“It was Like Magic”: Relationships Supporting Compassion, Creativity, and Sense of Coherence in Nutrition Students

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Kathryn Fraser ◽  
Jennifer Brady ◽  
Daphne Lordly
Keyword(s):  
Student Development ◽  
Sense Of Coherence ◽  
Personal Growth ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Power Dynamics ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
Subjective Experiences ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Self Compassion ◽  
Relational Contexts

The purpose of this exploratory research was to understand the experiences and learnings of dietetic and nutrition students following a 3-week intensive summer course designed to enhance students’ understandings of compassion, creativity, and sense of coherence as they apply to personal growth and socially just professional practice. Seven of 15 students participated in one-on-one, semi-structured interviews. Data analysis was conducted using inductive thematic analysis, resulting in 3 meta-themes: (i) personal meaning and sense making, (ii) relational and power dynamics, and (iii) disruption; participants contextualized these themes via a dynamic interplay within and among the domains of self, pedagogy, and practice. As a result of taking this course, participants developed an enhanced sense of coherence, self-compassion, well-being, and a more equity-focused understanding of health. Student development may have been achieved through attending to student experience and a relational pedagogical epistemology that allowed students to make personal, interpersonal, and systemic connections among their own subjective experiences, the experiences of peers, and broader social impacts on health. Given nutrition classrooms are largely positivist, it is important to consider how these environments as relational contexts may support or undermine compassion, sense of coherence, and ultimately the health and well-being of students.

scholarly journals The loneliness of the long-distance ethnobotanist: a constructive critique of methods used in an ethnoveterinary study in Mongolia

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara C. Seele ◽  
Léanne Dreyer ◽  
Karen J. Esler ◽  
Anthony B. Cunningham
Keyword(s):  
Social Science Research ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Fine Tuning ◽  
Power Dynamics ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Voucher Specimen ◽  
Specimen Collection ◽  
Practical Reality

Abstract Background Fieldwork plays an important role in research projects across a variety of fields, especially in the multidisciplinary setting of natural and social science research. As is the nature of fieldwork, things do not always work out as planned, and yet this is not often written about. In response to the need for honest and transparent accounts of fieldwork, the purpose of this article is to review the methods used during fieldwork for the first author’s dissertation research on ethnoveterinary knowledge. Methods To critically review and reflect on the fieldwork methods used for an ethnoveterinary study in Mongolia, we compare the theory underpinning each method with the practical reality of implementing the method in the field. From this comparison, we draw out and discuss a number of key themes. Results Eighteen methods and approaches used for the research project are reviewed and compared. From this, we distil and further discuss the following five overarching themes: reflections on specific data collection methods (free listing, semi-structured interviews with interpreters, voucher specimen collection); assumptions around involving local people; power dynamics; gender relations; and researcher well-being. Conclusion By juxtaposing the theory and practical reality of the methods used, we highlight many potential fieldwork challenges and, within this context, offer general pointers, especially for novice female researchers doing fieldwork in foreign countries. A critical review of this type, where the experience and use of various methods, techniques, and approaches are openly shared and evaluated, is a contribution to selecting, adapting, and fine-tuning the methods best suited to a particular research context.

Self-compassion in individuals with substance use disorder: the association with personal growth and well-being

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Jacob Shreffler ◽  
J. Jeremy Thomas ◽  
Suzanne McGee ◽  
Brian Ferguson ◽  
Justin Kelley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Substance Use Disorder ◽  
Personal Growth ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Compassion

Optimal Self–esteem is Contingent: Intrinsic versus Extrinsic and Upward versus Downward Contingencies

2012 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 182-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roos Vonk ◽  
Hilde Smit
Keyword(s):  
Personal Growth ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Determination Theory ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
True Self ◽  
Self Compassion

We argue that noncontingent, unconditional self–esteem is not optimal but defensive. We introduce the concept of intrinsic contingency, where self–esteem is affected by whether one's actions are self–congruent and conducive to personal growth. Whereas external contingencies, especially social and appearance, were negatively correlated with authenticity, self–compassion, and personal well–being, intrinsic contingencies were positively correlated with these measures, and uncorrelated with aggression and self–esteem instability. Participants with high intrinsic contingency rated higher on measures of psychological adaptiveness than noncontingent participants. In addition, we distinguish upward from downward contingencies, the latter being more harmful in case of external contingencies but not for intrinsic contingencies. We conclude that intrinsic contingency, rather than noncontingency, may reflect true self–esteem as implied in self–determination theory. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

How family dementia caregivers perceive benefits of a 4-week MIT mindfulness and guided imagery program: a pilot study

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francis Yang ◽  
Joseph Zamaria ◽  
Stefana Morgan ◽  
Eric Lin ◽  
Andrew F. Leuchter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Pilot Trial ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mental States ◽  
Care Recipient ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Active Components ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Dementia Caregivers ◽  
Self Compassion

BackgroundFamily caregivers of patients with dementia experience high levels of interpersonal stress that often results in elevated anxiety, depression and negative impacts on social networks. Changes in behaviors and the structure of relationships with the care recipient (CR) and others in the social milieu challenge the caregivers’ ability to mentalize, or understand the links between mental states and behaviors. This study investigates the perceived benefits for family dementia caregivers of Mentalizing Imagery Therapy (MIT), which aims to improve balanced mentalizing of both self and others and reduce psychological symptoms. Methods11 family members who identified as the primary caregiver of a relative with dementia underwent a 4-week pilot trial of MIT and completed semi-structured interviews post-intervention to identify subjective benefits, putative psychological mediators and perceived active components. ResultsCaregivers reported improvements in general well-being, mood, anxiety, and sleep, and a majority stated the intervention helped with forming and maintaining healthier relationships. Some participants noted benefits extending to how they reacted to their social environment and perceived themselves more objectively from others’ perspectives. Specific elements of the intervention, including self-compassion, self-care, and the ability to reflect on emotionally arousing challenges, might have mediated these improvements. The combination of instructor, meditations, homework, group sessions, and educational sessions was well received by participants.ConclusionOur results show that family dementia caregivers described perceived salutary benefits of MIT on multiple domains of well-being. The self reports suggest MIT holds promise for reducing non-mentalizing patterns of thought, and facilitating improvements in balanced mentalization within the caregivers’ relationships. These results should be further extended in larger samples.

scholarly journals The meaning and experience of well-being in dementia for psychiatrists involved in diagnostic disclosure: a qualitative study

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Vince ◽  
C. Clarke ◽  
E. L. Wolverson
Keyword(s):  
Best Practice ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Perceived Threat ◽  
Subjective Experiences ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Living Well ◽  
Best Practice Guidelines ◽  
Diagnostic Disclosure ◽  
Diagnosis Of Dementia

ABSTRACTBackground:Literature indicates that people's experiences of receiving a diagnosis of dementia can have a lasting impact on well-being. Psychiatrists frequently lead in communicating a diagnosis but little is known about the factors that could contribute to potential disparities between actual and best practice with regard to diagnostic disclosure. A clearer understanding of psychiatrists’ subjective experiences of disclosure is therefore needed to improve adherence to best practice guidelines and ensure that diagnostic disclosure facilitates living well with dementia.Methods:This study utilized qualitative methodology. Semi-structured interviews conducted with 11 psychiatrists were analyzed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA).Results:Three superordinate and nine subordinate themes emerged from the data analysis. These included the following: (i) “The levels of well-being” (Continuing with life, Keeping a sense of who they are, Acceptance of the self), (ii) “Living well is a process” (Disclosure can set the scene for well-being, Positive but realistic messages, Whose role it is to support well-being?), and (iii) Ideal care versus real care (Supporting well-being is not prioritized, There isn't time, The fragmentation of care).Conclusions:Findings indicate that psychiatrists frame well-being in dementia as a multi-faceted biopsychosocial construct but that certain nihilistic attitudes may affect how well-being is integrated into diagnostic communication. Such attitudes were linked with the perceived threat of dementia and limitations of post-diagnostic care. Behaviors used to manage the negative affect associated with ethical and clinical tensions triggered by attempts to facilitate well-being at the point of diagnosis, and their impact on adherence to best practice disclosure, are discussed.

scholarly journals ‘It’s My Secret Space’: The Benefits of Mindfulness for Social Workers

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 758-777 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gail Kinman ◽  
Louise Grant ◽  
Susan Kelly
Keyword(s):  
Social Workers ◽  
Compassion Fatigue ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Professional Practice ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Compassion Satisfaction ◽  
Psychological Flexibility ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Self Compassion

Abstract Social workers are at high risk of job-related stress that can impair their well-being and professional practice. Although organisational support is a fundamental requirement, it has been argued that social workers need to develop emotional resilience to help them manage the demands of the job. This mixed method study examines the effects of an eight-week mindfulness training course on several resources previously found to underpin resilience in social workers (emotional self-efficacy, psychological flexibility, reflective ability and self-compassion) together with aspects of well-being relevant to the role (compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction and perceived stress). Participants’ perceptions of the benefits of mindfulness for their well-being and professional practice are further explored via the content analysis of open-ended questions and semi-structured interviews. Emotional self-efficacy, psychological flexibility and compassion satisfaction increased following the intervention and compassion fatigue and perceived stress were reduced. No significant changes were found in reflective ability and self-compassion. The qualitative data provided greater insight into the potential benefits of mindfulness for the well-being and job performance of social workers and factors that might encourage and discourage its use.

scholarly journals Learning nursing during the COVID-19 pandemic: The importance of perceived relatedness with teachers and sense of coherence

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 9
Author(s):  
Britt Karin Utvær ◽  
Tove Engan Paulsby ◽  
Hanne Torbergsen ◽  
Gørill Haugan
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Students ◽  
Online Education ◽  
Sense Of Coherence ◽  
Personal Growth ◽  
Latent Variables ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Perceived Learning ◽  
Health Concept ◽  
Perceived Relatedness

Background and objective: In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic infected populations worldwide. To limit the spread, many countries declared stay-at-home orders. Teachers were suddenly obliged to teach and facilitate learning online, whereas students had to manage online education alone from home. Within self-determination theory (SDT), the need for relatedness is considered crucial for personal growth, well-being, motivation and learning, whereas sense of coherence (SOC) is a salutogenic health concept explaining humans’ coping with stressful situations. The aim of this study was to investigate the importance of teacher relatedness as well as SOC, including the concepts of comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfulness, among nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: Survey data were collected from 329 nursing students at a large university in Norway. Twelve hypotheses of the associations between teacher relatedness, SOC and perceived learning were tested by means of structural equation modelling (SEM) using Stata.Results: The SEM yielded an acceptable fit (χ2 = 177.60, p = .000, df = 80, χ2/df = 2.22, RMSEA 0.063, CFI = 0.96, SRMR = 0.048), showing significant, positive relationships between the latent variables of teacher relatedness, SOC and perceived learning. Eleven out of the twelve hypotheses found support, showing both direct and indirect relationships between the latent variables.Conclusions: The study indicates that caring and close teachers seem very important for nursing students’ learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many students do not experience such a teacher relationship, resulting in difficulties studying and learning under crisis. Knowledge about how teachers may mobilize care and close relationships with nursing students is important for students’ learning during a pandemic situation when teaching go digital.

scholarly journals Students’ learning preferences and experience in a globalised world: Opportunity to optimise internationalisation in physiotherapy education

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veronika Schoeb ◽  
Doris Chang
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Phenomenological Study ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Learning Preferences ◽  
Subjective Experiences ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Competitive System ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Physiotherapy Students

Background: Hong Kong is at the cross-road between Eastern and Western cultures. Increasing globalisation allows students to gather experiences from various educational contexts. While internationalisation has been promoted in higher education worldwide, the focus was often put on students from Chinese cultures integrating into Westernised education systems. Not much is known about how students from Chinese background with exposures to Western cultures, reintegrate into a Hong Kong university, characterised by a highly competitive system that potentially affects students’ well-being. Aim: To identify learning preferences by Hong Kong physiotherapy students who have been exposed to educational contexts in the USA, Australia or Canada, and to explore their subjective experiences regarding different educational approaches during their studies. Methods: Ten students participated in this phenomenological study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in English, transcribed ‘ad verbatim’ and analysed using qualitative content analysis. Findings: Three themes emerged from the data: (1) Interaction between students and teachers, (2) past experiences that help with future dreams, and (3) obstacles and opportunities in learning. Conclusion: Physiotherapy students with globalised experience rely on their past educational exposure to give meaning to their future. They believe that a student-centred approach is crucial for learning. Their experiences shed light on consideration factors for optimally internationalising the physiotherapy curriculum.

scholarly journals Leading in lockdown: Community, communication and compassion in response to the COVID-19 crisis

2021 ◽  
pp. 174114322110276
Author(s):  
Fiona Longmuir
Keyword(s):  
School Leaders ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Change Leadership ◽  
Change Implementation ◽  
Crisis Leadership ◽  
Processes Of Change ◽  
Subjective Experiences ◽  
Australian School ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Global Pandemic

This paper examines the ways that Australian school leaders made sense of and responded to situations of crisis and uncertainty that resulted from the COVID-19 global pandemic. The paper draws on a qualitative study of the subjective experiences of eight school leaders and uses a sensemaking theoretical approach applied to crisis leadership to contribute to understanding leadership in unprecedented situations. Data were collected through individual semi-structured interviews undertaken in the middle of 2020. At that time participants were working through significant changes resulting from community lockdowns that required their schools to move to remote provision of education. The findings revealed these school leaders engaged in rapid processes of sensemaking and change implementation. They assessed and managed risks, relationships and resourcing in environments where usual processes of change leadership were not available to them. They reported that their attention was predominantly directed to the well-being of their communities. They noted an increase in the community leadership aspect of their role and the requirement of effective, timely and honest communication. They also demonstrated prospective sensemaking orientations in their capacity to reconfigure for a positive and productive future that could emerge from these disruptive experiences.

scholarly journals Die belewinge van informele versorgers van MIV/VIGS-pasiënte: ‘n salutogene perspektief

2008 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 38-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilse Steenkamp ◽  
Johan Potgieter
Keyword(s):  
Positive Psychology ◽  
Sense Of Coherence ◽  
Educational Program ◽  
Informal Caregivers ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
General Resistance

Family members as well as informal caregivers are increasingly bearing the responsibility of taking care of persons diagnosed with HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS, 2000:5). The intensity of the caregiving process and the variety of stressors caregivers are exposed to (Uys, 2002:101-102; De Figueiredo & Turato, 2001:637-640; Flaskerud, Carter & Lee, 2000:128), have been well researched and documented. In this study, the salutogenic perspective was used to determine the sense of coherence of a group of eight informal caregivers. This perspective serves as one of the theories within the movement of positive psychology, where the focus is on the origins of psychological well-being. The results of the Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC) and the analysis of semi- structured interviews revealed a number of general resistance resources that have a positive influence on the caregivers’ sense of coherence, as well as their psychological well-being. These results may lead to the development of a psycho-educational program which will assist caregivers in maintaining their psychological well-being in spite of the stressors associated with caregiving. Opsomming Versorging van persone gediagnoseer met MIV/VIGS word toenemend die verantwoordelikheid van die pasiënte se familielede en informele versorgers (UNAIDS, 2000:5). Die intensiteit van die versorgingstaak, en die verskeidenheid stressore waaraan versorgers blootgestel word, is reeds goed nagevors en gedokumenteer (Uys, 2002:101-102; De Figueiredo & Turato, 2001:637-640; Flaskerud, Carter & Lee, 2000:128). In hierdie studie is die salutogene perspektief aangewend om die koherensiesin van ‘n groep bestaande uit agt informele versorgers te ondersoek. Hierdie perspektief dien as een van die teorieë binne die beweging van die positiewe sielkunde waar gefokus word op die oorsprong van psigologiese welstand. Die resultate van die Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC) en die ontleding van semigestruktureerde onderhoude het ‘n aantal algemene weerstandshulpbronne aan die lig gebring wat ‘n positiewe invloed gehad het op die versorgers se koherensiesin, asook hul psigologiese welstand. Hierdie resultate mag lei tot die samestelling van ‘n program wat versorgers sal help met die handhawing van hul sielkundige welstand te midde van die stressore wat met die versorgingstaak gepaardgaan.

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