Support for basic psychological needs in the context of HIV disclosure for older youth

Purpose

This study utilized Self-Determination Theory's sub-theory Basic Needs Theory (Deci & Ryan, 2000) to understand older youths' perceptions of support for their basic needs of autonomy, relatedness, and competence in the context of disclosing their HIV status.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews lasting 10–60 min each were conducted with nine youth aged 17–19 (4 women and 5 men) and two adult staff at a one-week residential program in a large southern city. Participant observations of disclosure-related conversations and experiences were conducted and recorded throughout the program. Reliability and validity assurances were met in multiple ways. Analysis of the content of interviews and observations indicated consistent themes that converged on the research questions.

Results

When participants perceived more support for their basic psychological needs for autonomy, relatedness, and competence, they reported more self-determined motivation to disclose their status and better satisfaction with their decisions. The results of this study indicate that Basic Needs Theory is useful for understanding how the basic psychological needs of autonomy, relatedness, and competence are satisfied or thwarted in the context of HIV disclosure for older youth.

Conclusions

Programs and people working with older youth with HIV/AIDS can use BNT to help youth identify, create, and adapt contexts to be supportive of their basic needs for autonomy, relatedness, and competence, and provide guidance and support accordingly. Providers can utilize this information to support youth in strategizing about their disclosure decisions and goals for their well-being.     

Building research capacity for social work practitioners: a regional perspective

This article explores the research experiences, interests and capacity of social work professionals working as frontline workers and managers in human service organizations in regional South Australia. It also draws attention to social work practice issues requiring further investigation as identified by these professionals. The research data for this paper were collected using quantitative and qualitative methods. Quantitative data provided evidence to show the extent of research interests among social work practitioners in the region. Qualitative data added depth to the findings by identifying social work practice issues as described by research participants. The study revealed that few participants had any research experience; however, the majority felt the need to undertake research, expressed interest in research training and a desire to be involved in research projects. These findings have implications for higher education providers in the social work discipline. They draw attention to the importance of better preparing students for research in practice, and also for schools of social work to actively engage in building research capacity and output in regional Australia.

Abbreviations: Frontline social work professionals (FLSWP); The Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW)     

Editorial

The research examined factors related to the decision to move to a continuing care retirement community (CCRC). Employing a sample obtained from a recently opened comprehensive CCRC, 184 residents and 246 waiting list respondents were surveyed concerning their decision to move. Residents evidenced significantly more "risk" factors than waiting list applicants and reported significantly more reasons for selecting a CCRC. Reasons for choosing a CCRC were guaranteed health care, freedom from home maintenance, and supportive services. The vulnerability of residents requires careful attention for planning and managing services to maintain independence.     

Grandparent Carers II

Summary

A demonstration project was undertaken in two of New York City's five boroughs using an intervention model to assess how a three-prong approach using outreach, provision of support groups, and case management could be used to aid grandparents acting as primary carers for children with developmental delay or disabilities. Three small community-based agencies participated in the demonstration. Several common themes were identified that warrant attention when working with older adults who assume later-age parenting roles: (1) recruitment, (2) pressing grandparent problems, (3) unresponsive service systems, (4) falling between the cracks, (5) mutual support, and (6) need for long-term planning.     

A New Grandparenting

Summary

The author explores the social identity of older persons and their potential for taking leadership roles in their families and communities as mentors to young persons with disability. Dealt with is the powerlessness of both these groups within society and the way in which they may be able to empower each other. It is posited that serious and active grandparenting and mentoring have the potential of filling a large gap in the continuum of meaningful and productive activities for older adults and provide highly valuable support and human resource to young persons with disabilities.     

Post Acute Care of the Elderly in Singapore What Factors Influence Use of Services?

This research focused on understanding the factors associated with utilization of post-acute care services in Singapore and how these are woven into family care as well as the lived experience of elderly persons and their families. The multi-method study applied Andersen's model and the quantitative results of the 299 elderly Singaporeans surveyed showed medical and physical conditions, perceived health and utility, knowledge and previous use of service, ethnicity, family size, paid help, housing type, and living arrangement as significant factors. Qualitative results from interviews of a subsample of 13 elderly and their family members and focus group discussions of providers consistently pointed affordability of services as an important factor. Findings surfaced the question of service accessibility and its implications on practice, policy, and research.     

高校学生就业与社会需求关系研究——以江苏大学交通运输专业为例

随着社会的快速发展和科学技术水平的不断提高,用人单位对交通运输专业毕业生有了更高的要求。针对这一现状,通过对毕业生就业情况以及用人单位对交通运输专业毕业生的知识结构、能力和素质的满意度的调查和分析,研究交通运输人才培养与社会需求关系,找出交通运输人才培养中的问题和不足,并从用人单位的反馈意见和其专业特点出发,提出强化传统优势,拓展专业内涵;依据综合理念,修订个人培养目标;调整培养方式,强调职业化训练等建议,从而为高等院校交通运输专业本科生培养和在校生的学习提供参考和借鉴。     

理工科新生大学英语学习的需求分析

研究以问卷形式对北航2008级理工科新生大学英语学习的需求情况进行了调查和分析。数据表明,理工科新生大学英语学习者在宏观性学习策略上和课堂形式上都对视听说具有高度的心理倾向,在学习题材上对人文知识具有高度的心理倾向,这些调查结果与2007版《大学英语课程教学要求》（以下及文中简称《新要求》）中所设定的教学目标相符,证明《新要求》所规定教学目标具有合理性和现实意义。研究还表明,理工科新生学习者高度重视课堂情绪/情感体验尤其是成就感体验。根据研究结果,文章对大学英语教学改革提出了建议。     

归属感与爱的需要在训练中的运用

对运动员心灵的关怀是运动员产生归属感与爱的需要的一个重要方面,而这方面的培养工作就需要渗透到日常的训练与生活当中,因此"人文关怀"在现代的运动员培养体系中受到越来越多的教练员重视,教练员和队员之间的有效沟通与交流、品德性教育是队员健康成长的一个重要因素,同时也是运动员取得优异成绩的重要动力性因素,对队员形成积极乐观的人生观、提高自身素质有重大影响。     

针对保险核保和理赔岗位的新员工培训需求分析

通过对核保和理赔的胜任力特征分析,试图找出能够帮助新员工快速提升其核保和理赔胜任力的培训需求内容。研究1运用关键事件法访谈核保和理赔岗位资深专家,并编码访谈结果,总结出各岗位的胜任力特征。研究2由核保和理赔岗位新员工和老员工(专家)填写胜任力特征调查表,用评价一致性系数对比新老员工对每一项胜任力特征重要性的排序差异,找出专家认为重要而新员工没有重视的特征,得出新员工培训需求。