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Jennifer Piatt

Indiana University, School of Public Health, Faculty Member

University of Utah, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Adjunct

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Dr. Piatt's work focuses on addressing clinical outcomes for adults and children with disabling conditions within community-based rehabilitation. Utilizing recreational therapy (RT) as a public health initiative her team attempts to better understand how different interventions can address secondary health conditions, improve health outcomes, and decrease health care costs. Grounded in the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) she examines health within a variety of contexts, including personal and environmental factors, body functions and structure, as well as activity and participation. Dr. Piatt has transitioned to examining social connections, intimacy and sexual health for individuals living with disabling conditions. The research team develops innovative sexual health resources for various populations, primarily women living with a disability.

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George Nicholas

Simon Fraser University

University of Alberta

Gregor Wolbring

University of Calgary

Kansas State University

Melissa Melissa

University of Algarve

Rubén Ruiz-Ramas

Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia

Virginia Commonwealth University

Newcastle University

University of Illinois at Chicago

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Papers by Jennifer Piatt

The Examination of non-pharmacologic treatment of pain after spinal cord injury

Proceedings of IMPRS, Dec 7, 2018

Companionship with a robot? Therapists’ perspectives on socially assistive robots as therapeutic interventions in community mental health for older adults

American journal of recreation therapy, Feb 12, 2017

Lack of companionship, loneliness, and social isolation are often experienced by older adults dia... more Lack of companionship, loneliness, and social isolation are often experienced by older adults diagnosed with clinical depression living independently within the community. Socially assistive robots (SARs), a relatively new concept within recreational therapy, may be one treatment modality that can address each one of these concerns. This exploratory study consisted of interviews with community mental health professionals, including a recreational therapist, to determine if they perceived SARs as an appropriate interdisciplinary clinical intervention for older adults diagnosed with clinical depression. Results indicated that SARs, especially those which can provide companionship and social interaction similar to animal assisted therapy, are an appropriate interdisciplinary intervention for this population and may have an impact on improving overall quality of life by decreasing loneliness and social isolation associated with clinical depression.

A Robot of My Own: Participatory Design of Socially Assistive Robots for Independently Living Older Adults Diagnosed with Depression

Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 2015

This paper presents an ongoing project using participatory design methods to develop design conce... more This paper presents an ongoing project using participatory design methods to develop design concepts for socially assistive robots (SARs) with older adults diagnosed with depression and co-occurring physical illness. We frame SARs development in the context of preventive patient-centered healthcare, which empowers patients as the primary drivers of health and aims to delay the onset of disease rather than focusing on treatment. After describing how SARs can be of benefit in this form of healthcare, we detail our participatory design study with older adults and therapists aimed at developing preventive SARs applications for this population. We found therapists and older adults to be willing and able to participate in assistive robot design, though hands-on participation was a challenge. Our findings suggest that important areas of concern for older adults with depression are social interaction and companionship, as well as technologies that are easy to use and require minimal intervention.

Boundless Playground: Inclusive playground developed by 501C3 organization in cooperation with local communities

Therapeutic recreation journal, 2014

Boundless Playgroundsâ„¢ is a 501C3 nonprofit organization established in 1997. Its mission is â€... more Boundless Playgroundsâ„¢ is a 501C3 nonprofit organization established in 1997. Its mission is â€œto build truly inclusive playgrounds where children and adults of all abilities can play and learn together in a fun and welcoming environmentâ€ (http://www.boundlessplaygrounds.org/Home/About).

Providing Recreation Services for all Individuals

Schole: A Journal of Leisure Studies and Recreation Education, Sep 1, 2011

The effect of leisure coping on depressive symptoms among individuals with depression: examination of potential confounding effects of physical activity and extraversion

Psychology Health & Medicine, Dec 12, 2018

Clinically significant depression has been consistently identified as a phenomenon directly linke... more Clinically significant depression has been consistently identified as a phenomenon directly linked to stress and stress coping. Leisure behavior as purposeful coping strategy (i.e., leisure coping) has been advanced as a potential approach to address depression; however, the leisure coping effect on depressive symptoms has not examined with two potential confounders: physical activity and extraversion. Physical activity's anti-depressant effect is widely known, and there is also a link between extraversion and lower depressive symptoms. The current study examined whether leisure coping has a significant effect on depressive symptoms among individuals with depression when physical activity and extraversion were taken into account. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with respondents recruited from depression support group meetings, an online depression research portal, a state-wide research registry, and an outpatient psychiatric service provider. The analyses included a total of 152 adults (61.8% female) with self-reported depression who were age 18 to 75. A hierarchical regression analysis was performed to identify the strengths of association between leisure coping and depressive symptoms after accounting for covariates (demographics and perceived stress) and potential confounders (physical activity and extraversion). After a statistical control for physical activity and extraversion, leisure coping was significantly associated with lower depressive symptoms (β = -.300, p < .01). Physical activity was a significant predictor of depressive symptoms in the model with leisure coping, but it became non-significant in the model with extraversion. The results suggested that leisure coping contributes to lower depressive symptoms independent from physical activity and extraversion. Introverts may be disadvantaged to take advantage of physical activity, but leisure coping might be one strategy to influence depressive symptoms. Further investigations should seek to verify this relationship as well as explore leisure coping as an intervention for depression.

Leisure behavior and sense of coherence in the context of depression

Journal of Community Psychology, Oct 9, 2019

Aims: Improved sense of coherence (SOC) can protect health among individuals with depression. Lit... more Aims: Improved sense of coherence (SOC) can protect health among individuals with depression. Literature suggests that leisure behavior can improve SOC, yet empirical studies are lacking. The current study aimed to examine whether leisure behavior was associated with SOC and depression. A cross-sectional online survey method was used with a sample of community-living adults (62% female, age 18 to 75 years) with a self-reported current or historical diagnosis of depression recruited from four different depression-related populations. The results of structural equation modeling found that leisure behavior predicted greater SOC as well as lower depressive symptoms. Greater SOC was associated with lower perceived stress and lower depressive symptoms. The total effect size, including both direct and indirect association between leisure behavior and depressive symptoms was .452. The findings suggested the potential benefits of leisure behavior on SOC and depressive symptoms.

Want Sport but Can't find a Team: The Lack of Opportunity for Adolescents with Physical Disabilities

PALAESTRA, Dec 15, 2014

Sport, an important component of U.S. culture, is often not experienced by adolescents with physi... more Sport, an important component of U.S. culture, is often not experienced by adolescents with physical disabilities. Yet, research shows that sport engagement can have positive health outcomes later in life for the adolescent with a physical disability. The unique obstacles related to physical disabilities make healthy development through sport even more difficult for this population. The purpose of this paper is to present current research that examines the importance of sport to this population and the direct impact it has on health outcomes, including identity development.

The Impact of Decreased Capacity to Experience Pleasure on Leisure Coping Strategies among Individuals with Major Depressive Disorder

Leisure Sciences, May 1, 2018

Anhedonia is a key clinical feature of major depressive disorder (MDD) and affects one's capacity... more Anhedonia is a key clinical feature of major depressive disorder (MDD) and affects one's capacity to experience pleasure. This study examined the extent to which anhedonia disrupts the use and the effect of leisure coping strategies. A cross-sectional online survey design was used to recruit individuals with MDD (n = 155). Structural equation modeling was performed to test the models of relationships among perceived stress, anhedonia, leisure coping strategies, and depressive symptoms. The results show that a high level of anhedonia was associated with lower utilization and effects of leisure as a coping strategy (β = -.484, p < .01). However, after accounting for the effect of anhedonia, leisure coping strategies still had a significant negative association with depressive symptoms (β = -.179, p < .05). The results highlighted the significant negative impact of anhedonia on leisure coping strategies and supported its effectiveness in the presence of anhedonia. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a prevalent, pervasive, and chronic disorder. More than 350 million people worldwide live with MDD (World Health Organization, 2015), and approximately 6.7% of adults in the United States experienced MDD in the previous year (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2014). The main features of MDD are persistent low mood, trouble sleeping, fatigue, and loss of interest in things that can cause dysfunction in one's social roles. It is concerning that MDD may occur in debilitating waves, returning repeatedly, with approximately 85% of adults with MDD reporting at least one recurrent major depressive episode after recovery . Once an individual is diagnosed with MDD, maintaining long-term wellness is challenging because of the high likelihood of the recurrence of depressive symptoms and depressive disorders . Stress is also known as a major cause of recurrence of depressive symptoms . Thus, managing stress is an important task for individuals with MDD to maintain their wellness (Mueser et al.

Increasing Opportunities for Healthy Sexual Socialization in LGBTQ+ People with IDD: The Role of LGBTQ+ Organizations and Community

Sexuality and Disability, Apr 25, 2023

In the current intersectionality-focused discourse within sexuality research, individuals existin... more In the current intersectionality-focused discourse within sexuality research, individuals existing at the convergence of intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer+ (LGBTQ+) are often overlooked. Individuals with IDD face difficulties acquiring sexual knowledge and skills due to limited opportunities for sexual socialization, misconceptions concerning sexuality and IDD, lack of comprehensive sexual education, restricted support from staff and caregivers, and a lack of community experiences that facilitate the development of healthy sexuality. When an individual with IDD identifies as LGBTQ+, these disability-related barriers can exacerbate the stigma and discrimination some LGBTQ+ people experience. Using the intimate justice framework, we explore avenues to support and foster inclusivity within the LG-BTQ+ community for members with IDD. Several recommendations were identified from the literature search, including logistical considerations and using accessible language for outreach events, presentations, workshops, training, and other activities and opportunities for sexuality education while challenging disability-related stigma in LGBTQ+ spaces.

Spinal Cord Injury Level, Physician’s Visits, and Perceived Health's Impact on Participation and Autonomy

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Oct 1, 2015

Problematic secondary health conditions among adults with spinal cord injury and its impact on social participation and daily life

Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, Dec 15, 2015

Objective: This exploratory study describes the problematic secondary health conditions among adu... more Objective: This exploratory study describes the problematic secondary health conditions among adults with a spinal cord injury (SCI) and the impact these health concerns have on social participation and daily life. Design: Cross-sectional survey design. Setting: A community-based rehabilitation program within the United States. Participants: Fifty-six adults (33 males and 23 females; age 18 to 73 [M = 39.4, SD = 12.7]) with SCI participating in the community-based rehabilitation program. Methods: Subjects identified the top five problematic secondary health conditions related to his/her SCI, belief about the impact these conditions have on social participation and daily life, and if they believed the secondary health condition(s) were avoidable. Results: The top problematic areas identified were bladder control, pain, bowel control, and pressure ulcers, and 73% felt these problems were unavoidable. In addition, more than 66% had each of these problems continuously during the last 12 months. When examining the impact of the problematic secondary health conditions, 75% identified that the primary problem had a significant impact on social participation and 64% identified it significantly impacted daily life. Conclusion: Although the majority of the participants were actively participating in a community-based rehabilitation wellness program, it appears that they thought engagement in social participation and daily life were negatively impacted by the secondary health conditions and unavoidable. The results suggested unfulfilled goals despite the emphasized efforts of medical providers to help manage the secondary conditions. Future research should examine why individuals with SCI still have a difficult time managing secondary health conditions.

Utilization of socially assistive robots in recreational therapy

American journal of disaster medicine, Apr 1, 2020

Socially assistive robots (SARs) may impact health outcomes when facilitated by recreational ther... more Socially assistive robots (SARs) may impact health outcomes when facilitated by recreational therapists (RTs). It is unclear if RTs have the knowledge or perceive SARs as a relevant facilitation technique. This study sought to understand if a professional continuing education session on SARs improves comfort level. Seventy RTs and students attended the training and completed a retrospective survey. The findings suggest that the training improved participants’ interest and willingness to incorporate SARs, felt less intimidated by the prospect of incorporating SARs, less afraid of making a mistake while using SARs, and found SARs to be a relevant intervention. Further studies are warranted to understand the use of SARs within RT practice. Incorporating emerging technology into practice may create innovative therapeutic interventions to address clinical outcomes.

Conceptualizing socially-assistive robots as a digital therapeutic tool in healthcare

Frontiers in Digital Health

Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven Digital Health (DH) systems are poised to play a critical rol... more Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven Digital Health (DH) systems are poised to play a critical role in the future of healthcare. In 2021, $57.2 billion was invested in DH systems around the world, recognizing the promise this concept holds for aiding in delivery and care management. DH systems traditionally include a blend of various technologies, AI, and physiological biomarkers and have shown a potential to provide support for individuals with various health conditions. Digital therapeutics (DTx) is a more specific set of technology-enabled interventions within the broader DH sphere intended to produce a measurable therapeutic effect. DTx tools can empower both patients and healthcare providers, informing the course of treatment through data-driven interventions while collecting data in real-time and potentially reducing the number of patient office visits needed. In particular, socially assistive robots (SARs), as a DTx tool, can be a beneficial asset to DH systems since data gath...

Understanding Pain in Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury: Implications for Recreational Therapy Practice

Therapeutic Recreation Journal

For individuals with spinal cord injury, pain is the leading secondary health condition. SCI-rela... more For individuals with spinal cord injury, pain is the leading secondary health condition. SCI-related pain is complicated because it is multifaceted in nature. Individuals with SCI-related pain may experience visceral, neuropathic, and musculoskeletal pain at different locations and with varying intensities at the same time or intermittently. In recent years, SCI scholars created a taxonomy to classify SCI-related pain. This classification was to communicate the complexity of SCI-related pain, as well as to help clinicians and individuals with SCI explain pain experiences. Because of the multifaceted nature of SCI-related pain, many individuals with SCI do not experience relief with conventional oral pharmacological options. The purpose of this manuscript is to describe pain and SCI-related pain and to provide implications for recreational therapy practice. Implications include the identification of potential reliable and valid pain measures for individuals with SCI and evidence-base...

Increasing Opportunities for Healthy Sexual Socialization in LGBTQ+ People with IDD: The Role of LGBTQ+ Organizations and Community

Sexuality and Disability

In the current intersectionality-focused discourse within sexuality research, individuals existin... more In the current intersectionality-focused discourse within sexuality research, individuals existing at the convergence of intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer+ (LGBTQ+) are often overlooked. Individuals with IDD face difficulties acquiring sexual knowledge and skills due to limited opportunities for sexual socialization, misconceptions concerning sexuality and IDD, lack of comprehensive sexual education, restricted support from staff and caregivers, and a lack of community experiences that facilitate the development of healthy sexuality. When an individual with IDD identifies as LGBTQ+, these disability-related barriers can exacerbate the stigma and discrimination some LGBTQ+ people experience. Using the intimate justice framework, we explore avenues to support and foster inclusivity within the LG-BTQ+ community for members with IDD. Several recommendations were identified from the literature search, including logistical considerations and using accessible language for outreach events, presentations, workshops, training, and other activities and opportunities for sexuality education while challenging disability-related stigma in LGBTQ+ spaces.

What Skin Is Your Robot In?

Companion of the 2023 ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction

The use of socially assistive robots is able to alleviate some depression symptoms, according to ... more The use of socially assistive robots is able to alleviate some depression symptoms, according to existing research. However, due to comorbidities that often accompany depression and the unique experiences of each individual, it is necessary to get a better understanding of how SARs should be personalized. Through 10 hourlong workshops with 10 individuals living with depression, we explored the customization of a zoomorphic SAR for adults with depression. By using the SAR Therabot ™ as a base platform, participants designed their own unique covering for the robot, and discussed desired robot behaviors and privacy concerns around data collection. Though the physical designs of the robots varied greatly, participants expressed common themes regarding their preference for a soft touchable exterior, comfort with sharing data with their therapists, and interest in the robot producing more realistic sounds and movements, among other design features. • Human-centered computing → HCI design and evaluation methods.

Different Levels of Physical Activity, Physical Health, Happiness, and Depression among Older Adults with Diabetes

Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, 2021

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between different levels of physica... more The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between different levels of physical activity (light, moderate, and vigorous), physical health, happiness, and depression among older adults with diabetes. Using data from the National Social Life, Health and Aging Project (NSHAP) Wave 3, the results indicate that moderate and/or vigorous physical activity is more effective than light physical activity for promoting physical health and happiness and lowering depression of older adults with diabetes. This study suggests that activity professionals and therapists working with older adults with diabetes need to encourage their participation in physical activity as well as adjust a level of physical activity intensity that is tailored to participants’ needs and expectations.

No. 324 The Impact of Perceived Health on Autonomy and Participation Among a SCI Population

Pm&r, Aug 1, 2014

The Impact of Active Learning Instructional Techniques on Recreational Therapy Undergraduate Students

Schole: A Journal of Leisure Studies and Recreation Education, Oct 12, 2021

Over the last several years there has been a call to increase the quality of recreational therapy... more

The Examination of non-pharmacologic treatment of pain after spinal cord injury

Proceedings of IMPRS, Dec 7, 2018

Companionship with a robot? Therapists’ perspectives on socially assistive robots as therapeutic interventions in community mental health for older adults

American journal of recreation therapy, Feb 12, 2017

Lack of companionship, loneliness, and social isolation are often experienced by older adults dia... more Lack of companionship, loneliness, and social isolation are often experienced by older adults diagnosed with clinical depression living independently within the community. Socially assistive robots (SARs), a relatively new concept within recreational therapy, may be one treatment modality that can address each one of these concerns. This exploratory study consisted of interviews with community mental health professionals, including a recreational therapist, to determine if they perceived SARs as an appropriate interdisciplinary clinical intervention for older adults diagnosed with clinical depression. Results indicated that SARs, especially those which can provide companionship and social interaction similar to animal assisted therapy, are an appropriate interdisciplinary intervention for this population and may have an impact on improving overall quality of life by decreasing loneliness and social isolation associated with clinical depression.

A Robot of My Own: Participatory Design of Socially Assistive Robots for Independently Living Older Adults Diagnosed with Depression

Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 2015

This paper presents an ongoing project using participatory design methods to develop design conce... more This paper presents an ongoing project using participatory design methods to develop design concepts for socially assistive robots (SARs) with older adults diagnosed with depression and co-occurring physical illness. We frame SARs development in the context of preventive patient-centered healthcare, which empowers patients as the primary drivers of health and aims to delay the onset of disease rather than focusing on treatment. After describing how SARs can be of benefit in this form of healthcare, we detail our participatory design study with older adults and therapists aimed at developing preventive SARs applications for this population. We found therapists and older adults to be willing and able to participate in assistive robot design, though hands-on participation was a challenge. Our findings suggest that important areas of concern for older adults with depression are social interaction and companionship, as well as technologies that are easy to use and require minimal intervention.

Boundless Playground: Inclusive playground developed by 501C3 organization in cooperation with local communities

Therapeutic recreation journal, 2014

Boundless Playgroundsâ„¢ is a 501C3 nonprofit organization established in 1997. Its mission is â€... more Boundless Playgroundsâ„¢ is a 501C3 nonprofit organization established in 1997. Its mission is â€œto build truly inclusive playgrounds where children and adults of all abilities can play and learn together in a fun and welcoming environmentâ€ (http://www.boundlessplaygrounds.org/Home/About).

Providing Recreation Services for all Individuals

Schole: A Journal of Leisure Studies and Recreation Education, Sep 1, 2011

The effect of leisure coping on depressive symptoms among individuals with depression: examination of potential confounding effects of physical activity and extraversion

Psychology Health & Medicine, Dec 12, 2018

Clinically significant depression has been consistently identified as a phenomenon directly linke... more Clinically significant depression has been consistently identified as a phenomenon directly linked to stress and stress coping. Leisure behavior as purposeful coping strategy (i.e., leisure coping) has been advanced as a potential approach to address depression; however, the leisure coping effect on depressive symptoms has not examined with two potential confounders: physical activity and extraversion. Physical activity's anti-depressant effect is widely known, and there is also a link between extraversion and lower depressive symptoms. The current study examined whether leisure coping has a significant effect on depressive symptoms among individuals with depression when physical activity and extraversion were taken into account. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with respondents recruited from depression support group meetings, an online depression research portal, a state-wide research registry, and an outpatient psychiatric service provider. The analyses included a total of 152 adults (61.8% female) with self-reported depression who were age 18 to 75. A hierarchical regression analysis was performed to identify the strengths of association between leisure coping and depressive symptoms after accounting for covariates (demographics and perceived stress) and potential confounders (physical activity and extraversion). After a statistical control for physical activity and extraversion, leisure coping was significantly associated with lower depressive symptoms (β = -.300, p < .01). Physical activity was a significant predictor of depressive symptoms in the model with leisure coping, but it became non-significant in the model with extraversion. The results suggested that leisure coping contributes to lower depressive symptoms independent from physical activity and extraversion. Introverts may be disadvantaged to take advantage of physical activity, but leisure coping might be one strategy to influence depressive symptoms. Further investigations should seek to verify this relationship as well as explore leisure coping as an intervention for depression.

Leisure behavior and sense of coherence in the context of depression

Journal of Community Psychology, Oct 9, 2019

Aims: Improved sense of coherence (SOC) can protect health among individuals with depression. Lit... more Aims: Improved sense of coherence (SOC) can protect health among individuals with depression. Literature suggests that leisure behavior can improve SOC, yet empirical studies are lacking. The current study aimed to examine whether leisure behavior was associated with SOC and depression. A cross-sectional online survey method was used with a sample of community-living adults (62% female, age 18 to 75 years) with a self-reported current or historical diagnosis of depression recruited from four different depression-related populations. The results of structural equation modeling found that leisure behavior predicted greater SOC as well as lower depressive symptoms. Greater SOC was associated with lower perceived stress and lower depressive symptoms. The total effect size, including both direct and indirect association between leisure behavior and depressive symptoms was .452. The findings suggested the potential benefits of leisure behavior on SOC and depressive symptoms.

Want Sport but Can't find a Team: The Lack of Opportunity for Adolescents with Physical Disabilities

PALAESTRA, Dec 15, 2014

Sport, an important component of U.S. culture, is often not experienced by adolescents with physi... more Sport, an important component of U.S. culture, is often not experienced by adolescents with physical disabilities. Yet, research shows that sport engagement can have positive health outcomes later in life for the adolescent with a physical disability. The unique obstacles related to physical disabilities make healthy development through sport even more difficult for this population. The purpose of this paper is to present current research that examines the importance of sport to this population and the direct impact it has on health outcomes, including identity development.

The Impact of Decreased Capacity to Experience Pleasure on Leisure Coping Strategies among Individuals with Major Depressive Disorder

Leisure Sciences, May 1, 2018

Anhedonia is a key clinical feature of major depressive disorder (MDD) and affects one's capacity... more Anhedonia is a key clinical feature of major depressive disorder (MDD) and affects one's capacity to experience pleasure. This study examined the extent to which anhedonia disrupts the use and the effect of leisure coping strategies. A cross-sectional online survey design was used to recruit individuals with MDD (n = 155). Structural equation modeling was performed to test the models of relationships among perceived stress, anhedonia, leisure coping strategies, and depressive symptoms. The results show that a high level of anhedonia was associated with lower utilization and effects of leisure as a coping strategy (β = -.484, p < .01). However, after accounting for the effect of anhedonia, leisure coping strategies still had a significant negative association with depressive symptoms (β = -.179, p < .05). The results highlighted the significant negative impact of anhedonia on leisure coping strategies and supported its effectiveness in the presence of anhedonia. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a prevalent, pervasive, and chronic disorder. More than 350 million people worldwide live with MDD (World Health Organization, 2015), and approximately 6.7% of adults in the United States experienced MDD in the previous year (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2014). The main features of MDD are persistent low mood, trouble sleeping, fatigue, and loss of interest in things that can cause dysfunction in one's social roles. It is concerning that MDD may occur in debilitating waves, returning repeatedly, with approximately 85% of adults with MDD reporting at least one recurrent major depressive episode after recovery . Once an individual is diagnosed with MDD, maintaining long-term wellness is challenging because of the high likelihood of the recurrence of depressive symptoms and depressive disorders . Stress is also known as a major cause of recurrence of depressive symptoms . Thus, managing stress is an important task for individuals with MDD to maintain their wellness (Mueser et al.

Increasing Opportunities for Healthy Sexual Socialization in LGBTQ+ People with IDD: The Role of LGBTQ+ Organizations and Community

Sexuality and Disability, Apr 25, 2023

In the current intersectionality-focused discourse within sexuality research, individuals existin... more In the current intersectionality-focused discourse within sexuality research, individuals existing at the convergence of intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer+ (LGBTQ+) are often overlooked. Individuals with IDD face difficulties acquiring sexual knowledge and skills due to limited opportunities for sexual socialization, misconceptions concerning sexuality and IDD, lack of comprehensive sexual education, restricted support from staff and caregivers, and a lack of community experiences that facilitate the development of healthy sexuality. When an individual with IDD identifies as LGBTQ+, these disability-related barriers can exacerbate the stigma and discrimination some LGBTQ+ people experience. Using the intimate justice framework, we explore avenues to support and foster inclusivity within the LG-BTQ+ community for members with IDD. Several recommendations were identified from the literature search, including logistical considerations and using accessible language for outreach events, presentations, workshops, training, and other activities and opportunities for sexuality education while challenging disability-related stigma in LGBTQ+ spaces.

Spinal Cord Injury Level, Physician’s Visits, and Perceived Health's Impact on Participation and Autonomy

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Oct 1, 2015

Problematic secondary health conditions among adults with spinal cord injury and its impact on social participation and daily life

Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, Dec 15, 2015

Objective: This exploratory study describes the problematic secondary health conditions among adu... more Objective: This exploratory study describes the problematic secondary health conditions among adults with a spinal cord injury (SCI) and the impact these health concerns have on social participation and daily life. Design: Cross-sectional survey design. Setting: A community-based rehabilitation program within the United States. Participants: Fifty-six adults (33 males and 23 females; age 18 to 73 [M = 39.4, SD = 12.7]) with SCI participating in the community-based rehabilitation program. Methods: Subjects identified the top five problematic secondary health conditions related to his/her SCI, belief about the impact these conditions have on social participation and daily life, and if they believed the secondary health condition(s) were avoidable. Results: The top problematic areas identified were bladder control, pain, bowel control, and pressure ulcers, and 73% felt these problems were unavoidable. In addition, more than 66% had each of these problems continuously during the last 12 months. When examining the impact of the problematic secondary health conditions, 75% identified that the primary problem had a significant impact on social participation and 64% identified it significantly impacted daily life. Conclusion: Although the majority of the participants were actively participating in a community-based rehabilitation wellness program, it appears that they thought engagement in social participation and daily life were negatively impacted by the secondary health conditions and unavoidable. The results suggested unfulfilled goals despite the emphasized efforts of medical providers to help manage the secondary conditions. Future research should examine why individuals with SCI still have a difficult time managing secondary health conditions.

Utilization of socially assistive robots in recreational therapy

American journal of disaster medicine, Apr 1, 2020

Socially assistive robots (SARs) may impact health outcomes when facilitated by recreational ther... more Socially assistive robots (SARs) may impact health outcomes when facilitated by recreational therapists (RTs). It is unclear if RTs have the knowledge or perceive SARs as a relevant facilitation technique. This study sought to understand if a professional continuing education session on SARs improves comfort level. Seventy RTs and students attended the training and completed a retrospective survey. The findings suggest that the training improved participants’ interest and willingness to incorporate SARs, felt less intimidated by the prospect of incorporating SARs, less afraid of making a mistake while using SARs, and found SARs to be a relevant intervention. Further studies are warranted to understand the use of SARs within RT practice. Incorporating emerging technology into practice may create innovative therapeutic interventions to address clinical outcomes.

Conceptualizing socially-assistive robots as a digital therapeutic tool in healthcare

Frontiers in Digital Health

Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven Digital Health (DH) systems are poised to play a critical rol... more Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven Digital Health (DH) systems are poised to play a critical role in the future of healthcare. In 2021, $57.2 billion was invested in DH systems around the world, recognizing the promise this concept holds for aiding in delivery and care management. DH systems traditionally include a blend of various technologies, AI, and physiological biomarkers and have shown a potential to provide support for individuals with various health conditions. Digital therapeutics (DTx) is a more specific set of technology-enabled interventions within the broader DH sphere intended to produce a measurable therapeutic effect. DTx tools can empower both patients and healthcare providers, informing the course of treatment through data-driven interventions while collecting data in real-time and potentially reducing the number of patient office visits needed. In particular, socially assistive robots (SARs), as a DTx tool, can be a beneficial asset to DH systems since data gath...

Understanding Pain in Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury: Implications for Recreational Therapy Practice

Therapeutic Recreation Journal

For individuals with spinal cord injury, pain is the leading secondary health condition. SCI-rela... more For individuals with spinal cord injury, pain is the leading secondary health condition. SCI-related pain is complicated because it is multifaceted in nature. Individuals with SCI-related pain may experience visceral, neuropathic, and musculoskeletal pain at different locations and with varying intensities at the same time or intermittently. In recent years, SCI scholars created a taxonomy to classify SCI-related pain. This classification was to communicate the complexity of SCI-related pain, as well as to help clinicians and individuals with SCI explain pain experiences. Because of the multifaceted nature of SCI-related pain, many individuals with SCI do not experience relief with conventional oral pharmacological options. The purpose of this manuscript is to describe pain and SCI-related pain and to provide implications for recreational therapy practice. Implications include the identification of potential reliable and valid pain measures for individuals with SCI and evidence-base...

Increasing Opportunities for Healthy Sexual Socialization in LGBTQ+ People with IDD: The Role of LGBTQ+ Organizations and Community

Sexuality and Disability

In the current intersectionality-focused discourse within sexuality research, individuals existin... more In the current intersectionality-focused discourse within sexuality research, individuals existing at the convergence of intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer+ (LGBTQ+) are often overlooked. Individuals with IDD face difficulties acquiring sexual knowledge and skills due to limited opportunities for sexual socialization, misconceptions concerning sexuality and IDD, lack of comprehensive sexual education, restricted support from staff and caregivers, and a lack of community experiences that facilitate the development of healthy sexuality. When an individual with IDD identifies as LGBTQ+, these disability-related barriers can exacerbate the stigma and discrimination some LGBTQ+ people experience. Using the intimate justice framework, we explore avenues to support and foster inclusivity within the LG-BTQ+ community for members with IDD. Several recommendations were identified from the literature search, including logistical considerations and using accessible language for outreach events, presentations, workshops, training, and other activities and opportunities for sexuality education while challenging disability-related stigma in LGBTQ+ spaces.

What Skin Is Your Robot In?

Companion of the 2023 ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction

The use of socially assistive robots is able to alleviate some depression symptoms, according to ... more The use of socially assistive robots is able to alleviate some depression symptoms, according to existing research. However, due to comorbidities that often accompany depression and the unique experiences of each individual, it is necessary to get a better understanding of how SARs should be personalized. Through 10 hourlong workshops with 10 individuals living with depression, we explored the customization of a zoomorphic SAR for adults with depression. By using the SAR Therabot ™ as a base platform, participants designed their own unique covering for the robot, and discussed desired robot behaviors and privacy concerns around data collection. Though the physical designs of the robots varied greatly, participants expressed common themes regarding their preference for a soft touchable exterior, comfort with sharing data with their therapists, and interest in the robot producing more realistic sounds and movements, among other design features. • Human-centered computing → HCI design and evaluation methods.

Different Levels of Physical Activity, Physical Health, Happiness, and Depression among Older Adults with Diabetes

Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, 2021

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between different levels of physica... more The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between different levels of physical activity (light, moderate, and vigorous), physical health, happiness, and depression among older adults with diabetes. Using data from the National Social Life, Health and Aging Project (NSHAP) Wave 3, the results indicate that moderate and/or vigorous physical activity is more effective than light physical activity for promoting physical health and happiness and lowering depression of older adults with diabetes. This study suggests that activity professionals and therapists working with older adults with diabetes need to encourage their participation in physical activity as well as adjust a level of physical activity intensity that is tailored to participants’ needs and expectations.

No. 324 The Impact of Perceived Health on Autonomy and Participation Among a SCI Population

Pm&r, Aug 1, 2014

The Impact of Active Learning Instructional Techniques on Recreational Therapy Undergraduate Students

Schole: A Journal of Leisure Studies and Recreation Education, Oct 12, 2021

Over the last several years there has been a call to increase the quality of recreational therapy... more