The Impact of Intimate Partner Violence on Young Women’s Educational Well-Being: A Systematic Review of Literature

Research highlights that romantic relationships of young people are not all ‘puppy love’ but can be also abusive. Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a gendered phenomenon as it primarily affects women who are at a higher risk of more severe forms of violence and also suffer more severe consequences than young men. IPV leads to substantial negative outcomes such as mental health decline, economic insecurity and/or academic underachievement. Particularly for young females, education is a powerful protective factor against re-victimisation and economic dependence which often forces women to remain trapped in abusive relationships. This review was conducted to integrate and summarise research available on IPV and its impact on young women’s educational well-being to fill a significant gap in the literature. Under the guidance of PRISMA, terms related to the criteria of young women aged 10–24, IPV and education were searched in the databases EBSCO, PsycINFO, Scopus, ProQuest and CINAHL. While the initial search yielded 6005 articles, we were left with only 10 articles for the analysis. In summary, the evidence suggests that females tend to display issues around concentration, absenteeism and academic disengagement, as well as decline in performance such as failing grades and higher drop out rates.

Promoting outdoor recreation among older adults in Sweden – a theoretical and empirical foundation for the development of an intervention

Background Disengagement from outdoor recreation may diminish the positive benefits on health and well-being in old age. The purpose of this study is to present a contextual, theoretical, and empirical rationale for an intervention, aiming to promote continued engagement in outdoor recreation for older adults in a Swedish context. Methods The paper includes a contextualization of outdoor recreation in Sweden, a presentation of evidence on health benefits related to engagement in outdoor recreation, together with theoretical frameworks that may guide future intervention designs. To add empirical knowledge, a mixed methods approach was applied, including an empirical data collection based on a quantitative survey (n = 266) and individual semi-structured interviews with older adults (n = 12). Survey data were presented with descriptive statistics. Associations between disengagement from previously performed activities and age and gender was analyzed with Chi2 tests. Transcripts and handwritten notes from the interviews were analyzed qualitatively to identify key themes, as well as patterns and disparities among respondents. Results Outdoor recreation was rated as important/very important by 90% of respondents of the survey. The interviews highlighted that engagement in outdoor recreation aided respondents to keep fit but had also relevance in terms of identity, experiences, and daily routines. Outdoor recreation close to the place of residence was most common and walking was the most frequently reported activity. While 80% considered their health to be good/very good, disability and long-term diseases were common and during the previous year, more than half of all respondents had disengaged from activities previously performed. Reasons for disengagement were mainly related to health decline or that activities were too demanding but also due to social loss. The interviews indicated that continued engagement was important but challenging, and that disengagement could be considered as a loss or accepted due to changing circumstances. Conclusions In the design of an intervention aiming to promote engagement in outdoor recreation for older adults, the following features are proposed to be considered: person-centeredness, promoting functioning, addressing self-ageism, providing environmental support, promoting subjective mobility needs and adaptation to find new ways to engage in outdoor recreation.

Family Caregiver Health in a Pandemic

Each year family caregivers provide care and services worth billions of dollars to support the needs of older Americans. Their support is invaluable to keep individuals in the community for as long as possible and to allow individuals to attain and maintain their highest practicable level of well-being. But what impact does caregiving have on one’s health? Does caregiver health decline with the assumption of caregiving duties? Did caregiver health change during the pandemic? If so, how and what factors are associated with declines in caregiver health? To answer these questions, an exploratory survey was conducted among a convenience sample of 195 family caregiver. Almost a third of those sampled reported excellent or very good health, while 44% reported good health, and almost a quarter reported poor or fair health. Forty-eight percent reported their health had declined since they assumed caregiving duties and 29% reported their health had declined during the pandemic. Employed caregivers and those experiencing less depression/anxiety reported better health. Those experiencing a decline in health with caregiving were more likely to be female, not employed, experienced more stress and more depression/anxiety. Those experiencing a decline in health during the pandemic reported less spirituality, greater attachment related avoidance, and greater depression/anxiety. Findings from this research can be used to inform future research on the effect of the pandemic on family caregiving and to plan interventions to protect caregiver health as they provide vital services to maintain individuals in the community for as long as possible.

Deploying Implementation Strategies to Facilitate Professionals’ Use of the Home Care Frailty Scale

Home- and community-based service (HCBS) organizations play an instrumental role in maximizing the independence of older adults, ages 60 and over. HCBS clients typically have multiple health complications, placing them at great risk of frailty—a complex condition associated with health decline and institutionalization. However, despite their frequent contact with older adults, HCBS professionals are not required to assess the frailty levels of their clients, creating a missed opportunity to monitor the needs of this at-risk population. The purpose of this quality improvement study was to test a package of five implementation strategies designed to support HCBS professionals’ use of the evidence-based Home Care Frailty Scale (i.e., Frailty Scale) with all new clients at one large HCBS organization. Implementation strategies included (a) selecting one professional to serve as the organization’s Frailty Scale “champion,” (b) holding three training sessions with 25 HCBS professionals, (c) modifying client charts to allow professionals to document Frailty Scale results, (d) pilot testing the Frailty Scale with a small group of clients, and (e) completing monthly chart audits to monitor rates of Frailty Scale implementation. During the first three months of Frailty Scale use, HCBS professionals administered the Frailty Scale to 414 out of 467 eligible clients (88.6%). For Month 1, 87.4% of eligible clients were administered the Frailty Scale, followed by 90.8% in Month 2, and 85.6% in Month 3. This quality improvement study suggests that a multifaceted package of implementation strategies can support professionals’ use of an evidence-based frailty instrument in the HCBS setting.

Role of Prohibitins in Aging and Therapeutic Potential Against Age-Related Diseases

A decline in mitochondrial function has long been associated with age-related health decline. Several lines of evidence suggest that interventions that stimulate mitochondrial autophagy (mitophagy) can slow aging and prolong healthy lifespan. Prohibitins (PHB1 and PHB2) assemble at the mitochondrial inner membrane and are critical for mitochondrial homeostasis. In addition, prohibitins (PHBs) have diverse roles in cell and organismal biology. Here, we will discuss the role of PHBs in mitophagy, oxidative phosphorylation, cellular senescence, and apoptosis. We will also discuss the role of PHBs in modulating lifespan. In addition, we will review the links between PHBs and diseases of aging. Finally, we will discuss the emerging concept that PHBs may represent an attractive therapeutic target to counteract aging and age-onset disease.

Behavioral risk factors and clinical course of cardiovascular diseases and other noncommunicable diseases during quarantine in various regions of Russia

Aim. To assess the behavioral risk factors and the clinical course of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) during quarantine in various regions of Russia.Material and methods. This multicenter cohort cross-sectional study included 205 men and women from 6 Russian cities. Further, 4 of them (Saransk, Nizhny Novgorod, Penza, Ulyanovsk) were combined into one group — the Volga region. The study included men and women aged 30-69 years with one or more NCDs (hypertension, coronary artery disease with or without myocardial infarction, type 2 diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease/asthma and cancer in patients receiving chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy) who were self-isolated during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. For all patients, a questionnaire was used, which included socio-demographic parameters, behavioral risk factors, status of the underlying disease, incidence of COVID-19 and its complications. Self-assessment of the state of health was carried out using the European Quality of Life Questionnaire.Results. In every third Muscovite, the intensity of physical activity decreased, and in the groups of patients from Omsk and the Volga region, it was 45% and 43%, respectively. An increase in meal frequency and an impairment of eating habits in Moscow and Omsk was noted in 18,2% and 18,7% of participants, while in Volga region subjects, these parameters were 2 times higher (42,4%). At the same time, no significant changes of alcohol consumption and smoking was revealed in the cohorts. Hypertensive crises during a pandemic were noted in all three subgroups, but more of them were recorded in the Volga region — in every third patient (p< 0,05 compared to Moscow), in the Omsk group — in every fourth patient, and among Muscovites — no more than 5%. Clinical deterioration in patients with angina was noted in 15% of cases, while the smallest number was noted in Omsk subjects (5,3%), three times less than in other subgroups. Changes in intensity and regimen of hypoglycemic therapy were noted in patients from Omsk, while 30% of them (p< 0,05 compared with the Volga region) increased the doses of medications taken. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was registered in the group with the largest number of Volga region patients — 14,1% (p< 0,05 compared to Omsk), while 17% of patients in this group increased the dose of drugs. Any cancer was recorded in 13,6% of Muscovites, while in the other two groups — about 5%. The largest number of patients from the Volga region noted a health decline over the past year (30,8%), while every fifth patient from Omsk (19,6%) and 13,6% of Muscovites reported health changes.Conclusion. During quarantine and self-isolation, changes in dietary habits and physical activity decline were noted among patients with NCDs, while alcohol consumption and smoking remained practically unchanged. The change in clinical status was characterized by an increase in hypertensive crisis incidence, an increase in doses of antihypertensive and hypoglycemic medication. Depending on the region, the health decline was noted by 13-31% of patients with NCDs.

Crossing the Great Divide: Bridging the Researcher–Practitioner Gap to Maximize the Utility of Remote Sensing for Invasive Species Monitoring and Management

Invasive species are increasingly present in our ecosystems and pose a threat to the health of forest ecosystems. Practitioners are tasked with locating these invasive species and finding ways to mitigate their spread and impacts, often through costly field surveys. Meanwhile, researchers are developing remote sensing products to detect the changes in vegetation health and structure that are caused by invasive species, which could aid in early detection and monitoring efforts. Although both groups are working towards similar goals and field data are essential for validating RS products, these groups often work independently. In this paper, we, a group of researchers and practitioners, discuss the challenges to bridging the gap between researchers and practitioners and summarize the literature on this topic. We also draw from our experiences collaborating with each other to advance detection, monitoring, and management of the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (Adelges tsugae; HWA), an invasive forest pest in the eastern U.S. We conclude by (1) highlighting the synergies and symbiotic mutualism of researcher–practitioner collaborations and (2) providing a framework for facilitating researcher–practitioner collaborations that advance fundamental science while maximizing the capacity of RS technologies in monitoring and management of complex drivers of forest health decline such as invasive species.

The impact of social network change and health decline: a qualitative study on experiences of older adults who are ageing in place

Background Older adults prefer to age in place. Social network change and health decline challenge ageing in place, as stressors that make age-related advantages disappear. The aim of this study was to explore social network change and health decline and its impact on older adults who are ageing in place. Method In-depth interviews (n = 16) were conducted with older adults who were ageing in place and who were experiencing health decline and social network change. Procedures for grounded theory building were followed to analyse the interviews with respondents who were discharged from the hospital less than 4 months ago (n = 7). Narrative analysis was conducted to reach a deeper understanding of the expected complexity of experiences of this targeted sample. Results Results encompass a typology with four types of impact: A. Sneak preview of old age, B. Disruptive transition into old age, C. Drastically ageing, and D. Steadily ageing. Additionally, indications were found that older adults should be able to move along the four types of impact and ideally could end up in quartile D, experiencing little or no impact at all (anymore). Conclusion The results present an optimistic view on the possibilities of older adults to continue ageing in place despite experiencing unavoidable and uncontrollable stressors in life. Also, the results provide leads for practice, to develop an action perspective for home care nurses and gerontological social workers to determine and reduce the impact of social network change and health decline on older adults who are ageing in place. Suggestions for further research would be to unravel how to detect temporal setbacks in successful ageing in place.

Pandora's Box

If you have started feeling your age or even older, stop right there! Feeling younger makes us feel better and healthier both physically and mentally; at least so say researchers from Germany. They examined longitudinal data collected over a period of three years (2014–2017) by the German Ageing Survey, with a mean age of 64 years (40–95). Controlling for baseline functional health and sociodemographic variables, they found that greater perceived stress was associated with a steeper decline in functional health, which increased with advancing chronological age. However, they also found that those who felt younger than their age showed a less steep decline in functional health and greater perceived stress was less strongly associated with functional health decline. Furthermore, they were less likely to feel stressed and this stress buffer effect was greater with increasing age.