Facing social fears: How do improved participants experience change in mindfulness‐based stress reduction for social anxiety disorder?

an article by Aslak Hjeltnes, Elisabeth Schanche and Per‐Einar Binder (University of Bergen, Norway), Christian Moltu (District General Hospital of Førde, Norway) and Ylva Jansen (Akershus University Hospital, Oslo, Norway) published in Counselling & Psychotherapy Research Volume19 Issue 1 March 2019

Abstract

Background
Clinical trials indicate that mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) may be effective for social anxiety disorder (SAD), but little is known about how young adults with SAD experience this intervention.

Aim
The purpose of this study was to explore how improved participants experience the process of change in MBSR for SAD.

Method
We used a two‐staged mixed methods design to identify participants with reliable and clinically significant improvement on primary outcome measures after an eight‐week MBSR programme (n = 11), and analyse qualitative interviews to explore how they experienced their own process of change. The interviews were analysed using a hermeneutic‐phenomenological thematic analysis.

Results
Thematic analysis revealed five main themes: (1) Using awareness of the body to sense that you are actually here right now, (2) Establishing a space that enables you to see negative thoughts for what they are, (3) Allowing fear and shyness through sustained awareness of physical sensations, (4) Transforming an experience of being inferior with kindness and self‐acceptance, and (5) Discovering new ways of engaging with other people.

Conclusions
Participants described increased awareness and acceptance of sensations, thoughts and feelings, as well as greater self‐acceptance and improved interpersonal relationships during the MBSR programme. Future studies are needed to understand how and why individuals change in mindfulness‐based interventions for SAD.

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Social media in emergency management: exploring Twitter use by emergency responders in the UK

an article by Sophie Parsons and Mark Weal (University of Southampton, UK), Nathaniel O'Grady (University of Manchester, UK) and Peter M. Atkinson (University of Lancaster, UK) published in International Journal of Emergency Management Volume 14 Number 4 (2018)

Abstract

Emergency management practices are being reshaped by social media.

Emergency responders are embracing social media to enhance communications during an emergency.

The integration of social media into UK emergency management is ambiguous, and it is uncertain as to whether it is an effective tool. Using a mixed methods approach, this research investigates the UK emergency responders' use of social media for emergency management, focusing in particular on the UK Winter Floods of 2013/14.

Furthermore, the effectiveness of the UK emergency responders' social media activity is examined. This research shows that the responders perceive social media as a useful tool to effectively deliver information to the public, although they do not appear to fully exploit it in an emergency.

While the responders appear to predominantly post caution and advice, the results suggest that information about structures and utilities affected by an incident is most likely to engage an audience.

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