significantly wide variety of current practices for antimetabolite administration and bleb needling within the UK and Ireland. This may be influenced by a glaucoma surgeon’s specific experience and audit results as well as particular clinical set-up, availability of antimetabolite and clinic room space.

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Dreaming about Dogs: An Online Survey

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani10101915 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (10) ◽

pp. 1915

Author(s):

Michael Schredl ◽

Christian Bailer ◽

Muriel Sophie Weigel ◽

Melina Sandra Welt

Keyword(s):

Online Survey ◽

Life Experiences ◽

Continuity Hypothesis ◽

Negative Experiences ◽

Active Time ◽

Dog Owners ◽

Close Contacts

Dogs have been close human companions for millennia and one would expect—according to the continuity hypothesis of dreaming—that dogs are also quite common in dreams. Previous studies showed that the percentages of dreams that include dogs range from about 1.5% to 5%, but studies relating waking-life experiences with dogs with dreams about dogs have not been carried out. In total, 1695 persons (960 women, 735 men) completed an online survey that included questions about dreams and waking-life experiences that included dogs. The findings indicate that dogs show up, on average, in about 5% of remembered dreams, but this percentage is much higher in the dreams of dog owners and persons with close contacts with dogs. Moreover, the active time spent with a dog and the proximity during sleep is also related to a higher percentage of dreams that include dogs. Although dreams including dogs are on average more positively toned than dreams in general, about 11% of the dog dreams included threatening dogs. Persons who had negative experiences with dogs in their waking lives reported more threatening dog dreams. The results support the continuity hypothesis and it would be very interesting to conduct content analytic studies with dream samples obtained from dog owners to learn more about the variety of interactions between dreamers and dogs.

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A survey of working conditions within biomedical research in the United Kingdom

F1000Research ◽

10.12688/f1000research.11029.3 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. 229

Author(s):

Nick Riddiford

Keyword(s):

Biomedical Research ◽

Online Survey ◽

Academic Research ◽

Career Stage ◽

The United Kingdom ◽

Large Numbers ◽

The Us ◽

Toxic Environment ◽

The Uk ◽

The Guardian

Background: Recent articles have presented a bleak view of career prospects in biomedical research in the US. Too many PhDs and postdocs are trained for too few research positions, creating a “holding-tank” of experienced senior postdocs who are unable to get a permanent position. Coupled with relatively low salaries and high levels of pressure to publish in top-tier academic journals, this has created a toxic environment that is perhaps responsible for a recently observed decline in biomedical postdocs in the US, the so-called “postdocalypse”. Methods: To address the gulf of information relating to working habits and attitudes of UK-based academic biomedical researchers, a link to an online survey was included in an article published in the Guardian newspaper. Survey data were collected between 21st March 2016 and 6th November 2016 and analysed to examine discrete profiles for three major career stages: PhD, postdoc and principal investigator. Results: Overall, the data presented here echo trends observed in the US: The 520 UK-based biomedical researchers responding to the survey reported feeling disillusioned with academic research, due to the low chance of getting a permanent position and the long hours required at the bench. Also like the US, large numbers of researchers at each distinct career stage are considering leaving biomedical research altogether. Conclusions: There are several systemic flaws in the academic scientific research machine – for example the continual overproduction of PhDs and the lack of stability in the early-mid stages of a research career - that are slowly being addressed in countries such as the US and Germany. These data suggest that similar flaws also exist in the UK, with a large proportion of respondents concerned about their future in research. To avoid lasting damage to the biomedical research agenda in the UK, addressing such concerns should be a major priority.

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The Traumatic Life Experiences and Ontological Well-Being: Insights from Narrative Psychology and Self-Memory Theory

10.18662/wlc2021/11 ◽

2022 ◽

Author(s):

Seçil Bülbül ◽

◽

Serin Işiaçik ◽

Keyword(s):

Life Events ◽

Life Histories ◽

Online Survey ◽

Life Experiences ◽

Well Being ◽

Traumatic Experiences ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Narrative Psychology ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Impact

Ontological well-being adopts a holistic perspective on well-being similar to the narrative psychology when analyzing life histories by referring to past, present, and future aspects of one's life. Relatedly, the self-memory view proposes that life events are self-evaluated. Based on the narrative psychology and self-memory approach, affective life events and emotions are processed in the memory and play a role in structuring self-perceptions and psychological well-being. Therefore, turbulent external conditions such as the pandemic, uncertain environments and socio-economic challenges may lead to traumatic experiences for individuals. Being exposed to traumatic events and experiencing post-traumatic stress harms mental health, well-being, and work performance. This study aims to examine the relationship between traumatic life experiences and ontological well-being within the period of COVID 19 pandemic. It is intended to reveal the impact of traumatic experiences on ontological well-being of individuals in work life. A cross-sectional study was utilized throughout an online survey with the participation of 270 employees working in various private organizations. Following the statistical analyses, the findings were evaluated and both conceptual and practical discussions were provided.

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Turning to Narrative

10.1093/oso/9780199332182.003.0004 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Brian Schiff

Keyword(s):

Meaning Making ◽

Psychological Research ◽

Psychological Problems ◽

The Self ◽

Narrative Psychology ◽

Narrative Perspective ◽

History Of ◽

The Moment ◽

Definition Of ◽

Insight Into

Chapter 3 of A New Narrative for Psychology introduces a theoretical framework for a narrative perspective that inspires creative approaches to studying psychological problems. It begins with a history of the “narrative turn” in psychology and outlines the current divisions. Since the 1980s, psychological research calling itself “narrative” has blossomed. However, at the moment, narrative psychology is fragmented, with no clear definition of what narrative is or does. This chapter addresses the definitional problems posed by the current use of the narrative concept in psychology, arguing that narrative psychology is not just a theory or a method but, rather, must encompass both. It reorients narrative psychology to meaning making, the study of how and why persons enact aspects of their lives in time and space. Narrative offers researchers insight into the fundamental psychological problems of how persons interpret the self and experience.

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A Retrospective Survey of Factors Affecting the Risk of Incidents and Equine Injury During Non-Commercial Transportation by Road in the United Kingdom

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani10020288 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 288 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Carol Hall ◽

Rachel Kay ◽

Jim Green

Keyword(s):

United Kingdom ◽

Injury Risk ◽

Online Survey ◽

Road Transport ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Factors Associated ◽

The United Kingdom ◽

Transport Vehicle ◽

General Transport ◽

The Uk

The number of equines injured as a result of incidents during road transport is currently unknown in the United Kingdom. Although previous research has identified factors that affect an equine’s behavioural and physiological responses to transportation, their contribution to incident occurrence and injury risk is unclear. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with incident occurrence and equine injury during transportation by road. An online survey was administered between 12 May 2017 and 21 July 2017 in the UK. The survey was open to those transporting equines non-commercially and comprised two sections. Questions relating to general transport behaviour were completed by all participants. Participants who had experienced an incident then provided details of these, including outcomes. Incidents were reported by 16.2% (342/2116) of participants, with details included for 399 incidents. Those participants who had a professional/competitive involvement with equines reported more incidents than those with a predominantly leisure involvement (p < 0.01). Equine behaviour was the attributed cause of 56% of incidents reported and most incidents occurred during the first hour of travel (65%). In over 50% of the incidents reported, the equine was injured, with those incidents attributed to transport vehicle malfunction being associated with the highest percentage of injury (68%). This study highlights the need for better preparation of the equine for transportation and to identify risk factors associated with transport vehicle type, design and operation.

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The impact of including cessation resource information on health warnings on standardised tobacco packaging on awareness and use: A longitudinal online survey in the United Kingdom

Nicotine & Tobacco Research ◽

10.1093/ntr/ntaa251 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Crawford Moodie ◽

Catherine Best ◽

Nathan Critchlow ◽

Martine Stead ◽

Ann McNeill ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Online Survey ◽

Cigarette Smokers ◽

Resource Information ◽

The United Kingdom ◽

Pictorial Warnings ◽

Stop Smoking ◽

The Uk ◽

The Impact ◽

Source Of Information ◽

Cigarette Packs

Abstract Introduction Since May 2017, all cigarettes and roll-your-own (RYO) tobacco in the UK must be sold in standardised packs with pictorial warnings displaying, for the first time, a stop-smoking website. Methods Data comes from three waves of a longitudinal online survey with smokers and ex-smokers conducted pre- and post-standardised packaging, with Wave 1 (W1) in April-May 2016, Wave 2 (W2) in October-November 2017, and Wave 3 (W3) in May-June 2019. Only smokers are included in the analysis: W1 (N=6233), W2 (N=3629) and W3 (N=2412). We explored any change in citing warnings on packs as a source of information about a stop-smoking website, and whether citing warnings as a source was associated with use of a stop-smoking website. As the warnings, and therefore the stop-smoking website, are larger on RYO packs than on cigarette packs due to the larger pack size, we explored differences in awareness of a stop-smoking website among exclusive cigarette smokers (W1=3142, W2=1884, W3=1247) and exclusive RYO smokers (W1=2046, W2=1119, W3=814). Results Among smokers recalling seeing information about a stop-smoking website, citing warnings as a source increased between waves (W1=14.0%, W2=24.2%, W3=25.1%) and was associated with having visited a stop-smoking website (OR=11.81, 95% CI 8.47-16.46). Citing warnings as a source of a stop-smoking website increased among exclusive RYO smokers at each wave (W1=15.5%, W2=26.3%, W3=32.1%), while for exclusive cigarette smokers it only increased at W2 (W1=10.5%, W2=22.4%, W3=19.9%). Conclusions Warnings are an important source of cessation resource information. Making this information more prominent may help sustain awareness. Implications The findings support the inclusion of a stop-smoking website on warnings as awareness among smokers increased and citing warnings as a source of information about a stop-smoking website was associated with having visited a stop-smoking website. We also explored whether the stop-smoking website on warnings on RYO packs, which is larger than on cigarette packs as a function of the larger size of RYO packs, would have any impact on awareness of this information. That exclusive RYO smokers were more likely than exclusive cigarette smokers to notice a stop-smoking website on warnings suggests that this information should be more prominent.

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Party expats? Mapping transnational party branches of French, German and UK parties

Comparative Migration Studies ◽

10.1186/s40878-020-00219-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Felix-Christopher von Nostitz

Keyword(s):

Secondary Data ◽

Legal Framework ◽

National Party ◽

National Elections ◽

The United Kingdom ◽

Legal Frameworks ◽

And Function ◽

Role And Function ◽

Insight Into ◽

Do So

AbstractToday many parties interact with members and supporters outside their national borders. One way parties do so is by establishing transnational party branches. However so far, there is a lack of theoretical and empirical research exploring this transnational aspect of party activity. This paper provides a first insight into why parties develop transnational branches, and how it affects their organization. It argues that the development of party branches abroad differs across countries due to the incentives provided by the national legal framework on voting and donations from abroad. In turn, the role and functions of the transnational branches vary depending on this legal framework. Looking at the two transnational branches of the two mainstream parties in France, Germany and the United Kingdom, this paper first briefly outlines the different national legal frameworks and the scope and size of transnational party branches. It then focuses on how they are organized, their role and function, and how this shapes their relationship to their homeland party. This explorative research is mainly based on legal and secondary data. The paper finds that the parties studied differ substantially in location, number and membership size for their transnational branches. Furthermore, the organizational links and the control by the national party over transnational party branches is the highest where parties have the most to gain in terms of votes in national elections and donations.

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Beyond Hypothesis Testing

Science & Education ◽

10.1007/s11191-020-00185-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 30 (2) ◽

pp. 345-364

Author(s):

Olga Ioannidou ◽

Sibel Erduran

Keyword(s):

Hypothesis Testing ◽

Science Teachers ◽

Online Survey ◽

Explicit Instruction ◽

Pedagogical Tools ◽

Scientific Methods ◽

Methodological Approaches ◽

Training Programmes ◽

The Uk ◽

Insight Into

AbstractRecent reforms in science education have promoted students’ understanding of how science works, including the methodological approaches used by scientists. Given that teachers are expected to teach and promote methodological pluralism, it is worth examining how teachers understand and view scientific methods, particularly when scientific methods are presented as a diverse array and not as a linear model based exclusively on hypothesis testing. The empirical study presented in the paper examines science teachers’ understanding of scientific methods, particularly the diversity of scientific methods. Brandon’s Matrix, a philosopher’s account of scientific methods, has been adapted for educational purposes, and two tasks were developed in order to investigate teachers’ understanding of scientific methods. Fifty-six science teachers (25% male, 75% female) from different regions in the UK responded to an online survey. The results showed that the majority of the teachers showed satisfactory understanding of basic components of Brandon’s Matrix. However, more than half of the sample held naïve understanding of scientific methods. By providing insight into teachers’ misconceptions about scientific methods, the study provides suggestions for the design of teacher training programmes and highlights the need for explicit instruction about scientific methods. In addition, we suggest the use of heuristics such as Brandon’s Matrix for the development of pedagogical tools as well as research instruments.

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