ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Despite evidence identifying adjustment difficulties among retiring athletes, research investigating factors that contribute to post-retirement complications is limited. Athletic identity may be an important determinant of adverse adaptation to sport retirement. AIMS: The purpose of this study was to address the influence of athletic identity on post-retirement depression and anxiety symptoms among varsity athletes. METHOD: An anonymous, online survey regarding athletic identity and psychiatric symptoms was completed by 72 self-identified varsity athletes during their final season of competition and 3 months after retiring from sport. RESULTS: After controlling for the effects of pre-retirement anxiety symptoms, endorsement of an athletic identity significantly predicted anxiety symptoms in the post-retirement period. A similar, but non-significant, pattern was observed for depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest that athletes' degree of athletic identity may be a risk factor for the emergence of psychiatric distress in the months following their retirement from sport. Identity-focused screening or intervention during athletes' sport careers could potentially mitigate some of the psychological difficulties associated with sport retirement.
Subject(s)
Adaptation, Psychological , Athletes/psychology , Retirement/psychology , Self Concept , Anxiety/psychology , Canada , Depression/psychology , Female , Humans , Internet , Male , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Regression Analysis , Risk Factors , Self Report , Young AdultABSTRACT
Using a qualitative design, the purpose of this study was to examine how people describe their relationship with their dog and what they do that suggest this bond represents a meaningful relationship. Dog owners (N = 27) aged 19 years and older were invited to participate in one of seven focus group discussions. A qualitative content analysis revealed the presence of three themes: (a) the impact of dogs on interpersonal relationships, (b) dogs as subjective beings, and (c) psychological and health benefits of dogs. The second theme reflects the personal agency of dogs and their unique contributions to the human-dog relationship. These themes are discussed in light of the current research in the field. The findings suggest implications for counseling research and practice in improving the health and well-being of dog owners.
Subject(s)
Dogs , Adolescent , Adult , Animals , Focus Groups , Humans , Interpersonal Relations , Qualitative Research , Young AdultABSTRACT
A survey was undertaken to identify stressful situations of rural hospital nurses and to examine their stress level in relation to coping strategies, particularly social support. Eighty-seven nurses, aged 25-65 years, from rural hospitals completed the survey. Results indicated that while the stressors were similar to those identified in the literature for urban nurses and urban nursing students the frequency and importance differed. These findings are discussed in light of the unique stressors experienced by rural nurses. Results indicated a positive relationship between nursing stress and emotion-focused coping and between stress and social support. These findings are discussed in relation to Lazarus and Folkman's (1984) stress and coping model.
Subject(s)
Adaptation, Psychological , Attitude of Health Personnel , Burnout, Professional/prevention & control , Hospitals, Rural , Nursing Staff, Hospital/psychology , Acute Disease/nursing , Adult , Aged , Avoidance Learning , British Columbia , Burnout, Professional/etiology , Burnout, Professional/psychology , Emotions , Female , Health Surveys , Hospitals, Rural/organization & administration , Humans , Internal-External Control , Male , Middle Aged , Models, Psychological , Nursing Methodology Research , Nursing Staff, Hospital/education , Nursing Staff, Hospital/organization & administration , Problem Solving , Qualitative Research , Risk Factors , Social Support , Surveys and Questionnaires , Workload , Workplace/organization & administration , Workplace/psychologyABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The present study investigated acute stress and coping among rural nurses who work with transfer trauma patients. METHODS: Nineteen rural nurses ages 34 to 53 years participated in 4 focus groups. Each group was asked to identify a specific stressful situation involving transfer of trauma/accident patients and to share their experience of the situation. RESULTS: Stressful situations encountered included system problems (EG, lack of resources; time pressures), lack of communication, visual impact, and professional discord. Coping responses included efforts to alter the problem (problem-focused coping) and efforts to control emotions (emotion-focused coping). Social support coping was identified as the most helpful way of coping with trauma. DISCUSSION: Overall the findings suggest that rural nurses face unique stressors not identified in the nursing literature, which most often reflects urban settings.
