Adaptive Coping Strategies Research Articles

Effects of mindfulness-based childbirth education on prenatal anxiety: A quasi-experimental study

Pregnancy and childbirth represent a sequence of challenging events, and adaptive coping strategies are necessary to maintain emotional wellbeing. The present study aimed to assess the effectiveness of applying a mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) for pregnant Saudi women with anxiety in the third trimester. A quasi-experimental, within- and between-subject design was used for this study. Data were collected at two points between February and August 2021 from 88 participants using the Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire and the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire. A large, statistically significant reduction was observed in the mean scores of participants' anxiety post-intervention. Furthermore, the anxiety level in the intervention group was very low post-intervention compared to that in the control group. Level of education and spontaneous or medically necessary abortion significantly influenced participants’ anxiety. The MBI sessions helped nulliparous women experience less anxiety during pregnancy. Healthcare providers' awareness about the importance of incorporating mindfulness in childbirth education should be increased. Future research should examine the long-term effects of mindfulness-based techniques on maternal health.

Associations among military sexual trauma, positive alcohol expectancies, and coping behaviors in female veterans.

Military sexual trauma (MST) is prevalent among female veterans and is associated with deleterious health outcomes. Adaptive coping strategies (e.g., emotional support) are associated with more positive outcomes, while maladaptive strategies (e.g., substance use) are associated with greater impairment. However, research on factors that influence specific coping strategy use is limited. For women with a history of MST, expectancies about the effects of alcohol may enhance the use of maladaptive and reduce the use of adaptive strategies. The present study tested this hypothesis. Associations among MST status and two coping behaviors (emotional support, substance use) in female veterans were examined and the mediating role of positive alcohol expectancies on these relationships was tested. A secondary analysis was conducted using self-report survey data from 186 female veterans in a Northeastern region. Measures included a brief screen for MST, the posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Checklist for DSM-5, the Brief Cope, and the Brief Comprehensive Effects of Alcohol Questionnaire. Among all respondents, positive alcohol expectancies were significantly associated with greater substance use coping, while PTSD symptom severity was negatively associated with emotional support coping. Though women with MST reported greater positive alcohol expectancies and PTSD symptom severity, the direct effects of MST on coping were not significant. Mediation was not supported in our sample. Alcohol expectancies may be a viable target for intervention to reduce alcohol use as a maladaptive coping strategy among female veterans. Similarly, treatment targeting PTSD symptoms, regardless of MST status, is important for enhancing the use of adaptive coping strategies. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Professional Quality of Life, Empathy, and Coping Strategies of Young Clinical Psychologists in Lahore, Pakistan

Objectives Empathy, coping strategies, and professional quality of life (ProQoL) play a significant role in an individual’s professional life. Several studies have indicated that the unfavorable consequences of compassion and empathy lead to compassion fatigue and burnout. The present study aims to examine the correlation among empathy, coping strategies, and ProQoL, and assess the moderating role of work experience among young clinical psychologists in Lahore, Pakistan. Methods This is a descriptive-correlational survey. A purposive sampling technique was used to select participants aged 23-37 years with 1-10 years of work experience. Data was collected using standard questionnaires including the Toronto Empathy Questionnaire, the Brief COPE Inventory, and the ProQoL Scale. Their internal consistency was examined using Cronbach’s alpha. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlational test, categorical regression analysis, and moderation analysis. Results There was a strong correlation between empathy, adaptive coping strategies, and compassion satisfaction. Moderation analysis showed that empathy and years of work experience significantly predicted the ProQoL. Conclusion Clinical psychologists in Lahore need to be educated to stimulate and further use problem-focused and adaptive coping skills to cope with their challenging jobs.

Assess the level of academic stress, its physical - psychological health problems and coping strategies among HSC students in selected colleges

Abstract – Study to assess the level of academic stress, its physical - psychological health problems and coping strategies among HSC students in selected colleges Objectives – 1. To assess the levels of academic stress, physical- psychological health problems and coping strategies of HSC students. 2. To correlate the levels of academic stress with, physical–psychological health problems and coping strategies of HSC students. 3. To find out the association between levels of academic stress, physical-psychological health problems and coping strategies with selected demographic variables among HSC students. Material and methods – A Non-experimental descriptive design and survey approach was considered the best to assess the level of stress, physical-psychological health problems and coping strategies adopted by second HSC students. Result – 1. Frequency and Percentage distribution of demographic Variables among HSC Students 2. Frequency and Percentage distribution of Level of Academic stress, Physical-psychological health problems and Coping strategies of second HSC students. 3. Mean, Mean percentage and Standard deviation levels of academic stress, Physical-psychological health problems and coping strategies of second HSC students. 4. Correlation between level of academic stress and physical - psychological health problems and Coping strategies of HSC students. 5. Association of demographic variables with level of academic stress, Physical-psychological health problems and coping strategies with demographic variables among HSC students Conclusion - The present study assessed the level of academic stress, physical-psychological health problems and coping strategies of HSC students. The result revealed that majority (52%) of the subjects had moderate level of stress, almost half (50.5%) subjects had mild physical-psychological health problems and 70% subjects had adaptive coping strategies. Most of demographic variables have no influence on the level of academic stress, physical-psychological health problems and coping strategies of HSC students but total family income, religion, stream of study and attending private tuition may be a significant factor in determining the level of academic stress, physical-psychological health problems and coping strategies of HSC students.

Determinants of depression and coping strategies among nursing students after the second wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: COVID-19 pandemic led to the emergence of mental health problems such as depression and the use of maladaptive coping strategies among nursing students. This study is planned to assess the prevalence of depression and coping strategies adopted by nursing students after the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was carried out among 164 nursing students in a selected nursing institution in a rural area of Northern India. Depression was assessed using the patient health questionnaire-9, whereas coping was assessed by the brief-coping orientation of problem experienced scale. Results: Mean age of the participants was 20.80±2.35 years. The mean depression score of nursing students was 6.43±4.28. Majority of the nursing students had mild depression (43.9%) and belonged to the non-depressed group (78.7%) with a PHQ-9 score <9. Maladaptive coping mechanisms were chiefly utilized by male nursing students. Coping mechanisms substance use (β=0.223, p<0.013) had more impact on depression, after controlling for sociodemographic variables and COVID-19-related information of nursing students. Conclusions: Minimal or mild depression is common among nursing students after the second wave of the unprecedented pandemic with adaptive coping strategies more commonly used.

“It’s a big trauma for the family”: A qualitative insight into the psychological trauma of paediatric burns from the perspective of mothers

BackgroundDespite the medical and surgical improvements of paediatric burn injuries, burn injuries can be a painful and traumatic experience for the child and their family. It is therefore important to explore the experiences of caregivers who support their child throughout the burn journey. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore the traumatic nature of paediatric burns on the family from a caregiver’s perspective. MethodsThis study used a descriptive qualitative approach to conduct online semi-structured interviews with caregivers (18 years and older) of children (aged four to 17 years) that had previously been admitted with an unintentional acute burn injury to a paediatric burns unit in Western Australia. Interviews explored the child’s and caregiver’s experiences throughout the burn journey from the perspective of the caregiver and were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were analysed using Braun and Clarke’s six stages of reflexive thematic analysis. ResultsEleven mothers participated in the interviews and identified a range of poor psychological and psychosocial outcomes that themselves and their child experienced. Three overarching themes were elaborated from the interviews: Child and caregiver mental health difficulties during and after the burn (including medical trauma, mental health outcomes and caregiver guilt); Lifestyle and physical changes following the burn (including disruptions to routine, appearance concerns and puberty); and factors supporting or inhibiting the recovery journey (including personality factors, coping strategies, family dynamics and support). Final considerationsThis study has presented the difficulties that children, young people, and their family face throughout a paediatric burn injury, which makes the implementation of timely and effective family centred interventions imperative. Meeting the needs and supporting these families with their mental health throughout this traumatic recovery journey, can ensure positive psychosocial outcomes and adaptive coping strategies are adopted early on.

Strategies for improving mental health and wellbeing used by adults ageing with HIV from the Kenyan coast: a qualitative exploration.

Background: Physical and mental health problems are common among older adults living with HIV (OALWH). Adaptive coping strategies play a vital role in improving these adults' mental health and well-being despite the deleterious effects of HIV and ageing. However, in sub-Saharan Africa, limited evidence exists on the commonly utilized coping strategies in this population. We explore the coping strategies used by Kenyan OALWH to improve their mental health and wellbeing. Methods: Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted between October and December 2019 with 56 participants: 34 OALWH (53% female), 11 healthcare providers (63% female) and 11 primary caregivers (73% female) in Kilifi County. All interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. We used the framework approach to synthesize the qualitative data. Results: Five major themes emerged from the analysis of participants' narratives, including self-care practices, religion and spirituality, relational living (social connectedness), generativity, identity, and mastery. Our study further revealed maladaptive coping strategies, including reliance on over-the-counter medications, self-isolation, waiting to see if symptoms would subside despite doing nothing, and HIV treatment interruptions during prolonged periods of prayer and fasting. Conclusions: Our findings provide an initial understanding of the coping strategies used by OALWH to confront HIV and ageing challenges in a low-literacy, low socio-economic Kenyan setting. Our results suggest that interventions designed to enhance personal capacity, social support, positive religiosity and spirituality, and intergenerational connections may be beneficial in improving the mental health and well-being of OALWH.

Psychological adaptation and implemented coping strategies under stressful working conditions in medical workers

The purpose is to study the features of manifestation of coping strategies as a mechanism of psychological adaptation to stressful working conditions in medical workers. Material and methods. The survey and analysis were conducted in the following groups: group A — medical workers of COVID hospitals providing medical care to patients with COVID-19 (n=201). Group A included 3 subgroups: group 1 — general practitioners of COVID hospi tals (n=111); group 2 — surgical doctors of COVID hospitals (n=61); group 3 — nurses of COVID hospitals (n=29). Group B — medical workers of multidisciplinary hospitals providing medical care in their main profile (n=195). Group B also included 3 subgroups: group 4 — general practitioners of multidisciplinary hospitals (n=106); group 5 — surgical doctors of multidisciplinary hospitals (n=58); group 6 — nurses of multidisciplinary hospitals (n=31). Group C — medical workers of outpatient and polyclinic departments (n=186). Group C in cluded 3 subgroups as well: group 7 — general practitioners of the outpatient and polyclinic level (n=102); group 8 — surgical doctors of outpatient and polyclinic departments (n=55); group 9 — outpatient and polyclinic nurses (n=29). The control group included employees of professions that are not related to work in medical organizations (healthy). To study the mechanisms of coping strategies for overcoming psychological difficulties in medical work ers, a technique developed by R. Lazarus and S. Folkman was used. Results. Thus, as a result of the study, the features of the formation of psychological defens es of adaptive coping strategies of professional behavior in general practitioners, surgical doctors, and nurses of specialized COVID hospitals, multidisciplinary hospitals in the mode of normal operation, and outpatient and polyclinic departments are identified. Conclusions. It is shown that the prevailing coping strategies among surgical doctors of specialized COVID hospitals at a high level are such coping strategies as «distancing», «self-control», and «taking responsibility». Meanwhile, the coping strategy of «distancing» is at a high level among nurses of COVID hospitals.

Parental reflective functioning and coping among parents of toddlers with severe developmental disabilities: An early integrative bio-psycho-social rehabilitative intervention in daycare facilities

BackgroundParental reflective functioning has a positive effect on parents' wellbeing. It is associated with positive outcomes for their children. However, there is little research on it among parents of toddlers with severe developmental disabilities. AimsWe examined an early bio-psycho-social rehabilitative intervention with parents of toddlers with severe developmental disabilities in daycare programs and its contribution to their parental reflective functioning and coping. Methods and proceduresSeventy parents of children (ages 3 months to two and half years) responded to measures before and after the intervention in their children's daycare programs. Structural equation modeling of the mediation model revealed that the therapeutic inputs were associated with more adaptive coping strategies by increasing parental reflective functioning. Outcomes and resultsParents who participated in an intervention of 13 sessions or more significantly increased their reflective functioning. The path analysis showed that parental reflective functioning after the intervention mediated the association between its prior level and the therapeutic inputs, and the parents’ proactivity and search for support. Conclusions and implicationsParental reflective functioning positively affects parents’ adaptive coping styles. A bio-psycho-social intervention targeting parental reflective functioning benefits parents of toddlers with severe developmental disabilities.

Shake it off! Adaptive coping with stress reduces national narcissism.

Examining the role of coping with stress strategies in shaping national narcissism, we proposed that this type of defensive national commitment (stemming from psychological shortcomings) should be lowered by adaptive coping strategies. In Study 1 (longitudinal, N = 603), we found that higher adaptive (i.e. self-sufficient) coping attenuated national narcissism. In Study 2 (experimental, N = 337), the priming of adaptive coping significantly decreased national narcissism. We also demonstrated the indirect effects of the induced adaptive coping strategy on conspiracy beliefs via national narcissism. These findings suggest that using adaptive coping strategies (either dispositional or situationally induced) may attenuate national narcissism. We discuss the role of coping with stress in shaping group-level phenomena.

The role of psychological distress, stigma and coping strategies on help-seeking intentions in a sample of Italian college students

BackgroundMental health issues are common among university students, but the latter are unlikely to seek professional help even when mental health services are available. Coping strategies, stigma and psychological distress are often considered as factors that can affect help-seeking intentions in university students.MethodsThis study aimed to determine the role of coping strategies, stigma and psychological distress on the intentions to seek professional help for psychological problems. All students (N = 13,886) from an Italian medium-sized university were asked to participate in a multidimensional online survey and 3754 (27.1%) agreed to participate. A Structural Equation Modelling approach was applied to explore the simultaneous direct and indirect effects of distress, stigma and coping strategies on professional help-seeking intentions.ResultsResults showed that students were not very likely to seek professional help and, through the Structural Equation Model, psychological distress was found to be positively correlated with coping strategies, which in turn was negatively associated with the stigma of seeking help. The latter was negatively associated with professional help-seeking intentions. These effects suggest that students with significant psychological distress use coping strategies to face the stigma of seeking help: the lower the stigma of seeking help, the higher the chance of developing intentions to seek professional help.ConclusionsThis study suggests the importance of implementing programs to encourage college students to seek help, including measures that foster a stigma-free environment, reduce psychological distress and promote the use of adaptive coping strategies. Interventions should be focused firstly on self-stigma and secondly on perceived stigma, taking into consideration the level of psychological distress and social stereotypes associated with mental disorders and help seeking behaviours. Programs about coping are also essential and should focus on promoting emotion-focused strategies and problem-focused strategies.

Widowhood and Coping Strategies Used by Widows in Kisumu East Sub County, Kisumu County, Kenya

Losing a life partner can be an overwhelming and traumatic life event which forces the remaining spouse to cope not only with the painful loss but also with their new widowhood status. This study seeks to establish the coping strategies used by widows in Kisumu East Sub County, Kisumu County, Kenya. A mixed method research design was used in the study. The target population consisted of widows in Kisumu East Sub County, Kisumu County, Kenya. The sampling technique used was purposive in nature. This technique was used to get a sample of 50 widows in Kisumu East Sub County. The instruments used for data collection were questionnaires and focus group discussion. Thematic analysis and descriptive statistics were employed in data analysis, Reliability and validity check of the instruments was done to attest the degree to which items measured the indicators for which they were designed. The findings of the study show that widows in Kisumu East subcounty use both adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies to cope with widowhood stress. Adaptive coping strategies used by widows were: counseling, social support networks, engaging in business, church activities, keeping significant memoirs of the deceased while maladaptive coping strategies included denial, sex, withdrawal, and substance use. The study recommends that widows should use adaptive coping strategies to cope with widowhood. Additionally, widows should be given enough platforms, space and support in the society to share their experiences as this enhances their general wellbeing. The study also recommends that widows should be empowered on self-awareness and assertive skills to help in building their self-esteem.

Patient-reported hope, prognostic understanding, quality of life, symptom burden, coping mechanisms, and financial wellbeing in early phase clinical trial participants.

12109 Background: Early phase clinical trials (EP-CTs) investigate novel treatment options in oncology, with recent advances in personalized therapy leading to improved outcomes and offering hope to patients with cancer. However, little research has sought to understand hope in EP-CT participants, thus we sought to study associations of patient-reported hope with prognostic understanding, quality of life (QOL), symptom burden, coping mechanisms, and financial wellbeing in EP-CT participants. Methods: We prospectively enrolled consecutive adults with cancer participating in EP-CTs at Massachusetts General Hospital from 04/2021-01/2023. Participants completed baseline surveys prior to treatment initiation that assessed hope (Herth Hope Index [HHI], higher scores indicate greater hope), prognostic awareness (Prognosis and Treatment Perceptions Questionnaire [PTPQ], QOL (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General), symptom burden (physical: Edmonton Symptom Assessment System [ESAS]; psychological: Patient Health Questionaire-4 [PHQ4]), coping mechanisms (Brief COPE), and financial wellbeing (Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity [COST]). We used descriptive statistics and regression models to explore associations of hope with patient characteristics as well as patient-reported prognostic awareness, QOL, symptom burden, coping, and financial wellbeing. Results: Of 221 eligible patients, we enrolled 204 (enrollment rate 92.3%, median age = 63.4 years [range 54.8-70.5]; 56.9% female, and 94.0% metastatic cancer). Most common cancer types were gastrointestinal (34.8%), breast (19.6%), and head and neck (10.3%). Patients had a mean HHI score of 27.2 (range 12.0-36.0), with 27.1% reporting their cancer is curable (mean hope scores were higher for those reporting curable vs incurable on the PTPQ: 28.8 vs 26.7, p = 0.016). Higher hope scores were associated with better QOL (B = 0.21, p < 0.001), lower symptom burden (ESAS-physical: B = -0.10, p < 0.001; PHQ4-depression: B = -2.10 p = < 0.001; PHQ4-anxiety: B = -0.99, p < 0.001), more adaptive coping strategies (self-blame [B = -1.34, p < 0.001]; acceptance [B = 1.30, p < 0.001], denial [B = -1.31, p < 0.001], support [B = 1.03, p < 0.001], active [B = 0.97. p < 0.001], disengage [B = -2.69, p < 0.001], religion [B = 0.63, p < 0.001]), and greater financial wellbeing (B = 0.10, p = 0.013). Conclusions: In this prospective cohort study, we found novel associations of higher hope scores with prognostic understanding, better QOL, lower symptom burden, more adaptive coping mechanisms, and greater financial wellbeing. Future studies should measure patient-reported hope and explore its role as a potential moderator of other outcomes in EP-CT participants.

STRESS AND COPING SKILLS AMONG UNDERGRADUATE MEDICAL STUDENTS- A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY

Objective: This study aims to assess the stress and coping skills among undergraduate medical students.
 Methods: A quantitative cross sectional study conducted from September to November 2022, in University College of medicine and dentistry, UOL. The participants were MBBS students of 1st year until final year. The data was collected by using three questionnaires: demographic form, suanprung stress test and COPE inventory and was analyzed by using SPSS25. Associated factors of stress were analyzed by Kruskal-wallis and chi square test.
 Results: Data was collected from 675/780 undergraduate medical students with a response rate of 86.5%. Female students responded (53%) in majority as compared to males (47%). According to the association between general demographic characteristics and coping strategies, gender, scores, religion, and illness have been found to have significant correlation with adaptive coping strategies. These demographic characteristics may influence how an individual responds to stress and may affect their ability to use adaptive coping strategies.
 Conclusion: Usually medical students have flexible coping skills. Adaptive coping mechanisms were significantly correlated with gender, education and health problem.
 Keywords: undergraduate; medical; stress; coping skills
 

The mediating effect of coping styles between self-compassion and body image disturbance in young breast cancer survivors: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundYoung breast cancer survivors with body image disturbance have poor quality of life. Self-compassion and different coping styles can influence their body image. The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between self-compassion, coping styles, and body image disturbance, and examined the mediation role of coping styles between self-compassion and body image disturbance among young breast cancer survivors in China.MethodsIn the cross-sectional study, a total of 310 young women with breast cancer were assessed on self-compassion, coping styles, and body image disturbance by self-reported questionnaires in China. Spearman’s correlation was used to test the links between variables and to verify the indirect effects between variables by constructing a structural equation model.ResultsThere were correlations between self-compassion, different coping styles, and body image disturbance. Confrontation, avoidance, and acceptance-resignation coping had significant mediation effects on the association between self-compassion and body image disturbance. The mediation effects of confrontation coping were greater than avoidance, and acceptance-resignation coping.ConclusionsIn this study, different coping styles acted as mediators between self-compassion and body image disturbance, providing support for further understanding the mechanism between self-compassion and body image disturbance, and developing comprehensive interventions for body image disturbance. Oncology nurses should pay attention to the breast cancer survivors’ self-compassion and coping styles and encourage them to adopt adaptive coping strategies, which can reduce body image disturbance.

Coping and Religiosity of Polish Breast Cancer Patients

Religiosity can support a patient in coping with a stressful situation such as breast cancer. In this study, the authors aimed to explain the relationships between the religiosity of the respondents and the religious crises they experienced and coping strategies, as well as between coping strategies and the disease duration. The research method used is the method of diagnostic survey, and the tools: a questionnaire of our own, making it possible to determine sociodemographic variables and standardized scales: the Inventory for Measuring Coping with Stress—Mini-COPE (the brief COPE), the Polish Centrality of Religiosity Scale (CRS) and the Religious Crisis Scale by W. Prężyna (RCS). With approval from the Bioethics Committee at the Medical University of Lublin (KE-0254/133/2015), 69 female subjects with breast cancer were studied. The results showed statistically significant positive correlations between the centrality of religiosity and selected components of religiosity and action-oriented coping strategies. RCS scores correlate negatively with more adaptive coping strategies and positively with ineffective ones. Additionally, patients suffering from breast cancer for more than five years, are statistically significantly different from those with shorter disease duration only in their scores for the CRS “public practice” subscale. Mature religiosity promotes the adoption of constructive coping strategies, while religious crisis hinders the process of coping with stressful situations. It appears necessary to integrate spiritual care into the treatment process of cancer patients.

'How is our job affecting us?' Neonatal Intensive Care Unit healthcare providers and their pregnancy: A descriptive qualitative study.

The aim of this study was to understand the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) healthcare providers' (HCPs) experiences and needs during their own past, present and desired pregnancies. It has been reported that HCPs' personal and professional lives are mutually interconnected. Given the NICU HCPs' knowledge of the risks and potential adverse outcomes of newborns admitted to the NICU, their pregnancy experience may be more challenging than that of the general population. However, to date, these aspects are still little studied. A qualitative descriptive study design was adopted. Semi-structured interviews were conducted between January and April 2021 in a single third-level NICU in northeastern Italy. Transcripts were analysed using inductive content analysis. Findings are reported according to the COREQ guidelines. Nineteen HCPs participated in this study. Participants included 12 nurses, 6 medical doctors, and 1 paediatric physical therapist. All participants reported that their professional knowledge and experience influenced their pregnancy-related experiences, emotions and behaviours. Some participants employed adaptive coping strategies, while others were likely to experience post-traumatic stress reactions. The narratives of the men and women were similar. Three themes were identified: 'Feeling different'; 'Influence of work experience on decision-making'; 'Coping with difficulties'. To reduce the potential impact of NICU HCPs' work experience on pregnancy, family functioning and infant health, management of parental emotions should be considered for this population. Hospital managers could prevent the potential distress of vulnerable NICU healthcare workers during pregnancy by tailoring interventions aimed at supporting them in becoming aware and making sense of their work experiences or sensitizing individual psychological support. Moreover, university students should be offered self-help strategies to face potential dual role conflicts in their future careers. No patient or public contribution.

Understanding and managing psychological distress due to climate change.

Australia has warmed by 1.4°C since pre-industrial times. This is greater than the global average and is predicted to exceed 1.5°C by 2030. This will have significant environmental effects that can threaten human wellbeing. Most Australians have direct experience ofclimate change-related events, with health, social, cultural and economic impacts already evident and wide-ranging implications for mental health. This article provides an overview of climate distress, which encompasses both 'climate anxiety' and other forms of distress related to climate change. It outlines thefeatures and prevalence of climate distress, as well asapproaches for assessment and management based oncurrent evidence and theory. Climate distress is common and can take many forms. These concerns may not be readily disclosed, but can besensitively elicited, and patients may benefit from the opportunity for empathic, non-judgemental exploration of their experiences. Care must be taken not to pathologise rational distress while identifying maladaptive coping strategies and serious mental illness. Management should focus on adaptive coping strategies, use evidence‑based psychological interventions and draw upon emerging evidence about behavioural engagement, nature connection and group processes.

Understanding the Environmental Attitude-Behaviour Gap: The Moderating Role of Dispositional Mindfulness

Great scientific effort has been devoted to understanding what drives pro-environmental behaviour, yet the question of the environmental attitude–behaviour gap remains unanswered. Studies have indicated that self-regulation and executive functions may reduce such a gap by increasing individuals’ ability to maintain attention on present actions and to resist goal-conflicting temptations. Given the inherent association of self-regulation and executive functions with dispositional mindfulness, we carried out a cross-sectional study to test the hypothesis of the role of dispositional mindfulness in explaining the phenomenon. Our results showed that higher levels of dispositional mindfulness, measured via the Five Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), are related to a higher tendency to perform pro-environmental behaviour, and that the observing facet of the construct would predict higher pro-environmental behaviour scores. Interestingly, we also found the acting with awareness and nonjudging factors to be moderators of the relationship between pro-environmental attitudes and behaviours, suggesting that enhanced awareness of the present moment may favour higher congruence between attitudes and behaviours, and that higher acceptance may favour more adaptive coping strategies to the climate challenge. Our findings provide a novel contribution to the understanding of the relationship between mindfulness and pro-environmental behaviour and support the perspective that self-regulation skills would contribute to reducing the environmental attitude–behaviour gap.

Challenges and coping strategies among young adults living with perinatally acquired HIV infection in Botswana. A qualitative study.

Due to antiretroviral therapy, many people with perinatally acquired HIV are surviving into young adulthood which is a critical period of human development. Research conducted in various settings globally has shown that young adults living with perinatally acquired HIV (YALPH) face multiple challenges related to HIV infection while also confronting the same challenges of young adulthood faced by other HIV-negative youth. However, there is a paucity of information on YALPH in Botswana and what needs to be done to improve their health and wellbeing. Therefore, this study explores the challenges and coping strategies of YALPH in order to inform health policies and programming in Botswana. In-depth interviews were conducted with 45 YALPH (ages 18-27 years) who were enrolled on antiretroviral therapy at the Botswana-Baylor Children's Clinical Centre of Excellence (Botswana-Baylor Clinic). The Botswana-Baylor Clinic is the largest centre for pediatric, adolescent, and young adult HIV treatment and care in Botswana. The maximum variation sampling method was used to select information-rich participants. The questions focused on the challenges YALPH faced and how they coped with HIV. The data was analyzed using content analysis. The results showed that the majority of YALPH had suppressed HIV viral load and perceived themselves to be in good physical health and functioning. They did, however, face numerous challenges, including occasional or longstanding poor antiretroviral therapy adherence, disabilities and impairments, poor school performance and attainment, unemployment, financial stressors, fear of stigma, disclosure worries and concerns, and limited social support. The most vulnerable YALPH included those with disabilities and impairments, those transitioning out of residential care, young parents, the unemployed, and those with maladaptive coping strategies. The YALPH mainly used adaptive coping strategies. The most commonly used maladaptive coping strategies were self-distraction and venting. Interventions to prevent, screen for, assess, and manage the challenges identified by this study are critical to improving the health and well-being of YALPH. In addition, diverse interventions that can contribute to the development of adaptive coping mechanisms and reduce the likelihood of maladaptive coping in YALPH should be sought.