| 1. |
- Lymeus, Freddie, et al.
(författare)
-
Mindfulness-Based Restoration Skills Training (ReST) in a Natural Setting Compared to Conventional Mindfulness Training : Psychological Functioning After a Five-Week Course
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Frontiers in Psychology. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 1664-1078. ; 11
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Restoration skills training (ReST) is a mindfulness-based course that draws on restorative nature experience to facilitate the meditation practice and teach widely applicable adaptation skills. Previous studies comparing ReST to conventional mindfulness training (CMT) showed that ReST has important advantages: it supports beginning meditators in connecting with restorative environmental qualities and in meditating with less effort; it restores their attention regulation capabilities; and it helps them complete the course and establish a regular meditation habit. However, mindfulness theory indicates that effortful training may be necessary to achieve generalized improvements in psychological functioning. Therefore, this study tests whether the less effortful and more acceptable ReST approach is attended by any meaningful disadvantage compared to CMT in terms of its effects on central aspects psychological functioning. We analyze data from four rounds of development of the ReST course, in each of which we compared it to a parallel and formally matched CMT course. Randomly assigned participants (total course starters = 152) provided ratings of dispositional mindfulness, cognitive functioning, and chronic stress before and after the 5-week ReST and CMT courses. Round 4 also included a separately recruited passive control condition. ReST and CMT were attended by similar average improvements in the three outcomes, although the effects on chronic stress were inconsistent. Moderate to large improvements in the three outcomes could also be affirmed in contrasts with the passive controls. Using a reliable change index, we saw that over one third of the ReST and CMT participants enjoyed reliably improved psychological functioning. The risk of experiencing deteriorated functioning was no greater with either ReST or CMT than for passive control group participants. None of the contrasts exceeded our stringent criterion for inferiority of ReST compared with CMT. We conclude that ReST is a promising alternative for otherwise healthy people with stress or concentration problems who would be less likely to complete more effortful CMT. By adapting the meditation practices to draw on restorative setting characteristics, ReST can mitigate the demands otherwise incurred in early stages of mindfulness training without compromising the acquisition of widely applicable mindfulness skills.
|
|
| 2. |
- Cars, Otto, et al.
(författare)
-
Building bridges to operationalise one health : A Sino-Swedish collaboration to tackle antibiotic resistance
- 2016
-
Ingår i: One Health. - : Elsevier. - 2352-7714. ; 2, s. 139-143
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Antibiotic resistance is a complex global health challenge. The recent Global Action Plan on antimicrobial resistance highlights the importance of adopting One Health approaches that can cross traditional disciplinary boundaries. We report on the early experiences of a multisectoral Sino-Swedish research project that aims to address gaps in our current knowledge and seeks to improve the situation through system-wide interventions. Our research project is investigating antibiotic use and resistance in a rural area of China through a combination of epidemiological, health systems and laboratory investigations. We reflect here on the challenges inherent in conducting long distance cross-disciplinary collaborations, having now completed data and sample collection for a baseline situation analysis. In particular, we recognise the importance of investing in aspects such as effective communication, shared conceptual frameworks and leadership. We suggest that our experiences will be instructive to others planning to develop similar international One Health collaborations.
|
|
| 3. |
- Falkenberg, Cecilia, et al.
(författare)
-
A study of the physiological consequences of sympathetic denervation of the heart caused by the arterial switch procedure.
- 2010
-
Ingår i: Cardiology in the young. - 1467-1107. ; 20:2, s. 150-8
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: The arterial switch operation is the corrective operation for transposition of the great arteries, defined as the combination of concordant atrioventricular and discordant ventriculo-arterial connections, but there have been concerns about silent subendocardial ischaemia on exercise and coronary artery growth. The arterial switch divides the majority of the sympathetic nerves entering the heart; we have studied the effects of coronary flow and sensitivity to catecholamine stimulation in an animal model. METHODS: A total of 10 piglets were operated on cardiopulmonary bypass with section and resuturing of aortic trunk, pulmonary artery and both coronary arteries, with 13 sham-operated controls. After 5-7 weeks of recovery, seven simulated switch survivors and 13 controls were studied. RESULTS: Basal heart rate was significantly higher in switch piglets: in vivo mean (standard deviation) 112 (12) versus sham 100 (10) beats per minute, (p = 0.042); in vitro (Langendorff preparation): 89 (9) versus sham 73 (8) beats per minute (p = 0.0056). In vivo maximal heart rate in response to epinephrine was increased in switch piglets, 209 (13) versus 190 (17) beats per minute (p = 0.044). In vitro dose-response curves to norepinephrine were shifted leftward and upwards (p = 0.0014), with an 80% increase in heart rate induced by 0.095 (0.053) norepinephrine micromole per litre perfusate in switch hearts versus 0.180 (0.035) norepinephrine micromole per litre (p = 0.023). Increase in coronary flow on norepinephrine stimulation and maximal coronary flow were significantly reduced in switch hearts: 0.3 (0.2) versus 0.8 (0.4) millilitre per gram heart weight (p = 0.045) and 2.5 (0.4) versus 3.1 (0.4) millilitre per gram heart (p = 0.030), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A combination of increased intrinsic heart rate, increased sensitivity to chronotropic actions of norepinephrine, and a decreased maximal coronary flow creates potential for a mismatch between perfusion and energy demands.
|
|
| 4. |
- Gumaelius, Lena, et al.
(författare)
-
Outreach initiatives operated by universities for increasing interest in science and technology
- 2016
-
Ingår i: European Journal of Engineering Education. - : Taylor & Francis Group. - 0304-3797 .- 1469-5898. ; , s. 1-34
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Since the 1990s, the low number of students choosing to study science and technology in higher education has been on the societal agenda and many initiatives have been launched to promote awareness regarding career options. The initiatives particularly focus on increasing enrolment in the engineering programmes. This article describes and compares eight European initiatives that have been established and operated by universities (and in some cases through collaboration with other actors in society). Each initiative is summarised in a short essay that discusses motivation, organisation, pedagogical approach, and activities. The initiatives are characterised by comparing the driving forces behind their creation, how the initiative activities relate to the activities at the university, size based on the number of participants and cost per participant and pedagogical framework. There seem to be two main tracks for building outreach activities, one where outreach activities are based on the university's normal activities, and one where outreach activities are designed specifically for the visiting students.
|
|
| 5. |
- Jakobsson Bergstad, Cecilia, 1967, et al.
(författare)
-
An experimental study on policy makers’ communication about a congestion charge, individual value preferences, perceptions of arguments and acceptability
- 2012
-
Ingår i: The 5th International Conference on Traffic and Transport Psychology, Groningen, The Netherlands, August 29-31.
-
Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- An important part of the implementation of controversial policy measures such as congestion charging is the communication between policy makers and the public. This is a web-based experimental study aiming at studying acceptability of a suggested congestion charge and different types of arguments. The arguments were either framed as environmental, stressing gains such as sustainability both locally and globally, or economic arguments stressing gains such as reduced travel times, improved health and the use of revenues for investing in roads etc. The aim was further to investigate the relationships between biospheric and egoistic value preferences and the assessments of the arguments quality. The final sample consisted of 503 participants divided into three experimental conditions (economic arguments, environmental arguments and combined) and one control group. A generally low acceptability of the suggested charge was found, but it was significantly higher in all the experimental conditions. The egoistic arguments yielded the highest mean acceptability, and 28 percent of the respondents supported a charge being implemented in their city compared to 14 percent in the control group. Biospheric values were related to a more positive evaluation of the arguments in the environmental argument condition and more negative when judging the economic arguments.
|
|
| 6. |
- Starrin, Bengt, et al.
(författare)
-
Financial Stress, Shaming Experiences and Psychosocial Ill-Health : Studies into the Finances-Shame Model
- 2009
-
Ingår i: Social Indicators Research. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0303-8300 .- 1573-0921. ; 91:2, s. 283-298
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of the study was to test the Finances-Shame model and its explanatory power regarding the prevalence of psychosocial ill-health. The Finances-Shame model postulates that (i) the greater the financial stress and the more experiences of having been shamed, the greater the risk for psychosocial ill-health, (ii) the lesser the financial stress and the fewer experiences of having been shamed, the lower the risk for psychosocial ill-health. The study was based upon a survey carried out during the period March 2000-May 2000 in a mid-Swedish region (n = 5,666). The response rate was 69%. The results of the study supported the hypotheses.
|
|
| 7. |
- Stenfors, Cecilia U. D., 1982-, et al.
(författare)
-
Psychosocial Working Conditions and Cognitive Complaints among Swedish Employees
- 2013
-
Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 8:4, s. e60637-
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Cognitive complaints involving problems with concentration, memory, decision-making and thinking are relatively common in the work force. The sensitivity of both subjective and objective cognitive functioning to common psychiatric conditions, stress levels and to cognitive load makes it plausible that psychosocial working conditions play a role in cognitive complaints. Thus, this study aimed to test the associations between psychosocial work factors and cognitive complaints in nationally representative samples of the Swedish work force. Cross-sectional (n = 9751) and prospective (n = 3644; two time points two years apart) sequential multiple regression analyses were run, adjusting for general confounders, depressive-and sleeping problems. Additional prospective analyses were run adjusting for baseline cognitive complaints. Cross-sectional results: High quantitative demands, information and communication technology (ICT) demands, underqualification and conflicts were positively associated with cognitive complaints, while social support, good resources at work and overqualification were negatively associated with cognitive complaints in all models. Skill discretion and decision authority were weakly associated with cognitive complaints. Conflicts were more strongly associated with cognitive complaints in women than in men, after adjustment for general confounders. Prospective results: Quantitative job demands, ICT demands and underqualification were positively associated with future cognitive complaints in all models, including when adjusted for baseline cognitive complaints. Decision authority was weakly positively associated with future cognitive complaints, only after adjustment for depressive-and sleeping problems respectively. Social support was negatively associated with future cognitive complaints after adjustment for general confounders and baseline cognitive complaints. Skill discretion and resources were negatively associated with future cognitive complaints after adjustment for general confounders. The associations between quantitative demands and future cognitive complaints were stronger in women. Discussion/Conclusions: The findings indicate that psychosocial working conditions should be taken into account when considering cognitive complaints among employees.
|
|
| 8. |
- Franzén, Cecilia, et al.
(författare)
-
Trust as an analytical concept for the study of welfare programmes to reduce child health disparities : the case of a Swedish postnatal home visiting programme
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Children and youth services review. - : Elsevier. - 0190-7409 .- 1873-7765. ; 118, s. 1-7
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this article is to outline a theoretical framework for how the concept of trust can be used as analytical tool for a study of the aim, design, output and societal legitimacy of a Swedish welfare programme conducted to reduce disparities in health and social inequities and to give newborn a positive start in life. This programme, labelled Grow Safely, implies that home visits will be conducted at six occasions at first-time parents by different professionals: child health care nurses, midwifes, dental hygienists and counsellors from the social services. Prior to when the intervention is carried out, the involved professionals in the programme will be participating in training in order to increase the possibility that the home visits will be carried out in similar ways and be followed the same manual throughout the programme.The welfare programme will be based on relationships on different levels: between professionals and parents, between different professionals, between professionals and managers, and between organisations. Trust is believed to be of significance for the development of relationships as well as for the social legitimacy of the implantation of welfare programmes. Therefore, our ambition is to embrace a broad perspective on trust, combining insights from a variety of research traditions and analyses on macro, meso and micro levels in the outline a model for how the concept of trust can be used as an analytical tool for studying welfare programmes like Grow Safely. We argue for that the model can capture the significance of trust at different levels: individual, professional, organisational and societal levels as well as interplays between these levels, and consequently be useful in to analyse implementations of welfare programmes.
|
|
| 9. |
|
|
| 10. |
- Nilsson, Manuela, 1961-, et al.
(författare)
-
Building relational peace : Police-community relations in post-accord Colombia
- 2023
-
Ingår i: Policing and Society. - : Taylor & Francis Group. - 1043-9463 .- 1477-2728. ; 33:5, s. 518-536
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- As an important pillar of building sustainable peace after protractedviolent conflict, security sector reform (SSR) has the objective to preparestate security actors, who often have been active conflict participants,for work within the frameworks of democracy, adherence to human andcivil rights, and civilian rule. A major component of SSR is the re-trainingand re-education of local police to improve their relationship with thelocal communities. This relationship has often been severely strained byhuman rights abuses committed by police against community membersduring the conflict, and it continues to be put to the test in fragile post-accord environments by persisting high levels of violence. However,research on how to improve that relationship, particularly from abottom-up perspective, remains scarce. This study analyses thedynamics of the relationship between the police and communities inthe transition period from war to peace in Colombia, a countrytormented by continued violence even after the signing of the 2016peace agreement that was to set an end to the country’s decades ofinternal conflict. Based on semi-structured interviews conducted duringthe fall of 2019, it applies the theoretical lens of the relational peaceframework that approaches peace in terms of relationships betweendifferent sets of interdependent actors. Thefindings indicate that therelationship between the communities and the police has not reachedsatisfactory levels of relational peace, suggesting a set-back in security-related peacebuilding. The paper concludes with recommendations,including from interviewees, on how to improve that relationship.
|
|
