OAR@UM Collection:

Anxiety, depression and stress in parents and siblings of people who have Prader-Willi syndrome : morbidity prevalence and mitigating factors

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Anxiety, depression and stress in parents and siblings of people who have Prader-Willi syndrome : morbidity prevalence and mitigating factors Authors: Micallef Pulè, Kristina; Hughes, Brian M. Abstract: Background: Individuals with PWS need constant support and/or supervision, which creates a high caregiver burden on their parents and siblings. Previous research has identified adverse stress outcomes in relatively small and country- specific samples. This study's aims were to examine stress outcomes in a large multi- country sample of parents and siblings and to expand upon previous research by incorporating data on psychosocial factors that may mitigate stress outcomes. Methods: The sample comprised 135 parents of a child with PWS, with additional data for 45 siblings as reported by parents. Participants were recruited from 31 countries, spanning Europe, North and South America, Africa, Asia and Australasia, who participated by completing an online questionnaire that included standardised psychometric measures of depression and anxiety (HADS), life stress (PSS), PTSD symptoms (CATS- C) and family cohesion (FACES II). Outcomes were compared to published population norms, and multiple regression was used to investigate the role of potential exacerbating and mitigating factors. Results: Findings revealed high rates of mental pathologies in both parents and siblings. Parents' scores for depression and anxiety indicated high rates of caseness: 67.4% of parents exhibited ‘abnormal’ levels of anxiety, while 15.6% exhibited ‘borderline abnormal’ levels; 34.8% exhibited ‘abnormal’ levels of depression, with 22.2% exhibiting ‘borderline abnormal’ levels. Younger parents exhibited higher anxiety than older parents (p = 0.007); younger male parents reported higher depression than older male parents (p = 0.029). Parents whose child with PWS lived in the family home exhibited higher depression scores than parents whose child with PWS lived away from home (p = 0.035). Family cohesion was inversely associated with parental depression (p < 0.001) and parental anxiety (p = 0.012), even when statistically controlling for age of parent, age of child with PWS and pa rental education level. Scores for life stress were markedly higher than population norms, with 88.7% of parents exhibiting ‘high’ or ‘moderate’ life stress. Parental life stress was significantly correlated with temper outburst severity in their child with PWS (p < 0.001) and with food problem severity (p < 0.001). All siblings exhibited at least one symptom of PTSD, with 28.9% of siblings exhibiting ‘clinically relevant’ levels of PTSD symptoms. Sibling PTSD symptom levels were significantly associated with temper outburst severity in the child with PWS (p = 0.025) but not with ratings of food problem severity (p = 0.114). Family cohesion was inversely associated with PTSD symptoms in siblings (p = 0.022). Conclusions: PWS impacts families negatively, and relatives suffer as a result. The findings of this study confirm that parents and siblings of persons with PWS exhibit clinically notable levels of mental pathology. Strategies to enhance family cohesion should be employed to help diminish adverse outcomes among PWS families.

The story of the minotaur and the science within

Sun, 24 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Title: The story of the minotaur and the science within Abstract: Jeremy Grech, inspired by a TED Talk on the Minotaur, has created a show that blends mythology and science for this year’s Science in the City festival. His workshop, MythoXjenza, held at the Catholic Institute in Floriana, uses the story of the Minotaur to explore scientific themes, particularly seismic events.

Research, Innovation and Development Trust (RIDT) : annual report 2022

Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Research, Innovation and Development Trust (RIDT) : annual report 2022 Abstract: 1/ VELLA, Alfred J. - Message by the chairman -- 2/ KENELY, Wilfred - Message by the CEO -- 3/ RIDT in numbers -- 4/ ALIVE - 10 years of cycling for cancer research -- 5/ Conserving the Great Siege wall paintings cycle -- 6/ BORG, Joseph - Out of this world MALETH II research in space -- 7/ Creating legacies research in ALS -- 8/ Europa Donna sponsors second Ph.D. scholarship -- 9/ Further support for renal research by LifeCycle -- 10/ Chair in Economics Central Bank of Malta re-instates Chair in Economics -- 11/ Women in research -- 12/ Grandmaster's delights an evening of art and beauty at the Grandmaster's Palace, Valletta -- 13/ Christmas celebration concert -- 14/ Communicating our message -- 15/ BUTTIGIEG, Claudette - New position at RIDT -- 16/ Our supporters -- 17/ How can you help? -- 18/ RIDT management accounts December 2022 -- 19/ Thanking all our supports

National policy for science and technology

Tue, 01 Jan 1985 00:00:00 GMT

Title: National policy for science and technology Abstract: The mission described in the present report was carried out from 1 to 25 March 1985 at the request of the Government of Malta, and was funded by UNESCO under its Regular Programme for 1984-1985. The purpose of the mission was: - to assist the Government of Malta in elaborating their national policy for scientific research and in the choice and determination of priorities among the research projects; - to make an assessment of the existing national research potential and the local science and technical educational capacities available at national technical institutions, paying special attention to the criteria of pertinence of research to the national objectives of development as well as to the criteria of excellence with regard to the quality of the research.