Leisure fitness: A recreation therapy concept design

2012 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 19-26
Author(s):  
John R. Mikula, MA, CTRS, CSCS, HFS ◽  
Paul Smith, BS, CTRS, HFS

This article examines the benefits of the recreation therapy intervention leisure fitness and its potential for positively affecting the health and well being of those with chronic health problems. Working within a wide variety of settings, qualified recreation therapists facilitate a leisure-fitness (LF) process to promote endurance, strength, mobility, and psycho-social well being among consumers. This article provides a practical concept design for the development and implementation of a recreation therapy LF program.

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 87 (6) ◽  
pp. 884-889
Author(s):  
David Cadman ◽  
Peter Rosenbaum ◽  
Michael Boyle ◽  
David R. Offord

This paper presents the results of an epidemiologic study that compares and contrasts psychosocial characteristics of parents and family units of children with chronic illness or physical disability (chronic health problems) with those of healthy children. Data were derived from the Ontario Child Health Study of 1869 randomly selected families, with 3294 children aged 4 to 16 years. In the absence of significant differences between parents and families of children with chronic illness alone and those with physical disability, these groups were combined for analysis, for which odds ratios (OR) or t tests were used. Significant positive findings included increased rates of parental treatment for "nerves" (mothers' OR = 2.1, fathers' OR = 1.9) and increased maternal negative affect scores (Bradburn Affect Balance Scale) (P < .001) among parents of children with chronic health problems. Important negative findings (95% confidence interval of the OR included 1) included no increase in single-parent families (OR = 1.2), social isolation (OR = 1.0), or alcohol problems (OR = 1.2) among parents of children with chronic health problems. Categorically defined family dysfunction did not differ between the two groups (OR = 1.1). These data contrast with several clinic-based studies and suggest that, in a widely generalizable population survey, families of children with chronic health problems including physical disability do not suffer a marked excess of dysfunction, although some indicators of individual parent psychosocial problems were modestly elevated. It is concluded that clinicians working with children with chronic health problems should always assess psychosocial well-being. They must, however, be careful to avoid expectation bias or overinterpretation of stress and not assume that a large burden of significant psychosocial dysfunction exists among these parents and families, simply because they have a child with a chronic health problem.


Author(s):  
Zouhour Samlani ◽  
Yassine Lemfadli ◽  
Adil Ait Errami ◽  
Sofia Oubaha ◽  
Khadija Krati

Introduction: The majority of epidemiological reports focus on confirmed cases of COVID-19. In this study, we aim to assess the health and well-being of adults not infected with Covid-19 after two months of quarantine in Morocco. Materials and methods: Two months after the declaration of quarantine in Morocco following the Covid-19 epidemic, we carried out a descriptive cross-sectional study of 279 Moroccan citizens. We used the Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) as a determinant of quality of life, which is based on eight dimensions of health. The data were collected using an electronic questionnaire distributed online. The participants also indicated their socio-demographic data, their knowledge and practices regarding the Covid-19 pandemic and whether they had chronic health problems. Results: The quality of life of all participants was moderately disrupted during the Covid-19 pandemic with a mental health score (MCS) of 34.49 (± 6.44) and a physical health score (PCS) of 36.10 (± 5.82). Participants with chronic diseases scored lower with 29.28 (± 1.23) in mental health (MCS) and 32.51 (± 7.14) in physical health (PCS). The seriousness of COVID-19 has an impact on the quality of life and health well-being of people and this impact is more marked in people with chronic health problems. Conclusion: Our results confirm the need to pay attention to the health of people who have not been infected with the virus. Our results also point out that uninfected people with chronic illnesses may be more likely to have well-being problems due to quarantine restrictions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 53 (5) ◽  
pp. 515-522
Author(s):  
P Raynham

Electric light in buildings may provide some health benefits; however, for most people these benefits are likely to be small. It is possible for electric lighting to cause health problems, if there is too little light or there is glare, but for the most part there is good guidance available and these problems can be avoided. The quality of the lit environment can have a psychological impact and this may in turn impact well-being. A starting point for this is perceived adequacy of illumination. Related lighting metrics are examined and a hypothetical explanation is suggested.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gökmen Arslan ◽  
Murat Yıldırım ◽  
Mega M. Leung

Research Problem: The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a multi-faceted crisis worldwide. Researchers and health authorities in various parts of the world echoed the dire condition of the public's mental health. This study sought to examine the mediating effect of personal meaning on the association between coronavirus (COVID-19)-related suffering, mental health problems, and life satisfaction. Participants included 231 adults (mean age = 46.65 ± 13.98; 68% female) and completed measures of suffering related to COVID-19, meaning, life satisfaction, and mental health problems online.Results: Findings from mediation analysis showed that suffering had significant associations with personal meaning, mental health, and well-being. Furthermore, personal meaning was significantly associated with adults' mental health and well-being and mediated the negative effect of suffering on mental health and well-being.Discussion: Overall, results from this study indicate that personal meaning is an important promotive factor that may help to understand the negative effect of coronavirus-related suffering on mental health and well-being amid the public health crisis.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 98 (5) ◽  
pp. 952-958 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul W. Newacheck ◽  
Ruth E. K. Stein ◽  
Deborah Klein Walker ◽  
Steven L. Gortmaker ◽  
Karen Kuhlthau ◽  
...  

Objective. Children with chronic illnesses and disabilities are increasingly enrolling in managed care arrangements. Yet, the rapid expansion of managed care has unknown consequences for children with chronic conditions and disabilities. As managed care is likely to become the predominant mode of medical practice for children with chronic health problems, information gained from a thorough assessment of existing managed care models could be helpful in indicating adjustments and modifications that could result in improved outcomes for this population. The purpose of this article is to outline a new strategy for collecting needed information on the effects of managed care on children with chronic health problems. Methods. We reviewed the literature on the effects of managed care on children with chronic conditions and disabilities. We identified key domains relevant to monitoring and evaluating managed care for this population. Results. Two research approaches can provide helpful information for assessing the effects of managed care on children with chronic conditions. First, a monitoring strategy could be pursued in which enrollment trends in managed care, enrollee perceptions of access and satisfaction with care, and other general indicators of outcomes would be tracked over time using inexpensive and rapid turnaround data sources. Second, an evaluative strategy could be pursued using experimental or quasiexperimental designs, in which outcomes across a variety of domains for children with chronic conditions in managed care are compared with: (a) outcomes for the same children before enrollment in managed care; or (b) outcomes for similar children remaining in traditional fee-for-service settings. Evaluation and monitoring strategies should focus on outcomes in a number of domains including: (1) access to care; (2) utilization of services; (3) quality of care; (4) satisfaction with care; (5) expenditures for care; (6) health outcomes; and (7) family impact. Conclusion. Assessing outcomes that result from enrollment in managed care for children with chronic health problems presents a formidable challenge. The research strategy outlined in this article presents one approach to meeting that challenge. The monitoring and evaluation strategies described here would require commitment of additional resources on the part of government, private foundations, and/or health plans. Given the paucity of existing information and the stakes for children with chronic conditions and their families, investment of added resources in a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation strategy is essential.


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