Health Psychology Research最新文献

Background: The pandemic of 2019 has created large scale disruption around the globe. It has posed extraordinary hurdles for Chinese health workers, affecting their mental health with respect to situations in the present as well as the future. Recognising the dynamic features of these mental health issues among health professionals is critical for developing effective support systems.

Objectives: This study aims to explore the dual impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of health professionals in China, both during and after the pandemic; to explore the probable underlying factors causing these mental health issues; to identify both adaptive and maladaptive coping behaviours employed by the health personnel; and to assess the organisational and social support to mitigate the effect of the pandemic on the mental health of the Chinese health professionals.

Method: To address these objectives an explorative qualitative research design has been adopted involving analysis of previous researches in the relevant field.

Results: The study confirms anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, PTSD, and burnout among medical personnel as immediate shock and residual stress, along with its demographic variations. Few maladaptive coping behaviours have been identified that can lead to delayed psychological effects even after a pandemic.

Conclusion: The key findings underscore the complicated interaction of immediate and delayed mental health challenges among health professionals, advocating for the deployment of tailored treatments and policy modifications to address the ever changing needs of this vital workforce.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the mediation role of reflective functioning (i.e., certainty and uncertainty about mental states) in the relationship between insecure attachment (i.e., attachment avoidance and attachment anxiety ) and the severity of prolonged grief symptoms.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 329 bereaved participants (51.7% females, mean age= 46.94 ± 14.62 years). Participants completed the Prolonged Grief Scale (PG-13), the Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ), and the Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (RFQ). Demographic and bereavement-related information were also collected.

Results: Certainty about mental states fully mediated the relationship between both the attachment avoidance and attachement anxiety and severity of prolonged grief symptoms.

Conclusions: The findings of this study indicate that reflective functioning impairment, specifically certainty about mental states of self and others, mediate the paths from insecure attachment to prolonged grief symptoms. This suggests that improving reflective functioning may contribute to the treatment bereaved individuals at risk of PGD.

Background: Learning involves numerous self-regulatory processes, and self-regulated learning includes a few metacognitive strategies. Metacognitive skills start to develop at a very young age, though preschool children face some challenges while using metacognitive strategies.

Objectives: The study primarily aims to explore how young students are using metacognitive strategies in their daily activities and how effective they are.

Method: The sample of the study is 15 students from a public kindergarten in China, with ages ranging from 3 years to 6 years. The investigation is qualitative in nature and has employed a case study research design. It involves an observational study along with an interview with the teachers.

Results: From observational data and content analysis of the interviews, it is revealed that young children do use metacognitive strategies in their regular class activities, which vary according to their age. Teachers' support is found to be essential, especially for this age group of children, for effective use of these strategies. Moreover, it is also seen that metacognitive strategies are also important in developing social skills among young children.

Conclusion: Consequently, the findings of this research have significant implications, especially for the teachers and parents who support the children and use metacognitive interventions for their holistic development.

Background: In recent years, popularity of Biofield energy healing therapy has increased tremendously parallel to conventional therapy. However, due to insufficient scientific studies on biofield therapies, authors planned this clinical trial to examine the safety and effectiveness of biofield therapy in treating symptoms of psychological and mental health and to explore parameters for its effectiveness.

Methods: One hundred fourteen participants (55 male, 59 female) underwent clinical trials. This trial was randomized, placebo-controlled, three parallel-groups, double-blind, and single-center with subjects who have one or more psychological and mental symptoms. Two sessions of distant (virtual) biofield energy attunement were given on days 0 and 90 for about 5 minutes to the subjects of biofield intervention group (n=39). Besides, control (n=35) and sham control (n=40) group subjects also received kind of treatment in a similar manner to nullify baseline responses. Subjects were assessed by psychological questionnaire scoring using standard scale of assessment and safety parameters.

Results: Perceived psychological symptoms/scores (fatigue/tiredness, sleep disturbances, stress, cognitive impairment, loss of memory, mental restlessness, emotional trauma, anxiety, depression, confusion, financial crises and dissatisfaction, low libido, motivation, confidence, lack of perception, relationship, and social behaviors, etc.) were significantly (p <.0001) improved in biofield intervention group compared to the naïve control and sham control groups. Besides, biofield intervention did not show any study-related adverse effects in all three groups throughout the trial.

Conclusions: The distant (virtual) biofield energy healing therapy significantly improved psychological and mental health-related symptoms without affecting safety concerns, and improved overall health and quality of life.

Background: To address the growing concerns about mental health issues among Chinese university students, our study investigates the impact of social media on their mental health. This study intends to shed light on how these students' use of social media platforms contributes to these mental health issues, given that it has been estimated that up to 30% of university students in China suffer from mental health issues.

Methods: We investigate the extent of this issue by looking at how Chinese social media platforms like WeChat, Weibo, and QQ impact students' mental health. To gain a comprehensive insight into students' perspectives, this study's sole methodology is qualitative semi-structured interviews. Our core claim asserts that social media considerably affects Chinese university students' mental health, with both positive and negative consequences.

Results: The findings show how closely social media use and Chinese university students' mental health are related. These networks let people connect and get support but also encourage social comparison and stigma towards mental illness. Students use a variety of coping skills, such as self-regulation techniques, digital detoxification techniques, and looking for emotional support in online networks. These results highlight the need for a complex understanding of social media's effects on mental health. Our study also recognizes students' capacity for adaptation and resilience as they traverse the digital world, offering theoretical and practical applications for successfully juggling online and offline lives.

Conclusion: In the end, our study contributes to a thorough and culturally sensitive understanding of how social media affects the mental health of Chinese university students.

Introduction: This study investigated psychological distress among high school students in Thailand.A sample of 8,345 students from thirty-five Bangkok schools voluntarily participated, responding to a questionnaire and undergoing stress assessments. Socio-demographic factors including grade level, school scale, hometown, parental marital status, presence of siblings, gender, health conditions, online classes, and family monthly income were analyzed.

Results: Of the participants, 1,087 (13.02%) experienced psychological distress. Grade level, school scale, hometown, parental marital status, and siblings' presence showed no significant associations with distress. However, being female or transgender correlated with higher distress levels. Students with health issues and those in online classes also experienced elevated distress. Additionally, a family monthly income below 10,000 Thai Baht was associated with distress.

Conclusion: This study sheds light on factors contributing to psychological distress in high school students. It highlights the need for tailored support for vulnerable groups within the student population, emphasizing the role of educators, policymakers, and mental health professionals in addressing these challenges.

Objective: The present study investigated the effectiveness of a Dragon Boat training program in women with breast cancer body image and traumatic distress processing.

Methods: 29 breast cancer patients (M(SD) age= 51 (7.41)) voluntarily participated in a physical activity program. Seventeen (Intervention Group) enrolled in a Dragon Boat racing program, while 12 (the Control Group) individually performed alternative physical activities. Before and after the intervention, patients completed the Body Image Scale (BIS) and the Impact of Event Scale - Revised (IES-R).

Results: The Intervention Group reported a decrease in Body Image negative perception (Pillai's trace = .352, F(1,27) = 14.111, p = .001; partial η2 = .951) and in traumatic symptoms (Pillai's trace = .283, F(1,27) = 10.682, p = .003; partial η2 = .883).

Conclusions: Authors discuss the role of Dragon Boat racing in improving positive body image after the experience of breast cancer.

Purpose: Executive function impairments are among the most common dialysis side effects. The present study aims to compare the efficiency of transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) with computerized Cognitive Rehabilitation Training (cCRT) on dialysis patients' executive functions.

Research method: The present study, a quasi-experimental effort, adopted a pre-test/post-test method that included a control (sham) group.

Design: The study sample consisted of 30 participants, selected through the convenience sampling method, and categorized into three groups of cCRT, tDCS, and sham participants. The cCRT participants were asked to complete 8 tasks in Captain's Log MindPower Builder software. The tDCS participants were treated with a 0.06 mA/cm2 current with the anodal electrode on F3 and the cathodal electrode on Fp2. For the sham participants, the electrodes were put on the same regions but there was no current stimulation. The treatment lasted for 10 sessions carried out every other day.

Results: The results of MANCOVA showed no significant difference between the sham group and the cCRT group in any of the executive function items. . However, between the sham group and the tDCS group was detected a significant difference in spatial working memory (p < 0.05) and a marginally significant in cognitive flexibility (p = 0.091). No significant difference was reported between cCRT and tDCS groups in any item.

Conclusion: According to the findings of the study, given the efficacy of tDCS on spatial working memory and cognitive flexibility for dialysis patients, it can be used to improve these skills.

Introduction: Body dysmorphism disorder (BDD) is a disabling mental disorder characterized by an anxious preoccupation with a perceived defect in physical appearance.

Objective: This systematic review arose with the main objective of identifying the most effective psychotherapeutic intervention in the treatment of BDD.

Methods: From February to October 2022, we conducted a systematic review aimed at identifying the psychotherapeutic intervention for BDD, the search for these concepts was on PubMed. There were no language limitations, only time limitations, we delved into studies published in the databases between 2015 and 2022.

Results: We identified a total of 393 unique records. Of these, 43 full-text articles were evaluated for eligibility, and seven of these met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final systematic review.

Conclusions: Cognitive-behavioral therapy has been shown to be effective compared with other therapies, especially when combined with drug therapy. The results confirm that BDD-NET (INTERNET-based CBT) led to significant improvement of symptoms in patients with body dysmorphism. In conclusion, we can say that cognitive-behavioral therapy, whether in direct or online form, appears to be the most effective treatment for this disorder.

Background: Over the past decade, there has been extensive research exploring the relationship between vascular health and mental well-being, encompassing aspects such as mood and cognition. However, there is a notable gap in research focusing on the mental and vascular conditions of minor ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients, particularly within the Thai population.

Objectives: To investigate the clinical characteristics and mental issues related to vascular functions in patients who have experienced a minor ischemic stroke or TIA. This study, approved by the Buriram Hospital Ethics Committee (IRB: BR0033.102.1/8), adhered to the guidelines of the Helsinki Declaration and obtained informed consent from all participants.

Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at Buriram Hospital, a government regional hospital located in Buriram province, Thailand, involving twenty-three participants diagnosed with minor ischemic stroke or TIA. Measurements included clinical characteristics, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-part Anxiety (HADS-A), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-part Depression (HADS-D), mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), flow-mediated dilation (FMD), and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). Linear regression analysis was employed to investigate the factors associated with vascular function (FMD and baPWV).

Results: The factor related to FMD was HADS-D (β = -0.5, 95% CI -0.33 to -0.04). Factors associated with baPWV included age (β = 0.51, 95% CI 5.05 to 39.50) and the duration of minor ischemic stroke or TIA (β = 0.48, 95% CI 25.41 to 290.99).

Conclusions: FMD shows a connection with depressive symptoms in patients with minor ischemic stroke or TIA. Therefore, it is important to detect and provide appropriate treatment for depressive symptoms in these patients, as it may lead to improvements in vascular function and better cerebrovascular outcomes.