Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Poverty And Commercial Surrogacy In India: An Intersectional Analytical Approach, Sheela Suryanarayanan

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

The destination and source countries for commercial surrogacy match world patterns of inequality. India, Nepal, Thailand, Mexico, and Cambodia banned commercial surrogacy, moving the market to other less-developed countries in South Africa and South America. India had a commercial surrogacy boom until exploitative factors led to the passage of the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill in 2019, which banned the practice. This paper examines surrogacy's monetary, health, and emotional effects on 45 surrogate mothers in Gujarat State, India. The study revealed that a majority (63%) of the very poor women remained very poor post-surgery. Surrogate mothers in poor households had to do …

Perceptions Of Mental Health Among Pakistani Women With Micro-Finance Loans: An Interpretive Descriptive Study, Farhana Irfan Madhani, Catherine Tompkins, Susan Jack, Carolyn Byrne

The Qualitative Report

Mental health has gained significant recognition and importance as a crucial aspect of overall well-being. An individual's mental health is influenced by the intersection of individual, social, cultural, and systematic sources of stress and resilience. It is important to include subjective conceptualizations of mental health and well-being to develop culturally sensitive approaches to mental health promotion. This qualitative study aimed to understand how urban-dwelling women living in Pakistan who are micro-finance loan recipients conceptualize the meaning of mental health. Using interpretive description methodology, data were collected and analyzed through in-depth, semi-structured interviews conducted in Urdu with a purposeful sample of …

Applying The Ecological Model Of Human Performance And The Slutwalk Movement To Support Those Affected By Rape Culture In The Context Of Occupational Therapy, Angela Klukken, Sally Wasmuth

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Improving the occupational lives of others is at the heart of occupational therapy practice. Advocacy for clientele is central to this improvement, both at individual and structural levels. We argue that interventions in the Ecological Model of Human Performance (EHP) and the social movement theSlutWalk can offer increased opportunity for occupational therapists to address the harmful implications for clients affected by sexual assault and rape culture. In addition, through the principles of the EHP and the SlutWalk, we propose that occupational therapists can have a hand in eradicating the culture that facilitates and tolerates sexual violence. This paper …

Factors Associated With Postpartum Care During The Fourth Stage Of Labor In Nepal: A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study, Ashok Kumar Paudel, Muni Raj Chhetri, Ambika Baniya, Mamta Chhetri, Aafrin Gurung

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Postnatal care is an important part of maternal and neonatal care, and life-threatening complications can occur during the postpartum period. Empirical information on the level of postpartum care services is generally scarce in Nepal. Key elements of postpartum care during the fourth stage of labor include providing proper nutrition, promoting breastfeeding, and helping the mother manage any physical discomforts or challenges that may arise. This study investigated the level of postpartum care services delivered during the fourth stage of labor in a tertiary-level hospital in the Chitwan district of Nepal. A descriptive cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted among 148 women …

Identites Of Women In Indian Art And History, Nalini Rao

Monsoon: South Asian Studies Association Journal

The stereotypical image of Indian women portrayed in the art of stone sculpture is often interpreted as images of beauty that are sensuous, religious as well depict social life. There are historical reasons for depicting her as such. This paper inquires into the changing depiction and social forces that influenced feminine imagery. This paper examines the portrayal of beauty through idealization of female body which has evolved over the centuries in India. It also aims to understand their changing status and explores issues of feminine identity, status, and empowerment largely in ancient and medieval India. It also provides a brief …

The Lived Experiences Of Middle Eastern Immigrant Women During Their Cancer Survivorship Journey: A Phenomenological Study, Enam Alsrayheen, Khaldoun Aldiabat, Catherine Aquino-Russell

The Qualitative Report

The number of Middle Eastern immigrant women (MEIW) living in Canada has significantly increased. However, this group of women is underrepresented in health research and there is a gap in knowledge of their cancer survivorship experiences in Canada. This phenomenological qualitative approach was employed to uncover the meaning of the lived experiences of MEIW during their cancer survivorship journey (CSJ). Data were collected through unstructured interviews and one written description from three MEIW. The participants' perspectives of cancer risk factors were believed to be the cause of their cancer, and their CSJ was fear-inducing and anxiety-provoking. There appears to be …

Documenting & Describing Experiences Of Marginalized Gender Identities In Healthcare, Laura Stepnowski

Gettysburg Social Sciences Review

Despite its importance to quality and length of life, health varies widely among the U.S. population depending on various sociodemographic factors, such as age, race, gender, and income. This research focuses on the perception of treatment for those with marginalized gender identities. There is a long history of discrepancies in healthcare, but no time such as the present seems to be filled with such a nuanced perspective of quality of treatment for those with marginalized gender identities. This became evident through the focus groups conducted for this study. Findings show that participants used more collaborative language when discussing their positive …

Physical Activity And Body Image Of Women: Literature Review, Sonia Mosur-Kaluza, Monika Guszkowska

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

This study represents a review of literature on the relationship between recreational physical activity and the body image. This research encompasses 39 papers published between 2008 and 2015 that were available in the Academic Search Complete database. The results of comparative, prospective, and experimental research are ambiguous. These data suggest both a positive relationship between the body image and physical activity, i.e. a more positive body image among more active people and an improvement in the body image as a result of regular exercise, and a negative relationship, in particular, a more negative body image in persons engaging in “aesthetic” …

The Role Of Myofascial Massage In Spinal Pains In Professionally Active Women, Malgorzata Kawa, Karol Orlowski, Malgorzata Kowza-Dzwonkowska

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: Pain ailments of the spine are one of the most common diseases of the system of bones and joints. 75% to 85% of the world’s population suffer or will suffer from it, and lumbar pain is the most common cause of disability of persons over 45 years of age. They are usually the beginning of a chronic, often progressing ailments often leading to disability, incapacity to work and restrictions in daily life. Myofascial massage helps reduce pain sensations. Is a specific method of gradual stretching soft tissues and making muscle fibres more elastic. It reduces increased muscle tone, muscle …

Examining Body Image And Its Relationship To Exercise Motivation: An 18-Week Cardiovascular Program For Female Initiates With Overweight And Obesity, Erin S. Pearson, Craig R. Hall

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: A healthy body image is related to better psychological well-being and can also impact one’s likelihood to engage in health promoting behaviours such as exercise. To date, there has been a paucity of research investigating the relationship between body image and Self-Determination Theory’s motivational regulations as a function of exercise participation. The purpose of this study was to examine these constructs over the course of an 18-week cardiovascular-based program for female initiates aged 18-45 with overweight and obesity. Material/Methods: Participants (n = 37; mean weight = 83.8 kg; mean waist circumference = 38.3 inches) were provided with a personalized …

The Views Of Women Practising Artistic Gymnastics, Rhythmic Gymnastics And Acrobatics Gymnastics On Their Disciplines, Anna Perzynska-Biskup, Leon Biskup, Stanislaw Sawczyn

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: Physical culture covers a number of forms of physical activity, with sport being the most specialized form of participation. Rapid development of sport in recent years has contributed not only to the rise in the level of competitive sport but it also made the processes of social transitions to be reflected on a wider scale. The goal of this study is to demonstrate the views on professional sports from two generations of women who have practiced gymnastics. The main focus was on the presentation of gymnastics in the perspective of other disciplines and its place in everyday life of …

Physical Activity And Other Selected Determinants Of The Body Mass Index (Bmi) In Women Aged 40–65 With Type 2 Diabetes From The Krakow Population, Maria Gacek, Agnieszka Wojtowicz

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: Excessive body mass is a key risk factor of type 2 diabetes. The aim of the study was to analyse selected determinants of the BMI (body mass index) in women aged 40–65 with type 2 diabetes from the Krakow population. The predictive model includes demographic (age), health (duration of diabetes) as well as behavioural (volume of physical activity) and psychological (life satisfaction) data. Material and methods: ‪The study was conducted among a group of 276 women aged 40–65 (47.92±5.53) with type 2 diabetes. The authors used a specially designed questionnaire, which included socio-demographic questions as well as self-assessment of …

Influence Of Experimental Training With External Resistance In A Form Of “Kettlebell” On Selected Components Of Women’Sphysical Fitness, Tadeusz Ambrozy, Lucyna Kiszczak, Jaroslaw Omorczyk, Mariusz Ozimek, Tomasz Palka, Dawid Mucha, Arkadiusz Stanula, Dariusz Mucha

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

An aim of this work was to determine the influence of women’s experimental training using kettlebells on selected components of physical fitness. Two groups of women, experimental (N = 20) and control (N = 20), took part in this study. In order to determine the influence of the training program developed by the present authors, participants were subjected to examinations aimed to assess the level of selected components of physical fitness (speed of hand movements, flexibility, explosive strength of lower limbs muscles, strength endurance of abdominal muscles and hip flexors, strength endurance of upper limbs muscles and the shoulder girdle, …

A Comparison Of Psychological Well-Being In Athlete And Non-Athlete Women, Ghorban Hemati Alamdarloo, Setareh Shojaee, Enayatollah Asadmanesh, Homa Sheikhani Shahin, Aghdas Rangani, Sara Negahdarifard

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: The present study was aimed to compare psychological well-being in athlete and non-athlete women. Material/Methods: The statistical population of the present study included all athlete and non-athlete women in Shiraz, Iran. The sample consisted of 764 subjects (382 athletes, 382 non- athletes), of which the athlete and non-athlete samples were selected by Gerjesy and Morgan’ sample size table and purposeful sampling method, respectively. Also, Ryff's psychological well-being scale (Ryff, 1989) was used for measuring subjects’ psychological well-being. Independent t-test and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) tests were used for data analysis. Results: The results showed a significant difference between …

Developmental Tendencies Of Results In Female Heptathlon In The Olympic Games During The Years 1984–2008, Katarzyna Majchrzak, Maria Kamrowska-Nowak, Krzysztof Byzdra

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: The aim of this study is to assess a change tendency of the results in heptathlon and in particular events of this discipline. Material/Methods: In the research the authors used results achieved in heptathlon in the Olympic Games during the years 1984–2008. Top 20 female athletes of general standing were taken into consideration. MS Excel 2007 spreadsheet program and a method of document analysis were used to analyse and assess a change tendency. Results: Mean values achieved in particular events showed that the highest results, which were above the average in each Olympic Games, occurred in 1992 and 2008. …

Having Children And Physical Activity Level And Other Types Of Pro-Health Behaviour Of Women From The Perspective Of The Theory Of Planned Behaviour, Piotr Wlodarczyk, Artur Ziolkowski

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: The subject of the paper is pro-health behaviour of women (N=477) who have children (N=124) and those who have no children (N=353). The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) by Icek Ajzen, in the light of which the differences in the health behaviour level of the sample group are considered, constitutes the theoretical basis of this work. Material/Methods: The research group consisted of women at the age of 19–36 (M=27,5 yrs of age SD=4 yrs of age). The Health and Behaviour Survey Questionnaire by Steptoe and Wardle was used for the measurement. Four scales of healthy behaviour values, i.e., taking …

Quantitative And Qualitative Evaluation Of Motor Coordination Abilities In Gymnast Girls Aged 7–9 Years, Kazimierz Kochanowicz, Lola Brygida Boraczynska, Tomasz Boraczynski

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: The aim of the paper was to build evaluation criteria of selected motor coordination abilities, useful in optimization of training in young gymnast girls, at the initial stage of sport training. Material/Methods: 18 gymnast girls aged 7–9 years old from the Sports School in Olsztyn took part in this study. In order to evaluate selected motor coordination abilities, three tests were used. The first test was taken on dynamometric platform on which subjects performed the Ellipsis test four times. This test is based on controlling the position of the centre of body mass using a dynamometric platform. The tested …

How To Hiit While Pregnant? The Protocol Characteristics And Effects Of High Intensity Interval Training Implemented During Pregnancy – A Systematic Review, Anna Szumilewicz, Rita Santos-Rocha, Aneta Worska, Magdalena Piernicka, Hongli Yu, Simona Pajaujiene, Najmeh-Alsadat Shojaeian, Miguel Angel Moviedo-Caro

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

There is strong scientific evidence that prenatal physical activity of moderate-to-high in-tensity is a prerequisite of the proper course of pregnancy, childbirth and fetus development. How-ever, to date little data have been available on high intensity interval training (HIIT) performed during pregnancy. Following the PRISMA guidelines, this systematic review aimed at: first, to characterize HIIT protocols used or planned to be implemented during pregnancy; second, to determine their training effects on participant’s health and obstetric outcomes. We included nine original works and three clinical trials in the analysis. The HIIT protocols substantially differed in terms of the training components (type, …

Fidelity Monitoring In The Solution Focused Wellness For Hiv (Sfwh) Intervention For Women, Helen Taylor Yates, Spencer Elise Lee

Journal of Solution Focused Practices

Solution Focused methods are often interpreted by different practitioners with a degree of flexibility and adaptation to specific practice settings (Lehmann & Patton, 2012). This flexibility is one of the features that makes SFBT a very client-centered approach and has been highlighted as one of the key aspects of successful co-construction of desired outcomes with clients (Franklin et al., 2017). This collaborative approach is possible due to SFBT’s utilization of social constructionist principals in the solution-building process (Blundo & Simon, 2015). While encouraging flexibility of implementation of SFBT, identifying the main tenets of the therapy, including specific techniques and mindsets …

Pulling Out Of Afghanistan, Suzanne Riskin

be Still

This piece was written on a casual day at work when there was not any particular event happening. I realized how much of an impact a decision made so far away from home could have on my personal growth as a medical educator.

Research Recruitment: A Case Study On Women With Substance Use Disorder, Kristy J. Cook Phd, Rn, Ibclc, Kim L. Larson Phd, Mph, Rn, Fnap

The Qualitative Report

Women with substance use disorder may evade research participation because of individual and societal factors. Limited information exists on recruitment of women with substance use disorder. The purpose of this study was to delineate recruitment challenges among women with substance use disorder and identify successful recruitment strategies. An exploratory case study was used to examine recruitment of women with substance use disorder. This case study was informed by a pilot study in 2017-2018, where data were generated from 25 direct observations and three key informants from a drug rehabilitation treatment agency. Analysis took an explanation-building approach, which incorporated chronological field …

A Description Of Covid-19 Lifestyle Restrictions Among A Sample Of Rural Appalachian Women, Michele Staton, Martha Tillson, J. Matthew Webster

Journal of Appalachian Health

Background: COVID-19 has led to swift federal and state response to control virus transmission, which has resulted in unprecedented lifestyle changes for U.S. citizens including social distancing and isolation. Understanding the impact of COVID-19 lifestyle restrictions and related behavioral risks is important, particularly among individuals who may be more vulnerable (such as rural women with a history of substance use living in Appalachia).

Purpose: The overall purpose of this study was to better understand the perceptions of lifestyle changes due to COVID-19 restrictions among this vulnerable group.

Methods: The study included a mixed methods survey with a convenience sample of …

A Latent Profile Analysis Of Rural Women Who Use Drugs And Commit Crimes, Michele Staton, Amanda M. Bunting, Erika Pike, Danelle Stevens-Watkins

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

The majority of rural Appalachian women in jail meet criteria for a drug use disorder and need treatment. Using a latent profile analysis of a random sample of rural women in Appalachian jails (N=400) the current study established groups of women based on criminal history, drug use in the commission of crimes, and role of the partner’s drug use in the commission of crimes. Analysis found five distinct profiles of rural women based on involvement of criminal activities as a function of drug use severity. Results suggest that among criminally involved rural women, severity of drug use is a critical …

The Effects Of A Yoga Intervention, Karen R. Arrant, Mary W. Stewart

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

Sleep disturbance and stress in postmenopausal women pose physical, mental, and emotional health hazards. Researchers examined the effect of a yoga intervention on sleep, stress, anxiety, and depression in postmenopausal women. The study employed a randomized, controlled trial with: (1) a treatment group (yoga intervention) and (2) an attention-control group (health education). All participants completed three PROMIS® – Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System – tools and collected saliva samples before and after the eight-week intervention. The PROMIS® tools measured sleep, anxiety, and depression. Salivary alpha-amylase quantified sleep; salivary cortisol measured stress; and participants self-reported hours of sleep.

Thirty-one women completed …

“Save My Baby”: The Lived Experience Of Hospitalized Pregnant Women With A Threat Of Preterm Birth, Dua' Yousef Al-Maharma, Inaam A. Khalaf, Fathieh Abu-Moghli, Sajeda Alhamory

The Qualitative Report

Activity restriction in hospital to prevent preterm birth (PTB) is widely used as the first step of treatment. It is associated with adverse physiological and psychological effects on maternal and fetal health that might persist years after birth. A sample of 10 pregnant women who were hospitalized for being at risk for PTB were purposively recruited to describe their lived experience via semi-structured in-depth interview. Five themes were identified, the maternal role establishment and suspending responsibilities, the women's perception of fear of uncertainty and finding support, dissatisfaction of care, the change of routine life and family relationships, and the cultural …

Loss Of Self In Dissociation In Prostitution; Recovery Of Self In Connection To Horses: A Survivor's Journey, Sandra Norak

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

This narrative is about dissociation in the lives of women who have been exploited through prostitution. When we speak about prostitution, we do not speak often enough about the dissociation needed for women and girls to survive sexual exploitation. The author challenges the wisdom of governments such as Germany that legalize prostitution, treating it as a “job” and ignoring the violence and subsequent dissociation in women. The author describes her personal journey, explaining how women are traumatized even after the first commercial sex act, which is a sexual assault. They dissociate which makes their lives bearable, but they fail to …

Contrasting Adult And Emerging Adult Women On Possible Psychosocial And Behavioral Correlates Of Short-Term Weight Loss, James J. Annesi, Ping H. Johnson

Health Behavior Research

Physical activity could be associated with psychosocial correlates of changes in eating behaviors required for weight loss. This field investigation assessed relationships of physical activity with early changes in psychosocial variables such as depression, fatigue, and body satisfaction; and their effect on fruit/vegetable and sweets intake and weight change. Emerging adult women from a university setting (M_age = 20.4 years, SD = 2.0; n = 36) and adult women from a community health-promotion setting (M_age = 45.6 years, SD = 7.3; n = 36), participating in the same cognitive-behavioral weight-loss program that initiated physical activity prior …

The Effects Of A Yoga Intervention, Karen Arrant

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

Sleep disturbance and stress in postmenopausal women pose physical, mental, and emotional health hazards. Researchers examined the effect of a yoga intervention on sleep, stress, anxiety, and depression in postmenopausal women. The study employed a randomized, controlled trial with: (1) a treatment group (yoga intervention) and (2) an attention-control group (health education). All participants completed three PROMIS® – Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System – tools and collected saliva samples before and after the eight-week intervention. The PROMIS® tools measured sleep, anxiety, and depression. Salivary alpha-amylase quantified sleep; salivary cortisol measured stress; and participants self-reported hours of sleep.

Thirty-one women completed …

Impacts Of Contraception On Women’S Decision-Making Agency In Indonesia, Michaela J. Fogarty

Undergraduate Economic Review

Increasing access to contraception has the potential to empower women and improve the economic standing of families across the globe. Many researchers have explored the impacts of contraception on families and the determinants of women’s level of empowerment, but little scholarship exists on their direct relationship. This paper explores the impacts of contraceptive use on women’s empowerment, measured by a sum of women’s household decision-making agency. Panel data from three rounds of the Indonesian Family Life Survey is used to run multiple regressions with household fixed effects. Results suggest that women who use contraception have input on two additional types …

Investigating The Emotional Theory Of Mind In Iranian Married Women: A Descriptive Phenomenological Study, Abbas Rahmati, Maryam Poormirzaei, Masoud Bagheri

The Qualitative Report

In marital relationships, the type of perception of the spouse’s behavior affects how the social information and behavior of the other couple is processed, leading to psychological consequences. Thus, a higher perception of each other’s mental state is followed by sincerity and more satisfaction with the relations. The present study was performed by using a descriptive phenomenological qualitative approach with the aim of investigating emotional theory of mind in 19 married Iranian women who were selected by purposive sampling in 2017. In order to coding data, MAXQDA 2018 software and the Colaizzi’s method were used for coding and analyzing the …