Comparing participation in sports discussion and art therapy groups in ABI

Background: Social connection is often impacted by acquired brain injury (ABI), contributing to isolation and compromised mental health. Group therapy is thought useful in this context. For those experiencing cognitive communication challenges, finding alternative ways to engage is also valuable. Art therapy may offer pro-social support through shared activity, self-expression, organic subject matter and enduring visual prompts. Method: A multiple A-B-A single case experimental design compared participation in sports discussion and art therapy groups on a long-stay secure unit. Nine individuals with ABI and complex combinations of communication, cognitive and mental health needs were studied. It was hypothesised that for some individuals, participation would be greater in art therapy than sports discussion groups. Results: Results from six individuals with at least five measurement points per phase are reported. Tau statistics revealed significant interphase differences for three individuals. Significantly less participation was recorded for two individuals in art than sports discussion, however they still appeared invested in the art groups. The remaining participant, with the most severe communication difficulties, avoided all baseline sports discussion groups, but participated in almost all art groups, with significant increase between initial sports discussion and art phases. Conclusion: Further research is warranted regarding the potential art therapy offers for group engagement, particularly where complex challenges render traditional talking-style groups less appropriate. Furthermore, disparate and complex needs in severe ABI require diverse, well-designed groups offering different opportunities and responding to individual strengths and motivations. More research into such approaches may increase group participation in this challenging cohort.

Group engagement in parent-focused telehealth interventions for families of children with type 1 diabetes

Introduction Group engagement is an important component of video-based telehealth interventions, yet this construct remains understudied. In the present study, we applied a multidimensional conceptualization of group engagement in two video-based telehealth interventions that either aimed to reduce fear of hypoglycemia or diabetes distress in parents of children with type 1 diabetes. We examined variability in group engagement across parents and assessed the relationship between parents’ level of group engagement and their treatment outcomes. Methods Twenty-nine parents participated in one of two manualized, closed-group, telehealth interventions and completed outcome measures pre- and post-treatment. We behaviorally coded telehealth sessions based on six dimensions of group engagement using the Group Engagement Measure (inter-rater reliability = 0.94). We examined correlations between group engagement dimensions, parent psychosocial well-being, and child hemoglobin A1c. Further, we examined independent sample t-tests to assess differences between treatment groups. Results Mean parent age was 37.69 ± 6.83 years, mean child age was 7.69 ± 3.76 years, and mean child hemoglobin A1c was 8.06 ± 1.27% (41.4% had a hemoglobin A1c <7.5%). Parents who spent more time attending to other group member's issues, reported lower hypoglycemia fear at post-treatment, and parents who showed more active support of the group leader's purpose/goals during the session also reported fewer depressive symptoms at post-treatment. Discussion We identify several dimensions of group engagement that are associate with improved parent psychosocial and child hemoglobin A1c outcomes. Intervention designs that use group engagement to guide treatment planning or inform treatment-related decisions in video-based telehealth interventions could help families achieve more optimal treatment outcomes.

Integrating Tubb’s Engagement Model with Critical Reading

Since critical reading has been assumed as critical, there are actually certain ideas and concepts that reflect how critical is this critical reading. Critical does not mean critical as in difficulty or failure in reading but more of looking into the skills, processes and the activities when reading. Group engagement has been said to improve team members’ critical thinking skills. This study is done to explore how group interactions facilitate critical reading activities. Specifically, this study explores how group work encourages critical reading through the processes of orientation, conflict, consensus, and closure. 72 participants responded to the instrument (a questionnaire). The questionnaire has 5 sections, demographic profile, orientation, conflict, consensus and also closure. Data is analyzed using SPSS version 26 to reveal percentage for the demographic profile and mean score for the variables. Findings indicate that group engagement facilitates critical reading in several ways. The study suggests that communication during group interaction improves learners’ critical reading.

Transitioning to civilian life: The importance of social group engagement and identity among Australian Defence Force veterans

Objective: Veterans transitioning to civilian life after leaving the military face unique health concerns. Although there is a significant body of research exploring veterans’ experiences of transition and predictors of well-being, there are limited studies examining how social group engagement influences veterans’ transition. We explored how Australian Defence Force veterans’ social group engagement and identity influenced their adjustment to civilian life and well-being. Methods: Forty Australian veterans (85% male; mean age = 37 years, range = 25–57 years) took part in in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Participants completed two mapping tasks (a social network map and life course map) that provided a visual component to the interviews. Interview transcripts were analysed thematically and interpreted by adopting a social identity approach. Results: Joining the military involved a process of socialisation into military culture that for most participants led to the development of a military identity. An abrupt or difficult discharge from defence was often associated with a negative impact on social group engagement and well-being in civilian life. Veterans’ social group memberships may act not only as positive psychological resources during transition but also as a potential source of conflict, especially when trying to re-engage with civilian groups with different norms or beliefs. Military values inscribed within a veteran’s sense of self, including a strong sense of service, altruism and giving back to their community, may operate as positive resources and promote social group engagement. Conclusion: Engaging with supportive social groups can support transition to civilian life. Reintegration may be improved via effective linkage with programmes (e.g. volunteering, ex-service support organisations) that offer supportive social networks and draw upon veterans’ desire to give back to community. Social mapping tasks that visualise veterans’ social group structures may be useful for clinicians to explore the roles and conflicts associated with veterans’ social group memberships during transition.

Choral singing and personal well-being: A Choral Activity Perceived Benefits Scale (CAPBES)

Numerous studies have demonstrated the capacity of choral singing to improve human well-being and that, in certain sectors of society (including older adults, prison populations, underprivileged social groups, and mentally illness groups), choral singing bears several benefits. Thus, this descriptive study proposed a comprehensive structural model of the dimensions that comprise choral singing’s contribution to individual well-being and aimed to explain these benefits. The study was conducted in a non-random sample of 1,513 adult Spanish singers of both sexes and variable age. An instrument was developed to assess the psychosocial benefits of choral singing, as perceived by singers; it comprised five constituent dimensions: satisfaction, ability, group engagement, belonging, and optimism. The instrument enabled us to assess how choral singing contributed to well-being, with adequate reliability (Cronbach’s α = .917) and validity. The system of relationships proposed by the model represents a plausible explanation regarding the benefits of choral practice and singing for well-being.

Assessing the Impacts of Engaging with a Touch Table on Safari Park Visitors

Modern zoos are increasingly viewed as educational facilities, with informal education programmes attempting to engage with visitors through a wide variety of methods. A ‘touch table’ consists of two collapsible tables which display a variety of artefacts to the public. This study investigated visitor engagement with touch tables alongside types of conversations being initiated by visitors. Covert observations recorded the type of groups visiting, their dwell time, perceived engagement level and the types of interactions and conversations they were initiating at the touch table. Dwell time was affected by the season, member of staff present, type of group visiting the touch table and engagement level of the group. Engagement level was also affected by group type. Longer average dwell time and higher engagement levels were displayed at a long-established touch table location, whereas more visitors engaged at the touch table when it was at a new location with predicted high footfall. Here, 68.3% of visitors initiated ‘surface level’ conversation, 27.2% initiated ‘deeper level’ conversation and 89.6% initiated ‘other’ conversation. This study resulted in touch table offerings being adapted to further increase their effectiveness as an informal education tool and to suggests ways in which touch tables can continue in a post COVID-19 world.

Virtual balint group experience due to the COVID-19 pandemic

AimsIn the changes brought about by remote working, the local psychotherapy case discussion group (Balint Group) has developed as a remote service via video consultation. It is important to consider the effect that this change in method of delivery has had on experience.MethodAn anonymous survey was distributed to determine the benefits and challenges from participants and facilitators with at least a month of virtual Balint Group experience. The open-ended survey questions captured extended answer responses from 16 students and trainees, and 5 (co-)facilitators, within Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. The qualitative feedback was analysed by thematic analysis, identifying three main themes.ResultThe first theme of practicalities was centred around access to the group. The virtual format had benefits in terms of reducing travel and time commitment and so improving attendance. However, disadvantages were in technological issues and finding a private and safe environment, individuals often not leaving the work environment on which they were reflecting.The second theme of communication identified how virtual methods are a less natural way of interacting (for example sequential point making), losing both immediacy of reactions and non-verbal communication. There was a loss of essential communication cues, with disjointed conversation affecting contribution.The third theme of group dynamics had some advantages, feeling less intimidating virtually. Yet disadvantages included loss of group cohesion, with participants not building the same relationships (on arriving and leaving a group space), and trust. The more subtle emotions in the group might be missed and opinions given less openly. The facilitators needed to be more directive and experienced difficulties maintaining group engagement and managing the frame.ConclusionThe advantages of virtual format are more based on accessibility and the disadvantages more experiential. There are elements of being physically remote that lead to a disembodied experience, that might impact on capacity to reflect emotionally. This might make it more difficult to identify unconscious processes and the experience might be more cognitive. There is a risk that virtually participants will feel more alone with difficult feelings and unsupported by the group.When mental health is being affected by social isolation due to the pandemic, having groups virtually can mimic this isolation in working life. Overall the preference remained for an in-person group.However, it was clear that access to some form of a group was important, to contain anxiety during these unprecedented times.