Social support and belonging

دَعۡوَىٰهُمۡ فِيهَا سُبۡحَٰنَكَ ٱللَّهُمَّ وَتَحِيَّتُهُمۡ فِيهَا سَلَٰمࣱۚ وَءَاخِرُ دَعۡوَىٰهُمۡ أَنِ ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ

Their prayer in them will be, ‘Glory be to You, God!’ their greeting, ‘Peace,’ and the last part of their prayer, ‘Praise be to God, Lord of the Worlds.’

وَأُدۡخِلَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ جَنَّٰتࣲ تَجۡرِي مِن تَحۡتِهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَٰرُ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا بِإِذۡنِ رَبِّهِمۡۖ تَحِيَّتُهُمۡ فِيهَا سَلَٰمٌ

but those who believed and did good deeds will be brought into Gardens graced with flowing streams, there to remain with their Lord’s permission: their greeting there is ‘Peace’

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تَدۡخُلُواْ بُيُوتًا غَيۡرَ بُيُوتِكُمۡ حَتَّىٰ تَسۡتَأۡنِسُواْ وَتُسَلِّمُواْ عَلَىٰٓ أَهۡلِهَاۚ ذَٰلِكُمۡ خَيۡرࣱ لَّكُمۡ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَذَكَّرُونَ

Believers, do not enter other people’s houses until you have asked permission to do so and greeted those inside- that is best for you: perhaps you will bear this in mind

لَّيۡسَ عَلَى ٱلۡأَعۡمَىٰ حَرَجࣱ وَلَا عَلَى ٱلۡأَعۡرَجِ حَرَجࣱ وَلَا عَلَى ٱلۡمَرِيضِ حَرَجࣱ وَلَا عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِكُمۡ أَن تَأۡكُلُواْ مِنۢ بُيُوتِكُمۡ أَوۡ بُيُوتِ ءَابَآئِكُمۡ أَوۡ بُيُوتِ أُمَّهَٰتِكُمۡ أَوۡ بُيُوتِ إِخۡوَٰنِكُمۡ أَوۡ بُيُوتِ أَخَوَٰتِكُمۡ أَوۡ بُيُوتِ أَعۡمَٰمِكُمۡ أَوۡ بُيُوتِ عَمَّٰتِكُمۡ أَوۡ بُيُوتِ أَخۡوَٰلِكُمۡ أَوۡ بُيُوتِ خَٰلَٰتِكُمۡ أَوۡ مَا مَلَكۡتُم مَّفَاتِحَهُۥٓ أَوۡ صَدِيقِكُمۡۚ لَيۡسَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَأۡكُلُواْ جَمِيعًا أَوۡ أَشۡتَاتࣰ اۚ فَإِذَا دَخَلۡتُم بُيُوتࣰ ا فَسَلِّمُواْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِكُمۡ تَحِيَّةࣰ مِّنۡ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ مُبَٰرَكَةࣰ طَيِّبَةࣰۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمُ ٱلۡأٓيَٰتِ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَعۡقِلُونَ

No blame will be attached to the blind, the lame, the sick.Whether you eat in your own houses, or those of your fathers, your mothers, your brothers, your sisters, your paternal uncles, your paternal aunts, your maternal uncles, your maternal aunts, houses you have the keys for, or any of your friends’ houses, you will not be blamed: you will not be blamed whether you eat in company or separately. When you enter any house, greet one another with a greeting of blessing and goodness as enjoined by God. This is how God makes His messages clear to you so that you may understand

وَإِذَا حُيِّيتُم بِتَحِيَّةࣲ فَحَيُّواْ بِأَحۡسَنَ مِنۡهَآ أَوۡ رُدُّوهَآۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيۡءٍ حَسِيبًا

But [even in battle] when you [believers] are offered a greeting, respond with a better one, or at least return it: God keeps account of everything

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِذَا ضَرَبۡتُمۡ فِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَتَبَيَّنُواْ وَلَا تَقُولُواْ لِمَنۡ أَلۡقَىٰٓ إِلَيۡكُمُ ٱلسَّلَٰمَ لَسۡتَ مُؤۡمِنࣰ ا تَبۡتَغُونَ عَرَضَ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا فَعِندَ ٱللَّهِ مَغَانِمُ كَثِيرَةࣱۚ كَذَٰلِكَ كُنتُم مِّن قَبۡلُ فَمَنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ فَتَبَيَّنُوٓاْۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ خَبِيرࣰ ا

So, you who believe, be careful when you go to fight in God’s way, and do not say to someone who offers you a greeting of peace, ‘You are not a believer,’ out of desire for the chance gains of this life- God has plenty of gains for you. You yourself were in the same position [once], but God was gracious to you, so be careful: God is fully aware of what you do

And their greeting therein will be " Peace!, " and the last of their supplication will be " Praise belongs to God, the Lord of the Worlds. " On that desert of the Mustering and station of the Resurrection, the disobedient of AḤmad's com- munity will be kept back at the place of the exposure of the reckoning. The preceders will have gone on ahead with the light of obedience, and the disobedient will stay there alone with the heavy burden of disobedience. In the end, God's mercy will take them by the hand. He will have pity on their aloneness and helplessness. With the call of generosity, He will say, " My servants! " When this address of exaltedness and call of generosity in the attribute of mercy reaches their ears, it will put their spirits at ease and open up their hearts to repose and ease [56:89]. He will say, " My servants, surely the companions of the Garden are today busy rejoicin

Those who have faith and do wholesome deeds were given entry into the Garden....Their greeting therein is “Peace!” The meaning is that tomorrow the faithful and the friends will be brought into paradise, the house of victory, subsistent bliss, and everlasting kingship. The outward meaning of the word were given entry is that this decree was issued on the first day at the Beginningless Covenant and that the faithful were brought into paradise on the day when the decree was issued. It is not a new want that He puts into effect; it is a beginningless deed that He makes appear. He does not caress them today, for He caressed them in the Beginningless and finished the work. The worshipper is always looking toward the Endless, fearing what will be done to him tomor- row. The recognizer is always looking toward the Beginningless, burning because of what may have been done to him then. He who loo

(O ye who believe! Enter not houses other than your own�) [24:27-29]. Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Ibrahim al-Tha�labi informed us> al-Husayn ibn Muhammad ibn �Abd Allah al-Dinawari> �Abd Allah ibn Yusuf ibn Ahmad ibn Malik> al-Husayn ibn Sakhtawayh> �Umar ibn Thawr and Ibrahim ibn Abi Sufyan> Muhammad ibn Yusuf al-Firyabi> Qays> Ash�ath ibn Siwar> �Adiyy ibn Thabit who said: �A woman from the Helpers went to see the Prophet and said: �O Messenger of Allah, sometimes I am in my house in a state in which I do not like anyone to see me, neither father nor son. But then the father comes in or another man of the family comes in while I am in that state, what shall I do?� [As a response] this verse was revealed (O ye who believe! Enter not houses other than your own without first announcing your presence and invoking peace upon the folk thereof)�. The commentators of the Qur�an said: �When this ver

(No blame is there upon the blind�) [24:61]. Said ibn �Abbas: �When Allah, glorious and exalted is He, revealed (O ye who believe! Squander not your wealth among yourselves in vanity�) [4:29], the Muslims felt vexed to eat with the sick, the old, the blind and the lame. They said: �Food is the best part of one�s wealth, and Allah, exalted is He, has warned against squandering wealth in vanity. The blind cannot see where wholesome food is, the lame cannot compete over food and the sick cannot eat properly�. As a response, Allah, exalted is He, revealed this verse�. Sa�id ibn Jubayr and al-Dahhak said: �The lame and the blind used to feel vexed at eating with healthy people because the latter found them despicable and disliked eating with them. The people of Medina did not allow the blind, lame or sick person to share their food because they considered them dirty. For this reason, Allah, e

When you are greeted with a greeting, greet with one more beautiful than it, or return it. In this verse, the majestic compeller, the magnificent God, the lovingly kind beautiful-doer, teach- es His servants the courteous acts of social intercourse and companionship, for anyone not adorned with courtesy is not worthy of companionship. Companionship is of three sorts: the courtesy of conformity with the Real, the courtesy of sincerity with people, and the courtesy of opposition to the soul. Anyone not nurtured by these sorts of courtesy has nothing to do with the path of MuṣṬafā and has no worth in the world of No god but God. The exalted Lord first adorned MuṣṬafā with courtesy, as his come in the report: “My Lord taught me courtesy, so how beautifully I have been made courteous!” Thus on the night of the miʿrāj in that most tremendous station, he acted courteously toward the Presence, s

O you who have faith! When you strike forth on the path of God, look clearly, and say not to him who offers you peace, “You are not of the faithful,” seeking the chance goods of this world's life. By way of allusion, He is saying that when you go on a journey, go for the sake of reaching one of the friends of God so that he may be the intimate of your days and the witness of your heart and spirit. No matter how far you go, never be at ease from seeking and do not hold back the foot of effort. The friends are the favorites of the Exalted Threshold and accepted by the Presence of Divinity. Not everyone sees them, not every eyesight perceives them. When you find them, give ear, and when you see them, cling to them, for the brightness of the heart lies in witnessing them and endless felicity in being their companion. The pir of the Tariqah Junayd was asked, “Which do you prefer? Two cycles o

حَدَّثَنَا هَنَّادٌ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لاَ تَدْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ حَتَّى تُؤْمِنُوا وَلاَ تُؤْمِنُوا حَتَّى تَحَابُّوا أَلاَ أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَى أَمْرٍ إِذَا أَنْتُمْ فَعَلْتُمُوهُ تَحَابَبْتُمْ أَفْشُوا السَّلاَمَ بَيْنَكُمْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سَلاَمٍ وَشُرَيْحِ بْنِ هَانِئٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ وَعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو وَالْبَرَاءِ وَأَنَسٍ وَابْنِ عُمَرَ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ ‏.‏

Narrated Abu Hurairah:that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "By the One in Whose Hand is my soul! You will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I inform you about a matter which if you do it, then you will love one another? Spread the Salam among each other

حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْجَعْدِ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ سَيَّارٍ، عَنْ ثَابِتٍ الْبُنَانِيِّ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ ـ رضى الله عنه أَنَّهُ مَرَّ عَلَى صِبْيَانٍ فَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَقَالَ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَفْعَلُهُ‏.‏

Narrated Anas bin Malik:that he passed by a group of boys and greeted them and said, "The Prophet (ﷺ) used to do so

حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَاصِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هَمَّامٌ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، قَالَ قُلْتُ لأَنَسٍ أَكَانَتِ الْمُصَافَحَةُ فِي أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ نَعَمْ‏.‏

Narrated Qatada:I asked Anas, "Was it a custom of the companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) to shake hands with one another?" He said, "Yes

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ أَبِي شُعَيْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لاَ تَدْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ حَتَّى تُؤْمِنُوا وَلاَ تُؤْمِنُوا حَتَّى تَحَابُّوا أَفَلاَ أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَى أَمْرٍ إِذَا فَعَلْتُمُوهُ تَحَابَبْتُمْ أَفْشُوا السَّلاَمَ بَيْنَكُمْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Abu Hurairah reported the Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him) as saying:By him in whose hand my soul is, you will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another: should I not guide you to something doing which you will love one another: spread out salutation among you

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو خَالِدٍ، وَابْنُ، نُمَيْرٍ عَنِ الأَجْلَحِ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنِ الْبَرَاءِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ مَا مِنْ مُسْلِمَيْنِ يَلْتَقِيَانِ فَيَتَصَافَحَانِ إِلاَّ غُفِرَ لَهُمَا قَبْلَ أَنْ يَفْتَرِقَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Narrated Al-Bara' ibn Azib: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: Two Muslims will not meet and shake hands having their sins forgiven them before they separate

حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنْ جَرِيرِ بْنِ حَازِمٍ، عَنْ حَنْظَلَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ السَّدُوسِيِّ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ قُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَيَنْحَنِي بَعْضُنَا لِبَعْضٍ قَالَ ‏"‏ لاَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قُلْنَا أَيُعَانِقُ بَعْضُنَا بَعْضًا قَالَ ‏"‏ لاَ وَلَكِنْ تَصَافَحُوا ‏"‏ ‏.‏

It was narrated that Anas bin Malik said:"O Messenger of Allah! Should we bow to one another?" He said: "No." We said: "Should we embrace one another?" He said: "No, but shake hands with one another

ومن ذلك أن تشكره على صنيعه في حقك، وأن تذب عنه في غيبته إذا قصد بسوء، فحق الأخوة التشمير في الحماية والنصرة.

و الدليل عليه أن ترك المؤاخاة و الصحبة ابتداء ليس مذموما ولا مكروها بل قال قائلون الانفراد أولى فأما قطع الأخوة عن دوامها فمنهى عنه ومذموم في نفسه ونسبته إلى تركها ابتداء كنسبة الطلاق إلى ترك النكاح و الطلاق أبغض إلى الله تعالى من ترك النكاح قال صلى الله عليه وسلم شرار عباد الله المشاءون بالنميمة المفرقون بين الأحبة + حديث شرار عباد الله المشاءون بالنميمة المفرقون بين الأحبة رواه أحمد من حديث أسماء بنت يزيد بسند ضعيف +

قال علي رضي الله عنه من لم يحمد أخاه على حسن النية لم يحمده على حسن الصنيعة وأعظم من ذلك تأثيرا في جلب المحبة الذب عنه في غيبته مهما قصد بسوء أو تعرض لعرضه بكلام صريح أو تعريض فحق الأخوة التشمير في الحماية و النصرة وتبكيت المتعنت وتغليظ القول عليه و السكوت عن ذلك موغر للصدر ومنفر للقلب وتقصير في حق الأخوة

لأبيه وأمه دون أخيه لأبيه وقال عمرو بن شعيب قضي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أن الأخ للأب والأم أولي الكلالة بالميراث ثم الأخ للأب وهذا أيضا مما يدخل في قوله عليه الصلاة والسلام فما بقي فلأولي رجل ذكر والتحقيق في ذلك أن كل ما دل عليه القرآن ولو بالتنبيه فليس هو مما أبقته الفرائض بل هو من إلحاق الفرائض المذكورة في القرآن بأهلها كتوريث الأولاد ذكورهم وإناثهم الفاضل عن الفروض للذكر مثل حظ الأنثيين وتوريث الإخوة ذكورهم وإناثهم كذلك ودل ذلك بطريق التنبيه على أن الباقي يأخذه الذكر منهم عند الانفراد بطريق الأولي ودل أيضا بالتنبيه عليه أن الأخت تأخذ الباقي مع البنت كما كانت تأخذه مع أخيها ولا يقدم عليها من هو أبعد منه كابن الأخ والعم وابنه فإن أخاها إذا لم يسقطها فكيف يسقطها من هو أبعد منه فهذا كله من باب إلحاق الفرائض بأهلها ومن باب قسمة المال بين أهل الفرائض على كتاب الله وأما من لم يذكر باسمه من العصبات في القرآن كابن الأخ والعم وابنه فإنما دخل في عمومات مثله قوله تعالى وأولوا الأرحام بعضهم أ

يحتمل أن يريد بالإنخلاع عن العصمة انخلاعه عن اعتصامه بالله فإنه لو اعتصم بالله لما خرج عن هداية الطاعة قال الله تعالى @QB@ ومن يعتصم بالله فقد هدي إلى صراط مستقيم @QE@ فلو كملت عصمته بالله لم يخذله أبدا قال الله تعالى @QB@ واعتصموا بالله هو مولاكم فنعم المولى ونعم النصير @QE@ أي متى اعتصمتم به تولاكم ونصركم على أنفسكم وعلى الشيطان وهما العدوان اللذان لا يفارقان العبد وعداوتهما أضر من عداوة العدو الخارج فالنصر على هذا العدو أهم والعبد إليه أحوج وكمال النصرة على العدو بحسب كمال الإعتصام بالله

# ### | كتاب آداب الصحبة والأخوة ومعاشرة الخلق ونحو ذلك

A systematic review of correlates of depression among older Chinese and Korean immigrants: what we know and do not know.: Objectives: Guided by the stress and coping theory, this study provides a systematic review of existing research on acculutration, family support, and social support related correlates of depression among older Chinese and Korean immigrants in the United States. Method: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in CINAHL Plus, Abstracts in Social Gerontology, AgeLine, Social Work Abstracts, PubMed, PsychINFO, and Social Science Citation Index databases to identify relevant articles that pr

Systematic review on Internet Support Groups (ISGs) and depression (1): Do ISGs reduce depressive symptoms?: Background: Internet support groups (ISGs) enable individuals with specific health problems to readily communicate online. Peer support has been postulated to improve mental health, including depression, through the provision of social support. Given the growing role of ISGs for both users with depression and those with a physical disorder, there is a need to evaluate the evidence concerning the efficacy of ISGs in reducing depressive symptoms. Objective: The objective was to systematically revi

A systematic review of qualitative studies on adjusting after stroke: lessons for the study of resilience.: Purpose: To synthesize qualitative studies on adjusting after stroke, from stroke survivors' and carers' perspectives, and to outline their potential contribution to an understanding of resilience. Methods: A systematic review of qualitative studies in peer reviewed journals from 1990 to 2011 was undertaken. Findings from selected studies were summarized and synthesized and then considered alongside studies of resilience. Results: Forty studies were identified as suitable. These suggested that t

Are Community Gardening and Horticultural Interventions Beneficial for Psychosocial Well-Being? A Meta-Analysis.: Recent literature has revealed the positive effect of gardening on human health; however, empirical evidence on the effects of gardening-based programs on psychosocial well-being is scant. This meta-analysis aims to examine the scientific literature on the effect of community gardening or horticultural interventions on a variety of outcomes related to psychosocial well-being, such as social cohesion, networking, social support, and trust. From 383 bibliographic records retrieved (from 1975 to 20

The relationship between self-reported received and perceived social support: a meta-analytic review.: Social support is broad term encompassing a variety of constructs, including support perceptions (perceived support) and receipt of supportive behaviors (received support). Of these constructs, only perceived support has been regarded as consistently linked to health, and researchers have offered differing assessments of the strength of the received-perceived support relationship. An overall estimate of the received-perceived support relationship would clearly further the dialogue on the relatio

Social support and subjective burden in caregivers of adults and older adults: A meta-analysis.: Background: Despite the generally accepted belief that social support improves caregiver adjustment in general and subjective burden in particular, the literature shows mixed findings, and a recent review concluded that the predictive strength of caregiver social support in determining caregiver burden is less evident, due to the conceptual diversity of this determinant. Objective: The purpose of this review is to analyse the relationship of perceived and received social support with subjective

Grandparent caregivers.

Although grandparent caregiving is not a new phenomenon in the United States, there has been a dramatic increase in grandparent-headed households in the last two decades. Many of these care providers are older and feel somewhat unprepared to raise a new generation of children. As a result, grandparent caregivers are at risk for multiple physical, mental, and emotional problems due to the stresses and strains of care provision. This article summarizes characteristics of grandparent caregivers in our society, the challenges that they face, and how organizations are attempting to assist these older adults with their care provision responsibilities. Recommendations for future research and intervention design will also be discussed.

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Caregiver burden among dementia patient caregivers: a review of the literature.

Purpose: To identify current evidence of factors influencing dementia-related caregiver burden (CB), describe patient and caregiver characteristics associated with CB, and describe evidence-based interventions designed to lessen the burden of caregiving. Data sources: Comprehensive literature review of Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, MEDLINE, and Psych Info was performed for the years 1996-2006 of peer-reviewed journals using keywords CB and dementia. Conclusion: Dementia caregiving has been associated with negative effects on caregiver health and early nursing home placement for dementia patients. Many factors influence the impact of the caregiving experience such as gender, relationship to the patient, culture, and personal characteristics. Although various interventions have been developed with the goal of alleviating CB, evidence suggests that individually d…

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Psychosocial interventions and medication adherence in bipolar disorder.

Recent research has indicated that psychosocial interventions can have a valuable role in reducing the substantial psychosocial disability associated with bipolar disorder. Randomized controlled trials of these interventions indicate that improvements are seen in symptoms, psychosocial functioning, and treatment adherence. These interventions, systematically presented in the form of standardized treatment manuals, vary in format, duration, and theoretical basis. All are meant to augment pharmacotherapy, which represents the standard of treatment in the field. Modalities that have gathered the most empirical support include cognitive-behavioral therapy, family-focused therapy, interpersonal and social rhythms therapy, and psychoeducation. The enhancement of adherence to pharmacotherapy is a common therapeutic target, due to the association of nonadherence with higher relapse rates, hospit…

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Communication difficulties and intellectual disability in end-of-life care.

Around 1-3% of the world's population has intellectual disabilities (Mash and Wolfe, 2004). Communication difficulties are a major obstacle in providing effective palliative care to this group. Problems may arise due to a lack of comprehension and a lack of verbal skills, affecting assessment and the provision of psychosocial support. This paper maps the communication difficulties experienced by people with intellectual disabilities within a palliative care setting, drawing on several research studies carried out by the authors. These include the time-consuming nature of effective communication, and difficulties around breaking bad news. The paper explores the ways in which people with intellectual disabilities may (mis)understand verbal information. Strategies for managing communication difficulties are outlined, including ways to use clear, unambiguous language. The authors conclude th…

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Social isolation and loneliness among older people: issues and future challenges in community and residential settings.

Although often associated with older age, loneliness and social isolation are not well understood in terms of their prevalence, risk and protective factors. Evidence suggests that only a minority of community-dwelling older people are "severely" lonely or isolated, however a number of factors need to be considered to fully understand the extent and significance of the problem. Community-based studies have identified a variety of risk factors for loneliness/isolation including widowhood, no (surviving) children, living alone, deteriorating health, and life events (eg, loss and bereavement). Having a confidant has been identified as a protective factor for loneliness. However, evidence is often unclear or inconclusive, especially within residential settings. We identified the need to conduct more residential care-focused research; the importance of addressing a variety of methodological co…

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The mind-body connection: not just a theory anymore.

The field of psychoneuroimmunology has witnessed an explosion of empirical findings during the last two decades. Research has documented the mechanisms through which stressful emotions alter white blood cell function. Stress diminishes white blood cell response to viral infected cells and to cancer cells. Moreover, vaccination is less effective in those who are stressed and wounds heal less readily in those who are stressed. While stress decreases the activity of some white blood cells, stress does not compromise the function of all types of white blood cells. Indeed, some types of autoimmune disease, which involve particular subsets of white blood cells, are exacerbated by stress. The literature documents the efficacy of talk-therapy interventions in altering immune system parameters and enhancing the body's ability to combat disease. The literature also documents the impact of the chro…

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Loneliness and the health of older people.

Background: The intense focus on major psychiatric disorders in both contemporary psychiatric research and clinical practice has resulted in the relative neglect of less definable constructs such as loneliness and how such entities might impact on health outcomes. The purpose of this review is to raise awareness among physicians and psychiatrists of the medical impact and biological effects of loneliness as well as making the argument that loneliness should be a legitimate therapeutic target. Methods: Using Pubmed we searched the literature for research and review papers looking at loneliness as a construct, how it is measured and its health effects. We reviewed the relevant papers and have summarized their main findings. Results: Loneliness has strong associations with depression and may in fact be an independent risk factor for depression. Furthermore loneliness appears to have a signi…

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Using self-efficacy theory to develop interventions that help older people overcome psychological barriers to physical activity: a discussion paper.

Background: Only a fifth of older people undertake a level of physical activity sufficient to lead to health benefit. Misconceptions about the ageing process and beliefs about the costs and benefits of exercise in late life may result in unnecessary self-imposed activity restriction. Thus, adhering to a physical activity can be difficult particularly when the benefits of exercise are often not immediate. Many of the barriers to engaging in physical activity among older people are attitudinal. It is therefore important to take account of the non-physical aspects of physical activity intervention programmes, such as increasing confidence. Self-efficacy is a widely applied theory used to understand health behaviour and facilitate behavioural modification, such as the increase of physical activity. Aim: This paper aims to examine the ways in which self-efficacy theory might be used in interv…

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Family influences on heart failure self-care and outcomes.

Many patient education guidelines for teaching heart failure patients recommend inclusion of the family; however, family-focused interventions to promote self-care in heart failure are few. This article reviews the state of the science regarding family influences on heart failure self-care and outcomes. The literature and current studies suggest that family functioning, family support, problem solving, communication, self-efficacy, and caregiver burden are important areas to target for future research. In addition, heart failure patients without family and those who live alone and are socially isolated are highly vulnerable for poor self-care and should receive focused attention. Specific research questions based on existing science and gaps that need to be filled to support clinical practice are posed.

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Grief following miscarriage: a comprehensive review of the literature.

Objective: The literature exploring the relationship between miscarriage and grief is sparse. This paper summarizes the literature on grief subsequent to an early miscarriage to elucidate the nature, incidence, intensity, and duration of grief at this time and to identify potential moderators. Methods: An electronic search of the Medline and Psych Info databases was conducted. Studies were selected for inclusion if they related to early miscarriage, used a standardized measure to assess perinatal grief, and specified the assessment intervals employed. Qualitative studies were included when helpful to develop hypotheses. Results: Descriptions of grief following miscarriage are highly variable but tend to match descriptions of grief used to characterize other types of significant losses. A sizable percentage of women seem to experience a grief reaction, with the actual incidence of grief u…

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The illness trajectory of elderly cancer patients across cultures: SIOG position paper.

Background: Due to the aging of the population, cancer has become a health priority worldwide. While the number of elderly cancer patients is rapidly increasing, many barriers still exist to their effective management. Compared with their younger counterparts, the elderly are less likely to receive optimal medical, psychological and spiritual treatment provided in a culturally competent manner. Design: The scanty literature on cultural competence in elderly cancer patients has been reviewed. Additional material has been selected based on the authors' clinical research in medical oncology and psycho-oncology, and on their scholarly work in anthropology and bioethics. Results: The aging process is a synergistic product of biological, behavioral and social issues within a cultural context. Knowledge about how older people understand, perceive and experience their illness trajectory and make…

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Non-pharmacological treatments in the management of rapid cycling bipolar disorder.

Background: Rapid cycling (RC) bipolar disorder is often treatment-resistant to pharmacotherapy. Non-pharmacological methods, however, are reasonable considerations in treatment refractory cases of bipolar patients. Thus, such methods may be useful in the management of RC, especially when drugs are not shown to be effective. Method: This review is based on studies of all major non-pharmacological methods which are used in the management of bipolar disorder, by focusing on data regarding patients with a RC pattern of the illness. Results: Regarding biological treatments, for electroconvulsive therapy and sleep deprivation, there exists some evidence that they might be efficacious in RC patients for acute treatment as well as for prophylaxis from recurrences. Light therapy has not been shown to be efficacious in RC, while no published data exist for transcranial magnetic stimulation and va…

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Families of persons with Down syndrome: new perspectives, findings, and research and service needs.

To understand the families of offspring with Down syndrome, this article begins by describing the change in orientation--from "negative" to "stress-and-coping" perspectives--in studies of families of offspring with disabilities. In reviewing the existing studies, mothers, fathers, and siblings cope slightly better than family members of persons with other disabilities, a phenomenon called the "Down syndrome advantage." Beyond this more general finding, however, much remains unknown. Most studies examine only parental or sibling levels of stress or coping, leaving unknown the marital, occupational, health, educational, and other "real-world" outcomes for these family members. Increased research attention is needed to understand the life-span needs of families of persons with Down syndrome and the impact of cultural and sociocultural diversity on family outcomes. It will also be important …

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Fibromyalgia--management of a misunderstood disorder.

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to review (a) what is currently known about the pathophysiology of fibromyalgia (FM), (b) how to identify patients who are susceptible to this disorder, and (c) the recommended pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatment options. Data sources: Data sources include reviews and original research from scholarly journals and Internet sites. Conclusions: There are approximately 6 million individuals in the United States diagnosed with FM, making it the third most prevalent rheumatologic disorder in this country. Failure to identify a specific causal mechanism for FM has resulted in a shift in the focus of research from etiology to treatment (Baumstark & Buckelew, 2002). Based on the literature, the most successful interventions for reduction of chronic symptoms in the FM patient is a combination of education, psychological assistance, and exercise,…

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Latinos, acculturation, and acculturative stress: a dimensional concept analysis.

Background: Acculturation can be conceived of as a process of adaptation to stressful changes. In the field of public health, research indicates that recently arrived Latino immigrants, presumably most affected by acculturative stress, have better health outcomes than those who have spent greater time in the United States. This "immigrant paradox" is not well understood but supports the distinction between the process of acculturation and acculturative stress. Aim: To understand the nature of acculturative stress for Latinos in the context of political, historical, and societal forces. Results: Acculturative stress significantly affects the physical and mental health of many Latino immigrants. Types of stressors vary by ethnicity. Separation from family and lack of a community was the most often-cited stressor for new immigrants. Most Latino immigrants were adversely affected by discrimi…

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Breaking bad news to parents: the children's nurse's role.

Breaking bad news is an extremely difficult and challenging process for the health care professional. The National Service Framework for Children in the UK highlights that the manner in which the health care professional delivers bad news impacts upon the way it is received, interpreted, understood and dealt with. The children's nurse, as an instrumental member of the multidisciplinary team caring for the child and family, is central to this complex communication process. This article examines the literature surrounding the breaking of bad news and introduces a new framework that outlines the multifaceted role of the children's nurse within this complex, challenging process.

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Is sense of coherence a pathway for improving the quality of life of patients who grow up with chronic diseases? A hypothesis.

A recent study indicated that the quality of life in adult patients with congenital heart disease was better than that of their healthy counterparts. A possible explanation for this is that these patients have a stronger sense of coherence than do their healthy counterparts. This enhanced sense of coherence develops in childhood through the successful application of generalized resistance resources. Here, we advance the hypothesis that sense of coherence may be a potential pathway for improving the quality of life in patients who grow up with a chronic health condition. This hypothesis needs to be tested in long-term longitudinal studies. If such studies can confirm the hypothesis, SOC can be an important target for interventions in childhood to improve patients' quality of life during adulthood.

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Protective and damaging effects of stress mediators: central role of the brain.

The mind involves the whole body and two-way communication between the brain and the cardiovascular, immune, and other systems via neural and endocrine mechanisms. Stress is a condition of the mind-body interaction, and a factor in the expression of disease that differs among individuals. It is notjust the dramatic stressful events that exact their toll, but rather the many events of daily life that elevate and sustain activities of physiological systems and cause sleep deprivation, overeating, and other health-damaging behaviors, producing the feeling of being "stressed out." Over time, this results in wear and tear on the body which is called "allostatic load," and it reflects not only the impact of life experiences but also of genetic load, individual lifestyle habits reflecting items such as diet, exercise, and substance abuse, and developmental experiences that set life-long pattern…

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Chronic pain in a couples context: a review and integration of theoretical models and empirical evidence.

Unlabelled: Researchers have become increasingly interested in the social context of chronic pain conditions. The purpose of this article is to provide an integrated review of the evidence linking marital functioning with chronic pain outcomes including pain severity, physical disability, pain behaviors, and psychological distress. We first present an overview of existing models that identify an association between marital functioning and pain variables. We then review the empirical evidence for a relationship between pain variables and several marital functioning variables including marital satisfaction, spousal support, spouse responses to pain, and marital interaction. On the basis of the evidence, we present a working model of marital and pain variables, identify gaps in the literature, and offer recommendations for research and clinical work. Perspective: The authors provide a compr…

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A review of postpartum psychosis.

Objective: The objective is to provide an overview of the clinical features, prognosis, differential diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of postpartum psychosis. Methods: The authors searched Medline (1966-2005), PsycInfo (1974-2005), Toxnet, and PubMed databases using the key words postpartum psychosis, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, organic psychosis, pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, and electroconvulsive therapy. A clinical case is used to facilitate the discussion. Results: The onset of puerperal psychosis occurs in the first 1-4 weeks after childbirth. The data suggest that postpartum psychosis is an overt presentation of bipolar disorder that is timed to coincide with tremendous hormonal shifts after delivery. The patient develops frank psychosis, cognitive impairment, and grossly disorganized behavior that represent a complete change from previous functioning. These …

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Ethical issues in palliative care.

Objectives: To review important issues that address respect for patient autonomy, beneficnce, non-maleficence, and justice, which are included in communication surrounding the determination of decision-making capacity, informed consent, breaking bad news, and creating shared goals of care. Data sources: Review articles, and government and organizational reports. Conclusion: Palliative care and its proximity to end-of-life care issues frequently raises ethical issues for patients, their families, and the clinicians caring for them. Supporting the identification and honoring the patient's preferences for treatment are central components of ethical behavior. Implications for nursing practice: Advance care planning provides an important opportunity for respecting patient autonomy and may be helpful when discussing care options surrounding resuscitation, withholding or withdrawal of treatment…

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Psychosocial issues confronting young women with breast cancer.

The current paper reviews the literature regarding psychosocial issues confronting young women with breast cancer. The findings indicate that younger women with breast cancer experience a lower quality of life after cancer compared to older women. In part, this lower quality of life results from the effects of medical treatment. The effects of surgery and removal of the breast result in more negative feelings regarding body image, particularly for young women. With systemic treatment, many younger women experience the sudden onset of menopause, with the attendant symptoms of hot flashes, decreased sexual desire, and vaginal dryness. These physical effects along with a variety of relationship issues contribute to a high level of sexual concerns for young women. From a psychosocial perspective, breast cancer affects both females and their male partners. Both partners experience psychologic…

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Preliminary insights into associations between C-reactive protein and social network dynamics.

Recent social psychoneuroimmunology models suggest bidirectional associations between social experiences and the immune system. This work posits that social relationships and networks may influence the functioning of the immune system, but we know little about the role that the immune system plays in how social networks are created and maintained. We examine how salivary C-reactive protein (CRP), as an inflammatory protein, is associated with making new and keeping existing friendship and conflicted relationships among young adult members of a social group. Participants (n = 37; 67.6% female; M age = 18.18 years, 56.81% white/non-Hispanic) provided nominations of friends and individuals with whom they have conflict at wave 1 and two months later at wave 2. At wave 1, in a group setting, participants donated saliva, later assayed for CRP. Stochastic actor-based models revealed that CRP le…

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Transcultural adaptation of interpersonal psychotherapy in Asia.

Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) has been utilized with great efficacy and effectiveness across many cultural settings. The attachment theory upon which IPT rests provides a strong foundation for IPT cross-culturally: regardless of their geographic location, people are people and their relationships are important. Though the structure of families and individual social roles varies greatly across cultures, people relate to one another. They become distressed when they have problems with interpersonal conflict, change, and loss of relationships. In this article, we review the basics of IPT and then describe the ways in which cultural adaptations can be made for people in Asia. Both are large tasks-to summarize IPT concisely while providing sufficient information is difficult; describing cultural adaptions for people in geographical areas from Russia to China to India to Southeast and Cent…

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Tinnitus groups: A model of social support and social connectedness from peer interaction.

Tinnitus is a chronic condition for which there is no medical treatment. Tinnitus groups are a widely available resource for people with tinnitus. Objectives: Our objectives were to explore the active ingredients of tinnitus support groups in terms of their mechanisms for providing support, the contextual factors that elicit such mechanisms, and the outcomes in terms of coping enhancement. Design: We adopted a pluralist and iterative approach informed by the realist evaluation method. Methods: We conducted ethnographic data generation at tinnitus support groups involving observations (n = 160), focus groups (n = 130), and individual interviews (n = 20). Inductive analyses were conducted following the constant comparison method of grounded theory. We then interrogated the inductive themes to identify evidence of Contexts, Mechanisms, and Outcomes. We then produced a model which was tested…

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