The Impact of Social Support on Treatment Participation and Completion in a Disability Prevention Intervention for Older Adults

Objectives: This study evaluates the role of emotional and instrumental social support on treatment participation and completion using the Positive Minds-Strong Bodies (PMSB) disability prevention program. Methods: Data from a multisite randomized controlled trial of the PMSB program for older adults (≥60 years) with physical impairment and mild to severe depression and/or anxiety were used. Participants were randomly assigned to receive 10 sessions of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) plus 36 sessions of group exercise or usual care. Results: Adjusting for covariates, higher levels of emotional social support at baseline were associated with increased odds of completing the recommended number of CBT sessions (6 or more, OR = 2.58, p = .030), attending 5.56 more exercise sessions ( p = .006), and increased odds of completing the recommended exercise sessions (25 or more, OR = 2.37, p = .047). Discussion: Emotional social support appears to increase dosage in a disability prevention program.

Study on the Influence of Social Capital on Farmers’ Participation in Rural Domestic Sewage Treatment in Nanjing, China

Rural domestic sewage treatment is not only an important part of the renovation of rural human settlements, but also a major measure to revitalize those areas. In the absence of extensive participation by farmers, it is difficult to achieve desired results. From the theoretical analysis of the influence of social capital on farmers’ participation, and based on the survey data of farmers in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, this study used a logistic model to analyze the influence of social capital and personal, family, and awareness characteristics of farmers on their participation levels. Social capital plays a significant role in promoting farmers’ participation, and the contribution of its core variables is in the following order: social norms > social trust > social networks. Among the control variables, the need for domestic sewage treatment, participation in environmental training, educational level, and participation in a village cadre significantly enhance farmers’ participation levels. Consequently, promotion of rural domestic sewage treatment should include improvement of farmers’ social trust, social norms, and social networks, to enhance social capital. Publicity and education should be reinforced, and environmental training should be carried out to improve farmers’ awareness and sense of responsibility, leading them to active participation.

Assessing the Relative Influence of Individual Attitudes, Social Supports, and Neighborhood Context on Reentry Outcomes: What Changes Matter Most?

Using the Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative (SVORI) data set, the current study examined the relationship between internal change factors, including agency, readiness for change, and legal cynicism, and four reentry outcomes (recidivism, reincarceration, drug use, and treatment participation). The study also assessed the impact of external change factors, such as family support and perceived neighborhood quality on reentry outcomes. Using a hybrid model approach, we found that within-individual changes in agency and family emotional support were significantly related to decreased self-reported recidivism and reincarceration over time. Within-individual changes in family emotional support were also significantly related to reductions in self-reported drug use and within-individual changes in readiness for change were positively associated with treatment participation across the postrelease waves of the SVORI data. Between-individual results further demonstrate the salience of change factors on reentry outcomes. Study findings inform desistance models and identify some promising targets for reentry programming.

Exploring the preliminary effectiveness and acceptability of food-based exposure therapy for eating disorders: A case series of adult inpatients

Although exposure therapy is effective in reducing eating-related fears and avoidance in individuals with eating disorders (EDs), there has been little study of this treatment in inpatient settings. To address this gap, we conducted a case series to evaluate the effects of a food-based exposure therapy intervention on eating-related fears and avoidant behaviors among adults being treated for an ED in an inpatient hospital setting. Patients ( N = 106) were provided psychoeducation on the treatment approach, aided in the development of an exposure hierarchy containing fear-evoking stimuli related to eating (e.g., feared foods), and guided in completing exposure exercises and gradually progressing through the hierarchy. Results showed that patients experienced significant reductions in eating-related fears and avoidant behaviors from pretreatment to posttreatment. Acceptability of the intervention was reasonably well-established by (a) acceptable rates of treatment participation and completion, (b) favorable ratings of the intervention provided in a posttreatment satisfaction survey, and (c) the absence of any exacerbations in the frequency of compensatory weight control behaviors (e.g., self-induced vomiting) over the course of treatment. Clinical implications of these findings are discussed in the light of clinicians’ concerns about and underutilization of food-based exposure therapy for EDs, particularly in inpatient settings.

Participant and Program Characteristics: Correlates of Substance Abuse Treatment Participation and Prison Misconducts

Despite the prevalence of substance dependence in incarcerated populations and the correlation between substance use and crime, only 11% receive substance abuse treatment, even as treatment participation may help reduce institutional misbehavior and postrelease recidivism. The current research examined the influence of individual and program factors on substance abuse treatment participation and prison misconducts in a state prison system. Based on analyses of administrative data from 2012 to 2015 and program data, the findings support previous research documenting participant characteristics as predictors of misconducts. In addition, program training requirements significantly predicted misconducts. Implications and research recommendations are discussed.