Psychological Well-Being and Distress Among Women in the Workforce: A Cross-Sectional Study

Question: What are the prevalence and predictors of psychological distress in people with tuberculosis in South Africa? Population: In total 4935 patients, aged between 18 and 93 years, within 1...

Psychological distress is defined as a state of emotional suffering characterized by symptoms of depression and anxiety; these symptoms are tied with somatic symptoms that are likely to vary across cultures. Distress is one of the variables which is less explored. Distress can have underlying vulnerability towards psychological morbidity. Factors of distress (person centered & environment centered) affects an individual in his day-to-day life; of which the environmental factor of distress (work status) is affecting the working population nowadays and women are very vulnerable towards it. This study tried to identify the level of psychological distress and the vulnerability of women towards mental disorder, according to their work status (working and non-working). The purpose of this study is to determine the difference in the Levels of Psychological Distress among unmarried working and non-working women. A total number of 144 participants of unmarried women, (working = 80, non-working = 64) ranging between the age of 23-30 years from Kolkata and Bangalore. The data was collected by administering Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), by Kessler et. al. (2002). Independent sample t-test is used to determine the difference in psychological distress between the two groups. The results indicated that there is no significant difference in the level of psychological distress between working and non-working women. Present finding adds to the literature as the lack of published data ascertaining the relationship between the two variables, psychological distress and work status. From this study it is found that work status does not contribute to the level of psychological distress. There can be other personal or social factors which might contribute more to the level of psychological distress among working and non-working women.

Forgiveness is the framing of a perceived transgression such that one's responses to the transgressor, transgression, and sequelae of the transgression are transformed from negative to neutral or positive. The source of a transgression, and therefore the object of forgiveness, may be oneself, another person or persons, or a situation that one views as being beyond anyone's control (Thompson et al., 2005) Currently, there is great theoretical interest in the possibility that forgiveness is involved in promoting well-being. Various models suggest that forgiveness can offer opportunities for recognizing a deeper meaning in the transgression, developing compassion for others, appreciating social support systems, and discovering a renewed sense of life purpose (Enright, Freedman, & Rique, 1998). Empirical studies suggest that forgiveness have potential benefits for mental health (Toussaint & Webb, 2005), and well-being (Brown, 2003 ; Karremans, Van Lange, Ouwerkerk, & Kluwer, 2003; Karuse & Ellison, 2003).Psychological well-beingPsychological well-being is usually conceptualized as some combination of positive affective states such as happiness (the hedonic perspective) and functioning with optimal effectiveness in individual and social life (the eudaimonic perspective) (Deci & Ryan, 2008). Psychological well-being is about lives going well. It is the combination of feeling good and functioning effectively (Huppert, 2009). Psychological well-being refers to one's positive intrapersonal, interpersonal, and social functioning that is influenced by his or her perception and meaning given to his or her life situations (Ryff & Singer, 1996). Psychological well-being can be measured as emotional well-being in a hedonistic sense (i.e., experiencing more positive affect than negative affect) and positive psychological functioning in a eudaimonic sense (i.e., living a meaningful life and fulfilling one's potentials).Psychological distressPsychological distress is viewed as an emotional condition that involves negative views of the self, others and the environment and is characterized by unpleasant subjective states such as feeling tense, worried, worthless and irritable (Barlow and Durand, 2005). These subjective states can reduce the emotional resilience of individuals and impact on their ability to enjoy life and to cope with pain, disappointment and sadness. Psychological distress can be viewed as a continuum in which people can move from experiencing wellbeing to distress andback at various times throughout their lives (Horwitz and Scheid, 1999; Mechanic, 1999).A link between forgiveness and mental and physical health has attracted much attention in psychological research (McCullough, 2000; Thoresen, Harris, & Luskin, 2000). In forgiveness research, psychological well-being has often been considered equivalent to global satisfaction of life, minimal psychological distress or absence of psychopathology, or a combination of certain positive cognition and affect. Thus, a possible relationship between forgiveness and psychological well-being in the eudaimonic sense has been overlookedPrior research suggested that trait forgiveness is generally more strongly correlated with some aspects or components of psychological well-being and other mental health variables than state forgiveness (McCullough & Witvliet, 2002).HFS was also foundto positively predict satisfaction with life and negatively predict trait anger, state anxiety, and depression among college students (Thompson et al., 2005).Among the wide variety' of protective factors that have been recognized, acceptance, forgiveness, and gratitude appear to be three personal characteristics that have been found to be closely related to psychological well-being (McCullough, Emmons, & Tsang, 2002; Nakamura & Orth, 2005).The Human Development Study Group (1991) revealed positive results, indicating that the promotion of forgiveness enhances psychological well-being among individuals coping with a variety of serious offenses. …

IntroductionThe majority of people experience anger at some point in their lives when confronted with unpleasant situations. In social settings, anger can lead to aggressive and hostile in the absence of adequate social competences. Our study aims to examine the moderating role of perceived social competences in the association between psychological distress and anger expression (trait anger, hostility, physical aggression, and verbal aggression) among a sample of Lebanese adults.Methods403 participants above 18 years (the mean age was 24.56 ± 8.46) were enrolled in the cross-sectional study with 73% female participants. The candidates were asked to complete a structured questionnaire including the following scales: (1) Buss–Perry Aggression Questionnaire-Short Form (BPAQ-SF), (2) the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-8), (3) Perceived Social Competencies (PSC), and (4) The De Jong-Gierveld Loneliness Scale.ResultsThe interaction psychological distress by perceived social competence was not significantly associated with physical aggression, verbal aggression, or hostility but was significantly associated with anger. After adjusting the results over variables that showed a p <.25 in the bivariate analysis, this association was significant at low (Beta = 0.24; p <.001), moderate (Beta = 0.20; p <.001) and high (Beta = 0.16; p <.001) levels of perceived social competencies, where higher psychological distress was significantly associated with more anger. On another note, with higher perceived social competence, we find a decrease in levels of psychological distress in our sample.ConclusionThis study provided evidence that perceived social competencies such as communication skills, empathy and prosocial behaviors act as moderators in the association between psychological distress and anger. In future works, investigating and building advanced program in order to develop social competences of individuals might prove important. It is crucial to implement such strategies and projects in schools: this educational setting could be fruitful in a way that social skills could be instilled during childhood and anger-aggressive behaviors could be managed throughout adulthood.

Predictors of psychological distress in caregivers of people with acquired brain injury : a cognitive behavioural analysis

In order to determine the effect of family support on the psychological well-being of heterosexual couples with at least one HIV-seropositive, family support data were obtained from couples, who were separately interviewed. Two hundred heterosexuals were interviewed (97 males, 103 females). 182 were partners in HIV serodiscordant couples (18 members were in 10 couples concordant for HIV-seropositivity). Overall, there were 76 HIV+ males and 30 HIV+ females. The Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) was used to measure psychological distress. Sixty-five per cent of the subjects had family members aware of partners' HIV infection, but only 50% of aware families were reported as supportive. Family support was not a significant predictor of distress. Gender was the most significant predictor of psychological distress as measured by the BSI subscales. Both HIV positive and HIV negative females had more distress than their male counterparts on several dimensions (somatization, obsessive-compulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, phobic anxiety and paranoia), and on the General Severity Index (GSI) of the BSI (HIV-positives: p = 0.003; HIV-negatives: p = 0.01). Despite the general lack of association of family support with psychological distress, women in couples affected by HIV had more distress than men. The mental health needs of women clearly differ from men, and continued gender comparisons should be done to develop appropriate and effective interventions for these groups.

Background: Research on the mental health of students in health disciplines mainly focuses on psychological distress and nursing and medical students. This study aimed to investigate the psychological well-being and distress and related factors among undergraduate students training in eight different health-related tracks in Geneva, Switzerland. Methods: This cross-sectional study used established self-filled scales for anxiety, depression, stress, psychological well-being, and study satisfaction. Descriptive statistics and hierarchical regression analyses were applied. Results: In October 2019, out of 2835 invited students, 915 (32%) completed the survey. Lower academic satisfaction scores were strongly associated with depression (β = −0.26, p < 0.001), anxiety (β = −0.27, p < 0.001), and stress (β = −0.70, p < 0.001), while higher scores were associated with psychological well-being (β = 0.70, p < 0.001). Being female was strongly associated with anxiety and stress but not with depression or psychological well-being. Increased age was associated with enhanced psychological well-being. The nature of the academic training had a lesser impact on mental health and the academic year had none. Conclusion: Academic satisfaction strongly predicts depression, anxiety, stress, and psychological well-being. Training institutions should address the underlying factors that can improve students’ satisfaction with their studies while ensuring that they have access to psychosocial services that help them cope with mental distress and enhance their psychological well-being.

Diabetes distress is the emotional and mental burden of living with diabetes. It can include feelings of frustration, guilt, anxiety, and worry. Understanding the factors contributing to psychological distress and how it affects glycemic control can be crucial for improving patient outcomes. Therefore, this study investigated the association between psychological distress levels and glycemic control in patients with diabetes. It also identified factors associated with severity of psychological distress. A multicentre cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with diabetes at selected hospitals in Northwest Ethiopia. Psychological risk distress was measured using the Kessler 10 (K10) questionnaire, validated for this population. Glycemic control was categorized as poor and good based on patients' current glucose records and following recommended guidelines. Logistic regression examined the association between psychological distress levels and glycemic control. Linear regression assessed the association between psychological distress score and other independent variables. p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. More than half (218, 54.2%) of the participants had severe psychological distress with a 27.4 (±4.6) mean score. Patients with moderate [AOR = 1. 85, 95% CI: 1.05-3.76] and severe [AOR = 2.84, 95% CI: 1.32-7.31] distress levels significantly had poor glycemic control compared to those with no distress. BMI [β = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.42, 71], monthly salary [β = -0.41, 95% CI: -67, -0.25], source of healthcare cost [β = -0.75, 95% CI: -2.36, -0.03], SMBG practicing [β = -0.85, 95% CI: -1.93, -0.25], lifestyle modifications [β = -1.66, 95% CI: -3.21, -0.18], number of medical conditions [β = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.57, 2.81], number of medications [β = 2.26, 95% CI: 1.05, 4.57], hypoglycaemia perception [β = 2.91, 95% CI: 1.32, 7.01], and comorbidity and/or complications [β = 3.93, 95% CI: 1.08, 6.72] were significantly associated with severity of psychological distress. Most patients reported having moderate to severe psychological distress, which in turn, negatively impacted their glycemic control. Interventions incorporating mental health and psychosocial support should be implemented to relieve psychological distress and improve glycemic control.

This study examined correlates of psychological well-being and distress among women in Accra, Ghana. A total of 200 women between 18 and 65 years completed measures of psychological well-being and distress. Independent t-test and One-way ANOVA F-test analysis of the data suggested differences among the women in their psychological well-being and distress levels by their religiosity, education, and monthly income. Christian women reported higher psychological well-being compared to non-Christians. Religiosity, higher education, and income appear to be protective resources against psychological distress among Ghanaian women.

Relationships among alexithymia, psychological distress, and disordered eating behaviors in adolescents

This study aimed to examine the mediating role of eating disorders in the association between problematic social media use (PSMU) and psychological distress, including anxiety, depression and stress, among Chinese college students. The primary hypothesis was that eating disorders would partially mediate the relationship between PSMU and psychological distress. A cross-sectional study. Participants were recruited from a vocational college in Jiangxi, China. A total of 454 college students aged 18 years or older participated in the study. The median age was 19 years (IQR=18, 20), and 73.4% were male. Participants were included if they were enrolled in college and able to provide informed consent. Students undergoing psychological treatment or taking psychiatric medications were excluded. PSMU was assessed using the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, psychological distress was assessed using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 and eating disorder symptoms were assessed using the SCOFF questionnaire. PSMU was significantly associated with higher levels of psychological distress (r=0.321, p<0.05) and eating disorders (r=0.298, p<0.05). The mediation analysis showed that eating disorders accounted for 39.8% of the total effect of PSMU on psychological distress. The indirect effect of PSMU on psychological distress through eating disorders was statistically significant (B=0.119, SE=0.018, p<0.001). Eating disorders play a partial mediating role in the relationship between PSMU and psychological distress among Chinese college students. These findings highlight the need for mental health interventions addressing both PSMU and eating disorders. Future research should use longitudinal designs to establish causal relationships. ChiCTR2300078008.

Psychometri properties of the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire in a sample of Iranian population

The transition to university is a time of great change. A recent literature has shown that adaptability (a personal resource) and social support (a conditional, situational resource) are associated with psychological wellbeing and distress among university students. However, the precise nature of these relations are unclear and there is a paucity of work investigating whether adaptability and social support are predictive of psychological wellbeing and distress over longer periods of time. In the present study, first-year university students (N = 411), were surveyed for their adaptability, social support, and psychological distress, and were then re-assessed for their psychological wellbeing and distress 1 year later. A series of moderated regression analyses, revealed that adaptability and social support were independent predictors of psychological distress concurrently, and psychological wellbeing 1 year later. Adaptability, but not social support, was also found to predict psychological distress 1 year later. No interaction effects were observed. The findings demonstrate the importance of adaptability (and social support to a lesser extent) in predicting psychological wellbeing and distress among university students both at course commencement, but also over the course of their studies 1 year later.

Psychological distress may contribute to chronic activation of acute-phase inflammation. The current study investigated how financial stressors influence psychosocial functioning and inflammation. This study examined a) the direct relations between financial stress and inflammation; b) whether the relationships between financial stress and inflammation are mediated in part by negative interpersonal events, psychological distress, and psychological well-being; and c) whether social standing in one's community moderates the relations between financial stress and psychological distress, psychological well-being, and markers of inflammation (interleukin-6 [IL-6] and C-reactive protein). Stressful financial and interpersonal events over the previous year, perceived social status, indices of psychological well-being and distress, and levels of IL-6 and C-reactive protein were assessed in a community sample of 680 middle-aged adults (ages 40-65 years). Structural equation modeling analyses revealed significant relations among financial stress, interpersonal stress, and psychological distress and well-being, and complex relationships between these variables and inflammatory markers. Psychological well-being mediated the association between financial stress and IL-6 ([mediation] ab = 0.012, standard error [SE] = 0.006, p = .048). Furthermore, individuals with higher perceived social standing within their communities exhibited a stronger relation between negative financial events and both interpersonal stressors (interaction B = 0.067, SE = 0.017, p < .001) and C-reactive protein (interaction B = 0.051, SE = 0.026, p = .050). Financial stress demonstrates complex relations with inflammation, due partly to psychological well-being and social perceptions. Findings are discussed with regard to the social context of stress and physiological factors pertinent to stress adaptation and inflammation.

Background:Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine disorder affecting both physical and psychological health in women of reproductive age. While its metabolic and reproductive symptoms are well-documented, fatigue remains an underrecognised yet significant concern. Psychological distress, including anxiety, depression and stress, may contribute to fatigue in women with PCOS, either directly or by influencing sleep disturbances. While insomnia is commonly reported in this population, this study primarily focuses on fatigue and its association with psychological distress, with sleep disturbances considered as a secondary factor requiring further exploration.Aim:This study aims to investigate the association between psychological distress (anxiety, depression and stress) and fatigue in women with PCOS. In addition, it explores whether sleep disturbances show any association with fatigue, providing insights into factors that may contribute to fatigue severity in this population.Settings and Design:This is a cross-sectional pilot study conducted in a university outpatient department.Materials and Methods:A total of 52 women, diagnosed with PCOS were included in this cross-sectional study. Data collection involves scoring of fatigue by administering the fatigue severity scale (FSS) and insomnia severity index (ISI) for insomnia and components of psychological distress (stress, depression and anxiety) using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21.Statistical Analysis Used:Data were analysed using IBM SPSS version 25. Pearson correlation coefficients were used to explore bivariate relationships between fatigue and independent variables. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05.Results:The findings revealed significant associations between FSS and psychological distress, particularly anxiety (r = 0.507, P = 0.038) and depression (r = 0.595, P = 0.012). In addition, insomnia (ISI) showed the strongest correlation with fatigue (r = 0.705, P = 0.002), indicating that sleep disturbances may further exacerbate fatigue in women with PCOS.Conclusion:This study highlights a strong association between psychological distress, insomnia and fatigue in women with PCOS. The findings suggest that higher levels of anxiety, depression and sleep disturbances contribute significantly to fatigue severity, emphasising the need for integrated psychological and sleep management strategies in PCOS care. Further research with larger cohorts and longitudinal designs is necessary to establish causal relationships and develop targeted interventions for improving overall well-being in this population.