Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Informing Modifications To Social Participation And Navigation (Span) For Adolescents With Social Anxiety Incorporating Pet Dogs, Nicole Porter, Gary Bedell, Jason Getzler, Megan Mueller

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Social anxiety is one of the most prevalent mental health challenges of adolescence and profoundly impacts social participation. This study obtained adolescent and parent feedback to inform a future modification of Social Navigation and Participation (SPAN) for use with adolescents with social anxiety incorporating pet dogs.

Methods: The study had two phases: Phase 1 included interviews with adolescents with social anxiety (n = 8) about their social participation experiences, strategies, pet dogs, and thoughts on a proposed intervention to promote social participation; and Phase 2 included on-line survey completed by the adolescents and their parents (n = 14) assessing …

Social Participation And Navigation With Adolescent And Young Adult Brain Tumor Survivors: Usability And Potential Benefits, Gary Bedell, Nicole Porter, Miranda Cullen, Zachary Gould, Stephanie Freeman

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: This study examined the usability and potential benefits of Social Participation and Navigation (SPAN), a virtual coaching goal planning intervention, which was modified for adolescent and young adult (AYA) brain tumor survivors who often experience social participation challenges.

Methods: Four AYA brain tumor survivors participated in a brief trial of the modified SPAN consisting of four weekly coaching sessions with trained supervised occupational therapy graduate students and use of a website and web application to assist with goal planning and achievement. The participants rated their social participation and SPAN-specific skills pre/post program. The participants and parents completed 1-week …

Shared Concepts Guiding The Practice Of A Community Occupational Therapy Program Serving Youth With Psychosocial Challenges, Chi-Kwan Shea, Nancy Jackson, Marianna Ayers Sordille

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Occupational therapy services to youth with trauma experiences and mental health challenges may follow unique practice concepts that deserve to be explored and illuminated. The study aimed to explore and identify shared concepts that have been guiding the occupational therapy practice of a community-based program serving the youth population.

Method: The qualitative study analyzed data from transcripts of one-on-one interviews with occupational therapists who serve youth clients in the community-based program. Using a grounded theory qualitative approach, the analysis aimed to highlight unique concepts that the occupational therapists employed in their day-to-day practice with youth who experience …

Examining Youth Conceptualizations Of Water Safety Behaviors Among Participants In A Learn-To-Swim Program, Austin R. Anderson, Kristina R. Anderson, William D. Ramos, Angela K. Beale-Tawfeeq

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Drowning represents a leading cause of unintentional deaths among children. Concomitantly, while formal swim instruction often incorporates water safety practices, the efficacy of these messages remains largely unexplored. This qualitative-based study sought to evaluate how youth apply learned water safety concepts when posed with a hypothetical aquatic scenario. Semi-structured interviews, augmented by use of a visual illustration prompt, were conducted with 29 participants of a youth Learn-to-Swim (LTS) program. Interviews assessed participants’ expressed water safety behaviors and were coded based on emergent themes. Findings indicated that most participants were able to identify a “struggling” swimmer in the dramatized illustration. When …

Predicting Young Adults’ Intentions And Involvement In Alcohol-Influenced Aquatic Activity, Hannah L M Calverley, Lauren A. Petrass Ph.D., Jennifer D. Blitvich

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Globally, alcohol consumption is a public health issue and a risk factor for drownings among young adults. While studies have identified a prominence of alcohol in youth drownings, little is known about the factors that influence young adults’ involvement in alcohol-influenced aquatic activity. The current study aimed to identify the predictors of young adults’ intention to participate, and past participation, in alcohol-influenced aquatic activity. A reliable and valid survey, informed by the Theory of Planned Behavior, was distributed to young adults (aged 18-24 years) educated in the UK and Australia. Cumulative odds ordinal logistic regressions with proportional odds were …

Serving High-Risk Youth In Context: Perspectives From Hong Kong, Chi-Kwan Shea, Nancy Jackson, Christine Haworth

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: High-risk youth are often defined in occupational therapy terminology as adolescents and young adults who experience personal, contextual, or environmental barriers to effective participation in healthy, age-appropriate occupations. Without assistance for participation, these youth may acquiesce to daily routines of unhealthy risk-taking or isolation, failing to achieve developmental milestones needed for successful transition to adulthood. There are known therapeutic services targeting this population, but occupational therapy involvements have been sparsely documented.

Method: Having been affiliated with a community-based occupational therapy program serving high-risk youth for many years in the US, the principal investigator of the study used …

Related Service Providers’ Perspectives On Everyday Life Participation Of Children And Youth With Disabilities, Kathleen Flecky, Alyssa Bornman, Danielle Boyer, Andrea Huckabee

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the perspectives of related service providers on everyday life participation of children and youth with disabilities that they serve.

Method: A qualitative design was used to guide interviews that elicited the participants’ perspectives working with children and youth with disabilities.

Results: Five themes emerged from the qualitative analysis: (a) each child’s individual experiences and quality of life; (b) linked to home, school, and community life; (c) child or youth driven; (d) provider collaboration and carryover; and (e) distinct professional provider views.

Conclusion: Insights into related service …

The Role Of Occupational Therapy In Community-Based Programming: Addressing Childhood Health Promotion, Julie D. Kugel, Heather Javherian-Dysinger, Liane Hewitt

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Obesity and poor health habits impact youth’s health and occupational participation. Occupational therapy’s role in preventing and treating obesity continues to emerge in the research literature. This article explores the impact of a community-based program emphasizing health and wellness for female youth.

Methods: Five girls 11 to 13 years of age participated in the healthy occupations program. Before and after the program, the participants engaged in an individual semi-structured interview and completed the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure and the CATCH Kids Club Questionnaire. The youth participated in a focus group midprogram.

Results: The participants were receptive …

Connecting Youth And Communities: Customized Career Planning For Youth With Psychiatric Disabilities, Kim Brown

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Young people with psychiatric disabilities are significantly overrepresented in the juvenile justice system, tend to be employed sporadically if at all, and frequently have negative connections within and to their communities. Recent research conducted in Montana with youth who have developmental and/or physical disabilities demonstrates the effectiveness of using a customized career planning model to increase linkages to resources and access to community- based employment. Side benefits include improved self-esteem and positive community connections. The customization model holds promise as a way to reduce the risk factors young people with psychiatric disabilitiesf ace and increase the resiliency factors that can …