The Impact of Parental Bereavement on Young People: A Thematic Analysis of Using Online Web Forums as a Method of Coping

2021 ◽  
pp. 003022282110240
Author(s):  
Kadie Smith ◽  
Susanne Langer
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Parental Bereavement ◽  
Online Forums ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Death Of A Parent ◽  
Web Forums ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Loss Of A Parent ◽  
Online Web

A qualitative approach was used to explore how online web forums might facilitate recovery and the process of coping. Ten online web forums written by young people who have personally experienced the death of a parent formed the data of this study. Previous research suggests forum users do not receive the supportive reactions from face-to-face interactions that they desire. Thematic analysis found that forums created an environment where young people can process the bereavement of a parent. Forums allowed young people to use their experience of bereavement to positively support others with similar experiences. The findings imply that the process of using forums can positively impact individuals who have experienced the loss of a parent. This supports recommendations by professionals, to consider online forums as a coping strategy. This study presents one of the few analyses of web forums written by young people who have experienced parental bereavement.

scholarly journals Making Sense of an Unknown Terrain

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 215-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas D. Hughes ◽  
Louise Locock ◽  
Sue Simkin ◽  
Anne Stewart ◽  
Anne E. Ferrey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Sense Of Self ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Sense Making ◽  
Narrative Interviews ◽  
Considerable Effort ◽  
Making Sense ◽  
Self Harm ◽  
The Impact

Self-harm is common in young people, and can have profound effects on parents and other family members. We conducted narrative interviews with 41 parents and other family members of 38 young people, aged up to 25, who had self-harmed. Most of the participants were parents but included one sibling and one spouse. This article reports experiences of the parent participants. A cross-case thematic analysis showed that most participants were bewildered by self-harm. The disruption to their worldview brought about by self-harm prompted many to undergo a process of “sense-making”—by ruminative introspection, looking for information, and building a new way of seeing—to understand and come to terms with self-harm. Most participants appeared to have been successful in making sense of self-harm, though not without considerable effort and emotional struggle. Our findings provide grounds for a deeper socio-cultural understanding of the impact of self-harm on parents.

scholarly journals The impact of spinal cord injury on South African youth

2007 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Njoki ◽  
J. Frantz ◽  
R. Mpofu
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Young People ◽  
Psychosocial Adjustment ◽  
Successful Outcome ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Social And Emotional ◽  
Rehabilitation Professionals ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
The Impact

Approximately 500 South Africans, mainly young people,sustain a spinal cord injury every year leading to severe lifetime physical disabilities. With advances in medicine and assistive technology, these young people are able to reach adulthood. The physical, social and  emotional adjustments, which determine the eventual successful outcome following injury, vary considerably from person to person. Some make satisfactory adjustments whereas others remain chronically distressed.This study aimed to determine the impact of SCI on youth in community settings after discharge from rehabilitation.  A qualitative approach, that utilised face-to-face interviews and focus group methods of data collection, was used. Data were drawn from ten participants selected at Conradie Spinal Rehabilitation Unit, using purposive sampling. Audiotape recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim. Strong themes that ran through the data were identified. The results of the study revealed that spinal cord injury impacts on more than just the physical capabilities of an individual. Participants identified issues such as social identity, intrapersonal and interpersonal factors, social support and employment opportunities as having a major impact on their lives once back in the community.  It is  recommended that rehabilitation professionals include issues such as identity and psychosocial adjustment into their health promotion interventions.

Cyber-victimisation and mental health in young people: a co-twin control study

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Jessie R. Baldwin ◽  
Ziada Ayorech ◽  
Fruhling V. Rijsdijk ◽  
Tabea Schoeler ◽  
Jean-Baptiste Pingault
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Psychotic Disorders ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Monozygotic Twins ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Direct Association ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background The rise of social media use in young people has sparked concern about the impact of cyber-victimisation on mental health. Although cyber-victimisation is associated with mental health problems, it is not known whether such associations reflect genetic and environmental confounding. Methods We used the co-twin control design to test the direct association between cyber-victimisation and multiple domains of mental health in young people. Participants were 7708 twins drawn from the Twins Early Development Study, a UK-based population cohort followed from birth to age 22. Results Monozygotic twins exposed to greater levels of cyber-victimisation had more symptoms of internalising, externalising and psychotic disorders than their less victimised co-twins at age 22, even after accounting for face-to-face peer victimisation and prior mental health. However, effect sizes from the most stringent monozygotic co-twin control analyses were decreased by two thirds from associations at the individual level [pooled β across all mental health problems = 0.06 (95% CI 0.03–0.10) v. 0.17 (95% CI 0.15–0.19) in individual-level analyses]. Conclusions Cyber-victimisation has a small direct association with multiple mental health problems in young people. However, a large part of the association between cyber-victimisation and mental health is due to pre-existing genetic and environmental vulnerabilities and co-occurring face-to-face victimisation. Therefore, preventative interventions should target cyber-victimisation in conjunction with pre-existing mental health vulnerabilities and other forms of victimisation.

scholarly journals Thematic analysis of mechanisms underpinning email peer support for young people with eating disorders

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Imogen Peebles ◽  
Beccy Brown ◽  
Emma Juster ◽  
Fiona Duffy
Keyword(s):  
Eating Disorder ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Peer Interactions ◽  
Support Service ◽  
Online Forums ◽  
New Developments ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Peer Support Service

Purpose Peer support, such as mentorship and befriending, has been found to have a valuable impact on a range of outcomes. There are multiple formats, including face-to-face (individually and group), and in online forums. Advancement in technology has enabled online peer support to increase in popularity; however, little is known about mechanisms underpinning individual one to one online peer interactions. The purpose of this paper is to qualitatively explore the mechanisms underpinning email exchanges in an eating disorder peer support service. Design/methodology/approach Email transcripts from dyads in a moderated peer-to-peer email support service were analysed using inductive thematic analysis (Braun and Clarke, 2006). Findings The thematic analysis generated five themes as mechanisms of peer support. Relating and reflecting experience was the central superordinate theme. Subthemes included Positive Encouragement, Checking in and Prompting, Being a Confidante and Defining Recovery. Originality/value The current findings align with previous research and add new developments. The theme of Defining Recovery added the awareness of the personal perception of recovery, which had not been considered as a mechanism in previous literature and may be specific to this digital platform. This study could assist in the development of training for the provision of further peer support within eating disorder services.

scholarly journals Is this the ‘new normal’? A mixed method investigation of young person, parent and clinician experience of online eating disorder treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine Stewart ◽  
Anna Konstantellou ◽  
Fatema Kassamali ◽  
Natalie McLaughlin ◽  
Darren Cutinha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Eating Disorders ◽  
Eating Disorder ◽  
Young People ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
Likert Scale ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Virtual Care ◽  
The Future ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Introduction Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, research in virtual care for young people with eating disorders was preliminary and implementation rare. This study explored the experience of young people, parents and clinicians when therapy was transitioned to virtual provision as a result of the UK lockdown in March 2020. Methods A mixed-method approach was used in this study. Online questionnaires that included a mixture of rating (Likert scale) and free-text response questions were completed by 53 young people with any eating disorder, 75 parents and 23 clinicians. Questions focused on the experience of online treatment as well as the impact on engagement, perceived treatment efficacy and preferences around treatment mode in the future. Likert scale questions were analysed using a summary approach. Free-text responses were analysed qualitatively using reflexive thematic analysis. Results Responses to rating scale questions indicate satisfaction with treatment, good engagement and ability to manage technology. Young people who had transitioned care, rather than started care virtually in lockdown, rated therapy as less effective. However, individual accounts of experience were more varied. Reflexive thematic analysis of free-text responses identified key themes of 1) Making it work, 2) Home as a therapeutic space, and 3) Disrupted connection and 4) Into the future. Conclusions These results have implications for ongoing care during the pandemic and for future implementation of virtual care in the treatment of young people with eating disorders. Particular issues arising are the trade-off between accessibility and therapeutic engagement and depth and need for consideration of equal access to treatment in socially unequal societies.

scholarly journals Eliciting the impact of digital consulting for young people living with long term conditions (LYNC study): which Patient Reported Outcome Measure? (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jackie Sturt ◽  
Rebecca Dliwayo ◽  
Vera Forjaz ◽  
Kathryn Hamilton ◽  
Carol Bryce ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cystic Fibrosis ◽  
Young People ◽  
Patient Reported Outcome ◽  
Clinical Psychologist ◽  
Long Term Conditions ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Scoping Reviews ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND Digital consulting e.g. email, text and skype is increasingly offered to young people accessing specialist care for long term conditions. No patient reported outcome measures (PROM) have been evaluated for assessing outcomes of digital consulting. Systematic and scoping reviews, alongside patient involvement revealed two candidate PROMs for this purpose, the Patient Activation Measure (PAM) and the Physician’s Humanistic Behaviours Questionnaire (PHBQ). PAM measures knowledge, beliefs and skills that enable people to manage their long term condition. The PHBQ measures the extent to which behaviours that are important to patients in their physician-patient interactions are present. OBJECTIVE To explore i) whether the PAM and the PHBQ elicit important outcomes of digital consulting ii) whether the PROMs can isolate the digital consultation component of care. METHODS Participants were drawn from five clinics providing specialist NHS care to 16-24yrs olds with long term health conditions participating in the wider LYNC study. Fourteen people were convenience sampled and consented to have a cognitive interview in this sub-study. Seven participants were young people with either inflammatory bowel disease, cystic fibrosis or cancer. Seven clinicians were clinical psychologist, two nurses, three consultants and a community youth worker practising in Cancer, Diabetes, Cystic Fibrosis and Liver disease. Cognitive interviews were transcribed and analysed and a spread sheet recorded participants’ PROM item appraisals. Illustrative quotes were extracted verbatim from the interviews for all participants. RESULTS Young people found 10 of the PAM 13 items to be relevant to digital consulting and fewer of the additional PAM 22 items. They were only able to provide a spontaneous examples of digital consulting for 50% of the 22 items. Four of the 6 clinicians appraised 12 of the PAM 13 items and 19 of the PAM 22 items to be relevant to evaluating digital consulting and articulated operationalisation of the items with reference to their own digital consulting practice with greater ease than the young people. Appraising the PHBQ, in 14 of the 25 items (56%) 2/3rds of young people’s appraisals offered digital consulting examples with ease suggesting that the young people can detect and discern humanistic clinician behaviours via digital as well as face to face communication channels. Seventeen of the 25 items (68%) were appraised as relevant by the young people. This finding was mirrored in the clinician appraisals. Both young people and clinicians found the research task complex. Young participants required considerably more researcher prompting to illicit examples related to digital consulting rather than their face to face care. CONCLUSIONS The PAM and the PHBQ have satisfactory face and content validity for evaluating digital consulting to warrant proceeding to psychometric evaluation. Completion instructions require revision to differentiate between digital and face to face consultations.

scholarly journals Bridging the Gap: Parent and Child Perspectives of Living With Cerebral Visual Impairments

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trudy Goodenough ◽  
Anna Pease ◽  
Cathy Williams
Keyword(s):  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Family Life ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Ocular Motility ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Parents And Children ◽  
The Impact

Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI) is an umbrella term which includes abnormalities in visual acuity, or contrast sensitivity or colour; ocular motility; visual field and the conscious and unconscious filtering or processing of visual input. Children with CVI have specific needs and problems relating to their development from infancy to adulthood which can impact on their wellbeing. Recent research indicates the complexities of living with CVI but there remains limited information of the full impact of CVI on families’ everyday lives. The qualitative interviews reported here explored families’ experiences to discover the impact of CVI on all aspects of everyday life. Parents and children (aged 6–18) were invited to participate in semi-structured interviews, either face to face, by phone or video call between January 2018 and February 2019. Topics covered everyday practicalities of living with CVI, focusing on challenges and what worked well at school and home. Interviews were audio-recorded and subject to thematic analysis to look for patterns across the data. Twenty families took part in interviews, with eight children/young people within those families contributing interviews of their own. Four themes were developed from the interviews: (1) Assessment and understanding implications of CVI, (2) Education, (3) Family life, (4) Psychological wellbeing and quality of life. The interviews provide valuable insights into the impact of living with CVI and highlight the need for more awareness of the condition among professionals in both health and education settings.

scholarly journals A Thematic Analysis of Preferences of Young People using Online Support to Discuss Suicide

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sally Evans
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Online Support ◽  
Main Theme ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Online Counselling ◽  
Analysis Of Results ◽  
And Control

Young people (mainly 15-17 years) using an online counselling, support and advice website were asked about their preferences for online versus face-to-face discussion of suicidal feelings.  Thematic analysis of results (n = 24) yielded a main theme of ‘anonymity’ with sub-themes of ‘safety and freedom’, ‘confidentiality’ and ‘control’.  Issues of safeguarding distressed young people who have chosen to remain anonymous are raised.

scholarly journals Conversations Between Women with Vulval Lichen Sclerosus: A Thematic Analysis of Online Forums.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gemma Bentham ◽  
Kristyn Manley ◽  
Shehrazad Halawa ◽  
Lucy Biddle
Keyword(s):  
Women’S Health ◽  
Women's Health ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Lichen Sclerosus ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Sociocultural Factors ◽  
Online Forums ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Vulval lichen sclerosus (VLS) is a common condition. Despite this, there is a paucity of research investigating the impact on women’s lives. Some women with VLS utilise online forums to discuss their priorities and concerns. This dialogue gives insight into the experiences of women living with VLS. Methods We identified the most popular public forums containing discussions between women with VLS. Inductive, thematic analysis was applied to 202 online posts spanning a six-year period. Results Five key themes were identified. Theme 1 pertained to difficulties with diagnosis. Women experience frequent delays and misdiagnosis. They report health care professionals (HCPs) with poor knowledge of their condition and some that were dismissive of their symptoms. Upon diagnosis women expressed relief and frustration. Theme 2 related to rationalisation and validation of their experience. Women expressed a desire to know why they were affected, what caused their symptoms and gain reassurance. Theme 3 dealt with women’s motivation to control their condition. Women want to know what triggers a flare-up so they can limit their relapses. They want to self-manage their condition and have an active role in partnership with HCPs. Theme 4 related to women sharing and seeking advice from the forums. The lived experiences of other women is valued by fellow sufferers. In particular, women are keen to try other treatments, conventional and alternative. The final theme related to the social repercussions of the condition. Sociocultural factors may prevent women from talking about their condition to friends, family and HCPs. They feel embarrassed by their symptoms. Some women reported relationship breakdown as a repercussion of the disease.Conclusions Improving the knowledge of HCPs with regards to VLS may reduce problems with diagnosis. In addition, delivering improved women’s health education in schools may reduce the taboo attached to women’s health. This may empower women to talk about their condition and seek help sooner. Once diagnosed, clinicians with the appropriate expertise should care for women with VLS. Women should be encouraged to take an active role in managing their condition in partnership with clinicians. Future research priorities include identifying the aetiology, triggers for flare-ups and novel therapies.

scholarly journals Conversations between women with vulval lichen sclerosus: a thematic analysis of online forums

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gemma L. Bentham ◽  
Kristyn Manley ◽  
Shehrazad Halawa ◽  
Lucy Biddle
Keyword(s):  
Women’S Health ◽  
Women's Health ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Lichen Sclerosus ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Sociocultural Factors ◽  
Online Forums ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Vulval lichen sclerosus (VLS) is a common condition. Despite this, there is a paucity of research investigating the impact on women’s lives. Some women with VLS utilise online forums to discuss their priorities and concerns. This dialogue gives insight into the experiences of women living with VLS. Methods We identified the most popular public forums containing discussions between women with VLS. Inductive, thematic analysis was applied to 202 online posts spanning a six-year period. Results Five key themes were identified. Theme 1 pertained to difficulties with diagnosis. Women experience frequent delays and misdiagnosis. They report health care professionals (HCPs) with poor knowledge of their condition and some that were dismissive of their symptoms. Upon diagnosis women expressed relief and frustration. Theme 2 related to rationalisation and validation of their experience. Women expressed a desire to know why they were affected, what caused their symptoms and gain reassurance. Theme 3 dealt with women’s motivation to control their condition. Women want to know what triggers a flare-up so they can limit their relapses. They want to self-manage their condition and have an active role in partnership with HCPs. Theme 4 related to women sharing and seeking advice from the forums. The lived experiences of other women is valued by fellow sufferers. In particular, women are keen to try other treatments, conventional and alternative. The final theme related to the social repercussions of the condition. Sociocultural factors may prevent women from talking about their condition to friends, family and HCPs. They feel embarrassed by their symptoms. Some women reported relationship breakdown as a repercussion of the disease. Conclusions Improving the knowledge of HCPs with regards to VLS may reduce problems with diagnosis. In addition, delivering improved women’s health education in schools may reduce the taboo attached to women’s health. This may empower women to talk about their condition and seek help sooner. Once diagnosed, clinicians with the appropriate expertise should care for women with VLS. Women should be encouraged to take an active role in managing their condition in partnership with clinicians. Future research priorities include identifying the aetiology, triggers for flare-ups and novel therapies.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document