Behavioral Disengagement Research Articles

Stress coping strategies used by nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

IntroductionThe risk of getting SARS-CoV-2 infection, worries about exposing loved ones, anxiety and frustration, emotional and physical exhaustion, burn out, a feeling of being overwhelmed, and struggles and challenges with parenting are a few among many factors that affect nurses’ personal lives and professional functioning. The aim of the research is to assess nurses’ level of stress during the COVID-19 pandemic and their sense of self-efficacy, and to learn what coping strategies they use.Methodology/MethodsThe study was carried out online and based on the diagnostic poll method, using an original survey questionnaire, the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES 10–40), the Mini-COPE questionnaire (0–3), and the Perceived Stress Scale PSS-10 (0–40). The respondent group was made up of nurses (n = 220) who provide health services in inpatient and outpatient health care institutions in the northeastern region of Poland. The statistical analysis was performed using the STATISTICA 13.0 package (StatSoft). The distribution of variables was checked with Shapiro-Wilk tests. The Mann–Whitney U test was used to compare two independent samples, while the Kruskal–Wallis test was used to compare more samples. The adopted statistical significance level was p < 0.05. Multivariate regression analysis was applied to determine which factors were related to the level of stress.ResultsThe mean age of the participants was 43.3 years. The vast majority were women (96.4). The mean work experience of the nurses was over 20 years (58.2%). A total of 62.3% worked directly with patients in hospitals, including 11.8% respondents working at COVID-19 units and 37.7% working at primary care institutions. The analyses show that the respondents represented a high level of stress (PSS-10 – 20.9), related to their work experience as a nurse (β −0.250, p = 0.014), the number of hours worked a month (β 0.156, p = 0.015), and self-assessed health status (β −0.145, p = 0.037). They declared an average sense of self-efficacy (GSES – 29.1), which significantly depended on the nurses’ places of employment (p = 0.044). Out of stress coping strategies (Mini-COPE), the younger nurses mentioned venting (p = 0.010), instrumental support (p = 0.011), sense of humour (p = 0.013) and self-blame (0.031). Practice nurses also chose the strategy of behavioral disengagement (p = 0.032), and nurse managers chose the strategy of planning (p = 0.018).ConclusionsThe experience of the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the need to implement some strategies to protect nurses’ mental health and to take extensive prevention measures in critical situations. Special attention should be given to nurses who are younger and have shorter work experience. It is also important to monitor nurses’ working time and health status, and those who work at outpatient health care institutions should be given more support and information.

Quality of Infertility Care Services and Emotional Health of South Asian Women.

BackgroundTreatment tolerability and treatment environment are two major spheres of infertility care that may associate with women’s emotional health and coping mechanisms.AimThe present study aimed at assessing the relationship between infertility treatment quality and various aspects of emotion-focus coping, problem-focus coping, and avoidance coping mechanisms.MethodThe study was completed by using standardized tools and data from this descriptive, cross-sectional, correlational study were collected from 350 women undergoing infertility treatments in private reproductive healthcare centers in Quetta, Pakistan.FindingsTreatment tolerability was found to be positively associated with positive reframing (p < 0.02) and negatively associated with the use of emotional support (p < 0.03); acceptance (p < 0.01); humor (p < 0.03); behavioral disengagement (p < 0.01) and venting (p < 0.01). The quality of the treatment environment demonstrated a negative correlation between religious coping (p < 0.02) and behavioral disengagement (p < 0.01), whereas it showed a positive correlation with active coping (p < 0.03) and planning (p < 0.02). The linear regression analysis demonstrated that treatment tolerability significantly increased with positive reframing (R2 = 0.118, F(304) = 2.22, p < 0.03). Behavioral disengagement significantly decreased with better treatment environment (R2 = 0.111, F(304) = 2.09, p < 0.02).DiscussionWe discussed the findings keeping in view the role of social, cultural, and economic factors related to infertility care in the context South-Asian culture, and recommendations are made to promote women’s mental health and coping by improving some specific aspects of infertility treatment quality.ConclusionsHigh treatment tolerability may associate with some useful aspects of emotion-focus coping, such as positive reframing, whereas low treatment tolerability may associate with avoidance coping, such as behavioral disengagement and venting. Besides, the quality of the infertility treatment environment enables women to use problem-focus coping mechanisms, such as planning and active coping.

Psychological functioning during the COVID-19 lockdown: The role of exposure to continuous traumatic stress in conflict-ridden regions.

The present study investigates the role of two risk factors (exposure to continuous traumatic stress and unemployment) and two psychological stress-related factors (resilience and coping) on individuals' emotional state during the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. The data were collected using online questionnaire from 778 individuals in April 2020 during Israel's first lockdown. Israeli citizens who had been exposed for many years to recurrent missile attacks (n = 379) reported higher rates of anxiety and stress following the COVID-19 lockdown and lower rates of resilience, compared with those residing in regions not exposed to missile attacks. During the lockdown, unemployed participants (n = 416), in comparison with working respondents, reported more depression and stress, lower resilience, and greater use of behavioral and mental disengagement coping strategies. The results showed that resilience (beta = -.38, p < .001) is associated with lower depression, anxiety, and stress, whereas the more frequent use of disengagement coping (beta = .31, p < .001) is associated with higher depression, anxiety, and stress. Furthermore, resilience was shown to moderate the association between disengagement coping and emotional state. Findings suggest that exposure to continuous traumatic stress and unemployment may comprise potential risk factors for psychological difficulties during COVID-19 lockdown, whereas resilience and applying less disengagement coping can be considered protective factors. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved) Impact Statement The study advances our understanding of how populations with a history of exposure to traumatic stress in conflict-ridden regions approach the COVID-19 crisis emotionally. The findings highlight the risk of continuing stress and unemployment and the protective role of resilience. The study may contribute to the design of interventions tailored to the needs of various vulnerable groups. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)

Strategies for Coping With Stress Used by Nurses in Poland and Belarus During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

IntroductionStress is an inseparable element of nurses' work. It is also the cause of wellbeing disorders and the source of various diseases. The wellbeing and health of nurses has a direct impact on the quality of care and health outcomes for patients. An appropriate stress coping strategy can reduce the impact of stress and mitigate its negative consequences. The COVID-19 pandemic, especially in its initial period, was a source of enormous additional stress for nurses. In Poland and Belarus: two neighboring countries with common history and similar culture, the authorities took a completely different approach to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.AimThe purpose of this study was to investigate and compare how nurses in Poland and Belarus cope with stress during the COVID-19 pandemic.Materials and MethodThe cross-sectional study was conducted among 284 nurses working in hospital in Bialystok, Poland (158) and in Grodno, Belarus (126). Mini-Cope inventory - the polish adaptation of Carver's BriefCope was used for measuring coping with stress.ResultsOnly 17.5% of Belarusian nurses were tested for the presence of the virus and only 4.8% were infected, while in Poland it was 50.6 and 31.0%, respectively. The most frequent used coping strategies were active strategies (active coping, planning) and the least-used were avoidance strategies (behavioral disengagement, substance use) in both countries. Polish nurses significantly more often than Belorussian used support-seeking/emotion-oriented strategies, as well as avoidance strategies. No differences were found for active coping strategies between the both groups. Contact with a patient infected with the SARS-CoV2 virus did not influence the choice of stress coping strategies by nurses in both countries. Staying in quarantine or home isolation favored more active coping strategies, especially in the case of Belarusian nurses. Taking a SARS-CoV-2 test did not statistically differentiate the choice of coping strategies in the Belarusian group. In the Polish group, nurses with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result used both use of instrumental support and use of emotional support strategies less frequently. SARS-CoV-2 virus infection did not statistically differentiated how stressful situations were handled in Polish group.ConclusionsPolish and Belorussian nurses used similar strategies to cope with stress in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The social and demographic differences between Polish and Belorussian nurses differentiated the choice of coping strategies among the respondents to a greater extent than the completely different approach of the media and authorities to the COVID-19 pandemic in the two countries. The threat of the COVID-19 pandemic does not affect the choice of stress coping strategies by nurses in Poland and Belarus. Being in quarantine or home isolation favored the use of active coping strategies among Belorussian nurses. Polish nurses, on the other hand, were more likely to turn to religion after being quarantined.

Influence of Privacy Fatigue of Social Media Users on Their Privacy Protection Disengagement Behaviour—A PSM based Analysis

This paper aims to examine the net effect of privacy fatigue of social media users on privacy protection disengagement behaviour, which is helpful to address the users’ privacy issue in the new stage of social media digitalization. Applying the Propensity Score Matching (PSM) methodology, the authors conduct the data analysis of 1,734 samples of social media users and eliminates the selectivity error caused by individual characteristic variables so as to improve the prediction accuracy of variable causality. Their research not only validates the causal relationship between privacy fatigue and privacy protection disengagement, proving that privacy fatigue can directly lead to privacy protection disengagement behaviour but also reveals that the individual characteristic variables have heterogeneous effects on the influence of privacy fatigue on protection disengagement behaviour.

Predictors of ‘problematic internet use’ among adolescents and adults amid the pandemic in India

BackgroundGlobally, problematic internet use (PIU) is acknowledged as a significant behavioural problem in adolescents and youth. It is being researched for further clarity as an independent behavioural disorder. It is crucial to explore predictors of PIU to understand the high-risk psychosocial indicators of problematic internet use, particularly amid the COVID-19 pandemic in India. AimThe present study aimed at studying age, gender, mental health, coping strategies and lifestyle indicators as predictors for PIU in adolescents, young adults and middle-aged adults. MethodsThe study used a cross-sectional design, and the data was collected using Perceived Stress Scale, Internet Gaming Disorders-9, DSM-5 Self-Rated Level-1, and Brief-COPE scale. Multiple regression analysis was employed to find the predictors of PIU in a sample of 1027 i.e., adolescents (13–19 years), young adults (20–39 years), and middle-aged adults (40–60 years). Separate regression analyses were carried out for the three subgroups as well. ResultsResults showed that the age, perceived stress, maladaptive coping strategies (substance use, self-blaming, self-distraction, behavioural disengagement), repetitive thoughts and actions, and impact of COVID-19 were significant independent predictors of PIU. Furthermore, differences in independent predictors were found in different sub-groups of age. DiscussionThis study indicated that adolescents and youth are more susceptible to PIU. In addition, maladaptive coping strategies predicted PIU significantly, which indicates that PIU is not an effective coping strategy but can be understood as maladaptive behaviour involving escapism. Furthermore, only repetitive thoughts and actions predicted PIU, which clarifies PIU as an independent pathology. ConclusionThis study found specific predictors for the three sub-groups – adolescents, young adults, and middle-aged adults - that would further aid management plans for problematic internet use. Moreover, the role of the COVID-19 pandemic on PIU is also critical.

"The Ugliness of It Seeps into Me": Experiences of Vicarious Trauma among Female Psychologists Treating Survivors of Sexual Assault.

The current study explores the lived experiences of female psychologists who provide psychological treatment to women survivors of sexual assault. These practitioners are a population of special interest due to the frequency of their exposure to narratives and graphic images of sexual trauma. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 female South African psychologists. The data, which were analyzed using an interpretative phenomenological approach, revealed experiences characteristic of vicarious traumatization. Participants reported having an enhanced sense of personal vulnerability to sexual assault and heightened awareness of the betrayals of trust that women experience from male figures, which has led to increased mistrust of men and hypervigilance regarding the safety of their daughters. Internalization of feelings of helplessness experienced by the victim evoked self-blame for practitioners and appraisals of being complicit in abuse. Practitioners also experienced survivor guilt about being spared from harm. Symptoms of intrusive re-experiencing of client trauma and cognitive and behavioral disengagement were evident. These findings have important implications for clinical practice and underscore the necessity for clinicians to cultivate an awareness of the impact of treating sexual trauma and working in ways that are self-protective.

Health related quality of life and perceived social support in French and Lebanese MS patients: A comparative study

BackgroundThe perception of diagnosis announcement, the social support and the coping strategies seem to be determining factors for the quality of life of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, with possible transcultural variations. This study explores these psychosocial dimensions in Lebanese and French MS patients. MethodsFor this cross-sectional multi-center study, 8 questionnaires were used to assess quality of life, family support, coping strategies, mood, fatigue, stress, and hopelessness in MS patients. 7 were translated into Arabic and then back translated into French. These were administered to a group of Lebanese MS patients and compared to an MS sample from France. The data was collected for both populations and analyzed. ResultsA total of 107 patients were included, 46 Lebanese and 61 French. The majority of MS patients were young females with a high level of education, relapsing remitting form of MS and a low level of disability. Both populations exhibited comparable quality of life and answers on the questionnaires regarding mood disorders, hopelessness, and perceived stress. However, the French patients had significantly more fatigue. Perceived social support given by family was considered greater in the French group compared to the Lebanese one. Also, maladaptive coping strategies (such as self-distraction, denial, behavioral disengagement, substance use, self-blame, venting) were used more frequently by the French population compared to the Lebanese, and this correlated with higher anxiety scores. Diagnosis communication was overall brief, informative, and satisfying in both populations. ConclusionThis study highlighted transcultural differences between French and Lebanese MS patients mainly in social support and coping strategies.

Coping and its association with psychological adjustment: Differences between first-, second-, and third-plus generation adolescents.

Adolescents with an immigrant background, whether first-generation (born abroad) or second-generation (at least one parent born abroad), face challenges that could compromise their psychological adjustment compared to their third-plus generation peers. Yet, many are developing positively despite the presence of adversity. To understand what contributes to these adolescents' resilience, it can be useful to study the coping strategies they use. A total of 1036 Canadian secondary school students participated in this quantitative cross-sectional study (Mage = 12.9; 56% females; 26% first-generation; 34% second generation; 39% third-plus generation). Coping strategies (coping orientation to problems experienced inventory) were assessed and their differentiated associations with self-esteem, anxiety (Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders), and depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale) were analyzed through path analysis and invariance testing. First-generation adolescents reported more acceptance/reinterpretation and substance use than second- and third-plus generation adolescents. First- and second-generation adolescents reported using religion more than third-plus generation adolescents. First-generation adolescents used self-distraction more often than second-generation adolescents, who used it more often than third-plus generation. The use of humor was more prevalent in second-generation adolescents compared with their third-plus generation peers. In addition, some associations between coping strategies and psychological adjustment differed across generations. In first-generation adolescents, behavioral disengagement was significantly associated with fewer anxiety symptoms. The same trend was observed in second-generation adolescents who used self-distraction. These avoidant strategies are generally associated with poor psychological adjustment. This study adds new knowledge about differences across generations in the coping strategies used by adolescents to deal with stress. Further practical implications are discussed.

Students’ attitudes and coping strategies relating to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study

Background: The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has forced most classes at the tertiary education level to be held online or in a digital mode. This study investigates Multimedia University (MMU) students’ attitudes and coping strategies in relation to online learning classes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This is a cross-sectional analysis among students at the MMU campus in Malaysia. Student respondents were chosen using simple random sampling. They answered online surveys developed through Google forms with an appended consent form. Two questions were developed inquiring about students' acceptance of online learning courses to gauge their attitudes. The coping strategies questions were adapted from the Brief-COPE questionnaire with 28 items. There are 14 strategies in the Brief-COPE: self-distraction, active coping, denial, substance use, emotional support, instrumental support, behavioural disengagement, venting, positive reframing, planning, humour, acceptance, religion, and self-blame. We hypothesised that there would be a significant correlation between attitudes and coping strategies among MMU students taking online classes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: 8 out of 14 coping strategies were significantly correlated with students’ attitudes towards online learning. The study showed that those students with a positive or accepting attitude towards online learning were more likely to use positive coping strategies. Those students with negative, less accepting attitudes towards online learning seemed to use more negative coping strategies. Conclusion: The study focuses on students studying at MMU. Therefore, the outcome cannot be generalised for all university students in Malaysia. The primary goal of the study was to investigate the attitudes and coping strategies of Multimedia University students when confronted with the unexpected outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of the study may assist MMU in understanding student behaviour and developing strategies to assist the students.

Cannabis use among U.S. military veterans with subthreshold or threshold posttraumatic stress disorder: Psychiatric comorbidities, functioning, and strategies for coping with posttraumatic stress symptoms.

Cannabis use is common among individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, but its impact on psychiatric symptoms and functioning in this population is unclear. To clarify the clinical and functional correlates of cannabis use in individuals with PTSD symptoms, we analyzed data from the 2019-2020 National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study, a nationally representative survey of U.S. military veterans. Participants with current subthreshold or full PTSD (N = 608) reported on their past-6-month cannabis use and current psychiatric symptoms, functioning, treatment utilization, and PTSD symptom management strategies. Veterans with subthreshold/full PTSD who used cannabis more than weekly were more likely to screen positive for co-occurring depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation than those who did not use cannabis, ORs = 3.4-3.8, or used cannabis less than weekly, ORs = 2.7-3.7. Veterans who used cannabis more than weekly also scored lower in cognitive functioning than veterans with no use, d = 0.25, or infrequent use, d = 0.71, and were substantially more likely to endorse avoidance coping strategies, ORs = 8.2-12.2, including substance use, OR = 4.4, and behavioral disengagement, ORs = 2.7-9.1, to manage PTSD symptoms. Despite more psychiatric and functional problems, veterans with frequent cannabis use were not more likely to engage in mental health treatment, ORs = 0.87-0.99. The results suggest enhanced cannabis use screening, interventions targeting risky use, and strategies promoting treatment engagement may help ameliorate more severe clinical presentations associated with frequent cannabis use among veterans with subthreshold/full PTSD.

Coping Strategies for Stress Used by People Working in Managerial Positions in Schools and Educational Establishments during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Although the ability to deal with stress is one of the key competences of people working in managerial positions in schools and educational establishments, principals in this area are very poorly diagnosed. The aim of this study was to consider the coping strategies used by headmasters and deputy headmasters of schools and educational establishments during the COVID-19 pandemic. For this purpose, Mini-COPE was used. The respondents (N = 159) obtained a higher mean for “active coping”, “planning”, “positive reframing”, “acceptance”, “use of instrumental support”, “venting”, and “problem-focused strategies” than the normative value. Compared to deputy headmasters, headmasters obtained higher mean results for “planning” and “religion”, and lower results for “behavioral disengagement”. Respondents with longer job seniority in a managerial position, obtained a higher mean for “use of instrumental support” and lower for “religion”. Compared to respondents employed in private schools, people in the public education sector are more likely to use “behavioral disengagement” and less their “sense of humor”. The respondents working in primary schools scored higher on average for “use of instrumental support” and “problem-focused strategies”. It would be advisable to compare the results with the teachers and the persons holding managerial positions in institutions and organizations not related to education.

Cancer and aging: Reflections for elders- Expressive writing intervention: A pilot study

ObjectivesThe Cancer and Aging: Reflections for Elders Expressive Writing Intervention (CARE-Express) was developed to enhance coping and minimize psychological distress in older adults with cancer. The aim of the current study is to evaluate the feasibility and initial efficacy of CARE-Express. Materials and MethodsSeventy-one distressed older adults (≥70) with cancer were assigned to CARE-Express (n = 41) or the Enhanced Social Work Control (ESWC) arm (n = 30). Participants completed five telephone sessions over seven weeks and were assessed on psychosocial variables at baseline, post-intervention, and four months post study enrollment. Feasibility was assessed by examining rates of eligibility, acceptance, retention, assessment, and fidelity. Initial efficacy was evaluated using standardized effect sizes. ResultsAdequate rates of acceptance (29%), eligibility (66%), retention (90%), assessment (70% at post-intervention, 63% at four month follow-up), and fidelity (97%) were observed. At post-intervention, participants receiving CARE-Express reported less depression compared to ESWC (d = 0.69, p = 0.01) and lower demoralization (d = 0.50, p = 0.06). A small/moderate effect was demonstrated for increased total spirituality scores (d = 0.41, p = 0.07), meaning/peace (d = 0.32, p = 0.20) and faith (d = 0.35, p = 0.07). The CARE-Express group reported greater reductions in behavioral disengagement (d = 0.44, p = 0.06), while ESWC demonstrated a small effect for active coping (d = 0.21, p = 0.31). At four months, differential effects of CARE-Express had attenuated, though small/moderate, effects in favor of CARE-Express remained. ConclusionResults support the feasibility of CARE-Express and its potential positive impact on psychological well-being.Trial registration: Registered at the US National Institutes of Health (ClinicalTrials.gov) #NCT00984321 on September 25, 2009.

Anxiety, attitudes-behaviors, coping styles, and social support among high-risk pregnant women in the late period of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic

The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of anxiety among high-risk pregnant women in the late period of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and to evaluate the relationship between anxiety levels, attitudes-behaviors, coping styles, and other psychometric parameters. Pregnant women who were followed up in our gynecology outpatient clinic were evaluated during their admissions between November 15, 2020 and February 15, 2021. This cross-sectional study analyzes prospectively collected data from a university hospital. Inclusion criteria were those being at risk of pregnancy and between the age of 18 and 45 years, while exclusion criteria were mental retardation and the presence of serious psychiatric illness. The study included 140 participants. Sociodemographic and pregnant attitudes-behaviors data form, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Coping Styles Scale Brief Form (Brief-COPE), and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support were used to collect data. Participants had high anxiety levels (State-STAI: 40.32±9.88; Trait-STAI: 42.71±7.32) and high prevalence of probable clinical anxiety [State-STAI: 84 (60.0%); Trait-STAI: 92 (65.7%)]. The fact concerning the transmission of the coronavirus disease 2019 to the baby during pregnancy/birth, extent to which coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic prevents regular pregnancy checkups, and family subgroup-Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support predicted state probable clinical anxiety. Use of disinfectants predicted trait probable clinical anxiety. Employment status predicted state/trait probable clinical anxiety. The existence of trait probable clinical anxiety was significantly associated with behavioral disengagement and substance use which are considered ineffective coping styles. Participants without trait probable clinical anxiety had significantly more adopted positive reinterpretation, one of emotion-focused coping styles. Based on our results, the concern of the transmission of the coronavirus disease 2019 to the babies during pregnancy/birth may be the main factor influencing anxiety among high-risk pregnant women.

The Factor Structure and External Validity of the COPE 60 Inventory in Slovak Translation.

The COPE Inventory (Carver et al., 1989) is the most frequently used measure of coping; yet previous studies examining its factor structure yielded mixed results. The purpose of the current study, therefore, was to validate the factor structure of the COPE Inventory in a representative sample of over 2,000 adults in Slovakia. Our second goal was to evaluate the external validity of the COPE inventory, which has not been done before. Firstly, we performed the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with half of the sample. Subsequently, we performed the confirmatory factor analysis with the second half of the sample. Both factor analyses with 15 factor solutions showed excellent fit with the data. Additionally, we performed a hierarchical factor analysis with fifteen first-order factors (acceptance, active coping, behavioral disengagement, denial, seeking emotional support, humor, seeking instrumental support, mental disengagement, planning, positive reinterpretation, religion, restraint, substance use, suppression of competing activities, and venting) and three second-order factors (active coping, social emotional coping, and avoidance coping) which showed good fit with the data. Moreover, the COPE Inventory’s external validity was evaluated using consensual qualitative research (CQR) analysis on data collected by in-depth interviews. Categories of coping created using CQR corresponded with all COPE first-order factors. Moreover, we identified two additional first-order factors that were not present in the COPE Inventory: self-care and care for others. Our study shows that the Slovak translation of the COPE Inventory is a reliable, externally valid, and well-structured instrument for measuring coping in the Slovak population.

Predictors of traumatic stress in nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objectives. The global pandemic of COVID-19 represents a major stressor in the lives of healthcare professionals. The present study investigated experienced stress and self-reported trauma symptoms among Slovak nurses during the fall of 2020, aiming to describe the extent of experienced stress and trauma, and explain the variation in trauma symptoms using psychosocial predictors.Sample and settings. An online form measuring traumatic stress symptoms, social support, coping strategies, sleep quality and overall experienced stress was distributed among nurses and other healthcare professionals. 565 participants responded between November 12th and December 20th, 2020.Statistical analyses. Several multiple linear regressions with demographic and psychosocial predictors were performed to explain variation in traumatic symptoms.Results. The present data shows that 83% of medical nurses perceived increased stress and more than 62% experienced trauma symptoms. Traumatic symptoms could be partly explained based on the participants’ age, perceived social support, and used coping strategies. Higher social support and strategies of acceptance and positive reframing were related to fewer trauma symptoms, while avoidance strategies, such as self-distraction, self-blame, venting, and behavioral disengagement to more trauma symptoms. In line with the present findings, professional psychosocial support is important to alleviate stress and prevent traumatization in healthcare workers after the COVID-19 crisis.Limitations. Data were collected via an online form, with a sample consisting of mostly nurses and women lacking data on other medical professions and men. Finally, traumatic symptoms develop slowly, therefore it is not possible to measure their recovery at this point.

Self-construal, moral disengagement, and unethical behavior in peer-to-peer accommodation: the moderating role of perceived consumption liquidity

Drawing on moral disengagement theory and liquid consumption theory, this study proposed and tested a conceptual model of guests’ unethical behavior in peer-to-peer (P2P) accommodation, an area of concern as the P2P market grows and regulation is insufficient. The moderating role of perceived consumption liquidity and mediating role of moral disengagement in the relationship between self-construal and guests’ unethical behavior was investigated. Using an online survey and a between-subject experiment, this study found that moral disengagement fully mediates the positive effect of independent self-construal and partially mediates the negative effect of interdependent self-construal on guests’ unethical behavior in P2P accommodation. Findings also suggest that perceived consumption liquidity moderates the effect of self-construal on guests’ moral disengagement. The theoretical and practical implications for P2P accommodation are discussed.

Stigma and Quality of Life in Women With Breast Cancer: Mediation and Moderation Model of Social Support, Sense of Coherence, and Coping Strategies.

ObjectivesThe breast cancer stigma affects Health-related quality of life (HRQoL), while general resilience resources (GRRs), namely, sense of coherence (SOC), social support, and coping skills, are thought to alleviate this effect. The study aimed to explore the mediating/moderation role of GRRs in the relationship between stigma and HRQoL and its dimensions in Iranian patients with breast cancer.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, Stigma Scale for Chronic Illness 8-item version (SSCI-8), SOC-13, Medical Outcome Survey- Social Support Scale (MOS-SSS), Brief COPE, and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B) were investigated in a convenience sample of Iranian women with confirmed non-metastatic breast cancer. Following the establishment of correlations using Pearson’s correlation, single and parallel mediation analysis and moderation analysis were conducted to determine the extent to which each GRR might be impacted by stigma or decrease the adverse impact of stigma on HRQoL.ResultsAn analysis of 221 women (response rate of 87.5%) with the mean age of 47.14 (9.13) showed that stigma was negatively correlated to all HRQoL’s dimensions (r = −0.27∼0.51, p < 0.05), SOC (r = −0.26∼0.35, p < 0.01), social support (r = −0.23∼0.30, p < 0.01), and the bulk of coping skills. In the single mediation analysis, stigma affected all facets of SOC, all subscales of social support, and positive reframing, which partially reduced breast cancer HRQoL. Stigma affects general HRQoL through damaging meaningfulness, social support (except for tangible), and positive reframing. Meaningfulness was marked as the most impacted GRR in terms of all domains of HRQoL. In parallel mediation, reduced meaningfulness, total social support, and positive reframing were highlighted as the pathways of diminished breast cancer HRQoL. Moderation analysis indicated the higher levels of humor, behavioral disengagement, and use of instrumental support behaviors to be functional in protecting different dimensions of HRQoL, while the results were mixed for venting, especially in patients with mastectomy surgery.ConclusionWhile GRRs may be impacted by stigma, they exert a relatively small protective effect against the impact of stigma on HRQoL. This study provides some novel findings, but longitudinal studies are needed to further verify these before any causal conclusion or recommendations for health policy can be drawn.

The effect of self-regulated writing strategies on students’ L2 writing engagement and disengagement behaviors

Self-regulated learning (SRL) is a topic of increasing interest in the field of language learning and instruction. In this study, we set out to investigate the relationship between students' use of SRL strategies in second language (L2) writing, their L2 writing engagement, and L2 writing procrastination. Data were collected from college students in mainland China (N = 816) related to their SRL strategy use, L2 writing engagement, and L2 writing procrastination. SRL strategy use for L2 writing was found to be an important predictor of student engagement in their writing class, and results from mediation analyses confirmed a full mediation effect from students' SRL strategy use to L2 writing procrastination through their engagement in L2 writing class. Student engagement in L2 writing class also significantly and negatively predicted students' procrastination in L2 writing. These findings suggest that the use of SRL strategies functions as an important antecedent to student engagement in their writing class, and that these jointly reduce student procrastination in L2 writing. Given the essential role SRL strategy use plays in student engagement in L2 writing classrooms, which in turn reduces student writing procrastination, we discuss the importance of explicitly supporting students’ SRL strategy use.

A Multivariate Analysis of Depression Prevalence in Psoriasis Patients: A Cohort Study.

The literature reported higher depression rates in psoriasis patients compared to the general population. Our study aimed to verify whether variability in depression prevalence was due to using different diagnostic tools. We also aimed to determine whether dysfunctional coping strategies might increase the depression burden. We assessed psoriasis severity by the Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) and PSOdisk. We analyzed mental alterations of 120 outpatients by Hamilton Depression and Anxiety Rating Scales (HAM-D and HAM-A), Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), plus coping strategies and quality of life by Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (COPE) Inventory and 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). We divided our cohort into five subgroups from minimal to severe psoriasis using the PSOdisk total score. Depression prevalence varied according to the assessment criteria for specificity, frequency, and severity. Different mood disorders other than major depression emerged when we used DSM-IV-TR criteria. Correlation analysis of the criteria we used to diagnose depression or depressed mood indicated that a dysfunctional coping strategy was highly and positively correlated only in patients of the severe subgroup. Differently, a negative correlation emerged between the SF-36 Mental Summary Component (MSC) and behavioral disengagement, thus suggesting that psychopathological distress might induce patients with a marked/severe psoriasis to adopt dysfunctional coping strategies. Dermatologists are fundamental in detecting comorbid depression, referring psoriasis patients to mental health specialists to achieve adequate treatments, and preventing suicide risk.