Repository logo

Browsing by Author "Yoder, Jamie, committee member"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemEmbargo
    A mirror to humanity: the meaning-making experiences of correctional end-of-life care advocates
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2023) Kaushik, Shivani, author; Currin-McCulloch, Jennifer, advisor; Hogan, Michael, committee member; Yoder, Jamie, committee member; Yuma, Paula, committee member
    The purpose of this study was to explore the mean-making experiences of advocates who strive to implement end-of-life programming in correctional settings. The study included five main exploratory aims: (1) to explore advocates' understanding of end-of-life philosophy; (2) motivating factors of advocates that promote end-of-life caregiving opportunities; (3) barriers to the provision of end-of-life care; (4) how personal, social, and political influences related to correctional end-of-life care shape advocates' meaning-making experiences and; (5) to better inform the general public of this integral need and humane service to combat the stigma related to accessing end-of-life care for incarcerated individuals. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), a qualitative approach which aims to provide detailed examinations of personal lived experience, was incorporated with English-speaking participants, residing in the United States (U.S.), who are 18 years of age or older and identify as advocates for correctional end-of-life care. Participants were recruited with the assistance of professionals who work within the field of end-of-life care in the United States and non-profit, correctional health care advocacy groups. Advocates participated in a recorded interview, via Zoom or telephone, consisting of 15 semi-structured questions which addressed their knowledge of end-of-life care in corrections, recommendations for policy reform, and the meaning-making experiences derived from advocating for essential care to the terminally ill. Participant responses were transcribed and analyzed by maintaining an idiographic focus and providing verbatim quotes. The results revealed advocates' multifaceted meaning-making experiences in championing for humane end-of-life care in corrections: daunting work as motivation; the people are the joy; this is what I'm meant to do; and being a mirror to humanity. Advocates revealed the pertinent need to eradicate punitive ideals to deliver compassionate care. Narratives underscored the significant bonds with imprisoned people and fellow peers advocating for empathy at the end-of-life. These advocates additionally highlighted their inherent aspirations for social justice and health equity. Moreover, opportunities to showcase and celebrate the compassionate skill-set and productivity of peer-volunteers delivering care to their dying peers in corrections surfaced as emotional and inspiring experiences for advocates. The exploration of the meaning-making experiences of correctional end-of-life care advocates provided a unique perspective into the motivating factors and multifarious challenges of implementing and delivering compassionate care to terminally ill incarcerated people. Advocates offer significant and hidden insights into the dying experience of this marginalized population, while navigating the complexities of correctional health care. The knowledge and vigor of advocates serve as key factors in ameliorating appropriate end-of-life care for a continually punished population. The study emphasizes the fundamental need to assess current models of care available to dying incarcerated individuals in the United States and how advocates' participation can enhance end-of-life care in corrections. Further research must investigate current end-of-life programming in corrections, with an emphasis on the unique roles of those delivering care. The essential voices of correctional end-of-life advocates should be integrated into policy reform which seeks to amend dated and unjust practices impacting dying incarcerated individuals.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Emotional availability (EA) brief: single session feedback and coaching with mothers of children 0-17 years old
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2022) Russell, Frances Elizabeth, author; Biringen, Zeynep, advisor; Harvey, Ashley, committee member; Yoder, Jamie, committee member
    The focus of this study was to determine if a brief parenting feedback and coaching session (along with background information) could provide the context for helping mothers to support optimal self-reported and observed emotional availability, as well as maternal wellbeing. Participants in this study (n = 25) were middle income mothers and their children (ages 0-17 years). Participants were sorted into two blocks: Parents in the first block of participants (i.e., the "immediate intervention group") (IIG) were asked to complete all pre-test assessments and immediately given the intervention. Parents in the second block (i.e., the "waitlist control" group) (WC) were asked to complete all pre-test assessments (pre-test 1) and then put on a waitlist, completing a second set of pre-test assessments (pre-test 2) approximately 4 weeks later and then given the intervention. All parents (in the IIG and WC) were then administered post-test assessments. Pretest and posttest assessments included observed emotional availability as well as questionnaires (Emotional Availability Self Report (EA-SR; Vliegen et al., 2009) and the Flourishing Scale (Diener et al., 2010). To compare differences in pre-post changes for IIG vs. WC participants before receiving the intervention, we conducted a One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) on the difference scores (post-test minus pre-test) for the IIG and difference scores for the WC (pre-test 2 minus pre-test 1). Finally, to examine child age as a predictor of change in our outcome variables, we regressed the pre-post difference scores on child age, pooling observations from the IIG and WC groups. Results indicated that those receiving the single session intervention showed more improvement in EA and other study variables over time when compared to those who did not receive the intervention. The child's age did not predict the effectiveness of the intervention. Results are discussed in terms of a single session of parent feedback and potentially "planting a seed."
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemEmbargo
    Mother-child and father-child emotional availability during the COVID-19 pandemic
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2023) Dungan, Maggie Elise, author; Biringen, Zeynep, advisor; Harvey, Ashley, committee member; Yoder, Jamie, committee member
    While the body of literature on COVID's impact to family life is rapidly expanding, most studies are based entirely on self-report data, leaving a critical gap in observational studies of parent-child interactions. The goal of this study was to evaluate parent-child relationships during the COVID-19 pandemic using the observational Emotional Availability (EA) construct. Parents (N = 43) were assessed using the Epidemic Pandemic Impacts Inventory (EPII), the Flourishing Scale (FLS), and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) questionnaires. The subcategories of the EPII were used to develop an EPII negative and an EPII positive for each parent. EA (sensitivity, structuring, nonhostility, nonintrusiveness, child responsiveness, and child involvement) was coded from filmed parent-child interactions. Separate hierarchical multiple regressions (HMRs) were run to evaluate each of the variables of interest (EPII and FLS) as predictive of EA. Child age and ACEs were added in subsequent steps for EPII negative and positive if the initial step was significant. For mothers, results demonstrated EPII negative as a significant predictor of EA with child age and ACEs adding only small amount of variance to the prediction. The same HMR process was repeated for flourishing, with the covariate child age alone. For fathers, flourishing was a significant predictor of EA and child age added only a small amount of variance to the prediction. Results indicate that experiencing high COVID-related stressors is associated with lower EA for mothers, but not fathers. Having high levels of flourishing during the pandemic was predictive of higher EA for fathers, but not mothers.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Parent perspectives of at-home cognitive intervention for preschoolers with Down syndrome
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2023) Walsh, Madison M., author; Fidler, Deborah, advisor; Hepburn, Susan, committee member; Yoder, Jamie, committee member
    Down syndrome (DS) is associated with challenges related to cognitive skills, including executive function (EF). Intervention provided during early childhood can support the development of EF, however there are few cognitive interventions designed for young developmental ages. Parent-mediated interventions (PMIs) are emerging as an effective and scalable intervention approach for clinical populations. PMIs require ongoing parent engagement, and therefore, it is critical for a PMI to meet the needs of its intended users. This study used a community-based participatory research (CBPR) framework to (1) understand the daily routines of families of young children with DS and (2) describe parent perceptions of participating in at-home intervention. Participants were 34 caregivers of children 3 – 6 years old with DS living in Italy or the US. Participants responded to questions related to daily tasks they help their children complete and their perceptions of at-home cognitive intervention. Interviews were transcribed and independently coded (inter-rater agreement = .80). Four themes related to daily routines were identified: what parents help with, how parents help, why parents help, and how children respond. Three themes related to parent perceptions of interventions were identified: advantages of parent-led interventions, disadvantages of parent-led interventions, and desires for interventions. Findings suggest that PMIs targeting preschool-aged children with DS should require a short time commitment, blend intervention activities into daily routines, and include other family members. Findings from this study have important implications for the development of novel interventions aimed at supporting families in this population.