Distress In Students Research Articles

The interplay of friendship stress, social support, and optimism on psychological distress in college students

ABSTRACT Young adulthood, experienced by many during college, is a prime time for students to foster personal growth and development. Throughout this time, friendships serve as important relationships that help them shape their identities and develop community. Thus, the stress resulting from these friendships can be extremely distressing, especially as they build a life away from home. This study thus examined the role of friendship stress and its impact on psychological distress. To study what can help students manage the impact of this stressor on mental health, we also examined social support and optimism as moderators. Hierarchical regression analyses were thus conducted to understand the relationship between friendship stress, social support, optimism and psychological distress in a sample of 547 college students. Findings showed that friendship stress and psychological distress were significantly and negatively related and that optimism, but not social support, was a significant moderator of this association although in ways that were not hypothesized. These suggest the negative impact that friendship stress can have on the mental health of college students and the need to further study coping mechanisms. Future studies on this to better understand friendships among college student mental health is recommended. Implications and limitations are discussed.

Gender difference in emotional distress among nursing and health science college students: An online survey

This cross-sectional study investigates the self-reported emotional distress of medical, nursing, dental, pharmacy, and public health students and identifies gender-related differences through an online survey. The data of 364 students were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple logistic regression. Emotional distress was more prevalent among female respondents (11.7 %) than male (3.8 %) respondents. The stigma, isolation, and depression experienced by female respondents influenced their emotional distress, whereas only the depression of male respondents influenced their emotional distress. Our findings suggest that mental health professionals should consider gender-specific factors when developing interventions for the study population to minimize emotional distress.

Impact of COVID-19 on medical students well-being and psychological distress.

Mental well-being is important for medical students to perform effectively. The COVID-19 pandemic posed different stressors to medical students increasing their vulnerability to distress and impaired well-being. To assess the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the well-being of medical students and its relation with COVID-related psychological distress and fear as well as sleep quality. We planned a cross-sectional study on medical students with the help of an online Google Form including sociodemographic data, medical students well-being index (MSWBI), Psychological Distress Scale, fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). 48.13% of students reported higher distress and impaired mental well-being. Impaired well-being is correlated with COVID-related psychological distress, fear of COVID-19, and disturbed sleep quality. Regression analysis showed that joint family and sleep disturbances significantly predicted distress or poor well-being in medical students. Almost half of the medical students revealed impaired mental well-being underlining the role of COVID-related stressors in worsening the psychological health of students. In this situation, it is important to take prompt measures to identify vulnerable students and help them.

Effects of the mental health promotion seminar ‘Coping with stress’ in the undergraduate medical curriculum of the Medical University of Vienna

BackgroundHigh prevalence rates of distress and burnout in medical students are well-documented in mental health literature. Different types of interventions have been developed in the past in order to reduce stress in medical undergraduate students and promote better coping skills. There is, however, a paucity of studies that have tested the effectiveness of these interventions. This study aimed to examine the effect of different versions of the seminar ‘Coping with stress’, which was implemented in the first year of the undergraduate curriculum of the Medical University of Vienna in the summer semester of 2018, on students’ mental health.MethodsInvitations to participate in the study were sent via email to six cohorts of students from the Medical University of Vienna. Two cohorts participated in the onsite version of the seminar ‘Coping with stress’, whereas two cohorts participated in the online version of the seminar, and two cohorts received no intervention (control group). Data on burnout risk, life satisfaction, stress, and knowledge about available help resources were collected via online questionnaires from n = 137 students before and after the curriculum module that contained the seminar.ResultsMedical students who participated in the onsite seminar reported a reduction of some aspects of burnout, a decrease in stress, and an increase in knowledge about available help resources. No such effect was seen in the control group. Participants of the online seminar experienced a similar increase in knowledge about available help resources, but no changes in other outcomes.ConclusionsThe findings support the notion that the onsite seminar of ‘Coping with stress’ had a positive impact on medical students’ mental health and is a useful addition to the medical curriculum by promoting mental health literacy.Trial registrationThis research has been registered in the German Clinical Trial Registry with the registration number DRKS00018981 and the registration date 14/11/2019.

Indicators of emotional distress and mindfulness in undergraduate students: a cross-sectional study.

to assess the association between indicators of emotional distress and dispositional mindfulness in health students at a Brazilian federal public university. a cross-sectional study, developed with university students in the health area of a public institution from May to June 2022. In the analysis, multiple linear regression was used using SPSS software. the sample was mostly female, ≤ 22 years old, non-white, studying the first semesters, with a higher prevalence for the medicine course. Students presented moderate dispositional mindfulness scores. It was observed that the variables of stress, depression and current suicide risk were associated with the capacity for mindfulness. knowing the indicators of emotional distress that are related to the potential of mindfulness can contribute as a situational diagnosis to better design strategies that promote the improvement of emotional indicators of health students.

Psychological distress of medical students in western Saudi Arabia: A mixed-methods study

Background: Psychological distress such as anxiety and depression can negatively affect medical students’ academic performance and future careers. Aim: This study examined the prevalence and impact of psychological distress on medical students’ academic achievement, their associated learner characteristics, and how students handle stress in western Saudi Arabia. Setting and Design: This cross-sectional study incorporated a mixed-methods design, including quantitative and qualitative components for Phase 2 medical students. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was used for quantitative components to examine the prevalence of psychological distress among medical students. In addition, a qualitative study component was conducted with students with severe psychological distress using structured interviews with a predetermined list of responses to which to select and assess factors that lead to severe psychological distress and how students handle stress. This study began on January 15, 2018, at the medical college Taif University and lasted 3 months. Statistical Analysis Used: The quantitative and qualitative data were coded, verified, and analyzed by a statistician using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software (SPSS version 22.0). Chi-squared tests were used to examine differences between proportions. Results: This study (n = 289) revealed that more than 69% of medical students experienced some form of psychological distress, 52% suffered from mild and moderate psychological distress, and 17% with severe psychological distress. There were no statistically significant differences between genders and years of study regarding psychological distress. Overall, there was no statistically significant association between grade point average and psychological distress scores. Conclusions: This study revealed a high prevalence of psychological distress among medical students. This study recommends establishing a psychological counseling unit at medical schools in western Saudi Arabia to detect psychological distress in medical students and timely referrals of those who need medical advice.

Relationship between psychological distress, eating behaviour and body fatness in university students

Relationship between psychological distress, eating behaviour and body fatness in university students

Indicators of emotional distress and mindfulness in undergraduate students: a cross-sectional study

RESUMO Objetivos: avaliar a associação entre indicadores de sofrimento emocional e atenção plena disposicional em estudantes da área da saúde de uma universidade pública federal brasileira. Métodos: estudo transversal, desenvolvido com universitários da área da saúde de uma instituição pública no período de maio a junho de 2022. Na análise, utilizou-se a regressão linear múltipla por meio do software SPSS. Resultados: a amostra mostrou-se majoritariamente feminina, ≤ 22 anos, não branca, cursando os primeiros semestres, com maior prevalência para o curso de medicina. Os estudantes apresentaram escores moderados de atenção plena disposicional. Observou-se que as variáveis estresse, depressão e risco de suicídio atual se associaram com a capacidade de atenção plena. Conclusões: conhecer os indicadores de sofrimento emocional que se relacionam ao potencial da atenção plena pode contribuir como um diagnóstico situacional para melhor delineamento de estratégias que promovam a melhora dos indicadores emocionais de estudantes da área da saúde.

Effect of short-term yoga on psychological well-being of 1st-year MBBS students: A pilot study

Background: Medical course is quite demanding and this often leads to stress in the students pursuing MBBS course. The National Medical Council of India has introduced yoga in the foundation course as a part of the new curriculum. Aims and Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of the 10-day yoga (1 h session each day) on the psychological distress of MBBS students. Materials and Methods: First-year MBBS students in the age group of 18–22 years of Subharti Medical College were recruited for the study. 49 males and 62 females participated in the study (n = 111). Brief symptom inventory was used to assess nine psychological symptom dimensions and distress index at baseline and after 10 days of yoga session. Pre and post-session mean scores for each dimension and index were compared using paired student t-test. Results: Data analysis revealed a significant decrease in reported anxiety, obsession-compulsion, and paranoid ideation (P < 0.001) as well as depression, psychoticism, interpersonal sensitivity, and hostility (P < 0.05) after yoga. Scores of global severity index as well as positive symptom distress index also decreased (P < 0.001) significantly. A decrease in reported somatization and positive symptom total was also seen though not significant. Conclusion: Even short-term yoga program may be helpful in reducing stress level of the students.

Influence of Stratum Mobility Perception on Psychological Distress of Poor Students: Mediating Role of Self-evaluation

Influence of Stratum Mobility Perception on Psychological Distress of Poor Students: Mediating Role of Self-evaluation

Equity Intersections: Teachers’ Experiences with Student Wellness Support During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Teachers often address student wellness concerns such as health and mental health. Yet, this work goes largely unacknowledged and unsupported by professional preparation. COVID-19 intensified these concerns amid disrupted systems of student support and increased student distress. Our national survey (N = 1398) pursued the powerful opportunity present during the pandemic to understand the extent and distribution of demands on teachers to address student wellness and the support they receive for such work. We found that the demand for teachers’ wellness work was inequitably distributed across teachers, varying largely by their schools’ sociodemographic characteristics. Additionally, access to support for this work did not align with demand levels. We discuss these findings’ implications for teacher preparation, support, and workload equity.

The Effect of Optimism on Psychological Distress in Student Victims of Body Shaming

Students who are victims of body shaming can experience psychological distress, namely symptoms of depression and anxiety. So it is important to maintain psychological well-being through an optimistic mindset. The aim of this research is to find out whether there is an influence of optimism on psychological distress in students who are victims of body shaming. Sampling used an accidental sampling technique with a total of 120 respondents who were Makassar State University students who were victims of body shaming. Hypothesis testing was carried out using non-linear regression analysis methods with exponential models. The results of this research hypothesis test show that there is a negative and very significant influence between optimism and psychological distress (r=-0.628; p=0.000). The contribution of optimism to psychological distress among Makassar State University students who are victims of body shaming is 39.5%. Other findings in this research show that the three aspects of optimism, namely permanence, pervasiveness and personalization, have a negative correlation with the two aspects of psychological distress, namely depression and anxiety. The conclusion in this research is that optimism has an influence on psychological distress in students who are victims of body shaming. The higher the optimism possessed by students who experience body shaming, the lower the level of psychological distress.

Growing Snowflakes—Unity in Difference

An image of a snowflake adorns the cover of this issue. It also serves as a guiding metaphor for our editorial discussion. The twelve articles in this issue have been gathered over two years and come from varying perspectives on a variety of topics pertinent to the study of curriculum. Each article was developed using a distinct research practice. Like snowflakes, each article is unique, nuanced with individuality. And yet, like snowflakes, there are recognizable patterns that repeat across the articles of this issue. As we read about issues of colonial alienation of First Nation communities, COVID restrictions, financial literacy gaps and student distress, we observe recurring psychological and social processes. And these processes show fascinating parallels to the molecular dynamics of snow crystal formation! For example, we see the impact of the environment on the process of learning. We see the benefit of an interactive, adaptive, relational pedagogy centred on care. And we see the value of viewing things from a different perspective, through a different taxonomy. The metaphor of the snowflake shows us richness in diversity, and it also reminds us that a genuine conversation will reveal unity across difference.

Self-Compassion Mediates the Relationships Between University Students’ Mindfulness, Dysfunctional Attitudes, and Various Distress and Well-Being Indicators

Objective. The current study intended to model the relationships between mindfulness, dysfunctional attitudes, and self-compassion in predicting university students’ various indicators of emotional distress and well-being of university students. We aimed to examine the mediative role of self-compassion and the mediative roles of self-coldness and self-warmth in these relationships. Methods. Applying a correlational design, validated instruments were used to measure mindfulness, dysfunctional attitudes, self-compassion (and its two main components: self-warmth and self-coldness), various indicators of emotional distress (i.e., negative affect, depression, anxiety, stress), and well-being (i.e., soothing positive affect, activating positive affect, satisfaction with life). The final sample consisted of N = 176 university students. The proposed models were tested by SEM (structural equation modeling) using SPSS AMOS 20. Results. The main results obtained were consistent with the hypotheses. As expected, higher levels of mindfulness led to higher well-being and lower emotional distress through increased self-compassion, and higher levels of dysfunctional attitudes led to lower well-being and higher emotional distress through decreased self-compassion. However, the results also indicated that self-coldness was more important than self-warmth in all of these relationships. Conclusion. The results of the proposed current study supported the models for the relationships between dysfunctional attitudes, mindfulness, and self-compassion (and its positive and negative components) in predicting the various indicators of emotional distress and well-being of university students. These findings support the use of self-compassion interventions, particularly those aimed at reducing self-coldness, to improve well-being and reduce distress among university students.

College Student Mental Health in the COVID-19 Era: Results of an Expressive Writing Prompt

The novel SARS-CoV-2, or coronavirus, has greatly altered the landscape of college life for students across the United States. The ever-present health concerns and quarantine have been linked to increased anxiety, depression, stress, and post-traumatic stress disorder. To this end, we examined the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychosocial health of college students. We explored the impact of COVID-19 on levels of stress and distress in college students using a qualitative expressive writing methodology. Results of this study suggested that the college students included in the sample were moderately distressed – their scores on inventories of depression, anxiety, and COVID-19-related stressors suggested moderate distress.

Emotional intelligence and mental well-being of students in Indian higher education sector: an SEM based analysis

Purpose This study aims to provide empirical insights pertaining to the impact of trait emotional intelligence on the mental well-being of students in higher education institutions (HEIs) in India. Design/methodology/approach In the current study, responses from a total of 252 students were randomly taken from different universities of Uttarakhand (India). The analysis was done using structural equation modelling AMOS 23. Findings The current study empirically established the positive impact of trait emotional intelligence (TEI) on the mental well-being of students and highlighted the relevance of TEI in curbing the psychological distress in students of HEIs. Originality/value This study endeavours to bridge the empirical and population gap by examining the emotional intelligence and its impact on mental well-being of the students of Indian HEIs, where studies are still scant and demand massive exploration of the perceptions of students. Strong emotional intelligence is pivotal in strengthening the mental well-being of students so that they can make appropriate decisions pertaining to their career and personal life.

Tōku Oranga: the subjective wellbeing and psychological functioning of postgraduate and medical students in Ōtautahi Christchurch.

Postgraduate and medical students are at risk of psychological distress and burnout, which can cause significant functional and occupational impairment. We aimed to report subjective wellbeing, psychological distress and burnout in postgraduate and medical students in Ōtautahi Christchurch, Aotearoa (New Zealand), and identify any associations between participant and course information and outcome measures including exposure to major earthquakes in 2010/2011 and the 2019 terrorist attack. A self-report online survey was completed by 140 students between November 2019 and March 2020. Life satisfaction, psychological distress and burnout were primary outcomes. Data were analysed using univariate and multivariable analysis. High levels of psychological distress were present in both student groups. Burnout was reported by 78% of respondents. There were no significant associations found between exposure to the Christchurch earthquakes or terrorist attack with primary outcomes. Personality factors, resilience and perceived support and success were weakly associated with wellbeing, distress and burnout. Postgraduates and medical students reported high levels of psychological distress and burnout. The earthquakes and terrorist attack do not appear to be associated with negative effects in these cohorts. Personality and resilience characteristics may assist in predicting students at risk of morbidity and evaluating potentially relevant interventions.

A re-engagement model to overcome the psychological distress of students

<span lang="EN-US">COVID-19 lockdowns and lack of social interaction increased academic disengagement among students in India. This study aims to identify the student engagement pitfalls and the prevalent psychological distress in higher education institutions (HEIs) in India prior to the pandemic and during the same. An exploratory research design is adopted by executing a purposive sampling technique. Researchers collected data from undergraduate students of the top five universities, verified 600 consistent responses, and tested the hypothesis using relevant research tools. Results display that psychological distress (PD) is inversely correlated to student engagement (SE) and negatively impacts it. Researchers introduced a novel re-engagement model called “CAIS”, which is the combination of four variables, creativity, physical activity (PA), internship, service learning (SL), and tested their relationship with PD and SE. Each variable under CAIS shows an inverse correlation with PD and positively impacts SE. This study suggests to include “CAIS” in the curriculum to improve the productivity of students and reduce their stress levels. This investigation is the first of its kind to explore the connection between CAIS, SE, and PD in Indian HEIs. The results contribute to the stakeholders in education to re-engage the students in an innovative pattern during post-pandemic times.</span>

Association between psychological distress and mental help-seeking intentions in international students of national university of Singapore: a mediation analysis of mental health literacy.

International students encounter a wide range of challenges that can have a significant impact on their mental health. Seeking help is one of the primary means of managing mental health, and more attention is required. This study aimed to investigate the psychological distress(PD), mental health literacy(MHL), and mental help-seeking intentions(MHSI) in international students of National University of Singapore(NUS), to explore the correlation between the three and to verify the mediating role of MHL in PD and MHSI. This cross-sectional study was conducted between May and July 2023 using the Mental Help Seeking Intention Scale(MHSIS), Patient Health Questionnaire-9(PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7(GAD-7), and Mental Health Literacy Scale(MHLS). 281 international students(177 males, 104 females;) in NUS completed self-report questionnaires. SPSS 25.0 was applied to the data for descriptive analysis, Pearson correlation analysis and stepwise regression analysis. Mediation analysis fully for all potential confounding factors were conducted. Significant correlations were found between PD, MHL and MHSI. MHLS- knowledge of how to seek professional information(MHLS- H) completely mediated the association of anxiety with MHSI[B=-0.271; 95% confidence interval(CI): (-0.067, 0.0037)]; MHLS- attitude that promote recognition or appropriate help-seeking behavior(stigma)(MHLS- H) partially mediated the association of PD with MHSI[B = 0.104, 95% CI: (0.008, 0.179)]; with mediating effects accounting for 100% and 24.847% of the total effect. In addition, demographic variables such as gender, years in Singapore and residence type mediated both the direct and indirect effect of the mediation model. MHL mediated both the direct and indirect effects on the association between PD and MHSI, especially, the mediator of the MHLS- H and MHL-A. It means that MHSI in this population can be improved by increasing MHL and thus the PD. The findings suggest that, such as providing information about how to access to professional services and promoting disorder recognition to the international students, may help them develop their psychological well-being and good mental health care decisions.

Psychometric properties of the Distress Questionnaire-5 (DQ5) for measuring psychological distress in adolescents

Screening for psychological distress may assist in identifying at-risk adolescents. While several measures of adolescent psychological distress have been used, most have limited or suboptimal psychometric properties. This study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the Distress Questionnaire-5 (DQ5), a brief measure of psychological distress, in a large community-based sample of adolescents. Data for the study (n = 3117) were drawn from the baseline and 6-week follow-up assessments of the Future Proofing Study, which collected data from three cohorts of Year 8 students (M = 13.9 years; 48% female) between August 2019 and May 2022. Participants completed the DQ5 at each measurement occasion, as well as measures of depression, generalised and social anxiety, and suicidal ideation. The DQ5 had good fit to a unidimensional construct, with standardised factor loadings ranging between 0.69 and 0.90. The scale had strong criterion (AUC ranged from 0.84 to 0.93) and predictive (AUC ranged from 0.81 to 0.87) validity when compared against indicators for depression, generalised anxiety, social anxiety and suicidal ideation. The DQ5 cut-point of ≥14 had 80% sensitivity and 90% specificity for identifying adolescents meeting symptom thresholds for any of the assessed mental health conditions. Changes in DQ5 scores over 6 weeks had moderate associations with changes in other symptom scales, suggesting sensitivity to change. In conclusion, the DQ5 demonstrates strong psychometric properties and is a reliable measure of psychological distress in adolescents. Given its brevity and ease of interpretation, the DQ5 could be readily used in schools to screen for psychological distress in students.