BMC Psychology最新文献

Background: Pornography use is a common practice in adolescents and has been observed to be more prevalent in males. There are different consequences associated with pornography use and problematic use that may present differently among males and females. The interplay between these factors remains underexplored.

Methods: Using network analysis (a novel model of growing interest), this study examined the interrelationships between variables linked to PPU (such as victimization, sexual double standards, loneliness, family relationships, and risky sexual behaviors) in a Spanish sample of N = 650 adolescents. The analysis focused on identifying central variables and differences between sexes.

Results: Males demonstrated higher levels of intentional pornography use and PPU, with sexual pleasure as a central node in their network. PPU in males was associated with more sexist models of sexuality. For females, online victimization and loneliness emerged as key factors, highlighting their vulnerability to digital harm. Both sexes shared a cluster of PPU-related factors, including conflict, mood modification, relapse, and withdrawal, which were more pronounced in males.

Conclusions: These findings highlight the potential of network analysis in the study of PPU in adolescents and its possible effects, providing information for an in-depth understanding of the differences between the sexes. Furthermore, they highlight the importance of developing gender-sensitive prevention and intervention strategies to address the unique needs and vulnerabilities of males and females.

Background: Digital mental health interventions, including AI-integrated applications, are increasingly utilized to support individuals with elevated symptoms of psychological distress. However, a gap exists in understanding their efficacy specifically for student populations.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of GymBuddy, an AI-powered fitness and accountability app, and Elomia, an AI-based mental health chatbot, on the mental health of students at risk for psychological distress.

Methodology: A quasi-experimental study was conducted involving 65 participants who exhibited heightened psychological distress but did not have a formal diagnosis of a psychological disorder. Participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention group, which utilized GymBuddy and Elomia for structured mental health support, or the control group. Mental health outcomes such as anxiety, depression, and stress levels were assessed using standardized baseline, midpoint, and endpoint measures. Data were analyzed using Mixed ANOVA.

Results: The mixed ANOVA analysis revealed significant improvements across all measured mental health outcomes, including somatic symptoms, anxiety and insomnia, social dysfunction, and severe depression. Significant main effects of time and group membership were observed for all variables, indicating overall symptom reduction and baseline differences between groups. Moreover, significant interaction effects for somatic symptoms (F(2, 70) = 59.96, p < 0.0001, η² = 0.63), anxiety and insomnia (F(2, 70) = 32.05, p < 0.0001, η² = 0.48), social dysfunction (F(2, 70) = 59.96, p < 0.0001, η² = 0.63), and severe depression (F(2, 70) = 32.05, p < 0.0001, η² = 0.48) indicated that participants in the intervention group experienced significantly greater reductions in psychological distress compared to the control group.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that AI-integrated interventions like GymBuddy and Elomia may serve as effective tools for reducing psychological distress in student populations. Integrating AI technology into mental health interventions offers personalized support and guidance, addressing a crucial need in student populations. Further research is warranted to explore long-term outcomes and optimize the implementation of these interventions in educational settings.

Background: Diathesis-stress theory of depression is well known, which stresses that stressor is an inducing factor for depression in general population. High altitude, a combination of variety of stressors, is a special environment that may cultivate more depression. However, how different types of stressors contribute to depression and its underlying mechanisms in high-altitude populations remain unrevealed. The study aimed to reveal the effect of different stressors on depressive mood among long-term high-altitude workers in China and further explore the mediation of emotion regulation and moderation of parent-child alienation.

Methods: 2065 Chinese workers at altitude of approximate 4200 m completed a cross-sectional survey with the Baker Depression Inventory-II scale, the Emotional Regulation scale, the Parent-child Alienation scale, and the Stressors scale (i.e., environmental factors, low social support, working challenges, accommodation, personal affairs, and cognitive factors).

Results: Correlation analysis showed positive correlations between stressors and depressive mood (r = 0.05-0.94, p < 0.05). Regression analysis indicated that low social support stressor was the strongest predictor of depressive mood (β = 0.21), while working challenges, personal affairs, and cognitive factors also positively predicted depressive mood. The mediating model showed that expression inhibition played a partial mediating (promoting) role between stressors and depressive mood, accounting for 3.13% of total variance. The moderating model showed that parent-child alienation played a moderating role in the model (β = 0.01, p < 0.001); a lower level of parent-child alienation effectively alleviated the impacts of stressors on depressive mood.

Conclusions: Stressors (working challenges, personal affairs, cognitive factors, and especially low social support) positively predict the depressive mood of long-term high-altitude workers in China. Expression inhibition plays a promoting mediation in the relationship between stressors and depressive mood. A good parent-child relationship alleviates the negative impact of stressors on depressive mood. Findings provide new empirical support for diathesis-stress theory and attract further attention to less expression inhibition and better parent-child relationships in depression prevention.

Background: Generalizing the concept of compassion fatigue across healthcare settings or professions is difficult because compassion fatigue is a complex and abstract concept. Compassion fatigue is described as a result in the form of behaviors and emotions resulting from learning of another person's traumatic event. Compassion fatigue is considered a 'cost of caring.' This study was a scoping literature review that aimed to identify what is known about compassion fatigue in helping professions.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted on electronic databases, namely ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Taylor and Francis. Data analysis was conducted using PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses). Study results were mapped based on the following criteria: 1) conceptual analysis; 2) predictor factors; and 3) research progress. A total of 43 articles met the inclusion and eligibility criteria for further review in this scoping literature review.

Results: The results showed that it is difficult to imagine how a conceptual model of compassion fatigue could be equally relevant and applicable to various helping professions. Factors that can influence compassion fatigue are divided into personal factors (professional factors and sociodemographic factors), such as resilience, burnout, moral courage, emotional control, mindfulness, work experience, professional competence, and professional efficacy, and work-related factors such as traumatic experiences, life disorders, number of patients treated, job satisfaction, emotional support, social support, and fluctuations in interactions with suffering patients. Research on compassion fatigue has developed a lot, especially in the health sector, especially nursing using experimental, cross-sectional, and literature review research methods.

Conclusion: Further analysis is needed in developing a conceptual analysis of compassion fatigue that focuses on other fields of work more specifically and comprehensively by paying attention to, aspects, determinants, and validity of compassion fatigue symptoms.

Background: This study investigates differences in aggression among adolescents practicing traditional Chinese martial arts (MA) and other forms of MA. Additionally, it explores the underlying mechanisms, with a particular focus on the roles of self-control and depression in mediating the relationship between MA participation and aggression.

Methods: A total of 847 adolescent martial arts practitioners (MAP) participated in this study, including 410 traditional Chinese MA practitioners and 437 practitioners of other MA (e.g., Taekwondo, kickboxing). The sample comprised 427 males, with a mean age of 13.45 years (SD = 1.07). Participants completed the Physical Activity Rating Scale, Self-Control Scale, Depression Scale, and Aggression Scale. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 21.0 and Process 4.0, with significance levels set at p < 0.05.

Results: (1) No significant differences in aggression were observed between adolescents practicing traditional Chinese MA and those practicing other MA. (2) MA exercise level negatively predicted aggression (β = -0.126, p < 0.001). (3) A chain mediation analysis indicated two pathways through which MA exercise level was associated with aggression: (a) MA exercise level → self-control → aggression, accounting for 68.25% of the total effect, and (b) MA exercise level → self-control → depression → aggression, accounting for 20.63%.

Conclusions: Regular participation in MA is a potential strategy for reducing aggression and psychological distress while enhancing self-control. Educators and MA organizations should emphasize both technical training and ethical instruction to foster self-regulation and emotional well-being in adolescents. Moreover, increasing MA training intensity may further amplify these benefits.

Background: Reducing loneliness and enhancing quality of life (QoL) are key public health priorities. However, limited empirical research examines the impact of community-based interventions on both loneliness and QoL. This study employed a single-group pre-post design to evaluate the South Australian pilot intervention, the Community Connections Program (CCP), assessing its effects on participants' self-reported QoL and loneliness.

Methods: Individuals referred to the CCP pilot completed an interviewer-led survey at both intervention intake and completion. QoL was assessed with the Assessment of Quality of Life - 6 dimensions tool (AQoL-6D). Loneliness was assessed with the Campaign to End Loneliness Tool - 3-item measure (CtELT). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and paired sample t-tests.

Results: Data from 195 adults who completed both data collection points were evaluated. AQoL-6D improved from intervention intake (M = 57; SD = 16) to completion (M = 66; SD = 13) (t(194) = -9.73, p <.05; d = 0.62). All six dimensions of AQoL improved, with the greatest increase in scores occurring for mental health, relationships and coping (results were statistically significant at p <.05). The largest within-group effect size was found for the dimension of mental health (d = 0.8). Participants' overall feelings of loneliness significantly decreased between pre- (M = 6.7; SD = 2.99) and post- (M = 4.4; SD = 2.00) intervention measurement (t(186) = 10.50, p <.05; d = 0.90).

Conclusions: Participants of the CCP pilot intervention reported significantly improved QoL and reduced loneliness at program completion. The CCP shows promise for the ability of community-based interventions to reduce loneliness and improve QoL for individuals disconnected from their communities and local health and support care services. These findings have implications for the development of programs that facilitate place-based, person-centered connections as important drivers of public health and wellbeing.

Background: Hyperactivity-Impulsivity have significant negative effects on adolescents' academic performance, physical and mental health, and social relationships. This study aims to deeply explore the relationship between Hyperactivity-Impulsivity in adolescents and Internet Addiction. Unlike previous studies, this study further explores a potential serial mediation model involving Mind Wandering and Anxiety.

Methods: A total of 2042 adolescents completed assessments using the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), the Mind Wandering Questionnaire (MWQ), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 2(GAD-2), and the ASRS short scale to evaluate Internet Addiction, Mind Wandering, Anxiety, and Hyperactivity-Impulsivity, respectively.

Results: Internet Addiction, Mind Wandering, and Anxiety significantly influence adolescents' Hyperactivity-Impulsivity (p <.001). Mediation analysis further indicates that Internet Addiction is associated with Hyperactivity-Impulsivity through the serial mediating effects of Mind Wandering and Anxiety(p <.01). These findings highlight Mind Wandering and Anxiety as key mediators in the link between Internet Addiction and Hyperactivity-Impulsivity in adolescents.

Conclusions: This study sheds light on how Internet Addiction influences Hyperactivity-Impulsivity among adolescents and underscores the importance of preventive measures. We recommend implementing interventions aimed at fostering healthy Internet usage habits and providing robust mental health support to safeguard adolescents' physical and mental well-being.

Analyzing two-wave panel survey data from adolescents in South Korea, this study examined how instant messaging app use is associated with depression. Specifically, this study tested a moderated mediation model to determine between instant messaging app use and depression through self-esteem, and whether this pathway differs according to one's level of neuroticism. The results showed that instant messaging app use was positively associated with self-esteem, which was negatively related to depression. Furthermore, the indirect association between instant messaging app use and depression through self-esteem was stronger as adolescents' neuroticism level increased. These findings advance our understanding of the effect of instant messaging app use on depression among adolescents. The current study has important implications regarding the role of instant messaging app use in adolescents' psychological health.

Background: Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a mental disorder characterized by severe loss of appetite and low nutrient intake. Along with many complications, the anorexia nervosa eventually disrupts hematogenesis and the occurrence of anemia. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the global prevalence of anemia in anorexia nervosa patient.

Methods: Systematic searching was applied (by August 10, 2024) in databases of PubMed, Scopus, WoS, ScienceDirect, Embase, and the Google Scholar search engine. Selected investigations were imported to the EndNote Citation Management Software and duplicate papers were merged. Following consideration of inclusion and exclusion criteria (during primary and secondary screening) relevant papers were selected and underwent validation. Finally, eligible papers were selected for data extraction and meta-analysis (CMA v.2). The I2 index was used for heterogeneity assessment, and the Random Effect Model was used for meta-analysis. The results were categorized based on hematocrit and hemoglobin levels, and study type, and meta-regression was also applied for sample size and year of paper publication.

Results: In the review of 9 eligible studies, the global prevalence of anemia in anorexia nervosa patient was found to be 44.8% (95%CI:25.7-65.7). Also, this value was detected in 48% (95%CI:19.9-77.4) and 43.4% (95%CI:18.6-72) based on hematocrit and hemoglobin levels, respectively. Meta-regression analysis showed that following the increase in sample size and year of paper publication, the global prevalence of anemia in Anorexia nervosa patient decreased and increased, respectively.

Conclusion: A relatively high prevalence of anemia in individuals with anorexia nervosa requires proper attention to the regular blood monitoring and laboratory evaluations of the patients.

Background: This study adopts a qualitative methodological framework to investigate the overall experiences of institutional gender affirmation pathway (GAP) with a focus on the narratives of mandatory psychological assessment in Trans and Nonbinary (TNB) people in Italy, who face daily discrimination, social prejudice, episodes of violence, and victimization. In the Italian context, psychological assessment is a prerequisite to receive a diagnosis of gender dysphoria, which is essential to access hormone therapy, surgical interventions, and legal change of name and gender marker.

Methods: The study employed a qualitative methodological design, since it allows a deep and flexible exploration of participants' experiences and perspectives. Specifically, the data collection technique consisted of semi-structured interviews with N = 21 participants. The corpus of data was analyzed consistently with thematic analysis and reflexive thematic analytic approach, for identifying, analysing and reporting patterns in data, allowing the corpus of data to be examined in terms of their principal themes, using both theory-driven (top-down) and bottom-up analytical strategies.

Results: Through the reflexive thematic approach, we generated two themes, further divided into sub-themes. The first theme is "Being trans + in our society" and it is composed by the following sub-themes: "personal experiences of identity affirmation"; "minority stress and transphobia"; "supportive familiar and working contexts", "institutional gender affirmation process"; "resilience and self-determination". The second theme, "Experiences of mandatory psychological assessment" is divided in: "disrespectful experiences"; "affirming and supportive interactions"; "to take better care". The results highlight how TNB individuals often experience significant stress related to their minority status and face discrimination in healthcare settings. Furthermore, there is a lack of individualization in the approach by healthcare providers and a shortage of knowledge about gender sensible topics among them. This study therefore highlights an insufficient provision of effective psychological support and the need to adopt more inclusive approaches, dismantling the pathologizing dimension of the diagnostic process for TNB people.

Conclusions: It is therefore crucial to promote awareness programs on gender identity issues to foster a more welcoming and informed environment in healthcare settings.

Trial registration: The study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the University of Padua with unique number D120DC6FDC5DF2694CF281D76B2CDB41 and protocol number 5003.