Outcomes of genital hygiene and anxiety training for mothers of girls with profound intellectual disabilities: A randomized controlled experiment.

Female children with profound intellectual disabilities (IDs) may experience symptoms of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and depend on others' care. However, their caregivers may lack general hygiene skills and experience heightened anxiety when their care is expected. This study reports outcome of a training that aims to enhance genital hygiene skills and decrease anxiety levels of mothers of girls diagnosed with profound ID. The study was conducted in a city located in Turkey in 2020. It was designed with a randomized controlled experimental approach based on a pre-test and post-test model with experimental and control groups. The sample consisted of 66 mothers of girls who were diagnosed with profound ID, did not have UTI but were at high risk of developing it. A 6-week program with 24 sessions was implemented. After the training, mothers in the experimental group changed the sanitary pad and the underwear during menstruation and gave their daughters a bath more frequently; had a higher knowledge of recognizing and preventing UTI symptoms and cleaning of the perineum area; and had significantly lower levels of anxiety. A carefully designed simulator-based training can enhance the knowledge and skills of mothers to recognize the UTI symptoms, apply their knowledge to prevent the symptoms and implement genital hygiene practices, which in turn have a positive effect on reducing their level of anxiety.

Inclusive mental health support for international students: Unveiling delivery components in higher education.

This study examines the delivery components of inclusive mental health services in higher education, centering on international university students. Through interviews with 32 participants at a state university in the United States, including students, counseling staff, and faculty, six key themes emerged: mental health professionals' multicultural self-awareness, focus on reparative services, mainstream mental health theories and approaches, professionals' cultural background, faculty involvement and physical space and confidentiality. These findings underscore the importance of training for professionals, expansive mental health offerings, incorporation of diverse approaches, confidentiality, active faculty participation and suitable physical environments. By addressing these components, universities can enhance the quality of mental health support for international student populations, promoting their overall well-being and academic success.

Attitudes promoting coping with death anxiety among parents of children with disabilities.

We investigated death anxiety among parents of children with disabilities and its associations with coping attitudes and psycho-demographic factors. Surveys were administered to 382 parents of children who possess a severe disability and data were analyzed via descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings revealed that parents experienced high levels of death anxiety; the level of death anxiety changed according to some psycho-demographic factors, such as external support, type of disability, and death-related beliefs; and death anxiety was significantly explained by demographic variables, death-related thoughts, and experiences, and adaptive and maladaptive coping attitudes.

Delayed educational services during Covid-19 and their relationships with the mental health of individuals with disabilities.

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, individuals with disabilities (IWD), like many others, have not been able to benefit effectively from educational and school-based mental health services, which are vital to achieving mental good health. This study aimed to collect views of IWD about how their mental health was affected by the school closure during Covid-19. Thirty-one IWD were interviewed and data were analyzed thematically. Findings indicated that the educational delay, combined with the pressure of the preventive measures against Covid-19 was associated with (i) difficulties in emotional well-being, structured routines, learning, and socialization, (ii) enhanced feelings of isolation and pain, and (iii) negative perceptions of academic-self-efficacy and therapy-related outcomes. The findings of the study highlight the importance of urgent short-term and long-term measures to provide safe and individually oriented educational services to compensate for the consequences of the pandemic.

Effects of Phubbing: Relationships With Psychodemographic Variables.

The aim of this research is twofold: First, to adapt the Generic Scale of Phubbing and the Generic Scale of Being Phubbed into Turkish language and culture. Second, to investigate the relationships between phubbing, being phubbed, and various psychodemographic variables including anxiety, depression, negative self, somatization, hostility, loneliness, life satisfaction, and phone use duration. The two scales were adapted to Turkish with high psychometric properties, and the original item numbers were preserved. Analysis of the associations between variables showed that (1) phubbing was associated negatively with loneliness and positively with all other variables; (2) there was a strong relationship between phubbing and phone use duration; (3) somatization, satisfaction with life, and phone use duration predicted phubbing; (4) phubbing predicted all variables except satisfaction with life; (5) being phubbed was associated negatively with loneliness and satisfaction with life and positively with all other variables; and (6) anxiety, negative self, and hostility predicted being phubbed. This study is innovative for introducing two phubbing scales to Turkish and highlighting the psychological impact of phubbing on individuals.