Psychosocial issues and quality of life of parenting partners of young women with breast cancer.

Purpose: Data are lacking about the association between quality of life (QOL) and psychosocial issues of partners of young women with breast cancer who co-parent dependent children.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of partners of women with breast cancer diagnosed at age ≤ 40. Among those partners reporting at least one dependent child under 18 years old at the time of diagnosis, we used multiple linear regression to examine associations between partner QOL and sociodemographic and psychosocial factors, and the patient's cancer stage and time since diagnosis.

Inventory of Youth Adaptation to Loss (IYAL): Psychometric Testing of a New Instrument for Bereaved Youth to Assess Social Support and Coping.

The Inventory of Youth Adaptation to Loss (IYAL) was developed to understand the feelings and social supports experienced by bereaved youth to develop an evidence-base for bereavement interventions. The sample included 400 youth ages 9-17, permitting robust psychometric testing of the IYAL. To evaluate the reliability of the IYAL, the sample framework was national in scope, encompassed a range of different types of youth bereavement programs, and purposively sought diversity in the sample.

Partners of young breast cancer survivors: a cross-sectional evaluation of psychosocial concerns, coping, and mental health.

Purpose: Evaluation of psychosocial concerns, coping style, and mental health in partners of young (diagnosed at ≤40 years) survivors of early-stage breast cancer (BC).

Design: Cross-sectional; partners participated in a one-time survey.

Sample: 289 participants; most were male, white, working full-time, college educated, with median age of 43 years, parenting children <18 years old.

Chronic Health Illnesses as Predictors of Mild Cognitive Impairment Among African American Older Adults.

Approximately 5.5 million individuals are diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia, a number which includes those with mild cognitive impairment and asymptomatic individuals with biomarkers of AD. There is a higher incidence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in African American populations as compared to White populations, even when controlling for sociodemographic factors.

"Fear Runs Deep:" The Anticipated Needs of LGBT Older Adults in Long-Term Care.

Objectives: Older lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) adults are a vulnerable yet resilient population who face unique stressors as they foresee health decline. This paper presents the results of a study about community-dwelling LGBT older adults' anticipated needs and fears related to nursing homes and assisted living.

Methods: This qualitative study collected data through seven focus groups.

Oral health and cancer screening in long-term care nursing facilities: Motivation and opportunity as intervention targets.

Objective: The objective of this study is to propose empirically and conceptually supported interventions that might increase the capability and opportunity to provide of oral hygiene care and oral cancer screening in long-term nursing care facilities.

Background: Improving the oral health in the older adult population is a priority of the Healthy People 2020 initiative. Poor oral health disproportionably affects older populations, which indicates lower participation in regular oral health care (OHC) that includes screening and early detection of oral cancer.

Developing content for an interprofessional training on fear of cancer recurrence (FCR): Key informant interviews of healthcare professionals, researchers and cancer survivors.

Background: Growing numbers of cancer survivors are receiving healthcare through primary care practitioners, who often lack cancer-specific expertise to effectively treat survivors' concerns. Addressing that gap, this study aimed to develop content for a training on fear of cancer recurrence (FCR), a common concern in survivorship.

Methods: Grounded in naturalistic inquiry, 42 key-informant interviews were conducted, transcribed, and analyzed for themes.

Impact of an Interprofessional Primary Care Training on Fear of Cancer Recurrence on Clinicians' Knowledge, Self-Efficacy, Anticipated Practice Behaviors, and Attitudes Toward Survivorship Care.

There are an estimated 15.5 million cancer survivors in the United States, with numbers projected to increase. Many cancer survivors are receiving survivorship care in primary care settings, yet primary care providers report a need for additional training on addressing medical and psychosocial concerns of cancer survivors.

Obesity Prevention Interventions in US Public Schools: Are Schools Using Programs That Promote Weight Stigma?

Introduction: Despite substantial research on school-based obesity prevention programs, it is unclear how widely they are disseminated. It is also unknown whether schools use obesity programs that inadvertently promote weight stigma or disordered weight-control behaviors.

Methods: In spring 2016, we distributed an online survey about school wellness programming to a simple random sample of US public school administrators (N = 247 respondents; 10.

Advancing Social Work Education for Health Impact.

Social work education plays a critical role in preparing social workers to lead efforts that improve health. Because of the dynamic health care landscape, schools of social work must educate students to facilitate health care system improvements, enhance population health, and reduce medical costs. We reviewed the existing contributions of social work education and provided recommendations for improving the education of social workers in 6 key areas: aging, behavioral health, community health, global health, health reform, and health policy.

Psychosocial risk factors and Alzheimer's disease: the associative effect of depression, sleep disturbance, and anxiety.

Objectives: Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia is a neurodegenerative condition, which leads to impairments in memory. This study predicted that sleep disturbance, depression, and anxiety increase the hazard of AD, independently and as comorbid conditions.

Methods: Data from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center was used to analyze evaluations of 12,083 cognitively asymptomatic participants.

The Paradoxical Impact of Companionship on the Mental Health of Older African American Men.

Objectives: African Americans comprise 9% of the 46 million U.S. adults over age 65.

Cultural and emotional determinants of cervical cancer screening among older Hispanic women.

Older adults are at highest risk of cancer and yet have the lowest rates of cancer screening participation. Older minority adults bear the burden of cancer screening disparities leading to late stage cancer diagnoses. This investigation, utilization data from the 2008 wave of the Health and Retirement study examined the cultural and emotional factors thought to influence cervical cancer screening among older Hispanic women.

Decreasing hazards of Alzheimer's disease with the use of antidepressants: mitigating the risk of depression and apolipoprotein E.

Objective: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease, manifesting in clinically observable deficits in memory, thinking, and behavior that disproportionately affects older adults. Susceptibility genes, such as apolipoprotein ε4, have long been associated with an increased risk of AD diagnosis. Studies have shown associations between depression and increased risk of AD development.

Parental experiences with a hospital-based bereavement program following the loss of a child to cancer.

Objective: The death of a child from cancer is an intense and life-changing loss for a parent. Guided by the principles of patient- and family-centered care, hospital-based caregivers developed a program to provide bereavement support for parents through phone calls and mailings. The aim of the present qualitative phenomenological study was to understand how parents experienced participating in this bereavement program.

Neuropsychiatric symptoms and Apolipoprotein E: Associations with eventual Alzheimer's disease development.

Objective: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the result of neurodegeneration, which manifests clinically as deficits in memory, thinking, and behavior. It was hypothesized that neuropsychiatric symptoms and the apolipoprotein E genotype increase the likelihood of Alzheimer's disease development.

Methods: Utilizing data from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center, information from evaluations of 11,453 cognitively intact participants was analyzed.

Associations between depression, sleep disturbance, and apolipoprotein E in the development of Alzheimer's disease: dementia.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative brain disease that causes cognitive impairment and dementia. Within the US, AD is the most common form of dementia in the elderly, affecting 1 in 10 people over the age of 65. Sleep disturbance has been called a "public health epidemic" and, like depression, is a prodromal symptom of AD but may also contribute to the risk of developing AD.

Lessons learned from the Great East Japan Earthquake: The need for disaster preparedness in the area of disaster mental health for children.

The Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011 brought unprecedented challenges to individuals, families, and communities of the Tohoku region in Japan. Children are especially vulnerable to the postdisaster risk factors that impact their ability to heal. The destruction of the infrastructure by the disasters made it more challenging to reach out to children in an area where the stigma against mental illness is persistent.

Interdisciplinary medical social work: a working taxonomy.

Findings from a year-long exploratory study aimed at describing universal functions of medical social work with interdisciplinary teams in acute care settings are reported here. A universal taxonomy of interdisciplinary social work skills and competencies was empirically identified through a participatory action research framework. Findings support previous conceptual descriptions of medical social work's overarching and historical role to help interdisciplinary teams in acute care to consider patients' home environment, knowledge, beliefs, culture, and resources during assessment, treatment, and discharge planning.

Cancer screening barriers for community-based older Hispanics and Caucasians.

Despite advances in screening and early detection, ethnic minority populations, ages 65 and older, are less likely than Caucasians to participate in cancer screening services. Empirical research indicates that older ethnic minorities have cultural values that influence their behaviors. Addressing culturally relevant communication to better understand those values may increase participation in cancer screening.

Adolescent Family Factors Promoting Healthy Adult Functioning: A Longitudinal Community Study.

BACKGROUND: Although long-held wisdom and current research suggests that accepting and supportive family relationships may positively influence adult psychosocial functioning, few studies have prospectively investigated these associations. This study examined whether positive family factors during adolescence are associated with healthy adult functioning. METHOD: The 353 participants were part of a single-age cohort whose psychosocial development has been prospectively traced.

Perceptions of difference between aging and disability service systems consumers: implications for policy initiatives to rebalance long-term care.

This study explores service professionals' perceptions of how and why older adults and younger persons with disabilities are different consumers and clients within the long-term care service sector. Data are from 2004, early in the history of federal long-term care rebalancing initiatives, reflecting perceptions at that time. Findings suggest professionals working within aging, developmental disability, and physical disability service networks believe significant distinctions exist related to age of clients and nature of service required and how it is delivered.