Christoph Käppler

The Role of Gender and Religiosity in Positive Body Image Development Among Adolescents in Germany

Both religiosity and body image can be understood to be social constructs that vary, like many other aspects, as a function of differential gender socialization. Gender differences and similarities in body experience and religiosity have each been amply documented across a wide range of disciplines, suggesting that boys and men have a more positive view of their bodies than girls and women1 and that females are more religious than males.2 In psychology, however, there has been little research examining the complexity of the relationships linking gender, religiosity, and the body, and very few examples of research focusing on the developmentally pivotal period of adolescence. In recognition of the interconnected socialization processes that underlie the rules and norms associated with gender, body experience and religiosity, it is clear that the possible interactions between these constructs are well worth closer examination. This article attempts to fill part of this gap by reporting on results from a short longitudinal study

Patients with Spina Bifida and their Caregivers Feelings about Intermittent Bladder Catheterization in Brazil and Germany: A Correlational Study.

A major complication for individuals with spina bifida (SB) is managing their neurogenic bladder. For many, this process evokes negative feelings associated with guilt, dependence, and lack of self-worth. Purpose: The aim of the study was to compare feelings that hinder the performing of intermittent bladder catheterization reported by individuals with SB and their families in two countries of different sociocultural characteristics: Brazil and Germany. Design and Methods: Quantitative and comparative study with convenience sampling. The sample comprised 200 SB patients and their caregivers, 100 from Brazil and 100 from Germany. Findings: When asked about the existence of negative feelings or ideas that may hinder the performance of key person responsible for IC, 155 (77.5%) participants did not report such feelings. On the other hand, 45 (22.5%) reported emotional difficulties; among these participants, 31 (69%) were Brazilians and 14 (31%) were Germans. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Although emotional factors are important to the adjustment of using IC methods for bladder management, the majority of people with SB and their caregivers seem to report no major emotional difficulties with this process. Yet a considerable group of participants did report such emotional difficulties associated with fear and shame. Knowing more about the factors associated with such negative feelings can facilitate interactions, provide mutual aid, and assist with resolution of practical concerns related to intermittent bladder catheterization.

USO DE QUESTIONÁRIO ONLINE E DIVULGAÇÃO VIRTUAL COMO ESTRATÉGIA DE COLETA DE DADOS EM ESTUDOS CIENTÍFICOS

Este estudio describe el uso de un cuestionario online y su divulgacion virtual como una estrategia de recoleccion de datos. El instrumento online fue desarrollado utilizando una plataforma virtual, creando un link que se publico en ambientes virtuales. Participaron 100 alemanes con Espina Bifida. 149 personas tuvieron acceso al link, 83 oriundos de foros virtuales, 27 de correos electronicos, 26 de redes sociales, 10 provenientes de la asociacion alemana de espina bifida y 3 del website de la universidad. Con el 55,7% de los participantes, el medio de divulgacion mas agil para la captura fue el foro virtual. Se sugiere que este metodo sea utilizado para investigaciones futuras que involucren varios paises, esto debido a la velocidad, la economia, el buen uso de respuestas y por permitir a superar la barrera del idioma. Se requieren politicas publicas que apoyen el acceso de las personas a Internet, para que estos estudios se realicen con exito.This study describes the use of online questionnaires and their virtual dissemination as a data collection strategy in Germany. The online questionnaire was...

Factors Influencing the Use of Intermittent Bladder Catheterization by Individuals with Spina Bifida in Brazil and Germany

Purpose: Intermittent catheterization (IC) often is essential for individuals with spina bifida/myelomeningocele (SBM) and neurogenic bladder. This study aimed to identify and analyze the factors that influence the use of IC. Design and Methods: Descriptive study with convenience sampling. Data were collected using printed (Brazil) and online (Germany) questionnaires, and analyzed using multivariate logistical regression and analysis of variance. The study included 100 Brazilian and 100 German patients, aged 0–55 years, with SBM who utilized IC. Findings: Intermittent catheterization was used by 188 of the 200 patients. Three variables were important for predicting who did or did not use IC: no discontinuation of IC, absence of technical difficulty, and daily frequency of IC. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Findings suggest that difficulties with IC use experienced by spina bifida patients and their family members that predicted full discontinuation tended to be personal variables, rather than demographic or medical characteristics.

Predictive Factors for Intermittent Self-catheterization in German and Brazilian Individuals With Spina Bifida and Neurogenic Bladder Dysfunction.

PURPOSE: Our study aimed to identify predictive factors for the use of intermittent self-catheterization (ISC) in persons with spina bifida (SB) and neurogenic bladder. Cultural effects were evaluated by comparing ISC use in individuals from 2 countries, Germany and Brazil. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, descriptive study. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: The study included 71 Brazilian and 77 German individuals with SB (108 females and 92 males), aged between 6 and 55 years, who have used ISC for bladder management. METHODS: Data were collected using printed (Brazil) and online (Germany) questionnaires, with 53 questions related to intermittent catheterization (IC) technique, the materials used in IC, difficulties with IC, and sociodemographic and health variables. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance and multivariate logistical regression. RESULTS: Self-catheterization and assisted catheterization were used for 92 and 56 patients, respectively. Intermittent self-catheterization was more common in German participants (79.2%), while most Brazilian participants used assisted catheterization (56.3%). The following variables influenced the choice of catheterization method, according to logistic regression: age, education level, presence of hydrocephalus, severity of SB, and nationality. The variables unrelated to ISC use included gender, difficulty obtaining ISC equipment or learning to perform ISC, and wheelchair dependency. CONCLUSIONS: The identification of predictive factors for ISC improved our understanding of ISC in SB patients and should aid in the development of more effective strategies to increase ISC use.

Models of Self in Families of People with Spina Bifida

Os modelos de self revelam a visao cultural acerca das competencias que as criancas devem adquirir e tendem a ser compartilhados pelas pessoas que integram o mesmo ambiente. Neste sentido, este estudo objetiva avaliar os modelos de self em familias de pessoas com espinha bifida. Dezessete cuidadores responderam um questionario virtual contendo questoes sociodemograficas e tres Escalas de Self: Autonomo, Relacionado e Autonomo Relacionado. Os dados foram tratados por meio de estatistica descritiva, com tecnicas de analises multivariadas. Os principais resultados indicam que o modelo de self mais valorizado foi o autonomo relacional que se reflete no desejo que os filhos e filhas desenvolvam a autonomia e, tambem, relacionamentos interpessoais. Tal modelo, porem, distingue-se dos grupos familiares de pessoas com desenvolvimento tipico que residem no mesmo ambiente cultural, o que evidencia a necessidade das familias de pessoas com espinha bifida receberem apoio para alcancarem seus alvos desenvolvimentais.

USO DE CUESTIONARIO Y DIVULGACIÓN VIRTUALES COMO ESTRATEGIA PARA LA RECOGIDA DE DATOS DE ESTUDIOS CIENTÍFICOS

Este estudio describe el uso de un cuestionario online y su divulgacion virtual como una estrategia de recoleccion de datos. El instrumento online fue desarrollado utilizando una plataforma virtual, creando un link que se publico en ambientes virtuales. Participaron 100 alemanes con Espina Bifida. 149 personas tuvieron acceso al link, 83 oriundos de foros virtuales, 27 de correos electronicos, 26 de redes sociales, 10 provenientes de la asociacion alemana de espina bifida y 3 del website de la universidad. Con el 55,7% de los participantes, el medio de divulgacion mas agil para la captura fue el foro virtual. Se sugiere que este metodo sea utilizado para investigaciones futuras que involucren varios paises, esto debido a la velocidad, la economia, el buen uso de respuestas y por permitir a superar la barrera del idioma. Se requieren politicas publicas que apoyen el acceso de las personas a Internet, para que estos estudios se realicen con exito.This study describes the use of online questionnaires and their virtual dissemination as a data collection strategy in Germany. The online questionnaire was...