Sylvie Jutras

Gender roles and care giving to the elderly: An empirical study

The purpose of this research was to examine care giving to the elderly from a gender role perspective. Data were collected from a randomized sample of Québec care givers (n=294) who provide various levels of care giving to people with different kinds of impairments. The results indicate that although women provide more care than men, both experience an equivalent burden. Familial obligations (Presence of a Spouse × Presence of Children) affect men and women care givers differently. An intersex generation effect is evident with regard to professional burden: husband care givers report a greater burden than wives, whereas daughters and sons report the same level. The findings suggest that men have more difficulty assuming responsibilities associated with multiple roles, whereas women have adopted new roles in addition to the traditionally ascribed care-giving role.

A description of 5- to 12-year old children's conception of health within the context of their daily life

Abstract This study describes childrens conception of health within the context of their daily life. Participants were boys and girls (n = 1,674) from three age groups (5–6, 8–9, and 11–12 years old) from different socio-economic living environments in urban and rural areas. In general, the results indicate that childrens conception of health is multidimensional and is rooted in their daily-life experiences. Essentially, it is organized around three main dimensions, functionality, adherence to good lifestyle health habits, and mental health. Variations by age and living environment differences suggest that childrens conception of health may reflect differences in their organization of information into schemata on the basis of their experience as well as structural changes in cognitive development.

Conception of Wellness in Families with a Diabetic Child

Focusing on wellness and adopting perspectives from positive and perceptual psychology, perceptions about health and illness were studied in 55 families with diabetic children, their siblings (8–17 years old) and mothers. Individual interviews were conducted on definitions of wellness, rationale for children’s self-evaluation of wellness, consequences of wellness and definition of diabetes. Content analysis revealed that respondents have a comprehensive definition of wellness focusing on adaptation and performance. Significant role-specific differences emerged. Mothers’ perceptions reflected their role in caregiving and socializing children. Children emphasized school performance and absence of health problems. Siblings focused on harmonious relationships. In accordance with the perspective of positive psychology, adults’ as well as children’s perceptions are congruent with the pursuit of wellness despite chronic illness.

Housing priorities of persons with a spinal cord injury and their household members

Abstract Purpose: This study aimed to identify the housing priorities of families living with persons with a spinal cord injury (SCI). Method: A new tool, the psycho-environmental housing priorities (PEHP), was developed following the principles of Q-methodology and based on the psycho-environmental model. The PEHP includes 48 items concerning housing needs that were presented to 29 persons with SCI and to 30 of their household members to determine the more important needs in their home. Results: Four different profiles of housing priorities emerged from the analysis, with persons with SCI and household members being dispersed across these profiles. Some needs, such as social contact and security, were identified as priorities in all the profiles while others, such as pleasure, were unique to some profiles. Conclusions: Our study highlights the heterogeneity of housing needs and the importance of addressing each family as unique when considering housing. The results also show that some housing needs ought to be considered because they were identified as important by everyone. Rehabilitation professionals could use the PEHP as a tool to help households living with a person with SCI plan their housing modifications to better meet the needs of all inhabitants. Implications for Rehabilitation Spinal cord injury causes impairment that significantly alters the relationship with the housing environment and modifies the relative importance of housing needs. Persons with SCI and household members have varying housing needs, as suggested by the identification of four distinct profiles of housing priorities using the psycho-environmental housing priorities (PEHP). The security and social contact needs emerge as important in all profiles and may be considered “universal needs”. Rehabilitation professionals may use the PEHP as a tool to help households living with a person with SCI plan their housing modifications, for instance to identify compatible and conflicting priorities, and develop solutions agreeable to everyone. Using PEHP in the modification process could contribute to the household’s feeling of autonomy and control.

Réappropriation de l’espace résidentiel des familles où vit une personne lésée médullaire Reappropriation of residential space of families with a person with a spinal cord injury

BACKGROUND To date, we do not know how home adaptations transform the residential experience of people with disabilities and their families. PURPOSE This study aimed to describe the residential reappropriation process of people with spinal cord injury and their families. METHOD Interviews with 31 people with spinal cord injuries and 31 family members focused on the adaptations, satisfaction with the adaptations, territorial behaviour at home, and family functioning. FINDINGS Adaptations aimed to sustain the disabled persons autonomy and mobility. Participants were satisfied with the physical adaptations, particularly in regard to convenience and feeling safe. Territorial behaviour supported the need for control and freedom. A more successful reappropriation process was associated with more effective family functioning. IMPLICATIONS Territorial behaviours and effective family functioning should be considered by occupational therapists working with families.Background. To date, we do not know how home adaptations transform the residential experience of people with disabilities and their families. Purpose. This study aimed to describe the residential reappropriation process of people with spinal cord injury and their families. Method. Interviews with 31 people with spinal cord injuries and 31 family members focused on the adaptations, satisfaction with the adaptations, territorial behaviour at home, and family functioning. Findings. Adaptations aimed to sustain the disabled person’s autonomy and mobility. Participants were satisfied with the physical adaptations, particularly in regard to convenience and feeling safe. Territorial behaviour supported the need for control and freedom. A more successful reappropriation process was associated with more effective family functioning. Implications. Territorial behaviours and effective family functioning should be considered by occupational therapists working with families.

The Potential Role of Benefit and Burden Finding in School Engagement ofYoung Leukemia Survivors: An Exploratory Study

Childhood cancer may radically change the daily lives of young survivors, particularly in school. Depending on the sense they derive from the experience of illness, survivors may go through profound transformations in the way they approach life. Using a mixed methods approach, this exploratory study reports on school engagement of cancer survivors by examining their perceptions of benefits and burdens in relation to their illness. Forty-nine young Quebecers, previously diagnosed and treated for leukemia, completed a questionnaire measuring their school engagement and participated in an interview focusing on the impact of cancer on their lives. Perceptions with regard to the presence and types of benefits and burdens were described and examined in light of participants’ characteristics. An analysis of variance explored if the presence/absence of benefits and burdens were associated with participants’ scores regarding school engagement. Most participants mentioned benefits from having had cancer, and in particular benefits at an interpersonal level. Half of the participants mentioned burdens, mainly of a physical and psychological nature. Significant correlations indicated that 1) the older survivors were, the more likely they were to report benefits in terms of qualities and strengths of character, and 2) the more time had elapsed since their diagnosis, the more survivors were likely to report psychological types of burdens. A main effect indicated that school engagement was greater for survivors who perceived the presence of benefits. An interaction effect revealed that the perception of both benefits and burdens predicts the highest scores of school engagement. While the results reveal the promising potential that an optimistic yet realistic disposition has in regard to school engagement, more research is necessary to further our understanding of such a disposition, as well as its potential to contribute to the adaptation of young cancer survivors within the various spheres of their lives.

Types and Influence of Social Support on School Engagement of Young Survivors of Leukemia

The present study aimed to describe and explore the influence of social support on the school engagement of young survivors of pediatric leukemia. Fifty-three young Quebecers, previously diagnosed and treated for leukemia, completed a questionnaire measuring their school engagement and participated in an interview focusing on the support offered by four groups of relations with regard to school: parents, siblings, friends, and other nonprofessional relations. The interview responses revealed that parents were perceived to be the primary source of informational and emotional support, with support also provided to a lesser extent by friends, siblings, and members of the extended family. Inferential analyses indicated that young survivors report a higher school engagement score when they perceive themselves as receiving support from a greater number of groups of relations, especially from friends or siblings.

Access to Breast Cancer Screening Programs for Women with Disabilities

Background. The goal of this study was to identify measures to facilitate access to the Quebec Breast Cancer Screening Program for women with activity limitations, considering the barriers to screening uptake in that population. Methods. The study was carried out in three stages. First, 124 semi-structured interviews were conducted in five regions of Quebec with five groups of key informants. The content analysis lead to the identification of 64 proposals, which were submitted to 31 experts through a two-round Delphi survey process. Finally, consultations were held with 11 resource people to determine which decision-making levels (local, regional, provincial) could play a key role in implementing the proposals. Results. A strong consensus (≥80%) was achieved for 25 proposals seen as highly relevant and feasible. Discussion. The implementation of such proposals could substantially improve access to screening, given the prevalence of activity limitations in the age group targeted by the program.