Leading the way together: a cluster randomised controlled trial of the 5R Shared Leadership Program in older adult walking groups

Impact of positive psychological capital and shared leadership on nurses' organizational well-being: a descriptive survey study

BACKGROUND

Organizational well-being is a critical issue that should be addressed within nursing organizations as it boosts the morale and work motivation of its members by enhancing their satisfaction and happiness.

AIM

This study aimed to evaluate the levels of positive psychological capital, shared leadership, and organizational well-being among nurses, and examine the impact of positive psychological capital and shared leadership on organizational well-being.

METHODS

A descriptive survey research design was used, involving 177 nurses with at least one year of work experience at highly specialized hospitals in Korea treating patients with severe conditions. Data were collected via an online survey from July 1 to August 31, 2023, using a questionnaire that included items on general characteristics, job-related characteristics, positive psychological capital, shared leadership, and organizational well-being. The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS 29.0 software, employing statistical measures such as frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient, and hierarchical regression analysis.

RESULTS

The participants' scores were 3.32 ± 0.51 out of 5 for organizational well-being, 4.12 ± 0.58 out of 6 for positive psychological capital, and 3.64 ± 0.59 out of 5 for shared leadership. Factors identified that influenced organizational well-being included positive psychological capital (β = 0.462, p < .001) and shared leadership (β = 0.442, p < .001), which explained 58% of the total variance in the model (F = 48.74, p < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

To improve the organizational well-being of nurses, it is essential to develop capacity-building and intervention programs that boost positive psychological capital and shared leadership. Achieving this goal necessitates not only the individual efforts of organizational members but also robust organizational support, engagement, and proactive management.

An online delivered running and walking group program to support low-active post-secondary students' well-being and exercise behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic: a pilot randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

Examine the feasibility and acceptability of a social identity-informed, online delivered, running and walking group program to support low-active post-secondary students' exercise behavior and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

A two-arm, non-blinded, parallel pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted whereby low-active post-secondary students at a Canadian university were equally randomized to an online delivered running/walking group program or an attention control condition. Primary feasibility and acceptability outcomes included program interest, study enrolment and retention, questionnaire completion, program attendance, program satisfaction, and affective exercise attitudes. Post-program interviews were conducted to ascertain participants' experiences with the program. Secondary outcomes included well-being, exercise behavior, social identity, social support, and exercise identity.

RESULTS

Ninety-two individuals were screened for eligibility, and 72 were equally randomized to the online group program or attention control condition. Recruitment exceeded the target sample size (60), study adherence and questionnaire completion were above 90%, program attendance was moderate (M = 5.03/8), self-report program satisfaction was moderate-to-high (M = 4.13/5), and there was no condition effect for affective attitudes. During interviews, participants expressed satisfaction with the program. They also discussed challenges with developing a shared sense of identity and social connection with group members via online platforms. There were small condition effects for exercise-related well-being and exercise identity and no condition effects for the remaining secondary outcomes. Social identity scores were moderate (M = 4.63/7).

CONCLUSIONS

The STRIDE program was feasible and acceptable but should be delivered and piloted in-person before a full-scale efficacy trial is conducted.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04857918; 2021-04-20.

Physical activity experiences of community-dwelling older adults with physical disabilities: a scoping review of qualitative research

PURPOSE

The aim of this review was to synthesise qualitative literature on physical activity experiences of community-dwelling older adults with physical disabilities.

METHODS

We conducted a scoping review of peer-reviewed, qualitative studies on physical activity with community-dwelling older adults with physical disabilities. We analysed eligible studies identified through electronic database searches (CINAHL Complete, MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus) and manual searches undertaken up to June 2023.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight articles with 306 participants were included. As regard the experience of physical activity, although physical activity could elicit pleasure and enjoyment, many reported that physical activity sometimes produced pain. Various outcomes of physical activity were reported, with several physical, psychological, social, and lifestyle benefits prominent. Analyses of barriers and facilitators demonstrated how intrapersonal, interpersonal, environmental, and systems and programme factors influenced physical activity participation among older adults with physical disabilities.

DISCUSSION

Our findings contribute to literature on physical activity in older adults with physical disabilities by synthesising qualitative research on physical activity experiences, outcomes, barriers, and facilitators in this population. Findings demonstrate the need for knowledgeable and supportive healthcare and exercise professionals, environments that support physical activity, and activities that promote pleasure and social connections.Implications for RehabilitationPhysical activity is perceived to have wide-ranging benefits for community-dwelling older adults with physical disabilities.Various intrapersonal, interpersonal, environmental, and systems and programme barriers constrain physical activity in physically disabled people.Knowledgeable and supportive healthcare and exercise professionals, accessible environments, and activities that promote pleasure and social connections could enhance engagement in physical activity.

Using theory knitting to conceptualize social phenomena in the design and evaluation of dance programs for people living with Parkinson's disease

Dance programs for people living with Parkinson's disease (PwPD) offer participants an opportunity to exercise, engage in artistic self-expression, and form new relationships. While it is understood that the social dimension of dance programs for PwPD contributes to dancer satisfaction and program sustainability, the social mechanisms instrumental to program success are under-examined. Engaging with theory from wider disciplines, or "theory knitting" can help program designers and evaluators examine the mechanisms and contextual factors that make classes socially meaningful with greater detail and specificity. This study identified and examined three theoretical frameworks that program planners and evaluators could use to conceptualize social engagement in dance for PwPD contexts and inform practice. Each theory was assessed for fit using the T-CaST theory comparison and selection tool developed by Birken et al. (2018). As an example, we used anthropologist Victor Turner's (1970; 1977) theory of liminality and communitas to identify five key areas for fostering a sense of social connection in dance for PwPD contexts: (1) selecting a meaningful dance space (2) creating a joyous atmosphere (3) marking entrance into the liminal time and space with rituals (4) embodying liminality and anti-structure and (5) inverting power relations and embracing fluid roles.

The Moderating Role of Collectivism on Physical Activity and Family Support: A Cross-Sectional Design

BACKGROUND

An important value among Korean Americans is collectivism or giving a group priority over the individual. This value, family support, and demographic characteristics have been reported to influence health behaviors among this group. Yet, no study has examined how collectivism, family support, and demographic characteristics interact with each other and then influence physical activity among Korean American adults. The purpose of the study was to examine the association between family support and physical activity, and the moderating role of demographic characteristics and collectivism on this association among Korean American adults.

METHODS

A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 110 Korean American adults 18 years and older, residing in a Southwestern city in the United States. Self-administered questionnaires were used to measure demographics, collectivism, family support, and physical activity.

RESULTS

Data analysis using a zero-inflated negative binomial regression model revealed a positive relationship between family support and physical activity, while age and gender were moderators of the relationship between family support and physical activity. Collectivism was positively related to physical activity and moderated the relationship between family support and physical activity.

CONCLUSION

These findings indicate the significance of collectivism and family support that influence Korean American adults' physical activity.

Therapists who foster social identification build stronger therapeutic working alliance and have better client outcomes

BACKGROUND

For decades we have known that therapeutic working alliance is a key contributor to client engagement and positive outcomes in therapy. However, we have made little progress in narrowing down its determinants, which is critical in supporting trainees to optimize such alliance. We make a case for the value of incorporating social psychological frameworks into models of alliance and explore the role of social identity processes in the development of therapeutic alliance.

METHOD

Across two studies, over 500 psychotherapy clients completed validated measures of alliance, social identification with their therapist, positive therapy outcomes, and a range of client and therapist characteristics.

FINDINGS

Social identification strongly predicted alliance in both samples, whereas client and therapist characteristics showed few such associations. Alliance mediated the relationship between social identification and positive therapy outcomes. In addition, we found evidence that (a) personal control is a key psychological resource in therapy that arises from social identification, and (b) therapists who engage in identity leadership (i.e., who represent and build a social identity that they share with clients) are more likely to foster social identification and its downstream benefits.

INTERPRETATION

These data show that social identity processes are key to the emergence of working alliance. We conclude with a discussion of how recent social identity and identity leadership interventions might be adapted to train therapists in relevant identity-building skills.