Coping Research Articles

When life changes: use and effects of behavioral coping strategies among relatives of people with intellectual disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objectives The COVID-19 pandemic posed risks to the wellbeing of different groups in society. This study focuses on relatives of people with intellectual disabilities in the Netherlands. Their behavioral coping strategies, effects on psychological quality of life (QoL), and differences according to age, family relationship, and severity of disability were investigated. Methods Survey data of 284 relatives were analyzed. Differences in utilization of coping strategies were analyzed using a multivariate test of the means and paired t-tests. Variations according to background characteristics were analyzed using MANOVAs and multivariate regressions. Relations between coping and QoL – and differences according to characteristics – were analyzed using multiple and linear regressions. Results Seeking distraction and actively approaching were used most, followed by seeking social support and ignoring. Withdrawal was adopted the least. Seeking distraction and actively approaching were positively associated with QoL. Seeking social support and withdrawal were negative predictors. These associations were unaffected by relatives’ characteristics, while use of coping differed according to age and family relationship. Mothers made least use of adaptive coping. Conclusions Although relatives used more adaptive than maladaptive coping strategies, it is essential to offer interventions on effective coping and improving social support during life events to protect their QoL.

Coping with Age-Related Vision Loss to Maintain Occupational Engagement: A Narrative Account

Introduction This narrative inquiry study aimed to explore older adults’ stories about how they have coped to maintain occupational engagement, despite living with age-related vision loss (ARVL). Methods Six older adults, ≥ 60 years of age with ARVL participated in three interviews each, which were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results Coping was grouped into three overarching themes namely psychological, social, and behavioral coping strategies. Conclusion Results from this study have identified how older adults with ARVL cope to maintain participation in occupations. Findings highlight the need for increased healthcare support, including occupational therapists, to help older adults aging with vision loss identify and integrate adaptive coping strategies to enhance their occupational lives.

Coping as a resource to allow for psychosocial adjustment in fatal disease: results from patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal disorder, which imposes a severe emotional burden on patients. Appropriate coping mechanisms may alleviate this burden and facilitate wellbeing, with social support known to be a successful coping strategy. This observational study aimed to determine the interplay of general coping traits of hope for success and fear of failure, coping behavior of social activity, and patients' wellbeing. In this cross-sectional study, patients with ALS from a clinical-epidemiological registry in Southwestern Germany were interviewed regarding coping traits (achievement-motivated behavior: hope for success and fear of failure), coping behavior of social activity, and psychosocial adjustment, determined using measures of depressiveness, anxiety [both measured by Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)], and quality of life [Anamnestic Comparative Self-Assessment (ACSA)]. Demographics, clinical [ALS Functional Rating Scale revised version (ALSFRS-R)], and survival data were recorded. A total of 868 patients [60.70% male patients, mean age: 64.70 (±10.83) years, mean ALSFRS-R: 37.36 ± 7.07] were interviewed. Anxiety in patients was found to be associated with a high fear of failure. In contrast, a generally positive attitude in patients exemplified in high hopes for success was associated with better wellbeing. Finally, coping behavior of social activity explained up to 65% of the variance of depressiveness among the patients with ALS. In this study, we present evidence that the wellbeing of patients with ALS is not an immediate fatalistic consequence of physical degradation but rather determined by coping traits and behavior, which may be trained to substantially increase the wellbeing of patients with ALS.

User Manual for Coping Strategies Inventory Short Form (CSI-SF)-The Jackson Heart Study.

Researchers have asserted that patients who generally rely on powerful external sources to control their disorders can benefit from examining their coping mechanisms, which can potentially lead to a better understanding of the initiation and progression of some chronic diseases. By trusting their own internal powers and virtues, it is possible for some people to discover and navigate available strategies to balance and enhance their psycho-spiritual well-being and possibly their treatment and recovery. This review serves as a user manual for investigators who choose to use the CSI-SF to conduct their research on coping behaviors. The CSI-SF, which measures four coping strategies based on 16 items, was first assessed using the Jackson Heart Study (JHS) cohort in 2007. The reliability and construct validity of the CSI-SF was also later assessed among hemodialysis patients across 13 countries. In this study, the CSI-SF was assessed to be a reliable and valid instrument for measuring coping strategies. The CSI-SF serves the purpose of developing an inner voice that can assist with understanding how people cope with everyday life. The information gathered from the administration of the CSI-SF can inform investigators about environmental cues and triggers that can also impact individual health.

Clinical and psychological associations and coping strategies for personality type D and depression in patients with coronary artery disease

The comorbidity of manifestations of psychological distress and cardiovascular diseases is complex. The degree of impact of psychological stress on the patient depends on the possibilities of the adaptive potential of the individual in the environment.Aim: To study the cognitive assessment of stress, coping strategies and clinical and psychological associations in personality type D and depression in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).Material and Methods. The study included 112 CAD patients. The DS-14 questionnaire was used to determine personality type D.To determine the level of depression the hospital scale HADS (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale). To assess coping strategies, the questionnaires “Methods of Coping Behavior” and “Indicator of Stress Coping Strategies” were used. Difficult life situation (DLS) assessment was determined using the “Cognitive Assessment of DLS” methodology. The questionnaire “Types of Orientations in Difficult Situations” was used to study orientations in DLS.Results. Patients were divided into groups based on manifestations of psychological distress: with type D (n = 40), without type D (n = 72); with depression (n = 48) without depression (n = 82). In type D, there was a more frequent assessment of the situation as out of control (12.0 ± 4.6 points versus 11.0 ± 4.6 points, p = 0.049) and orientation towards losses in difficult situations (17.0 ± 4.1 points 15.5 ± 5.1, points, p = 0.016). In depression, less pronounced desire for difficulties (19.0 ± 5.0 points versus 23.0 ± 5.9 points, p = 0.006), orientation towards opportunities (15.5 ± 3.2 points versus 18.0 ± 3.5 points, p < 0.001). In type D, the strategies “Escape-avoidance” (p = 0.05) and “Self-control” (p = 0.04) were used more often. In depression, the strategies “Problem resolution” (p = 0.02), “Search for social support” (p < 0.001) and “Avoidance” (p = 0.02) were more often used, less often – “Confrontational coping” (p = 0.001).Conclusion. Differences in cognitive assessment and coping strategies were revealed in patients with coronary artery disease in personality type D and the development of depression symptoms. This study emphasizes the need for individualized behavioral interventions for patients with coronary artery disease with manifestations of psychological distress.

The role of resilience and coping behavior in schizophrenia in the prevention of psychosis relapse

IntroductionAccording to scientific sources, personal resources in the form of resilience, stress coping skills play an important protective role in the prevention of psychosis recurrence. Weakening the psychological capacity of the patient and increasing stress are risk factors for psychosis.ObjectivesTo study the protective role of such personal resources as resilience and coping with stress in schizophrenia, as well as the influence of negative symptomatology and psychosociorehabilitation intervention on these factors.MethodsClinical-psychopathological, statistical, and psychometric methods were used (Alfimova-Golimbet’s resilience scale, Amirkhan’s coping strategies questionnaire, and PANSS). Patients of two groups participated in the study: 1 - members of a community organization (OO), n=49, who in addition to psychopharmacotherapy were given comprehensive long-term psychosociorehabilitation (3.7±2.5 years), 2 - patients of the medical-rehabilitation department of a psychiatric hospital (MRO), n=48, in whom the psychosociorehabilitation intervention was shorter (40.3±6.5 days).ResultsThe results of the study showed that significant predictors of a favorable course of the schizophrenic process were high indicators of resilience, coping behavior, and a small degree of negative symptomatology. Analysis of the data regarding patients’ coping with stress shows that constructive coping strategies are more frequent in both groups. Thus, “problem solving” (24.3 points in GS and 22.9 points in MPO) and “search for social support” (23.0 points and 22.7 points, respectively), that is patients of both groups are generally oriented to a productive way of coping with difficult situations and are ready to seek help from others in a difficult situation. Notably, the strategy of “problem avoidance” is less pronounced (18.5 points and 19.4 points, respectively). The high resilience scores in the GS group (32.5 points), comparable to the norm in the population (33.1 points), are explained by long-term comprehensive psychosociorehabilitation, while the resilience scores in the MPO group are lower - 28.7 points. Negative symptoms of schizophrenia were equally pronounced in both groups, manifested by difficulties in communication (2.6 points each), passive-apathetic social withdrawal (2.7 points each). Such negative symptoms as blunting of affect and emotional indifference were more pronounced in the MPO group - 3.2 points each vs. 2.8 points in the group from the GS.ConclusionsHigh levels of resilience and ability to cope with stress as a result of psychosociorehabilitation intervention allow patients to overcome difficult life circumstances more flexibly. They are associated with less pronounced negative symptoms, which generally helps prevent psychosis relapses and contribute to a more favorable course and prognosis of schizophrenia.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Psychiatric disorders in patients after hospitalization for COVID-19: Frequency, coping behaviours and associated factors

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic caused an unprecedented major health crisis. Current data suggest that psychiatric sequelae may persist for a long time in survivors after infection.ObjectivesThe objectives of our study were to determine the frequency of anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, and posttraumatic stress disorder in patients after hospitalization for COVID-19 infection, and to investigate factors associated with their occurrence as well as to identify coping behaviors in these patients.MethodsThis was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at Ibn Jazzar Kairouan Hospital between September and December 2021 among patients who consulted three months after their hospitalizations for COVID-19 infection. The assessment of the different psychiatric disorders was performed using the validated Arabic versions of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Coping behaviors were studied using the Brief-COPE scale.ResultsOur work included 104 patients. The median age was 55.5 years [IQR:47-64]. The gender ratio M/F was 1.12. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were found in 26.9% and 25% of cases, respectively. The frequency of post-traumatic stress disorder was 22.1% and that of sleep disorders was 41.3%. Problem-solving strategies were the most widely adopted, followed by emotion-focused strategies. Younger age, female gender, persistence of a physical symptom, impairment of daily activity, and stigma were factors independently associated with psychological distress. No association was found between the intensive care unit stay and psychiatric disorders. Problem-focused and emotion-focused coping were negatively correlated with the different psychological outcomes studied.ConclusionsPsychological distress in COVID-19 survivors persists beyond the acute phase and results from an intricacy of several factors. This highlights the importance of regular psychiatric follow-up after hospitalization in order to identify and treat, as early as possible, psychiatric disorders.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

The relationship between postpartum mothers’ dyadic coping and adjustment and psychological well-being

This study determines the relationship between postpartum mothers’ dyadic coping and adjustment strategies and their psychological well-being. The study design was descriptive and correlational; it was conducted in the pediatric outpatient clinic of a maternity hospital in Northern Türkiye. A total of 327 1–12 month postpartum mothers participated in the study. Data were collected using a personal information form, the Dyadic Coping Inventory (DCI), the Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (RDAS), and the Psychological Well-Being Scale. Mothers’ behavior as an individual and as a couple in dyadic coping, their perception of their partner’s behavior, and weak dyadic harmony between partners was significantly associated with risk factors affecting mothers’ psychological well-being (p < 0.05). A weak relationship was found between the dimensions of mothers’ psychological well-being and their perception of their own behavior in dyadic coping; a positive moderate relationship was found between mothers’ perception of their partner’s behavior in dyadic coping and behaviors exhibited as a couple in dyadic coping, and the former had a weak positive relationship with the dimensions of dyadic harmony and its subdimensions (p < 0.05). Self-perceived coping behavior, perception of the partner’s behavior, and joint coping behavior in dyadic coping, and weak dyadic harmony between partners were significant risk factors affecting mothers’ psychological well-being. Awareness of these factors by health professionals and individuals will increase the effectiveness of postpartum care and help couples adapt to the transition in the postpartum period, improve mother-father-infant interaction and strengthen dyadic harmony.

A preliminary, quantitative study on the use of traditional and complementary medicine by cancer patients seen at the Senkatana oncology clinic, Maseru, Lesotho

BackgroundThe use of traditional and complementary medicine (TCM) by cancer patients remains common in several countries especially in the Sub-Saharan Africa. However, the reasons for use are complex and change with time and geographic location, they may vary from therapy to therapy, and they are different from one individual to another. The use of TCM has been associated with active coping behaviour and a way through which patients take control of their own health. However, cancer patients do not disclose their use of TCM to the attending healthcare professionals and therefore the effects of these medicines on the patients may not be ascertained.AimTo investigate the use of traditional and complementary medicines among patients diagnosed with cancer.MethodsA cross-sectional, quantitative study was conducted at Senkatana Oncology clinic in May to June 2023. Cancer patients underwent standardized, quantitative interviews using structured questionnaires about their use of TCM. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data. Logistic regression analysis was also used to identify factors associated with satisfaction with the performance of TCM.ResultsAll interviewed patients (n = 50, 100%) reported to be using TCM. Patients consisted of 24 females (48%) and 26 males (52%) in the age range 14 to 82 years old. The majority of the study population was in the age group 35–44 years old. The most prevalent cancer among participating males was prostate cancer and among females was cervical cancer. Biological products use was the most prominent with the highest average percentage usage (14.7%). The majority of patients (66%, n = 33) indicated that they just wanted to try everything that could help. Patients (n = 47, 94%) further reported that they had been using complementary medicine during the same period as they were using conventional treatment so that both may work to help each other. Neither gender nor age predicted satisfaction with the performance of traditional and complementary medicine.ConclusionsIt is concluded that all interviewed cancer patients use TCM. Patients indicated that one of the reasons for using TCM was that they wanted to try everything that could help in their cancer care. Patients further reported that they did not inform their oncologist of their concurrent use of TCM because they had been advised not to use other medicines besides what they are given at the clinic.

A body beaten again: a narrative analysis of a series of cases of breast cancer survivors punctuated by violence

IntroductionVarious mechanisms have been identified to explain the relationship between gender-based violence, screening, and cancer. Biological mechanisms, primarily related to chronic stress and allostatic load, have been associated with high rates of chronic diseases among victims of violence, impairing the functioning of the immune and endocrine systems. Victims of abuse simultaneously show less initiative for screening exams, such as mammograms, as they perceive them as invasive and retraumatizing. They also demonstrate a greater tendency toward maladaptive coping behaviors and unhealthy lifestyles, such as abusive substance use. A significant number of these patients develop psychosocial dysfunction and body image disturbance during breast cancer treatments.ObjectivesThis work aims to provide a descriptive and narrative analysis of body image and psychosocial changes in women breast cancer survivors with prolonged experiences of violence, supported by a non-systematic literature review on the central aspects under study.MethodsFor the introductory literature review, a search was conducted on search engines such as Google Scholar and PubMed, with no date limitations, using the following terms (or combinations): “intimate partner violence,” “violence AND cancer,” “body image AND psychossexual adjustment AND breast cancer.” Additionally, a narrative analysis of body image and psychosocial changes in women breast cancer survivors with prolonged experiences of violence was conducted. For this purpose, participants were asked to complete two validated scales in the Portuguese language, and first-person testimonials were collected.ResultsThe analysis of scale results and participant testimonials highlights a consensus on the significant impairment of psychosocial functioning and the experience of sexuality. There is evidence of avoidance behaviors in terms of affectionate and sexual contact due to feelings of fear, shame, and discomfort. The breast is valued as a sensual, erotic, and essential sexual element, and impactful changes in body image persist. However, in some cases, these changes are experienced as transformative and liberating, fostering a more generous view of the body, identity, and femininity.ConclusionsWomen with breast cancer should be screened for the possibility of being victims of violence, as this context predicts a higher likelihood of emotional difficulties during surgical treatments, including psychological distress, post-traumatic stress, body shame, and self-blame. A significant number of women, including those in this study, consider the approach to self-image and sexuality in oncology consultations deficient. Psychological programs and interventions should be developed to empower patients to adjust to the sexual changes arising from treatments and disease progression and to promote positive intimate relationships and effective communication.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

From Campus to Crisis: Psychological Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Indian Management Students.

The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected students pursuing higher education, but limited studies highlight student's psychological experiences, especially from Western India. The present study aimed to understand psychological experiences, coping behaviors, and the perceived role of tele-counseling services among final-year students of Masters of Business Administration from leading business schools (B-schools) in Western India. A qualitative research design was adopted for the study. A semi-structured interview guide was utilized to conduct in-depth interviews with 35 students. Students were reached via personal networks and social media, and data was gathered after the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. A thematic analysis technique was employed to analyze the data. The findings showed that management students had upsetting psychological experiences. Key stressors that emerged in the study were job concerns, lifestyle changes, concerns about their own and parents' health and safety, uncertainty about the future, and social isolation. They expressed the need for mental health help; however, they were reluctant to utilize tele-counseling services. The authors present an integrated psychological well-being model for promoting positive mental health among students in higher education institutions. The study explains the psychological toll on management students. Enhancing mental health literacy through awareness sessions and other innovative means would be critical to addressing myths around mental health and mental healthcare-seeking behavior in higher education institutions. An integrated approach to promoting positive mental health and well-being is needed.

Resilience in the Face of the Ongoing War in Ukraine and Coping Strategies Adopted by Polish Students of Modern Languages in Higher Education

The Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022 shattered Western illusions of peace and security, raining tensions on both a macro and micro level. This article was thus inspired by how the war had affected Philology students in Poland, specifically emphasising the city of Rzeszow, which lies close to the Ukrainian border. The aim assigned to the research project was to investigate levels of resilience among students and how this correlates with stress levels and to further investigate the potential coping strategies adopted by the students to mitigate their anxiety levels. What has been shown is that there is a correlation between the proximity of students to graduation and the levels of anxiety they felt about their future employment prospects and that the most common method for coping with stress was to become actively involved in assisting in the most immediate manifestation of the cause of the stress, in this case assisting refugees.

Meaning-of-life Orientations and Strategies of Coping Behavior in Young People with Different Orientations for the Future

Introduction. At the moment an urgent topic of psychological research is the identification of opportunities for young people to overcome difficult life situations, especially in situations of uncertainty. One of the areas of research in this area is the relationship of the choice of coping strategies with elements of the value-meaning sphere, this can shed light on the mechanisms of meaning regulation of the choice of ways to overcome difficult situations.Objective. The study of the choice of various coping strategies in connection with life orientations is depending on the type of orientation for the future in young people.Materials and methods. The method “Meaning-of-life orientations” by D. A. Leontiev was used to determine the meaning-of-life orientations of young people. According to this methodology, the respondents’ orientation towards the future was also determined using indicators on the “goals in life” scale: the presence of a goal in the future, orientation and time perspective, and on the “process of life” scale. The methodology “Methods of coping behavior” by R. Lazarus was applied to determine the choice of coping strategies.Results. The subjects were young people aged 19–23 years. According to the severity of the orientation towards the future, the sample was divided into two groups: with high and medium orientation towards the future (group 1, 47.3 %), and with low and below average (group 2, 52.7 %). An analysis of the results obtained which is used the “Life-meaning orientations” method showed that the studied groups of young people have differences in the severity of all scales of CSF. According to the results, the greatest differences were found on the scales of “Goals in life” and “Locus of control of life”. Statistical analysis of the differences which used the Mann-Whitney U criterion in the severity of coping behavior strategies showed that significant differences between the groups were identified by the indicator “Problem solving planning”.Discussion. The results obtained on the type of orientation towards the future as a predictor of the choice of coping strategies are consistent with existing data that overcoming a problem through a purposeful analysis of the situation and possible behaviors, planning one’s own actions taking into account objective conditions, past experience and available resources can help a person manage a difficult situation more effectively and reduce negative consequences through the use of imagination and constructive modeling of the future.

Financial-legal navigation reduces financial toxicity of pediatric, adolescent, and young adult cancers.

Pediatric, adolescent, and young adult patients with cancer and their caregivers are at high risk of financial toxicity, and few evidence-based oncology financial and legal navigation programs exist to address it. We tested the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of Financial and Insurance Navigation Assistance, a novel interdisciplinary financial and legal navigation intervention for pediatric, adolescent and young adult patients and their caregivers. We used a single-arm feasibility and acceptability trial design in a pediatric hematology and oncology clinic and collected preintervention and postintervention surveys to assess changes in financial toxicity (3 domains:psychological response/Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity [COST], material conditions, and coping behaviors); health-related quality of life (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Physical and Mental Health, Anxiety, Depression, and Parent Proxy scales); and perceived feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness. In total, 45 participants received financial navigation, 6 received legal navigation, and 10 received both. Among 15 adult patients, significant improvements in FACIT-COST (P = .041) and physical health (P = .036) were noted. Among 46 caregivers, significant improvements were noted for FACIT-COST (P < .001), the total financial toxicity score (P = .001), and the parent proxy global health score (P = .0037). We were able to secure roughly $335 323 in financial benefits for 48 participants. The intervention was rated highly for feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness. Integrating financial and legal navigation through Financial and Insurance Navigation Assistance was feasible and acceptable and underscores the benefit of a multidisciplinary approach to addressing financial toxicity. NCT05876325.

A Cognitive Approach to Maladaptive Daydreaming.

Maladaptive daydreaming (MDD) is a mental activity that develops from unconscious material but differs from normal daydreaming in terms of experience, content, quantity, control, distress, and interference with everyday living. Dreaming often involves fantasizing about an idealized self, which includes motifs of companionship, romance, and compensatory scripts like power, escape, and rescue. The MDD is understood as a form of unusual imagination that is vivid and addictive but impedes academic and occupational responsibilities. Individuals report narratives that feature their idealized selves or characters, which are conflicting but rewarding, thus resulting in repetitive episodes of MDD. The present study explored the phenomenon of MDD and evaluated the clinical effectiveness of a single case intervention study of a 24-year-old male with MDD. The patient was assessed using the MDD Scale (MDS-16). The data were collected at baseline and treatment termination. The intervention for the patient was conducted in four phases: building coping skills, behavior modification, cognitive restructuring, and relapse prevention. The data analysis showed a decrease in scores between baseline (66) and treatment termination (32), below the cut-off of 40, indicating a significant reduction in the symptoms. MDD is associated with emotional and functional distress. A tailor-made cognitive approach to the intervention effectively reduced the symptoms of MDD.

Trajectory of change in perceived stress, coping strategies and clinical competence among undergraduate nursing students during clinical practicum: a longitudinal cohort study

BackgroundClinical practicum is crucial for strengthening nursing students' clinical competence. However, nursing students often experience considerable stress during clinical practicum, and so they employ coping strategies to alleviate it. There is almost no empirical evidence on the change trajectory of perceived stress, coping strategies, and clinical competence among nursing students during a one-year clinical practicum. This study aimed to investigate the trajectory of change in perceived stress, coping strategies, and clinical competence among undergraduate nursing students during a one-year clinical practicum.MethodsThis study used a longitudinal cohort design. Undergraduate nursing students were recruited from a science and technology university in Taiwan to participate from February 2021 to January 2022. Perceived stress, coping strategies, and clinical competence among students in basic training practicum (T1), advanced training practicum (T2), and comprehensive clinical nursing practicum (T3) were surveyed by using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Coping Behaviour Inventory (CBI), and Clinical Competence Scale (CCS). PSS, CBI, and CCS in T1, T2, and T3 were compared using a generalized estimating equation (GEE) to deal with correlated data. The level of statistical significance was set at α = 0.05.ResultsA total of 315 undergraduate nursing students completed the questionnaire. The study results show that the overall perceived stress of the students is the highest in T2 and the lowest in T3. The main source of stress of the students is 'taking care of patients' at T1 and 'lack of professional knowledge and skills' at T2 and T3. Students' perceived stress in 'taking care of patients' gradually decreases over time. The four coping strategies of CBI, which are 'stay optimistic', 'problem-solving', 'transference' and 'avoidance' in this order, remain the same ranking in three surveys.The main stress coping strategy used by students is 'stay optimistic', while the coping strategy 'avoidance' is used more frequently in T2 than in T1 and T3. Students' mean scores of the overall clinical competence and in the 'general nursing' and 'management' subscales in T3 are higher than those in T1 and T2. However, their mean scores in 'self-growth' and 'positivity' subscales are the highest in T1 and the lowest in T2.ConclusionsThe results show that through experiential learning in clinical practicum at different stages time after time, students' overall perceived stress is the lowest and their overall clinical competence is the highest in T3. The main coping strategy used when students managed stress is 'stay optimistic'. According to the results, we suggest that clinical educators provide students with appropriate guidance strategies at different stages of stress and continue to follow up the clinical competence and retention rates of these nursing students in the workplace in the future.

Features of psychopathological response and coping in patients with malignant skin diseases with a low level of vital threat

Background. Malignant skin tumors are common oncological diseases that have a negative impact on the psyche; their nosological and clinical heterogeneity necessitates in-depth study and differential approaches to the elimination of psychopathological manifestations. Purpose: to study the features of psychopathological response and stress-overcoming behavior in patients with malignant skin tumors with a low level of vital threat. Objectives of the study: to determine the features of depressive manifestations, the structure and expressiveness of psychopathological symptoms and the coping repertoire of patients with malignant skin tumors with a low level of vital threat, as well as the relationship between psychopathological symptoms and stress-coping behavior. Materials and Methods. 24 men and 15 women with basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma were clinically and psychologically examined using the HRDS, HARS, SCL-90-R and the Coping Behavior questionnaire. Results. The presence of a clinically defined depressive disorder was established in 38.5% of patients with a predominance of low mood (69.2%), feeling tired (56.4%), anxious (71.8%), pessimistic (59.0%) and dyssomnic (56.4%) symptoms and elevated depression indicators (11.85±8.52 points). Predominance in psychopathological symptoms of somatization (2.55±0.35 points), anxiety (2.38±0.35 points) and depression (2.15±0.57 points) was established. Study of the coping of patients with malignant skin tumors with a low level of vital threat revealed a predominance of relatively constructive coping strategies of self-control (70.69±8.64 points), search for social support (67.23±13.84 points) and acceptance of responsibility (64.09±19.04 points) and significant direct correlations of medium strength between non-constructive coping and anxiety and hostility, and inverse correlations between constructive and conditionally constructive coping and depression and hostility. Conclusions. Patients with skin cancer with a low level of vital threat are characterized by a high susceptibility to depressive disorders, mainly vital and asthenodepressive forms, with pronounced somatization; the predominance in the coping repertoire of strategies of self-control, seeking social support, accepting responsibility, distancing and planning to solve the problem, which are correlated with anxiety, depression and hostility.

Gender Differences in Facebook Addiction as a Coping Response to Social Stressors and Poor Self-Confidence

The Threat Appraisal and Coping Theory suggests that when individuals perceive social stressors from important interpersonal relationships (family, friends, romance), and when they have poor self-confidence, they may display the coping behavior of seeking social support, including that provided by social media platforms such as Facebook. However, individuals who perceive intense social stressors and have poor self-confidence may use Facebook to the extent that it interferes with other areas of their lives. The present study examined this cognitive sequence that could lead to such Facebook addiction: SOCIAL STRESSORS à POOR SELF-CONFIDENCE à EXCESSIVE FACEBOOK. Because of past research showing gender differences in each of these variables, we hypothesized that women would be more likely to show the proposed cognitive sequence leading to Facebook addiction. Participants were 243 women and 209 men from a paid online Survey Monkey sample who reported demographics, three social stressors (family, friends, romance), self-confidence with Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale, and excessive Facebook use with the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale. Unlike our hypothesized results, moderated mediational analyses with 5000 bootstrapped samples found significantly higher indirect effect sizes for the three-variable sequence in men than in women, specifically when the social stressor was from family or romantic partners. One interpretation would be that when conflicts occur in intimate personal relationships (family, romance), women may have a wider network of real-life relationships in which they share their emotional concerns, whereas men are more likely to rely on online social media to vent concerns about intimate relationships.

Anxiety, depression, working from home and health-related behaviours during COVID-19: Structural equation modelling and serial mediation of associations with angina, heart attacks and stroke.

Based on the vulnerability-stress model and coping theory, this study of 1920 people in Scotland investigated how sex, age, occupational factors, anxiety, depression and maladaptive coping behaviours are associated with cardiovascular health. Structural equation modelling and serial Sobel mediation tests were conducted. Anxiety was associated with past arrhythmia, whereas depression was associated with past heart attacks, stroke and angina. Females reported more anxiety, past arrhythmia, confectionary and alcohol consumption, whereas males had more heart attacks. Confectionary consumption was associated with past arrhythmia, and alcohol consumption was associated with past heart attacks. Being older was associated with depression, past stroke, arrhythmia and alcohol consumption. Being younger was associated with anxiety and smoking. Depression and smoking mediated the relationship between type of working and cardiovascular health history, potentially because of socioeconomic factors. Clinicians can use these results to advise clients about cardiovascular risks associated with anxiety, depression, demographics and health-related coping behaviours.

Older women's experience with COVID-19 pandemic: A study of risk perception and coping among culturally and linguistically diverse population in South Australia.

A global catastrophe-the COVID-19 pandemic-appears to have two-dimensional health consequences for older adults: high risk of being infected and psychological distress. There is limited evidence on how the pandemic has impacted the life and coping of older adults who are culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD), women in particular. This study explored the COVID-19 risk perception and coping strategies of older CALD women in South Australia. A mixed-methods research design was employed, involving a 31-items coping and emergency preparation scale for survey and semi-structured interviews with participants. The older CALD women were approached through 11 multicultural NGOs. One hundred and nine women participants from 28 CALD communities completed the online surveys; 25 of them agreed to a telephone interview and provided their contact details. 15 older CALD women ultimately participated in interviews. Mean sum-score of dread risk, unknown risk, and fear (M: 43.5; SD: 4.9) indicated that the participants were somewhat anxious and worried. Mean sum-score of coping (M: 79.8; SD: 9.3) reported their compliance with expert advice and disinfection practices but accessing health information (M: 2.8; SD 1.4) and tendency to minimize anxiety (M: 2.1; SD: 1.2) were below neutral. Significant variations were found in coping in terms of age, meaning that the women aged 75 years and older were less likely to cope with the pandemic (P = 0.01). Emergency preparation differed based on the participants' residence and occupation status. The deductive-inductive thematic analysis of interview data was framed around three priori themes: risks of being affected, emotional and behavioral coping, and emergency preparation and access to services. Evidence shows a fear among the older CALD women with an endeavor to cope and prepare for emergency situations. This suggests the requirements for interventions that improve coping and reduce the risk of stress among them.