scholarly journals An Exploratory Study of The Perceptions of Footwear for Individuals who use Lower Limb Orthotics

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret Gegen ◽  
Teresa Plummer ◽  
Nancy Darr
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Occupational Therapists ◽  
Descriptive Statistics ◽  
Online Support ◽  
Online Support Groups ◽  
Expert Opinions ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Individual

The purpose of this study was to explore individual’s perceptions of orthotics and footwear. A survey was created by the authors with the expert opinions of physical and occupational therapists and was distributed to two therapy clinics in Tennessee that provide both occupational therapy and physical therapy as well as on several online support groups. Seventy-nine (79) caregivers completed surveys. Thematic analysis was performed using Nvivo 10 (QSR International) and descriptive statistics were generated using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) IBM International). Ninety percent (90%) of participants report that orthotics affect what type of shoes the user can wear. Eighty-two percent (82%) report that it is difficult to shop for shoes that accommodate orthotics. Sixty-one percent (61%) report that the user would be more likely to wear their orthotics if they had more options of shoes to wear. Fifty-nine percent (59%) report that the user would be more likely to wear their orthotics if they had shoes that were more attractive. The importance of collaborating with consumers when designing products is essential for the success of both the individual and the product.

scholarly journals The Psychology of Online Lurking

2018 ◽  
pp. 284-305
Author(s):  
Maša Popovac ◽  
Chris Fullwood
Keyword(s):  
Support Groups ◽  
Situational Factors ◽  
Online Support ◽  
Online Support Groups ◽  
Online Participation ◽  
Online Groups ◽  
Differential Outcomes ◽  
The Social ◽  
Online Spaces ◽  
Online Group

Lurking, or passive online participation, is often defined as non-participation or minimal participation in online groups or communities. Although lurking has previously been considered a negative behavior in online spaces, with lurkers accessing the social capital of online communities without providing anything in return, current perspectives consider lurking as a legitimate form of online participation. Current literature shows that lurking is a more nuanced activity than previously considered, as individuals may not only vary in their participation across different online groups but their participation may also vary over time within an online group. This chapter examines the key personal and situational factors associated with active or passive participation, as well as the differential outcomes linked to levels of engagement in online groups generally, followed by a more detailed exploration of lurking in the context of online support groups and education.

scholarly journals Exploring the Social Networks of Bereaved Spouses: Phenomenological Case Studies

2020 ◽  
pp. 003022282094406
Author(s):  
Brigid Morrigan ◽  
Sharon Keesing ◽  
Lauren J. Breen
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Online Support ◽  
Online Support Groups ◽  
Social Worlds ◽  
The Social

Bereavement is a significant stressor that can affect and be affected by social support, yet there is little known about the social networks of bereaved individuals. We conducted an in-depth qualitative examination of the social networks of bereaved spouses through an interpretive phenomenological analysis. Five participants were interviewed about their social networks prior to and following bereavement. Participants described considerable changes in their social networks. They reported connecting with others who had experienced similar stressors, including via online support groups for widows/widowers, as a key strategy for re-engagement with their social worlds. The death of a spouse can precipitate the dramatic reorganization of social networks to incorporate and adapt to this crisis. Findings offer guidance for service providers to support bereaved spouses to harness existing social networks to optimize received support.

Investigation of the “alternative” effects of an online support group for mental health problems among Japanese adults: A cross-sectional study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Osamu Kobori ◽  
Naoki Yoshinaga
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Online Support ◽  
Online Support Groups ◽  
Online Support Group ◽  
Usage Frequency

BACKGROUND Owing to the rapid development of social networking services, online support groups vary widely both in goal and structure. Several studies have shown the potential effectiveness of online support groups, such as reducing psychological distress (eg depression) among individuals with mental health problems. However, online support groups often do not aim at effectiveness regarding distress-relief-related outcomes. OBJECTIVE The U2plus.jp (hereinafter U2plus) is an online support group for individuals with depression; in it, people support each other in structured ways while engaging in simple cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) exercises. This study aimed to examine if usage frequency of the U2plus functions are associated with decreased stigma and increased consumer. METHODS In total, 355 U2plus users took part in an online survey. They were asked what therapy they had ever received, how often they logged into it and used each of its functions, and completed the following questionnaires: The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the Perceived Devaluation Discrimination Scale, and the General Help Seeking Scale. RESULTS Regarding the therapy they received, 89.3% (n=308) had been on medication for mental health problems, and 67.5% (n=233) had received psychotherapy or mental health counselling. Regarding the usage frequency, approximately 20% of the participants signed in to U2plus and used its functions more than once a week. The usage frequency of U2plus functions was not associated with perceived stigma. However, usage frequency of some functions was correlated to help seeking intentions from formal sources (eg doctors and psychologists). Moreover, 90% of the participants had a history of medication for their mental health. Additionally, the more depressed participants were, the more frequently they used U2plus. CONCLUSIONS It was suggested that online support groups may serve as an alternative treatment option for those who are already undergoing pharmacological treatment and are willing to seek help from whatever source they deem helpful.

Online support groups for women with breast cancer

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eilis McCaughan ◽  
Kader Parahoo ◽  
Irene Hueter ◽  
Laurel Northouse
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Online Support ◽  
Online Support Groups

The Everyday in a Time of Transformation: Exploring a Single South African Lifeworld after 20 Years of Democracy

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-54
Author(s):  
P. Conrad Kotze ◽  
Jan K. Coetzee
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Sociological Research ◽  
Contemporary Debate ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Everyday ◽  
Ontological Turn ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Epistemological Framework

Transformation has come to be a defining characteristic of contemporary societies, while it has rarely been studied in a way that gives acknowledgement to both its societal effects and the experience thereof by the individual. This article discusses a recent study that attempts to do just that. The everyday life of a South African is explored within the context of changes that can be linked, more or less directly, to those that have characterized South Africa as a state since the end of apartheid in 1994. The study strives to avoid the pitfalls associated with either an empirical or solely constructivist appreciation of this phenomenon, but rather represents an integral onto-epistemological framework for the practice of sociological research. The illustrated framework is argued to facilitate an analysis of social reality that encompasses all aspects thereof, from the objectively given to the intersubjectively constructed and subjectively constituted. While not requiring extensive development on the theoretical or methodological level, the possibility of carrying out such an integral study is highlighted as being comfortably within the capabilities of sociology as a discipline. While the article sheds light on the experience of transformation, it is also intended to contribute to the contemporary debate surrounding the current “ontological turn” within the social sciences.

scholarly journals Text Mining for Personalized Knowledge Extraction From Online Support Groups

2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (12) ◽  
pp. 1446-1459 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tharindu Rukshan Bandaragoda ◽  
Daswin De Silva ◽  
Damminda Alahakoon ◽  
Weranja Ranasinghe ◽  
Damien Bolton
Keyword(s):  
Text Mining ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Knowledge Extraction ◽  
Online Support ◽  
Online Support Groups

Enabling Occupation: The Importance of an Affirming Environment

2001 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 80-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen L. Rebeiro
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Social Environment ◽  
Occupational Therapists ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Occupational Engagement ◽  
Occupational Performance ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Over Time

Occupational therapists have become increasingly concerned with factors beyond the individual which impact occupational performance. Several recent models propose that the environment is a significant influence on occupational performance and upon its meaningfulness. An in-depth, qualitative study was conducted which explored the meaning of occupational engagement for eight women with mental illness (Rebeiro & Cook, 1999). This study yielded several important insights about the environment, which have recently been replicated by Legault and Rebeiro (2001) and Rebeiro, Day, Semeniuk, O'Brien, and Wilson (In Press). Participants suggested that environments that provide opportunity, and not prescription are more conducive to fostering occupational performance. Participants further suggested that an environment that provides Affirmation of the individual as a person of worth, a place to belong, and a place to be supported, enables occupational performance over time. A series of research studies indicated that the social environment is an important consideration in planning therapeutic interventions which aim to enable occupation. Implications for occupational therapy practice, education and research are offered

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