Olga Van Den Akker
Biographic Data
| ID | 363911 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Olga Van Den Akker |
| GIVEN NAMES | Olga Van Den |
| FAMILY NAME | Akker |
| SIGNATURE | VAN DEN AKKER O |
| AFFILIATIONS | Middlesex University |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-3529-4358 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 18 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 34 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 18 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1989 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 5 |
Exploring health-related quality of life, exercise and alcohol use in adolescents with sickle cell disease and healthy siblings
OBJECTIVE: This study explored the health-related quality of life (HRQL) and health behaviours of adolescents with sickle cell disease (SCD) and healthy siblings, drawing on Gap theory which suggests HRQL is the discrepancy between current and ideal selves. DESIGN: Twenty-three adolescents with SCD and 21 healthy siblings aged 13 to 17 years participated in eight focus groups. RESULTS: Thematic analysis identified three themes: learning to accept…
A qualitative exploration of health-related quality of life and health behaviours in children with sickle cell disease and healthy siblings
OBJECTIVES: This study explored the health-related quality of life (HRQL) and health behaviours of children with sickle cell disease (SCD) and healthy siblings, drawing on Gap theory, which suggests HRQL is the discrepancy between current and ideal selves. DESIGN: Thirty-two interviews, facilitated by children's drawings of their current and ideal selves were thematically analysed. RESULTS: Two themes were identified. First, limitations of SCD an…
Transition to parenthood after successful non-donor in vitro fertilisation
Recent social science research in the field of parenting following assisted conception has focused on the experiences of donor-assisted conception and surrogacy. This article draws from a study which explored the experiences of the transition to early parenthood in 16 heterosexual non-donor couples and includes a specific consideration of the experiences of men as they navigate this journey. We argue that these couples' transition to early parent…
Predicting attitudes towards seeking medical care among Nigerian immigrants in the UK
This study investigates the relationships between acculturation, religion, and coping styles; as well as their predictive potentials in relation to socio-demographic factors, on access to medical help among Nigerians in the UK. This is a cross-sectional study using questionnaires for data collection (N = 297). Results revealed negative correlations between assimilative behaviours and religious behaviours and between religious behaviours, denial a…
Adaptation of the Measurement of Acculturation Strategies for People of African Decent (Maspad) in measuring acculturation in British Nigerians
The MASPAD is a validated and reliable, self-reported scale developed in the USA for measuring acculturation in people of African descent. However, nothing is known about the scale’s suitability for measuring acculturation and religious beliefs/behaviours of people of African descent living in Europe. The present study measured the psychometric properties of the MASPAD among Nigerian immigrants in the UK. Principal component analysis revealed tha…
Searching for ‘relations’ using a DNA linking register by adults conceived following sperm donation
The role of working memory sub-components in food choice and dieting success
Secrets and disclosure in donor conception
This article considers the disclosure, sharing and exchange of information on being donor conceived within families, drawing on data from a study undertaken with donor-conceived adults registered withUKDonor Link (a voluntaryDNA-linking register). This paper considers the narratives of how respondents found out they were donor-conceived and what events triggered disclosure of this information. This paper then goes on to examine the role secrecy p…
Nigerian Clergy and healthcare professionals’ perceptions of health-seeking behaviours among Nigerian immigrants in the UK
The diversity in patient populations due to immigration in the UK has implications for adequate understanding of a patients’ culture by the clinician as well as patient–clinician cultural matching for enhanced service use and outcome. This qualitative study investigated how Nigerian clergy and health professionals perceived health-seeking behaviours among Nigerians in the UK, while considering the impact of their own beliefs and values as care pr…
An exploration of health-seeking behaviours among Nigerian Christians in the UK
Migration from different cultures carries with it some acclimatisation challenges. This study explored various health-seeking behaviours and potential barriers to healthcare utilisation among Nigerian Christians in the UK. This qualitative study involved 10 adult male and female participants, with both interviews and focus group discussion (FG) for data collection (Interviews: n = 4, FG: n = 6). Thematic analysis revealed that religious and cultu…
Voluntary DNA-based information exchange and contact services following donor conception
Medical science has enabled the creation of families through the use of donor conception but some lifelong policy and practice implications are only recently being recognized. Research and practice have shown that donor conception can, for some, carry substantial long-term consequences. In this paper we present findings from a questionnaire-based study that sought to shed light on donor-conceived adults’ and gamete donors’ views on service and su…
Working at the Margins
Unlike many contemporary social work tasks, the work of Parental Order Reporters (PORs) in surrogacy cases in England is infrequent and unresearched. This study offers insights into how experienced social workers approach work in little-regulated but ethically complex contexts outside the mainstream. Sixteen PORs took part in telephone interviews about their experiences in providing court reports on over 135 applications. There was little evidenc…
The changing profile of surrogacy in the UK – Implications for national and international policy and practice
Since 2007, the numbers of UK Parental Orders granted following surrogacy have markedly increased. More recently, eligibility criteria have been extended to unmarried heterosexual couples and same-sex couples rather than only married couples. Numbers seeking fertility treatments, including through surrogates, outside their country of residence have also increased. This paper presents the limited data currently available – from UK General Register…
Leisure Activities and Adolescent Sexual Behaviour
The shortage of previous research acknowledging the relevance and possible influences of social environments on adolescent sexual behaviour was addressed in this study. The influence of leisure time activities on sexual behaviour was investigated in a questionnaire survey of 212 UK adolescents. The majority of respondents were white, and aged between 11 and 19. Significant differences in leisure activities were found between boys and girls; girls…
Perceived social support, family environment and psychosocial recovery in bone marrow transplant long-term survivors
Contribution of generalized negative affect to elevated menstrual cycle symptom reporting
We investigated women's belief that they suffered from premenstrual syndrome (PMS) by monitoring patterns of symptom reporting over a 5-week period in relation to the underlying trait of negative affect. We expected that women reporting high negative affect would be more likely to report menstrual cycle distress than those reporting low negative affect. One hundred twenty-one women rated the typical occurrence and severity of premenstrual changes…
Menstrual cycle symptom reporting in three British ethnic groups
Psychophysiological responses in women reporting severe premenstrual symptoms
Sixteen women attending a Premenstrual Tension Clinic and eight control women were tested experimentally in the premenstrual and postmenstrual phases with assessments of heart rate, skin conductance level, and neck electromyogram during rest, relaxation, an emotionally upsetting film, and performance of mental arithmetic and video game tasks. All participants completed daily symptom assessments for two menstrual cycles prior to the study. The cli…
Secrets and disclosure in donor conception
This article considers the disclosure, sharing and exchange of information on being donor conceived within families, drawing on data from a study undertaken with donor-conceived adults registered withUKDonor Link (a voluntaryDNA-linking register). This paper considers the narratives of how respondents found out they were donor-conceived and what events triggered disclosure of this information. This paper then goes on to examine the role secrecy p…
The changing profile of surrogacy in the UK – Implications for national and international policy and practice
Since 2007, the numbers of UK Parental Orders granted following surrogacy have markedly increased. More recently, eligibility criteria have been extended to unmarried heterosexual couples and same-sex couples rather than only married couples. Numbers seeking fertility treatments, including through surrogates, outside their country of residence have also increased. This paper presents the limited data currently available – from UK General Register…
Perceived social support, family environment and psychosocial recovery in bone marrow transplant long-term survivors
The role of working memory sub-components in food choice and dieting success
Menstrual cycle symptom reporting in three British ethnic groups
Transition to parenthood after successful non-donor in vitro fertilisation
Recent social science research in the field of parenting following assisted conception has focused on the experiences of donor-assisted conception and surrogacy. This article draws from a study which explored the experiences of the transition to early parenthood in 16 heterosexual non-donor couples and includes a specific consideration of the experiences of men as they navigate this journey. We argue that these couples' transition to early parent…
Working at the Margins
Unlike many contemporary social work tasks, the work of Parental Order Reporters (PORs) in surrogacy cases in England is infrequent and unresearched. This study offers insights into how experienced social workers approach work in little-regulated but ethically complex contexts outside the mainstream. Sixteen PORs took part in telephone interviews about their experiences in providing court reports on over 135 applications. There was little evidenc…
Psychophysiological responses in women reporting severe premenstrual symptoms
Sixteen women attending a Premenstrual Tension Clinic and eight control women were tested experimentally in the premenstrual and postmenstrual phases with assessments of heart rate, skin conductance level, and neck electromyogram during rest, relaxation, an emotionally upsetting film, and performance of mental arithmetic and video game tasks. All participants completed daily symptom assessments for two menstrual cycles prior to the study. The cli…
Contribution of generalized negative affect to elevated menstrual cycle symptom reporting
We investigated women's belief that they suffered from premenstrual syndrome (PMS) by monitoring patterns of symptom reporting over a 5-week period in relation to the underlying trait of negative affect. We expected that women reporting high negative affect would be more likely to report menstrual cycle distress than those reporting low negative affect. One hundred twenty-one women rated the typical occurrence and severity of premenstrual changes…
Menstrual cycle symptom reporting in three British ethnic groups
Perceived social support, family environment and psychosocial recovery in bone marrow transplant long-term survivors
Leisure Activities and Adolescent Sexual Behaviour
The shortage of previous research acknowledging the relevance and possible influences of social environments on adolescent sexual behaviour was addressed in this study. The influence of leisure time activities on sexual behaviour was investigated in a questionnaire survey of 212 UK adolescents. The majority of respondents were white, and aged between 11 and 19. Significant differences in leisure activities were found between boys and girls; girls…
The changing profile of surrogacy in the UK – Implications for national and international policy and practice
Since 2007, the numbers of UK Parental Orders granted following surrogacy have markedly increased. More recently, eligibility criteria have been extended to unmarried heterosexual couples and same-sex couples rather than only married couples. Numbers seeking fertility treatments, including through surrogates, outside their country of residence have also increased. This paper presents the limited data currently available – from UK General Register…
Working at the Margins
Unlike many contemporary social work tasks, the work of Parental Order Reporters (PORs) in surrogacy cases in England is infrequent and unresearched. This study offers insights into how experienced social workers approach work in little-regulated but ethically complex contexts outside the mainstream. Sixteen PORs took part in telephone interviews about their experiences in providing court reports on over 135 applications. There was little evidenc…
Nigerian Clergy and healthcare professionals’ perceptions of health-seeking behaviours among Nigerian immigrants in the UK
The diversity in patient populations due to immigration in the UK has implications for adequate understanding of a patients’ culture by the clinician as well as patient–clinician cultural matching for enhanced service use and outcome. This qualitative study investigated how Nigerian clergy and health professionals perceived health-seeking behaviours among Nigerians in the UK, while considering the impact of their own beliefs and values as care pr…
An exploration of health-seeking behaviours among Nigerian Christians in the UK
Migration from different cultures carries with it some acclimatisation challenges. This study explored various health-seeking behaviours and potential barriers to healthcare utilisation among Nigerian Christians in the UK. This qualitative study involved 10 adult male and female participants, with both interviews and focus group discussion (FG) for data collection (Interviews: n = 4, FG: n = 6). Thematic analysis revealed that religious and cultu…
Voluntary DNA-based information exchange and contact services following donor conception
Medical science has enabled the creation of families through the use of donor conception but some lifelong policy and practice implications are only recently being recognized. Research and practice have shown that donor conception can, for some, carry substantial long-term consequences. In this paper we present findings from a questionnaire-based study that sought to shed light on donor-conceived adults’ and gamete donors’ views on service and su…
Predicting attitudes towards seeking medical care among Nigerian immigrants in the UK
This study investigates the relationships between acculturation, religion, and coping styles; as well as their predictive potentials in relation to socio-demographic factors, on access to medical help among Nigerians in the UK. This is a cross-sectional study using questionnaires for data collection (N = 297). Results revealed negative correlations between assimilative behaviours and religious behaviours and between religious behaviours, denial a…
Adaptation of the Measurement of Acculturation Strategies for People of African Decent (Maspad) in measuring acculturation in British Nigerians
The MASPAD is a validated and reliable, self-reported scale developed in the USA for measuring acculturation in people of African descent. However, nothing is known about the scale’s suitability for measuring acculturation and religious beliefs/behaviours of people of African descent living in Europe. The present study measured the psychometric properties of the MASPAD among Nigerian immigrants in the UK. Principal component analysis revealed tha…
Searching for ‘relations’ using a DNA linking register by adults conceived following sperm donation
The role of working memory sub-components in food choice and dieting success
Secrets and disclosure in donor conception
This article considers the disclosure, sharing and exchange of information on being donor conceived within families, drawing on data from a study undertaken with donor-conceived adults registered withUKDonor Link (a voluntaryDNA-linking register). This paper considers the narratives of how respondents found out they were donor-conceived and what events triggered disclosure of this information. This paper then goes on to examine the role secrecy p…
Transition to parenthood after successful non-donor in vitro fertilisation
Recent social science research in the field of parenting following assisted conception has focused on the experiences of donor-assisted conception and surrogacy. This article draws from a study which explored the experiences of the transition to early parenthood in 16 heterosexual non-donor couples and includes a specific consideration of the experiences of men as they navigate this journey. We argue that these couples' transition to early parent…
A qualitative exploration of health-related quality of life and health behaviours in children with sickle cell disease and healthy siblings
OBJECTIVES: This study explored the health-related quality of life (HRQL) and health behaviours of children with sickle cell disease (SCD) and healthy siblings, drawing on Gap theory, which suggests HRQL is the discrepancy between current and ideal selves. DESIGN: Thirty-two interviews, facilitated by children's drawings of their current and ideal selves were thematically analysed. RESULTS: Two themes were identified. First, limitations of SCD an…
Exploring health-related quality of life, exercise and alcohol use in adolescents with sickle cell disease and healthy siblings
OBJECTIVE: This study explored the health-related quality of life (HRQL) and health behaviours of adolescents with sickle cell disease (SCD) and healthy siblings, drawing on Gap theory which suggests HRQL is the discrepancy between current and ideal selves. DESIGN: Twenty-three adolescents with SCD and 21 healthy siblings aged 13 to 17 years participated in eight focus groups. RESULTS: Thematic analysis identified three themes: learning to accept…
Psychology (16 works) · Medicine (13 works) · Political science (8 works) · Sociology (7 works) · Clinical Psychology (6 works) · Reproductive Health and Technologies (6 works) · Social Psychology (6 works) · Developmental psychology (5 works) · Internal Medicine (5 works) · Psychiatry (5 works)