Participation in team sports during adolescence may be associated with improved physical, psychological, and social health. Nevertheless, an increasing number of adolescents are leaving team sports (e.g., hockey, soccer). Previous research suggests that dissatisfaction or negative experiences can increase the risk for dropout, yet qualitative studies into adolescents’ perspectives and the underlying mechanisms of dropout remain limited. Therefore, this study aimed to explore adolescents’ experiences of participating and dropping out of team sports using constructivist grounded theory. 14 adolescents (5 males and 9 females) between 13 and 18 years old participated in interviews. A substantial grounded theory was created through coding and constant comparison. The results show that dropping out of team sports is a process of “Losing fun” involving two main mechanisms: perceiving changed demands and re-evaluating. When adolescents’ navigation of demands makes them perceive changed demands, it initiates a process of re-evaluating their sport. This involves questioning the meaningfulness of their sport and struggling with negative emotions. Finally, when team sports are evaluated as mainly associated with negative emotions and not meaningful, the adolescents regard it as not fun and drop out. The findings highlight considering adolescents’ perspectives on what makes sport meaningful and fun to promote sustained participation. These study results can be used to inform how team sport clubs foster meaningful and fun environments that support continued engagement. © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a complication of childbirth that may impair the overall health of women. We hypothesized that women with symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse (sPOP) would rate their health lower than women without sPOP 1 year after childbirth.

METHODS: The Swedish National Pregnancy Register, and the Pregnancy Survey were merged and searched for women with data on self-rated health and POP 1 year after childbirth. The women (n = 43,082), who answered these validated questions in the Pregnancy Survey between December 2022 and October 2024 comprised our study population, of which 40,392 were included in the final analysis. Analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and a binary logistic regression model to estimate the associations between self-rated health and sPOP 1 year after childbirth.

RESULTS: In total, 5704 (13.2%) participants reported sPOP; 1617 (28.3%) women with sPOP and 6669 (17.8%) women without sPOP rated their health as poor. sPOP was associated with poor self-rated health 1 year after childbirth (OR 1.557, 95% CI 1.453-1.669). Additionally, the following covariates: low education, urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, and poor self-rated health before pregnancy were also associated with poor self-rated health 1 year after childbirth.

CONCLUSIONS: Women with sPOP had higher odds of reporting poor self-rated health 1 year after childbirth compared to women without sPOP. In Sweden, sPOP represents a public health concern affecting women in their prime years and may lead to poorer health outcomes throughout the rest of their lives. © The Author(s) 2025.

HYPOTHESIS / AIMS OF STUDY This unique study explores, from the men’s perspective, what it means to live with a partner affected by symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse after vaginal birth.

STUDY DESIGN, MATERIALS AND METHODS A qualitative, exploratory design was used to analyze interviews with 13 men whose women experienced symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse (sPOP) after vaginal birth. The data presented in this abstract stem from an original dataset based on the interviews obtained using purposive sampling, recruiting men via their women on social media. The mean age of men was 38 (30–47) years. All men were present during childbirth. The mean age of women was 34 (29–40) years.The time from symptoms onset to interview ranged from one to eight years, with an average of four years. Eight out of the 13 women were diagnosed with both sPOP and levator injuries. Written consent was obtained from both partners.

RESULTS The findings revealed that men were impacted by women’s sPOP, facing unexpected challenges that restricted many aspects of their lives and affected both present dynamics and prospects. Instead of sharing duties with women, men often had to take on caregiving roles for newborns and mothers, managing household tasks while providing nurturing care and emotional support. These added demands led to feelings of stress, insufficiency, and powerlessness, resulting in domestic conflicts and strained relationships. Furthermore, women’s sPOP forced couples to give up previously shared activities, such as running and dancing, which harmed their relationship dynamics. When partners continued activities alone, guilt diminished their enjoyment, leading some to withdraw, which, in turn, worsened their physical condition and caused weight gain. Reduced exercise fostered lasting habits that persisted over time. Another profound negative consequence of sPOP was the impact on intimate life. In some cases, a ‘virtually non-existent sex life’ led to a sense of drifting apart, creating emotional distance, contributing to reduced well-being, and even pushing couples to the brink of separation. In addition, future family planning was challenged. Some couples avoided more children, while others required a C-section guarantee, and one chose to have an abortion due to fear of further pelvic floor injuries.

INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS The results mirror the findings from a study on women’s experiences on sPOP, which impacted sexual health, restricted activities, and impaired parenting, compromising psychological health and affecting relationship harmony (1). A key finding of the current study is that sPOP and levator injuries have long-lasting consequences not only for women’s health but also for their men’s well-being and, ultimately, for the well-being of the entire family, altering life plans and influencing future reproductive decisions. The result highlights the need to develop and implement preventive prenatal and intrapartum practices to avoid pelvic floor injuries and to provide information on health risks associated with vaginal birth. However, obstetricians and midwives reported difficulties communicating material risks despite legal requirements (2). Work must be done to align maternity care practices with statutory requirements and ensure women’s right to information on risks and preventive measures for injury, as stipulated in the Patient Act in Sweden (3).

CONCLUDING MESSAGE Women’s sPOP negatively impacted their men’s well-being, affecting family dynamics and shaping life plans and reproductive choices. There is a need for individualized prenatal risk assessment for sPOP and the implementation of preventive strategies. Equally important is informing women and, if appropriate, their spouses about the potential risk of sPOP and levator injuries after vaginal birth to ensure informed choices. When birth trauma occurs, providing adequate support and management is essential.

© 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of International Continence Society. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Background: Midwives are essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goal on sexual and reproductive health. However, midwifery shortage challenge healthcare organisations globally. The aim was to analyse cross-sectional and prospective associations between independent variables: 'possibilities of development'; 'quality of work'; 'role conflict'; 'recognition'; 'self-rated health' and 'burnout' and dependent variables: 'intention to leave current position' and 'intention to quit midwifery'.

Methods: In 2020 a nation-wide web-survey was distributed to midwives in Sweden (n = 5076) listed as members in unions that organise midwives. This was repeated in 2023 (n = 4398 midwives). Cross-sectional (n = 3696) and prospective (n = 531/406) uni- and multivariable logistic regressions were performed.

Results: We found a lower probability of intention to leave current position in respondents who reported possibilities for development, quality of work and recognition while those reporting role conflicts and burnout had a higher probability of intention to leave current position. In the first prospective analysis (n = 531) we found that reporting good quality of work and recognition at baseline were associated with a lower probability of reporting intention to leave current position at follow-up while burnout at baseline was associated with a higher probability of reporting intention to leave current position at follow-up. In the second prospective analysis (n = 406) we excluded respondents who reported intention to leave current position at baseline and found that only quality of work at baseline predicted a low probability of intention to leave at follow-up. For the second dependent variable, intention to quit midwifery, we found that possibilities for development and recognition was associated with a lower probability to quit while burnout was associated with a higher probability. In the first prospective analysis, we found that recognition at baseline was associated with a lower probability to quit while burnout at baseline was associated with a higher probability. When excluding those who reported intention to quit midwifery at baseline, we found that recognition and self-rated health was associated with a lower probability to report intention to quit at follow-up.

Conclusion: Quality of work, recognition and health appeared to be important for retention among midwives. Recognition stands out as a humble but relevant wish from a professional group of great importance for health care.Keywords: Intention to leave; Midwives; Work characteristics. © 2025 The Author(s).

Background: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of incurable visual impairment and impacts daily life. There are benefits of physical activity for people who are affected with AMD; however, living with AMD is associated with lower levels of physical activity and social isolation. The aim of this study was to explore how older people with AMD in Sweden experienced participation in a 6-month empowerment-based physical activity intervention and how it influenced their physical abilities. Methods: The participants were nine individuals with AMD aged 70–87 years. The intervention comprised physical and social activities in a group twice a week and individual health coaching on three occasions. The study was based on an exploratory qualitative case study design. Results: The findings showed two themes: created meaningfulness in life and creative and playful ways to develop body movements. The findings also showed improved muscle strength after the intervention. Conclusions: The findings showed that participants had increased social connectedness, improved physical self-efficacy and physical ability, as well as improved muscle strength. The empowerment process of the intervention was appreciated by the participants and challenged them to participate in physical activity offered by the municipality for older individuals. © 2024 by the authors.

BACKGROUND: Mental ill health among children and adolescents has increased worldwide. Mental health difficulties from a young age are associated with school absence and educational underachievement. A holistic perspective of treatments besides medical treatment is essential Thus, there is a need for research regarding equine-assisted intervention (EAI).

PURPOSE: The present study aimed to understand the outcomes of an equine-assisted intervention for children and adolescents with mental ill health from the perspectives of parents and close relatives.

METHODS: This study used a qualitative research design informed by Charmaz's Grounded Theory, with a purposive sample including six in-depth interviews.

RESULTS: The theory "building up bit by bit" was constructed, explaining the recognition that their children/adolescents were built up bit by bit and created a stronger self-identity. The participants referred to changes in the child's or adolescent's way of being and emotional regulation, which constituted building blocks leading to the child's or adolescent's increased Harmony, enhanced Self-identity, and improved Capability.

CONCLUSION: Parents and close relatives experienced that their child or adolescent was built up bit by bit and gained a stronger foundation to stand on. This led to increased harmony in everyday life with stronger self-worth, better performance, and reduced school absenteeism.

Background: Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is an eye disease associated with age that causes progressive and irreversible loss of central vision, while the peripheral visual ability remains. The present study explored what it means to live with AMD through the eyes of those living with the condition. Methods: This is an explorative interview study. People who were ≥ 65 years old, living in their own homes, and diagnosed with advanced dry AMD in one or both eyes, causing a visual acuity of no more than 0.3 or worse in the best eye, were invited to participate in the study. The method chosen was the constructivist grounded theory, where reality is seen as fundamentally social and processual and a way of accessing the participants' experiences, thoughts, and feelings. Results: In total, 12 interviews were conducted. Living with dry AMD confronted different problems and challenges. The substantive theory, Perpetuating ability to live life as usual, is characterised by a desire to continue life as usual, which requires an acceptance of the disease's progress, self-acceptance of the new me, and an acceptance that you must live the new life a little more carefully. Moreover, the participants used three strategies to resolve the main concern: 1) Navigating the new normal, 2) Trusting own ability, and 3) Interdepending. Conclusion: Maintaining an everyday life is the primary concern among people with AMD. In supporting self-care, gaining information about the subjective experience to support their everyday living is of the utmost importance. This grounded theory captures valuable knowledge of how the older adults resolved their main concern “you got to keep on” despite their affected vision by “facing the fact” live life as usual since life continues. Our study also gives rise both to implications for research and practice in order to strengthen older people with AMD facing their future challenges. Trial registration: The Swedish Ethical Review Authority (EPN 2021/02877). © 2024, The Author(s).

Aims and objectives

The aim was to conduct a synthesis of the literature on value-creating care for older persons with incontinence provided with toileting assistance and containment strategies, from the perspectives of older persons and healthcare professionals.

Background

Incontinence is a health problem for many persons worldwide and the problem will increase as the global population ages. It can have a profound impact on a person's wellbeing, and assistance with toileting and containment strategies is common in home care settings and nursing homes.

Design

The design was a literature review with an iterative, reflexive and critical approach.

Methods

A critical interpretive synthesis was conducted. Ten papers published between 2011 and 2019 were analysed. The PRISMA -ScR Checklist was used in this review.

Results

Based on the findings, the conceptual construct ‘The art of connectedness’ was developed, built on co-created care, personalised care and reflective care between the older person and healthcare professionals. Co-created care is based on establishing a relationship, building trust and respecting preferences. Personalised care consists of meeting the person's needs, promoting comfort and maintaining self-determination. Reflective care entails showing empathy, upholding the person's dignity and developing professional competence.

Conclusions

Value-creating care consists conceptually of a connectedness that starts with co-creating the care together with the older person in a close relationship. Assistance is given and received based on the older person's individual needs and is highly valued by the older person as it helps them maintain self-determination. Reflective care is of importance for healthcare professionals.

Relevance for practice

The findings are hoped to enhance healthcare professionals’ understanding of how to improve the clinical encounter in nursing when providing assistance. They may also stimulate critical reflection among healthcare professionals on how to improve assistance to meet the older person's values. © 2022 The Authors. 

INTRODUCTION: Symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse (sPOP) can have a negative impact on a woman's health. While research exists about the impact of sPOP on women, little is known about the effect on their partners. Therefore, this study aimed to explore, from the partner's perspective, what it means to live with a woman with symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse after vaginal birth. METHODS: A qualitative explorative design with a constructed grounded theory approach was taken to analyse the interviews of 13 partners who experienced living with a woman who had sPOP after vaginal birth. RESULTS: "The theory of bearing the burden of spill-over effects" was constructed based on a core category: "Facing a new restricted life", with related categories "Giving up valued activities"; "Struggling with added demands"; "Changing intimate behaviour" and "Redefining future family planning". The theory also contains factors constraining and enabling adjustment to the new reality. While the shortcomings of healthcare constrained the process of adjustment, getting competent treatment and the feeling of love for the family enabled it. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that women's sPOP had an apparently negative impact on partners' health behaviours, sexual health, relationship harmony, and psychological well-being. The partners indicated they were unprepared for post-birth adversities and distressed by the lack of treatment options. There is a need to develop prenatal information highlighting the potential risks of sPOP which may be accompanied by levator ani muscle injury, implement guidelines for the prevention and management of these conditions, and offer targeted support to partners if needed. Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.