Health Matters
Strategies for Engendering Mutual Aid among Young People with Chronic Illness: A Study of Helping Professionals in Hong Kong
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Steven Sek-yum Ngai
Among young people with chronic illness, mutual aid is likely to be of valuable assistance in their rehabilitation. The benefits of mutual aid stem from the possibility that it prolongs the effect of the contribution of human services, which generally cannot be provided for any great length of time due to their high cost. Given the potential benefits of mutual aid, it is imperative to clarify ways for helping professionals to maximize these benefits. The clarification is necessary to verify untested theories and suggestions about helping professionals’ inputs to mutual aid. Moreover, research literature pertaining to mutual aid among young people is particularly lacking. Based on data from two focus groups involving helping professionals in Hong Kong, this study seeks to demonstrate the relevance of theoretically based group work strategies in the mutual aid and rehabilitation of young people with chronic illness. These strategies include identifying commonalities and setting priorities, encouraging reciprocal transactions and mutual assistance, balancing support with demand, optimizing inputs between helping professionals and members, and bridging members with relevant others in the community. Research and service implications of the findings for engendering efficient helping professionals’ inputs contributive to the long-term development of young people are discussed.
Undergraduate Student Food Insecurity, Coping, and Academic Performance
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Robert R. Weaver
As university credentials become increasingly essential for achieving future economic stability the demand for higher education increases, adding to the cadre of students who struggle to afford the rising costs of universities. Consequently, food insecurity among undergraduate students has become a significant problem on university campuses. Moreover, several studies show its association with poor academic performance, although the mechanisms underlying the connection between food insecurity and academic performance remain under-specified. This paper describes the results of a qualitative study that asks how students cope with food insecurity, how they view its impact on academic performance, and how some manage to overcome the obstacles food insecurity poses. The research took place at a four-year (doctoral granting) public university in northeast USA. We interviewed twenty underperforming and twenty high-performing students who were food insecure. Semi-structured interviews ask about: their history of food insecurity, their prior academic experiences, the role of family and peer support, current living situation and academic engagement, obstacles to success, and future aspirations. Qualitative data was supplemented by data from a questionnaire that assesses social support, depression, anxiety, and stress, and household income. The analysis used NVivo12 software to identify themes associated with food insecurity, coping, and academic performance. The paper outlines the major themes that emerge from the analysis, identifying obstacles to academic performance, and factors that enable some students to overcome them.
Treating Moral Injury with Veterans: Case Studies Using Spiritual/Religions Tools with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Yvonne Farley
Current treatment for combat veterans could be enhanced by addressing the moral injury that may result from the combat experience. (Nash & Litz, 2013; Ogden, et al, 2011, Southwick et al, 2006). Despite effective and evidence-based treatments, veterans continue to experience poor completion rates and suboptimal therapeutic effects. Spirituality, whether through religious or secular means, could be a part of adjunctive or supplemental treatment modalities to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and is particularly relevant to combat trauma (Smith-MacDonald, 2017). O’Brien (1990) talked about the betrayal experienced by soldiers when all socially acceptable behavior and standards are rejected in the process of ‘making war’. It is this different set of rules that may contribute to moral injury and makes it so hard for veterans to accept what they have experienced and integrate into civilian life. In 2013, Nash and Litz, formally named moral injury as a significant area of wounding and a legitimate focus of recovery. To address moral injury, service member’s spiritual and/or religious beliefs may benefit from being explored. Two case studies received exception by the IRB and are reviewed to exemplify how spiritual and religious personal beliefs of veterans were used with the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) framework to help them resolve moral injury. The implications for practice are substantial and include recognizing resolution of moral injury as a primary focus for final resolution of PTSD and help veterans to resolve the moral injury using the veterans’ own spiritual beliefs to reframe the meaning of war experiences.
