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Exploring assisted-living older adults’ experience and perceived psychosocial benefits of compassionate presence sessions during the COVID-19 pandemic
No full textBackground: The prevalence of severe loneliness among older people living in care homes is about 22% to 42% compared to 10% for the community population. The social distancing measure instituted to lower COVID-19 spread fuels the loneliness epidemic among older adults in care settings. Purpose: This study explored assisted-living older adults\u27 experience and perceived psychosocial benefits of compassionate presence sessions facilitated by college students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This study is an exploratory qualitative study that took place in two assisted-living facilities in the Twin Cities. Twenty-four older adults participated in 10-week virtual compassionate presence sessions. Participants were interviewed at the end of the intervention. Results: Results show that participants benefitted emotionally, socially, mentally, and spiritually from the CP sessions. Participants reported a decreased feeling of loneliness, improved mood, and increased feeling of self-worth. The deep connection between student facilitators and older adults seemed to enhance older adults\u27 sense of meaning in life, easing their feeling of loneliness and isolation during this pandemic. The CP program created opportunities for participants to interact with people other than their fellow residents. A few participants reported improved memory. Implications: This study\u27s findings may inform administrators of assisted-living facilities of the need to support and promote programs that allow older adults to empty their hearts. Such an opportunity can help them dig deeper into their inner resources and discover the meaning beneath their life experiences or suffering. The study also highlights the need to offer compassionate presence training sessions to people entrusted with older adults\u27 care in long-term care facilities
Meaning in life and impact of COVID-19 pandemic on African immigrants in the United States
No full textThis study explored the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic impact, with its unprecedented isolation norm and social distancing requirements, on African immigrants in the United States. We focused on the sources of meaning in their daily lives, how they navigated their meaning-making process, and cultural proclivities amidst the official and unofficial mandates for social distancing. Additionally, we investigated the role technologies play in the entire process. A qualitative inquiry conducted virtually generated data from a sample of 20 participants. Results show that African immigrants derive meaning from social relationships, personal life goals, religious faith, service, and good health. The COVID-19 pandemic undoubtedly threatened participants’ core meaning sources, which they rely on for life satisfaction, personal growth, and healing. Various emergent technologies helped in ameliorating the situation by providing conduits for participants to engage, albeit virtually, in most activities that positively impact their lives. This study highlights clinicians’ need to integrate meaning in life discussions in their African immigrant patients’ care and incorporate congruent technologies as needed
The Impact of Creative Movement Presentations on Dance Participation and Student Attitudes Towards Dance in a Montessori Early Childhood Classroom
Get PDFThis action research study examined the impact of creative movement presentations on dance participation and student attitudes towards dance in one outdoor Montessori early childhood classroom during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were 13 kindergarten and lower elementary students, ages 5-8, and the researcher, their teacher. Students were presented creative movement activities eight times during circle time over four weeks. They were also given opportunities to dance freely once a week for six weeks and asked three times to respond to statements regarding their attitudes towards dance; pre-intervention, mid-intervention, and post-intervention. Data was collected using observations of dance participation, field notes about circle time presentations, and student self-assessment regarding their attitudes towards dance. There was some improvement in attitudes towards dance and an increase in dance participation. Many children expressed enjoyment and the researcher felt inclined to continue providing free dance opportunities and creative movement presentations at circle. The researcher encourages other educators to incorporate dance opportunities in class free time and curriculum lessons
From Bottom Bitch to Top Literacy Scholar: Academic Othermothering Depicted in a Young Adult Street Literature Memoir Text
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Intention Matters: Quality Women\u27s Networks Focus on Advancement
No full textThis study concentrates on the role and value of one strategy frequently employed by large organizations: the formation of company-sponsored women’s networks. The purpose of this study was to understand what factors impact the effectiveness of women’s networks so as to facilitate members’ advancement. This study employed a survey of 2,021 women’s network participants across three large organizations operating in diverse industries. Though few members reported career advancement as a result of their involvement, those who did identified common experiences including opportunities to expand professional networks, build connections with senior leaders, develop sponsorship relationships, and participate in projects helpful for their advancement. Perceptions of organizational support for the network and views that the network was effective in advancing members were also significant. Based on our findings, we suggest that organizational leaders and network members take measures to leverage women’s networks to facilitate advancement
PRELIMINARY STRUCTURAL CHARACTERIZATION OF C. ELEGANS HOX TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR LIN-39 AND ITS MUTANT LIN-39(CCC16)
No full textIn the model nematode system C. elegans, one area of sexual differentiation among cells are the neuronal cells of hermaphrodites and males, where the males have more neurons used in various aspects of mating. Hox transcription factors are crucial in the development and differentiation of neuronal fates by integrating spatial and sexual cues and are required for specifying both the positional and sexual fate. Studies of Hox family genes in C. elegans have established that neurons in the male are separated into three zones along the anterior to posterior axis. Two Hox transcription factors that belong to a subset of neurons in the ventral nerve cord, LIN-39 and MAB-5, are required to specify neurons in these 3 zones. Previous studies have established that a mutant form of LIN-39, LIN-39(ccc16), fails to specify cell fates only in the presence of MAB-5, but can function normally when MAB-5 is not present. This mutation has been located in the 5-exon splice acceptor, causing two alternative splice sites to be more favorable, both of which truncate the amino acids of the resulting protein. Determining structural differences between LIN-39 and its mutant while in the apo state and various bound states will guide our understanding of the molecular mechanisms utilized by Hox transcription factors to determine neuronal fate. Preliminary 15N-1H HSQC analysis and structure prediction tools indicate both apo and DNA bound LIN-39 adopt non-uniform, highly disordered and dynamic structures. These studies represent the first structural studies conducted on LIN-39 and offer insight to the contribution of intrinsically disordered states in gene regulation mechanisms