Scaffolding Understanding of Scholarly Educational Research Through Teacher/Student Conferencing and Differentiated Instruction

This article reports the results of a qualitative study of the effectiveness of a critical reading instructional intervention based on differentiated instruction (DI) and teacher/student conferencing (TSC) in improving the participants’ understanding and evaluation of published educational research. A cohort of eleven (n = 11) novice graduate students took part in a 15-week course during which they critiqued several self-selected journal articles and reflected on their experience. Results of the thematic analysis of the participants’ reflection logs revealed that their’ initial feelings of apprehension and anxiety transformed into growth in their self-efficacy as consumers and designers of educational research. Likewise, the participants benefitted from scaffolding their challenges and the provision of feedback in becoming more proficient readers and in developing supportive relationships. The study implications, limitations, and suggestions for further research are discussed.

Sharing goals by timely communication improves fishermen's satisfaction with marine protected areas: A case study in the Mediterranean

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are considered as a valid tool for mitigating the impact of fishing on marine ecosystems. Their success depends upon their acceptance by implicated stakeholders and on the integration of the stakeholder groups into their management. This integration is especially important with regard to fishermen, whose interests are the most directly affected by MPAs. The relational coordination method posits that effective communication and supportive relationships among stakeholders result in positive stakeholder behaviors and a more effective management of the system. Applying its principles, we designed a survey to evaluate the satisfaction of fishermen associated with five MPAs in the Spanish Mediterranean and determine what mechanisms affect fishermen’s acceptance of MPAs. Our results demonstrate that effective communication is particularly important for good supportive relationships and satisfaction among fishermen and other stakeholder groups, as well as satisfaction with the MPA. Sharing objectives with fishermen through timely communication is the primary mechanism to improve fishermen's satisfaction and ameliorate perceptions towards MPA. To address this issue, we recommend more substantial integration of fishermen in the co-management of MPAs.

“We Got In!”

Emerging adults rely on family, friends, and others in their personal networks to aid in making decisions. Parents are heavily involved in the lives of their children, ensuring that they have all of the supports or advantages in place to become successful. This chapter focuses on the continued importance and impact of the family, particularly parental figures, for emerging adults in higher education. An overview of seminal interdisciplinary theories is provided, along with a discussion of contrasting parental behaviors and their consequences. Special attention is given to first-generation students and those who lack parental support. A case study and reflection questions help readers apply the chapter’s content so that emerging adults can foster developmentally appropriate supportive relationships.

Predictors of successful discontinuation of antipsychotics and antidepressants

Background To offer support for patients who decide to discontinue antipsychotic and antidepressant medication, identifying which potentially modifiable factors correlate with discontinuation success is crucial. Here, we analyzed the predictive value of the professional support received, circumstances prior to discontinuation, a strategy of discontinuation, and use of functional and non-functional coping strategies during discontinuation on self-reported discontinuation success and on objective discontinuation. Methods Patients who had attempted discontinuing antipsychotics (AP) and/or antidepressants (AD) during the past 5 years (n = 316) completed an online survey including questions on subjective and objective discontinuation success, sociodemographic, clinical and medication-related factors, and scales to assess the putative predictors. Results A regression model with all significant predictors explained 20–30% of the variance in discontinuation success for AD and 30–40% for AP. After controlling for baseline sociodemographic, clinical and medication-related factors, the most consistent predictor of subjective discontinuation success was self-care behavior, in particular mindfulness, relaxation and making use of supportive relationships. Other predictors depended on the type of medication: For AD, good alliance with the prescribing physician predicted higher subjective success whereas gradual tapering per se was associated with lower subjective success and a lower chance of full discontinuation. In those tapering off AP, leaving time to adjust between dose reductions was associated with higher subjective success and fewer negative effects. Conclusions The findings can inform evidence-based clinical guidelines and interventions aiming to support patients during discontinuation. Further studies powered to take interactions between variables into account are needed to improve the prediction of successful discontinuation.

Differentiated Embedding and Social Relationships Among Russian Migrant Physicians in Finland: A Narrative Socio‐Analysis

Migrants’ processes of (dis)embedding in local and transnational social networks have received growing attention in recent years, but most research focuses on low‐skilled migration. This study explores the affordances and challenges that Russian physicians, as a high‐skilled migrant group in Finland, experience in these processes in work and non‐work domains. Based on semi‐structured biographical interviews with 26 Russian physicians, the study employs Bourdieu’s socio‐analysis to analyze their narratives. The results reveal that Russian migrant physicians negotiate and experience differentiated embedding across work–life domains in local and transnational contexts. They mostly develop collegial relationships with Finnish colleagues and benefit from fulfilling professional relationships in the work domain. However, alongside time and efforts needed for building social ties, various factors often impede friendship making and socialization with locals beyond the work domain. These physicians cope with individual life circumstances through their enduring and supportive relationships with their Russian relatives and colleagues–friends. These results indicate that high‐skilled migrants have a greater opportunity to connect professionally with locals than low‐skilled migrants, but experience similar challenges to the latter in building close personal relationships.

The role of social support in the experience of life with ischemic heart disease for socially disadvantaged patients: A qualitative study

Objectives Ischemic heart disease (IHD) displays wide social inequalities that are often explained with reference to lifestyle factors. However, research indicates that social support may also play an important role in social inequality in IHD. This study aims to explore the role of social support in the experience of life with IHD for socially disadvantaged patients. Methods The study was conducted as a critical hermeneutic qualitative study in Denmark between October 2018 and August 2019. Data consist of in-depth qualitative interviews with 30 socially disadvantaged patients with IHD. Results The findings showed a notable difference between the participants who were engaged in close and supportive social relationships and those who were not. Life with IHD for those who lacked supportive relationships tended to be marked by feelings of chaos, powerlessness and meaninglessness. Contrarily, those who were engaged in supportive relationships received help to navigate their life with illness, reconcile with what had happened to them, feel empowered, and gain a sense of meaning in their life. Discussion: Social support from close social relationships appears to be crucial for socially disadvantaged ischemic heart patients, and should be encouraged and facilitated in healthcare and interventions targeting this patient group.

Generation to Generation Project: Pairing Students With Older Adult Mentors During the COVID-19 Pandemic

To meet the needs of older adults isolated in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we began pairing Human Services and Gerontology students with community dwelling adults 55 years of age and older, recruited through senior centers and other organizations serving older adults. Students paired with isolated older adults were tasked with building supportive relationships, assuring that basic needs were being met and that all available community resources were in place, and then documenting their mentor’s life stories with an emphasis on the resilience, strength and wisdom of their older adult mentors (to focus and build on their strengths, the older adults we engage with are referred to as our “mentors”). Oral histories and supporting artifacts are archived in the university’s library permanent repository. The oral histories portray unique perspectives into life, strength, and resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine. The older adult mentors participating in the Generation to Generation project reported feeling strengthened and connected through their participation in the Generation to Generation project. To determine if social Isolation and loneliness can be ameliorated through participation in the Generation to Generation oral history project, researchers utilized the UCLA Loneliness Scale in pre- and post- participation interviews; findings will be shared.

Relasi Pemerintah dan Akademisi dalam Isu Moderasi Beragama di Indonesia

Religious moderation is one of the government's important agendas and commitments to realize a peaceful Islam, including through intellectual movements in the form of seminars, academic presentations, and scientific publications. The focus of this article is the mapping of research/academic writings by Islamic academics in the study of religious moderation. Data collection was carried out through a literature review by analyzing research publications among academics related to the theme of religious moderation. The analytical framework used in this article is discourse analysis and dialectics. This study concludes that some of the dominant themes published are: (a) The theme of religious moderation within the Indonesian-National scope. The discourse developed is Islamic moderation and Cultural Society. (b) The theme of religious moderation is da'wah broadcasts. The discourses raised are moderation and social media. (c) The theme of religious moderation of social organizations and ideological groups. The discourse that was raised was about the Islamic Moderatism of NU and Muhammadiyah. (d) The theme of Religious Moderation in Educational Institutions. The discourse that emerged was that Pesantren builds Moderation and Internalization of Moderation Values. The discourse analysis in this article shows that the article on Islamic Moderation is an expression or response of academics in viewing the reality and state of social policy around it. The Ministry of Religion as politicians and academics from several Islamic campuses under the Ministry of Religion have mutually supportive relationships in this issue of religious moderation Abstrak:. Moderasi agama merupakan salah satu agenda dan komitmen penting pemerintah untuk mewujudkan islam yang rahmatan lil ‘alamin, salah satunya melalui gerakan intelektual berupa: seminar, presentasi akademik dan publikasi Ilmiah. Fokus artikel ini adalah pemetaan terhadap riset/tulisan akademik para Akademisi Islam dalam kajian moderasi beragama. Penggalian data dilakukan melalui kajian kepustakaan dengan menganalisa publikasi riset dikalangan akademisi terkait dengan tema moderasi beragama. Kerangka analisis yang digunakan dalam artikel ini adalah analisis wacana dan dialektika. Penelitian ini menyimpulkan bahwa beberapa tema dominan yang dipublikasi adalah : (a) Tema Moderasi beragama dalam lingkup Nasional-Keindonesiaan. Wacana yang dimunculkan yakni moderasi Islam dan Masyarakat Kultural. (b) Tema Moderasi beragama siaran dakwah. Wacana yang dimunculkan yakni moderasi dan Media Sosial. (c) Tema Moderasi beragama organisasi Kemasyarakatan dan kelompok Ideologi. Wacana yang dimunculkan seputar Moderatisme Islam NU dan Muhammadiyah. (d) Tema Moderasi beragama Instansi Pendidikan. Wacana yang dimunculkan yakni Pesantren membangun Moderasi dan Internalisasi Nilai Moderasi. Analisis wacana dalam artikel ini menunjukkan bahwa artikel mengenai Moderasi Islam merupakan sebuah ekspresi atau respon akademisi dalam memandang realitas dan keadaan kebijakan sosial di sekitarnya. Kementerian Agama sebagai Politisi dan akademisi dari beberapa kampus Islam di bawah kementerian Agama memiliki relasi yang saling mendukung dalam isu Moderasi beragama ini.

Newly qualified midwives’ perceptions of their level of midwifery clinical competence during community service in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Background: There are links between the inadequate numbers of competent midwives and high maternal mortality ratios and neonatal mortality rates which highlights the significance of job-ready, newly qualified midwives who can display clinical competence. The South African Nursing Council regulated mandatory community service, as a supportive year to develop clinical competence.Aim: To explore and describe newly qualified midwives’ perceived level of midwifery clinical competence during community service.Setting: Both the event of the pandemic and the distribution of the potential participants across various geographical settings necessitated planning for data collection in real and online settings convenient to them.Method: Non-probability purposive sampling was utilized to select and invite the post community service, newly qualified midwives (N = 65), of the select university, who underwent community service in 2018 and experienced exposure to maternity care settings in the eThekwini District (n = 23). Data were collected through five focus groups and analysed through Elo and Kyngas’ content analysis.Results: Three categories emerged: transitioning from the sheltered education environment to the real practice world, support in practice: disparate realities and interception of mentorship. Six subcategories accompanied the categories.Conclusion: Newly qualified midwives’ clinical confidence and competence transitioning from the safe academic environment to the authentic accountable clinical setting hinges on mentorship and welcoming, non-stigmatising supportive relationships that facilitate the integration of previous learnings into community service practice.Contribution: The study allows for audibility and awareness of the transitioning midwives’ perceptions highlighting the significance to maternity staff and policy makers, of supportive relationships and structures.

Impact of Supportive Resources on Middle-Aged Women's Self-Care Activities: A Study in The Vietnamese Context

Addressing the fact that studies on self-care of Vietnamese middle-aged women remain scarse, our presenting study aims to investigate the relationship between supportive resources utilized by Vietnamese middle-aged women and their types of self-care. Data were collected from survey interview with 512 middle-aged women (aged from 40 to 60 years old) in Hanoi city and Quang Ninh province. A series of linear regression was performed on the six types of self-care, including: physical care, supportive relationships, mindful awareness, self-compassion & purpose, mindful relaxation, and supportive structure. Three types of supportive resources and other covariates (age, education, and residence area) were entered into these models as key predictors. The study results show that the use of different level of resources was associated with different types of self-care practice. The use of micro-resource system significantly predicted all six types of self-care among Vietnamese middle-aged women. The mesenchymal and peripheral resource systems significantly predicted physical care only among Vietnamese middled-age women. The macro resource system was significantly associated with the practice of mind-relaxing and supportive structure. In addition, people who were older, had better education and lived in urban areas tended to participate more in physical care. Women with a higher education level and living in urban areas were predicted to utilize more supportive relationships and mindful relaxation. Women living in urban areas, having a higher level of education practiced mindful relaxation significantly more than their counterparts. Using more supportive structure was significantly more among women living in urban areas, in older age groups and having higher education levels. The key findings suggest the promotion of active support from the micro-level system, as well as advocate for social policy development to help less privileged groups of women access and use mezzo and macro resources more effectively.