Health Psychology Open最新文献

Background: The Russian-Ukranian war (RUW) broke in 2022. Finland is a neighboring country of Russia. People in Finland could be assumed to be especially vulnerable to war-related stress. We examined the relationship between time spent following the RUW from media, sleep problems and psychological distress in university students. Methods: The participants were university students who responded anonymously to a questionnaire. They reported their age, gender, time spent following RUW, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and sleep problems. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS and Mplus for structural equation modeling. Results: The time spent following RUW from media was associated with greater psychological distress, and more sleep disturbances. Sleep disturbances accounted for more than 12% of the association between time spent following RUW and psychological distress. Conclusions: Present findings suggest that sleep problems should be taken into account when supporting students. Support programs should emphasize the importance of sleep in psychological well-being.

In romantic relationships, gratitude promotes positivity, satisfaction and maintenance behaviour. However, little is known about specific domains of and ways of expressing gratitude in long-term relationships, particularly, as studies so far relied on pre-formulated self-report questionnaires that may fail to capture expressions of gratitude beyond direct verbal expressions. The research questions were: How do individuals experience gratitude in their current romantic relationship and how do they describe their partner's expressions of gratitude? Forty-three older couples were interviewed separately by phone. Interview data were analysed with qualitative content analysis. Overall, a strong sense of gratitude was mentioned for the partner's personality, the relationship quality, the partner's support, their joint achievements and the life they have created together. Gratitude was expressed verbally, but also in idiosyncratic ways through love expressions, signs of affection, or gifts. To conclude, gratitude seems to be an integral part of long-term relationships and may be beneficial for healthy aging.

This study aimed to explore the challenges that patients faced when severely ill with COVID-19 and during their rehabilitation journeys following the first wave in Sweden. Eight patients that were treated in an intensive care unit were interviewed using semi-structured interviews. Three themes were generated through thematic analysis: "transition into illness" (with subthemes: underestimated severity, uncertainty and worry); "to be cared for in a hospital setting" (with subthemes: loss of responsibility, loss of memory and time, contradictory feelings of being hospitalized, physical impact as frustrating); and "after care: managing on your own" (with subthemes: appreciation for care, care gaps and insufficient care, compromised ability, mental health, and self-efficacy for self-managed rehabilitation and post-traumatic growth). The findings indicated that the Swedish open strategy may be beneficial in other countries as it facilitated post-traumatic growth and that there should be a structured rehabilitation strategy in place in case of future pandemics.

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) comprises a group of genetically and clinically heterogeneous disorders characterized by skin fragility and blistering. It is currently incurable, and care is complex because of the rarity of the disease. Epidermolysis bullosa has a major impact on the lives of people living with it and on their families. In this study, we aimed to explore health care professionals' (HCPs) experiences of treating and following up on children with EB and their families. Nine HCPs from several health care disciplines participated in semi-structured interviews, which were analyzed through reflexive thematic analysis. Two main themes were identified: caring as an act of balance and facilitating collaboration. All participants experienced the following as challenging: (a) balancing between professional decisions and the provision of guidance to parents and (b) dealing with their own emotions. More systematic research is needed on the psychological impact of caring for children with EB and their families on HCPs.

This study explores how parents of adolescents perceive their children's eating behaviours and body image influences. Data collected through semi-structured interviews with 14 parent pairs were thematically analysed. Three themes were identified that contained ambivalences and contradictions in parents' perceptions: 1. Normalising weight loss while also questioning dieting, 2. Valorising but also criticising unrealistic beauty ideals, and 3. Pathologising the overweight seemingly only on a health basis, but also due to appearance. All themes were reflective of the influence that dominant social messages on body image have on parental perceptions, primarily sustaining problematic eating behaviours and beauty ideals. They are also illustrative of the challenges that parents face in navigating opposing societal messages about eating practices and body image, leading them to implicit and explicit ambivalences and contradictions. The implications of the findings are discussed, along with suggestions for the development of a socially sensitive and informed parent support program.

Teenagers with chronic illnesses gain uniquely increased awareness of the triumphs, challenges, and responsibilities associated with their condition. Although some studies have explored the experiences of adolescents with cancer, few have studied other chronic illness groups. Therefore, the purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to explore adolescent perceptions of living and growing with a chronic illness. 12 individuals (ages 13-17) diagnosed with one or more chronic health conditions participated in a semi-structured interview. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis, five themes were generated by the researchers: (1) trajectory of illness over time, (2) illness- and treatment-related restrictions, (3) interpersonal concerns, (4) reaching acceptance, and (5) perceived gains/benefits. Participants identified negative aspects of a chronic illness while also noting positive impacts on their lives. Despite little overlap in diagnoses, similar themes and experiences were present among participants, suggesting some level of generalizability among chronic health conditions.

Exercise-related cognitive error represent the extent to which individuals view their exercise engagement through a negative and biased lens. Three datasets were examined to develop a short form of the original 16-item exercise-related cognitive errors questionnaire (E-CEQ) and evaluate evidence of validity. Exploratory factor analysis on datasets 1 (N = 394), 2 (N = 177), and 3 (N = 1027) suggested that a seven-item, one-factor model fit the data. Findings suggested that the ECEQ short form had a unidimensional factor structure that did not vary based on age or gender. As evidence of criterion-related validity, similar magnitude correlations were observed for the E-CEQ short-form (ECEQ-SF) and the original E-CEQ with key exercise variables in datasets 1 and 2 (| rs | ranged from .20 to .76). The ECEQ-SF captures the extent to which individuals view their perceived exercise barriers through a cognitively errored lens.

Countries across the world, including India, are witnessing an increase in the cases of diabetes, posing public health challenges. Although diabetes is a metabolic disease, psychosocial factors are crucial in its management. Hence, the present study tried to identify the association of diabetes-related factors with life satisfaction and sleep disturbances among ageing adults living with diabetes in India. The data of adults aged 45 years and older living with diabetes (N = 8272) were extracted from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India Wave 1 (2017-18). We conducted weighted least squares regression, t-test, and descriptive analysis. The likelihood of life satisfaction reduced with insulin usage (β = -.73, 99% CI: -1.16 to -.29), special diet (β = -.92, 99% CI: -1.31 to -.54), smoking habit, involvement in physical activity, depressive symptoms, lack of involvement in social activities and with duration of diabetes. The insulin usage (β = -.25, 99% CI: -.44 to -.07), special diet (β = -.22, 99% CI: -.38 to -.06), and involvement in physical activities decreased the probability of sleep disturbances, while alcohol consumption, smoking habits, and depressive symptoms escalated the likelihood of it. The evidence from this study underlines the links between diabetes and psychosocial factors. It signifies the importance of addressing such factors to ensure better glycemic control and the well-being of people living with diabetes.

Long COVID has been associated with stigmatization, prompting exploration of coping mechanisms. This cross-sectional study examined whether self-compassion and self-coldness mediate long-COVID stigma's effects on well-being. We surveyed 201 German adults with long-COVID (89% female; M _age = 43.27, SD = 10.57). Most were officially diagnosed (88%), and 93% still experienced long-COVID symptoms at the time of survey. Measures included stigma, self-compassion, self-coldness, subjective well-being (SWB), and flourishing. Long-COVID stigma negatively correlated with SWB and flourishing. Higher self-compassion and lower self-coldness predicted better outcomes. Internalized stigma predicted lower flourishing through decreased self-compassion and increased self-coldness. In contrast, enacted stigma was associated with higher SWB and flourishing through lower self-coldness. Overall, mediation effects via self-coldness were significantly stronger than those via self-compassion, particularly in flourishing. These findings highlight the interplay between stigma, self-relating, and well-being, indicating both adaptive and maladaptive pathways. Interventions promoting self-compassion and reducing self-coldness may support holistic long-COVID care.

Raynaud's Phenomenon is a condition characterised by vasoconstriction of the extremities and can have a detrimental impact on people's lives. The treatment options for patients currently offered through healthcare services, e.g., in the United Kingdom (UK), are insufficient. This study provides a theoretical basis for future interventions by presenting insights into experiences of living with Raynaud's. Using an inductive-deductive approach, our thematic analysis of 19 semi-structured interviews with people living with Raynaud's in the UK was informed by the common-sense model of self-regulation. Three interrelated themes were generated to capture the illness experiences of people with Raynaud's: 1) Illness representations, 2) Coping response, and 3) Advice and guidance. Together, these themes provide insight into illness perceptions, coping styles and factors that may contribute to adherence to self-management. The findings suggest that a stepped care approach to managing Raynaud's may be beneficial.