Active Coping Behavior Research Articles

The Forgotten Parent: The Targeted Parent Perspective of Parental Alienation

This study investigated the targeted parent experience of parental alienation and alienating behaviors. One hundred and twenty-six targeted parents provided narratives in response to an open-ended question at the end of an online survey. Braun and Clarke’s (2006) thematic analysis framework was used to identify themes in the data. Six themes were identified illustrating targeted parents’ experience of parental alienation and alienating behaviors. Targeted parents described physical and emotional distance separating them from their child, emotional and financial costs associated with their engagement with “systems” such as legal systems and child protection systems. They described poor mental health and concern for their child’s psychological well-being. Targeted parents considered alienating behaviors to be a form of family violence. Additionally, targeted parents used active coping behaviors. It was concluded that further research is needed to better understand parental alienation. Mental health and legal professionals must collaborate to optimize support for targeted parents.

Workplace victimization risk and protective factors for suicidal behavior among active duty military personnel

BackgroundWorkplace victimization is a potential risk factor for suicidal behaviors (SB) among military personnel that has been largely overlooked. This paper examines both the impact of workplace victimization on reported SB and several potential protective factors associated with such suicidal behaviors in a large sample of active duty soldiers. MethodsA case-control study was conducted with 71 soldiers who reported SB in the past 12 months, each matched on sociodemographic characteristics to two others without reported suicidal behaviors. A multiple regression model was estimated to assess the effects of risk and protective factors while controlling for other variables. ResultsSB was associated with several aspects of victimization, mental health and substance abuse conditions, pain, impulsivity, stressors, negative life events, work-family conflict, active coping behaviors and positive military-related factors. Controlling for other variables, those with SB were more likely to have sought mental health or substance abuse services, to be depressed, anxious, impulsive, and less resilient than non-SB personnel. LimitationsStudy limitations included the use of retrospective self-report data, absence of some known SB predictors, and a population restricted to active duty Army personnel. ConclusionsSB among active duty personnel is associated with victimization since joining the military and is protected by resiliency. These findings suggest that in addition to the usual mental health factors, these additional predictors should be accounted for in SB intervention and prevention planning for active duty personnel.

MicroRNA-34 Contributes to the Stress-related Behavior and Affects 5-HT Prefrontal/GABA Amygdalar System through Regulation of Corticotropin-releasing Factor Receptor 1.

Recent studies show that microRNA-34 (miR-34) family is critical in the regulation of stress response also suggesting that it may contribute to the individual responsiveness to stress. We have recently demonstrated that mice carrying a genetic deletion of all miR-34 isoforms (triple knockout, TKO) lack the stress-induced serotonin (5-HT) and GABA release in the medial prefrontal cortex (mpFC) and basolateral amygdala (BLA), respectively. Here, we evaluated if the absence of miR-34 was also able to modify the stress-coping strategy in the forced swimming test. We found that the blunted neurochemical response to stress was associated with lower levels of immobility (index of active coping behavior) in TKO compared to WT mice. Interestingly, among the brain regions mostly involved in the stress-related behaviors, the miR-34 displayed the strongest expression in the dorsal raphe nuclei (DRN) of wild-type (WT) mice. In the DRN, the corticotropin-releasing factor receptors (CRFR) 1 and 2, contribute to determine the stress-coping style and the CRFR1 is a target of miR-34. Thus, we hypothesized that the miR-34-dependent modulation of CRFR1 expression may be involved in the DRN regulation of stress-coping strategies. In line with this hypothesis, we found increased CRFR1 levels in the DNR of TKO compared to WT mice. Moreover, infusion of CRFR1 antagonist in the DRN of TKO mice reverted their behavioral and neurochemical phenotype. We propose that miR-34 modulate the mpFC 5-HT/BLA GABA response to stress acting on CRFR1 in the DRN and that this mechanism could contribute to determine individual stress-coping strategy.

Cell-type-specific role for nucleus accumbens neuroligin-2 in depression and stress susceptibility

Behavioral coping strategies are critical for active resilience to stress and depression; here we describe a role for neuroligin-2 (NLGN-2) in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Neuroligins (NLGN) are a family of neuronal postsynaptic cell adhesion proteins that are constituents of the excitatory and inhibitory synapse. Importantly, NLGN-3 and NLGN-4 mutations are strongly implicated as candidates underlying the development of neuropsychiatric disorders with social disturbances such as autism, but the role of NLGN-2 in neuropsychiatric disease states is unclear. Here we show a reduction in NLGN-2 gene expression in the NAc of patients with major depressive disorder. Chronic social defeat stress in mice also decreases NLGN-2 selectively in dopamine D1-positive cells, but not dopamine D2-positive cells, within the NAc of stress-susceptible mice. Functional NLGN-2 knockdown produces bidirectional, cell-type-specific effects: knockdown in dopamine D1-positive cells promotes subordination and stress susceptibility, whereas knockdown in dopamine D2-positive cells mediates active defensive behavior. These findings establish a behavioral role for NAc NLGN-2 in stress and depression; provide a basis for targeted, cell-type specific therapy; and highlight the role of active behavioral coping mechanisms in stress susceptibility.

Inflammation and vascular remodeling in the ventral hippocampus contributes to vulnerability to stress

During exposure to chronic stress, some individuals engage in active coping behaviors that promote resiliency to stress. Other individuals engage in passive coping that is associated with vulnerability to stress and with anxiety and depression. In an effort to identify novel molecular mechanisms that underlie vulnerability or resilience to stress, we used nonbiased analyses of microRNAs in the ventral hippocampus (vHPC) to identify those miRNAs differentially expressed in active (long-latency (LL)/resilient) or passive (short-latency (SL)/vulnerable) rats following chronic social defeat. In the vHPC of active coping rats, miR-455-3p level was increased, while miR-30e-3p level was increased in the vHPC of passive coping rats. Pathway analyses identified inflammatory and vascular remodeling pathways as enriched by genes targeted by these microRNAs. Utilizing several independent markers for blood vessels, inflammatory processes and neural activity in the vHPC, we found that SL/vulnerable rats exhibit increased neural activity, vascular remodeling and inflammatory processes that include both increased blood–brain barrier permeability and increased number of microglia in the vHPC relative to control and resilient rats. To test the relevance of these changes for the development of the vulnerable phenotype, we used pharmacological approaches to determine the contribution of inflammatory processes in mediating vulnerability and resiliency. Administration of the pro-inflammatory cytokine vascular endothelial growth factor-164 increased vulnerability to stress, while the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug meloxicam attenuated vulnerability. Collectively, these results show that vulnerability to stress is determined by a re-designed neurovascular unit characterized by increased neural activity, vascular remodeling and pro-inflammatory mechanisms in the vHPC. These results suggest that dampening inflammatory processes by administering anti-inflammatory agents reduces vulnerability to stress. These results have translational relevance as they suggest that administration of anti-inflammatory agents may reduce the impact of stress or trauma in vulnerable individuals.

Prior fear conditioning does not impede enhanced active avoidance in serotonin transporter knockout rats

Stressors can be actively or passively coped with, and adequate adaption of the coping response to environmental conditions can reduce their potential deleterious effects. One major factor influencing stress coping behaviour is serotonin transporter (5-HTT) availability. Abolishment of 5-HTT is known to impair fear extinction but facilitates acquisition of signalled active avoidance (AA), a behavioural task in which an animal learns to avoid an aversive stimulus that is predicted by a cue. Flexibility in adapting coping behaviour to the nature of the stressor shapes resilience to stress-related disorders. Therefore, we investigated the relation between 5-HTT expression and ability to adapt a learned coping response to changing environmental conditions. To this end, we first established and consolidated a cue-conditioned passive fear response in 5-HTT−/− and wildtype rats. Next, we used the conditioned stimulus (CS) to signal oncoming shocks during signalled AA training in 5-HTT−/− and wildtype rats to study their capability to acquire an active coping response to the CS following fear conditioning. Finally, we investigated the behavioural response to the CS in a novel environment and measured freezing, exploration and self-grooming, behaviours reflective of stress coping strategy. We found that fear conditioned and sham conditioned 5-HTT−/− animals acquired the signalled AA response faster than wildtypes, while prior conditioning briefly delayed AA learning similarly in both genotypes. Subsequent exposure to the CS in the novel context reduced freezing and increased locomotion in 5-HTT−/− compared to wildtype rats. This indicates that improved AA performance in 5-HTT−/− rats resulted in a weaker residual passive fear response to the CS in a novel context. Fear conditioning prior to AA training did not affect freezing upon re-encountering the CS, although it did reduce locomotion in 5-HTT−/− rats. We conclude that independent of 5-HTT signalling, prior fear conditioning does not greatly impair the acquisition of subsequent active coping behaviour when the situation allows for it. Abolishment of 5-HTT results in a more active coping style in case of novelty-induced fear and upon CS encounter in a novel context after AA learning.

Chronic Vortioxetine Treatment Reduces Exaggerated Expression of Conditioned Fear Memory and Restores Active Coping Behavior in Chronically Stressed Rats.

Background:Stress is a risk factor for depression and anxiety disorders, disrupting neuronal processes leading to exaggerated fear and compromised coping behaviors. Current antidepressants are only partially effective. Vortioxetine, a novel multimodal antidepressant, is a serotonin transporter inhibitor; 5-HT3, 5-HT7, and 5-HT1D receptor antagonist; 5-HT1B partial agonist; and 5-HT1A agonist. We have shown that chronic dietary vortioxetine administration reversed stress-induced deficits in cognitive flexibility. In the present studies, we investigated the generality of vortioxetine’s effects on other stress-related behavioral changes after different types of chronic stress.Methods:In experiment 1, rats were fear-conditioned by pairing a tone with footshock, then exposed to chronic plus acute prolonged stress. In experiment 2, rats were exposed to chronic unpredictable stress. In both experiments, beginning on day 4 of chronic stress, vortioxetine was given in the diet (24 mg/kg/d). In experiment 1, effects of vortioxetine were tested on stress-induced changes in retention and extinction of cue-conditioned fear, and in experiment 2, on coping behavior on the shock probe defensive burying test after chronic stress.Results:Chronic stress exaggerated the expression of conditioned fear memory. Vortioxetine restored fear memory to control levels and rendered extinction in stressed rats comparable with that in controls. In experiment 2, chronic unpredictable stress caused a shift from active to passive coping behavior, and vortioxetine restored active coping.Conclusions:Vortioxetine reduced exaggerated expression of conditioned fear and restored adaptive coping behavior following 2 different types of chronic stress, adding to the evidence of its therapeutic potential in the management of depression and anxiety disorders.

학령기 아동의 스트레스와 대처행위 및 사회적지지 지각과의 관계

본 연구는 학령기 아동의 스트레스와 스트레스 대처행위, 그리고 아동이 인지하는 사회적지지 지각과의 관계를 살펴보기 위한 서술적 상관관계연구이다. 본 연구의 대상자는 A 광역시의 일개 초등학교 3, 4, 5학년으로, 연구자가 연구기관을 직접 방문하여 기관과 학생들의 동의를 얻은 후 총 481명의 학생을 대상으로 설문을 실시하였으며, 이 중 불성실에게 응답한 72부를 제외한 409부의 설문지를 분석하였다. 수집된 자료는 SPSS 13.0을 이용하여 기술통계와 T-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation을 사용하여 분석하였다. 스트레스 점수는 학업으로 인한 스트레스 점수가 가장 높았다(<TEX>$9.30{\pm}4.41$</TEX>). 스트레스 대처행위는 저학년이 고학년보다 사회적지지 추구 대처행위 점수가 유의하게 높았고(F=3.181, p=.043), 남학생이 여학생보다 공격적 대처행위 점수가 유의하게 높았다(t=-3.399, p=.001). 사회적지지 지각점수는 가족(<TEX>$33.01{\pm}7.61$</TEX>), 친구(<TEX>$28.43{\pm}7.89$</TEX>), 교사(<TEX>$25.71{\pm}6.30$</TEX>)의 순서이었고, 여학생이 남학생보다 친구(t=3.842, p=.000)와 교사(t=3.037, p=.003) 지지 지각에서 유의하게 높았다. 스트레스 점수가 증가할수록 소극적 대처행위(r=.410, p=.000)와 공격적 대처행위(r=.445, p=.000)는 유의하게 증가하였다. 사회적지지 지각이 높을수록 적극적 대처행위(r=.455, p=.000)와 사회적지지 추구 대처행위(r=.429, p=.000)는 유의하게 증가하였다. 따라서 아동에게 스트레스 관리는 매우 중요하며 아동의 공격적, 소극적 대처행위를 줄이고 사회적지지 지각을 증진시키기 위한 간호중재 프로그램 개발 연구가 필요하다고 하겠다. This research is a descriptive correlation research to examine the relationship among stress, coping behaviors, and perceived social support in school-age children. Students in third, fourth, and fifth grades at one elementary school in A metropolitan city were included for this research. A researcher of the study visited the elementary school and obtained appropriate approval to conduct this survey. Then, a total of 481 students answered the questionnaire; finally, the questionnaires of 409 students were analyzed after excluding 72 questionnaires due to unreliable responses. Descriptive statistics, T-test, ANOVA, and Pearson's correlation were used to analyze the collected data with SPSS 13.0. In the stress scores, academic stress was associated with the highest score (<TEX>$9.30{\pm}4.41$</TEX>). With respect to stress coping behaviors, lower-grade students showed to have significantly higher scores in coping behavior of pursuing social support than higher-grade students (F=3.181, p=.043); male students had higher scores in aggressive coping behavior than female students (t=-3.399, p=.001). Perceived social support scores were higher in the following order: family members (<TEX>$33.01{\pm}7.61$</TEX>), friends (<TEX>$28.43{\pm}7.89$</TEX>), and teachers (<TEX>$25.71{\pm}6.30$</TEX>). Female students had higher scores in perceived social support from friends (t=3.842, p=.000) and teachers (t=3.037, p=.003) than the male students. As the stress scores increased, passive coping behaviors (r=.410, p=.000) and aggressive coping behaviors (r=.445, p=.000) have been significantly increased. As perceived social support is higher, active coping behaviors (r=.455, p=.000) and coping behaviors to pursue social support (r=.429, p=.000) were significantly increased. Therefore, we can conclude that stress management is very significant for children. It would be necessary to develop nursing intervention programs in order to reduce the aggressive and passive coping behaviors of children and encourage perceived social support.

Coping with Loneliness Through Materialism: Strategies Matter for Adolescent Development of Unethical Behaviors

Engaging in unethical consumption behaviors is an acute societal problem that can have severe consequences for adolescents, and businesses in particular have been accused of making such consumption particularly appealing and accessible. However, the causes of unethical behaviors are not well understood and research on the causes has been mixed. In this research, we investigate the effects of coping strategies for loneliness on adolescents’ adoption of unethical behaviors, a topic that business ethics research has not explored. In a large-scale study (n = 409) of adolescents (ages 13–17), we show that whether loneliness leads to the adoption of unethical behaviors depends on the strategies adolescents use to cope with their loneliness: active coping strategies are associated with fewer unethical behaviors, whereas passive coping strategies are associated with more unethical behaviors. In addition, we show that active and passive coping strategies can be executed through consumption practices. We show that the relation between active coping and fewer unethical behaviors is mediated by sharing of possessions, whereas the relation between passive coping strategies and more unethical behaviors is mediated by product acquisition. Finally, we also show that these mediated relations differ as a function of age cohort (grade level). The indirect effect of active coping on fewer unethical behaviors via sharing holds only for middle school adolescents, whereas the indirect effect of passive coping on more unethical behaviors via product acquisition holds only for high school adolescents. We shed new light on both the bright and dark sides of materialism and unethical behaviors and provide practical implications for research on loneliness, business ethics, and unethical behaviors.

Exploring a post-traumatic stress disorder paradigm in Flinders sensitive line rats to model treatment-resistant depression I: bio-behavioural validation and response to imipramine.

Co-morbid depression with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is often treatment resistant. In developing a preclinical model of treatment-resistant depression (TRD), we combined animal models of depression and PTSD to produce an animal with more severe as well as treatment-resistant depressive-like behaviours. Male Flinders sensitive line (FSL) rats, a genetic animal model of depression, were exposed to a stress re-stress model of PTSD [time-dependent sensitisation (TDS)] and compared with stress-naive controls. Seven days after TDS stress, depressive-like and coping behaviours as well as hippocampal and cortical noradrenaline (NA) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5HIAA) levels were analysed. Response to sub-chronic imipramine treatment (IMI; 10 mg/kg s.c.×7 days) was subsequently studied. FSL rats demonstrated bio-behavioural characteristics of depression. Exposure to TDS stress in FSL rats correlated negatively with weight gain, while demonstrating reduced swimming behaviour and increased immobility versus unstressed FSL rats. IMI significantly reversed depressive-like (immobility) behaviour and enhanced active coping behaviour (swimming and climbing) in FSL rats. The latter was significantly attenuated in FSL rats exposed to TDS versus unstressed FSL rats. IMI reversed reduced 5HIAA levels in unstressed FSL rats, whereas exposure to TDS negated this effect. Lowered NA levels in FSL rats were sustained after TDS with IMI significantly reversing this in the hippocampus. Combining a gene-X-environment model of depression with a PTSD paradigm produces exaggerated depressive-like symptoms that display an attenuated response to antidepressant treatment. This work confirms combining FSL rats with TDS exposure as a putative animal model of TRD.

Therapeutic Effects of Extinction Learning as a Model of Exposure Therapy in Rats.

Current treatments for stress-related psychiatric disorders, such as depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), are inadequate. Cognitive behavioral psychotherapies, including exposure therapy, are an alternative to pharmacotherapy, but the neurobiological mechanisms are unknown. Preclinical models demonstrating therapeutic effects of behavioral interventions are required to investigate such mechanisms. Exposure therapy bears similarity to extinction learning. Thus, we investigated the therapeutic effects of extinction learning as a behavioral intervention to model exposure therapy in rats, testing its effectiveness in reversing chronic stress-induced deficits in cognitive flexibility and coping behavior that resemble dimensions of depression and PTSD. Rats were fear-conditioned by pairing a tone with footshock, and then exposed to chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) that induces deficits in cognitive set-shifting and active coping behavior. They then received an extinction learning session as a therapeutic intervention by repeated exposure to the tone with no shock. Effects on cognitive flexibility and coping behavior were assessed 24 h later on the attentional set-shifting test or shock-probe defensive burying test, respectively. Extinction reversed the CUS-induced deficits in cognitive flexibility and coping behavior, and increased phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of stress-compromised rats, suggesting a role for activity-dependent protein synthesis in the therapeutic effect. Inhibiting protein synthesis by microinjecting anisomycin into mPFC blocked the therapeutic effect of extinction on cognitive flexibility. These results demonstrate the utility of extinction as a model by which to study mechanisms underlying exposure therapy, and suggest these mechanisms involve protein synthesis in the mPFC, the further study of which may identify novel therapeutic targets.

Social stressors, coping behaviors, and depressive symptoms: A latent profile analysis of adolescents in military families.

We investigated the relationship between context-specific social stressors, coping behaviors, and depressive symptoms among adolescents in active duty military families across seven installations (three of which were in Europe) (N=1036) using a person-centered approach and a stress process theoretical framework. Results of the exploratory latent profile analysis revealed four distinct coping profiles: Disengaged Copers, Troubled Copers, Humor-intensive Copers, and Active Copers. Multinomial logistic regressions found no relationship between military-related stressors (parental separation, frequent relocations, and parental rank) and profile membership. Analysis of variance results revealed significant and meaningful differences between the coping profiles and depressive symptomology, specifically somatic symptoms, depressive affect, positive affect, and interpersonal problems. Post-hoc analyses revealed that Active Copers, the largest profile, reported the fewest depressive symptoms. Accordingly, frequent use of diverse, active coping behaviors was associated with enhanced resilience. Discussion is provided regarding the promotion of adaptive coping behaviors within this developmental period and the context of military family life.

Worrying about the future: An episodic specificity induction impacts problem solving, reappraisal, and well-being.

Previous research has demonstrated that an episodic specificity induction--brief training in recollecting details of a recent experience--enhances performance on various subsequent tasks thought to draw upon episodic memory processes. Existing work has also shown that mental simulation can be beneficial for emotion regulation and coping with stressors. Here we focus on understanding how episodic detail can affect problem solving, reappraisal, and psychological well-being regarding worrisome future events. In Experiment 1, an episodic specificity induction significantly improved participants' performance on a subsequent means-end problem solving task (i.e., more relevant steps) and an episodic reappraisal task (i.e., more episodic details) involving personally worrisome future events compared with a control induction not focused on episodic specificity. Imagining constructive behaviors with increased episodic detail via the specificity induction was also related to significantly larger decreases in anxiety, perceived likelihood of a bad outcome, and perceived difficulty to cope with a bad outcome, as well as larger increases in perceived likelihood of a good outcome and indicated use of active coping behaviors compared with the control. In Experiment 2, we extended these findings using a more stringent control induction, and found preliminary evidence that the specificity induction was related to an increase in positive affect and decrease in negative affect compared with the control. Our findings support the idea that episodic memory processes are involved in means-end problem solving and episodic reappraisal, and that increasing the episodic specificity of imagining constructive behaviors regarding worrisome events may be related to improved psychological well-being.

Measuring Outcome Expectancies for Specific Coping Behaviors: the Coping Expectancies Scale (CES)

Outcome expectancies for specific coping strategies may help explain why people vary in their choices of coping strategies (e.g., whether to smoke a cigarette or talk to a friend). These choices have relevance to both physical and mental health. The current study evaluated the psychometric properties of a new measure of mood regulation expectancies for specific explicit coping strategies, the Coping Expectancies Scale (CES). 552 adults completed the CES and other measures online. Factor analysis of the CES using Maximum Likelihood Extraction with promax rotation revealed three factors: Expectancies for Passive/Avoidant Coping, Expectancies for Active Behavioral Coping, and Expectancies for Active Cognitive Coping. Concurrent, discriminant, and predictive validity for these factors were strong, as was retest reliability. The CES enables researchers to measure expectancies for specific coping strategies, which may in turn help to explain people’s choices of strategies. In addition, the ability to measure these expectancies may allow for the development of treatment interventions that directly target them, ultimately enabling clients to adjust their expectancies and their choices of coping behavior, with implications for health and well-being.

Dysfunctional Relationship Between the Prefrontal Cortex and Amygdala for Explaining Posttraumatic CRPS Syndrome.

Dear Editor, After limb trauma, the first short lasting response corresponds to a facilitatory supraspinal influence exerted at the spinal cord with sympathoexcitation. A descending sympathoexcitatory response with analgesia, peripheral vasoconstriction, and facilitated motor reflexes could be an active adaptive response for helping to maintain the capacity to use an injured body part for flight or fight in case of emergency. After that, a descending sympathoinhibitory response with hyperalgesia, vasodilatation, and muscle weakness could be a passive adaptive response, where facilitation of pain might promote protection from new injury and vasodilatation and immobilization might help the healing process of the injured region. Persistent sympathoinhibition has been implicated for developing posttraumatic complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). However, there is little known about the underlying neuroanatomical pathways involved in persistent sympathoinhibition in CRPS patients. Periaqueductal gray (PAG) has been seen as a center for defensive reactions that is capable of coordinating the sensory, motor, and autonomic outputs of the stress response. According to Vianna [1], four main longitudinal cell-rich subdivisions exist in the PAG, namely the dorsomedial (dmPAG), dorsolateral (dlPAG), lateral, and ventrolateral (vlPAG) subdivisions. Activation of neurons in the lateral/dorsolateral column of the PAG (l/dlPAG) results in sympathoexcitation that accompany the fight-or-flight response [2,3]. Activation of neurons in the vlPAG results in the sympathoinhibition that can accompany deep pain [2,3]. These PAG columns have extensive, viscerotopically organized, descending projections to sympathetic premotor neurons in the rostroventral medulla (RVM) [4]. Differential activation of l/dlPAG columns and vlPAG columns could provide a substrate for the parallel activation or inhibition of premotor neurons in the RVM and Locus Coeruleus thus explaining different patterns of autonomic activity supporting active and passive coping behaviors. Afferent signals from the autonomic nervous system terminating in lamina …

Effects of single-dose ketamine infusion on behavioral parameters and neuronal activation in the medial prefrontal cortex of juvenile rats exposed to prenatal stress

Objectives: Subanesthetic dose of ketamine administration produces antidepressant-like response especially in treatmentresistant depression patients. Ketamine’s rapid and sustained actions have also been demonstrated in normal or chronically stressed animals, but no experimental studies have examined its effects in prenatally stressed rodents. Therefore, aim of the present study was to investigate the behavioral and structural consequences of single-dose ketamine application in juvenile rats exposed to prenatal stress. Methods: Prenatal stress protocol was applied by immobilization of pregnant rats during the last week of their gestation for 3 hours a day. While treatment group received a single-dose (10 mg/kg) of intraperitoneal ketamine injection, control and stress groups received same amount of saline injections at P38. After completion of behavioral tests (sucrose preference, modified grip and forced swim), animals were sacrificed via intracardiac perfusion. Then, immediate gene expression in the medial prefrontal cortex was evaluated by c-Fos immunohistochemistry. Results: Although the active coping and depressive-like behavior of juvenile animals exposed to prenatal stress did not significantly change, ketamine application caused alterations in the sucrose preference pattern of animals and immobility time in the forced swim test. Two-way ANOVA test results showed significant differences among groups and a group X gender interaction in the density of c-Fos expressing neurons present in the medial prefrontal cortex. Conclusion: A single-dose ketamine treatment might differentially affect the depressive-like behaviors of juvenile animals exposed to prenatal stress and activate neurons in the medial prefrontal cortical region in a gender-dependent manner. Keywords: c-Fos; depression; ketamine; prefrontal cortex; prenatal stress

초등과학학습부진학생의 과학학습동기와 학업스트레스 및 스트레스대처행동의 관계

This study has attempted to find the teaching methods for the elementary students with low science achievement by examining the differences of science learning motivation, academic stress and stress coping styles and the characteristics shown in the relationship between them. To achieve this, the differences of science learning motivation, academic stress and stress coping styles of the elementary students with low science achievement and their relationship was set up as a study problem. A science learning motivation using a science learning motivation questionnaire reconfigured with PALS along with underachievers diagnosis were measured targeting 660 elementary students located in Seoul. Using an academic stress questionnaire and stress coping style questionnaire, an academic stress and stress coping styles were measured. The results of analyzing the collected data are as follows. First, a science learning motivation of elementary students with low science achievement was lower than the general students but the academic stress was shown higher. Especially, the self-efficacy of science learning motivation was significantly lower and the school stress was highest. For stress coping styles, a tendency of passive and avoidment coping styles were shown higher than the general students. Second, among the science learning motivation of elementary students with low science achievement, the self-efficacy motivation and school stress have shown a negative correlation but had a positive correlation with the goal-oriented motivation centered on ability. In the correlation between the science learning motivation of elementary students with low science achievement and the stress coping styles, the pursuit of social support coping styles have shown a significant positive correlation with the science learning motivation and its subcategories. As a result of conducting a regression analysis on the influence of academic stress and stress copying styles on the science learning motivation of elementary students with low science achievement, among the academic stresses, the school stress was shown to have the biggest influence. Among the stress coping styles, the pursuit of social support coping styles had the biggest influence on the science learning motivation followed by active coping behaviors, passive and avoidment coping behaviors. Low science learning motivation as underachievement factors of elementary students with low science achievement was identified as having a relationship with high school stress and undesirable stress copying styles. Therefore, guidance and a program are required for the elementary student with low science achievement to have desirable stress coping methods on the stressful situations. In addition, for the improvement of science learning motivation, a learning environment is needed for the elementary students with low science achievement with seeking of relevant educational methods.

Do everyday problems of people with chronic illness interfere with their disease management?

BackgroundBeing chronically ill is a continuous process of balancing the demands of the illness and the demands of everyday life. Understanding how everyday life affects self-management might help to provide better professional support. However, little attention has been paid to the influence of everyday life on self-management. The purpose of this study is to examine to what extent problems in everyday life interfere with the self-management behaviour of people with chronic illness, i.e. their ability to manage their illness.MethodsTo estimate the effects of having everyday problems on self-management, cross-sectional linear regression analyses with propensity score matching were conducted. Data was used from 1731 patients with chronic disease(s) who participated in a nationwide Dutch panel-study.ResultsOne third of people with chronic illness encounter basic (e.g. financial, housing, employment) or social (e.g. partner, children, sexual or leisure) problems in their daily life. Younger people, people with poor health and people with physical limitations are more likely to have everyday problems. Experiencing basic problems is related to less active coping behaviour, while experiencing social problems is related to lower levels of symptom management and less active coping behaviour.DiscussionThe extent of everyday problems interfering with self-management of people with chronic illness depends on the type of everyday problems encountered, as well as on the type of self-management activities at stake.ConclusionsHealthcare providers should pay attention to the life context of people with chronic illness during consultations, as patients’ ability to manage their illness is related to it.

Effects of Academic Stress, Somatization Symptoms, and Social Support on Coping Responses in High School Students

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate factors associated with coping responses in Korean public high school students. Methods: This study employed a descriptive survey research design. The sample included 263 high school students who responded to a self-report questionnaire. Variables included socio-demographic characteristics, health-related characteristics, academic stress, somatization symptoms, social support, and coping responses. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson’s correlations, and multiple regressions. Results: Participants, regarding their school life, reported moderate levels of academic stress (M±SD=2.3±0.52) and somatization symptoms (M±SD=2.3±0.71), and a relatively high level of social support (M±SD=4.2±0.67). All the variables were associated with the use of multiple coping responses. Active-cognitive coping (M±SD=2.9±0.68) was most frequently used, followed by active-behavioral coping (M±SD=2.8±0.56) and avoidant coping (M±SD=2.3±0.75). Significant relationships were found among the measured variables: positive relation between academic stress and somatization symptoms, but, negative between academic stress and both somatization symptoms and social support. Students who had higher stress and more somatization symptoms were more likely to use avoidant coping than the others. In multiple regression analysis, while factors associated with each coping response differed, gender appeared to be a significant factor in all methods. Variables included in the final model explained 27% of the variance in avoidant coping (F=11.40, p<.001). Conclusion: Based on the study results, schools should provide tailored educational programs to help high school students reduce multisource stress and somatization symptoms at school and cope with them in more active and effective ways.

A Method for Psychosocial Stress-Induced Reinstatement of Cocaine Seeking in Rats

We describe a novel preclinical model of stress-induced relapse to cocaine use in rats using social defeat stress, an ethologically valid psychosocial stressor in rodents that closely resembles stressors that promote craving and relapse in humans. Rats self-administered cocaine for 20 days. On days 11, 14, 17, and 20, animals were subjected to social defeat stress or a nonstressful control condition following the session, with discrete environmental stimuli signaling the impending event. After extinction training, reinstatement was assessed following re-exposure to these discrete cues. Animals re-exposed to psychosocial stress-predictive cues exhibited increased serum corticosterone and significantly greater reinstatement of cocaine seeking than the control group, and active coping behaviors during social defeat episodes were associated with subsequent reinstatement magnitude. These studies are the first to describe an operant model of psychosocial stress-induced relapse in rodents and lay the foundation for future work investigating its neurobiological underpinnings.