Emotional Life Research Articles

"Getting Out of a Dark Place": a qualitative exploration of the impact, current coping, and what people with breast cancer hope to gain by participating in a fear of recurrence clinical trial.

Many people with breast cancer (PwBC) experience psychological distress, including fear of cancer recurrence (FCR). Clinical levels of FCR can negatively impact quality of life. While the FCR trajectory may vary according to age, stage at diagnosis, and imminent exams, FCR levels tend to remain relatively stable over time without intervention. Understanding FCR's impact and how PwBC cope with FCR can improve care. This study aimed to explore the nature of FCR and coping mechanisms by analyzing responses to open-ended survey questions from an FCR randomized controlled trial (RCT). This qualitative study was part of a 3-arm RCT for PwBC (N = 390) reporting clinical FCR at eligibility screening. Enrolled PwBC completed a baseline survey, including three open-ended questions regarding FCR experiences. Following thematic analysis, responses were sorted by PwBC's baseline score on the 7-item Fear of Cancer Recurrence (FCR-7) scale, identifying trends by FCR level. N ≥ 347 PwBC completed the three open-ended survey questions. FCR impacted PwBC's lives across five key domains: emotional, behavioral, cognitive, relational, and professional life. Most identified at least one coping strategy, with strategies consistent across FCR-7 score levels. Higher FCR-7 scores were associated with listing more strategies, tending toward avoidant coping. PwBC sought strategies to improve their sense of purpose, belonging, and control. This study suggests many PwBC with clinical FCR are suffering without adequate means of coping. Clinicians should regularly discuss FCR with survivors. This discussion can foster education about actual risk and ways PwBC could reduce their risk of recurrence.

Emotional Wellbeing and Life Satisfaction of Singles and Mated People Across 12 Nations

Emotional Wellbeing and Life Satisfaction of Singles and Mated People Across 12 Nations

Emotional Labour in the Neoliberal University: The Standpoint of Female Academics in Norway with Experience of Sick Leave

ABSTRACT In this article, we show how female academics who have been on sick leave hide feelings of exhaustion, fear, and a lack of control and change these feelings into expressions of control and engagement when interacting with students and colleagues. We contend that these emotional efforts are a response to the emotional culture of the university in which vocation and commitment to teaching and research have become entangled with neoliberal management trends. Within this context, academic performance and student satisfaction are measured and evaluated. We use Hochschild’s theory of emotional labour and the literature on the emotional culture of universities under neoliberal management to illuminate how emotional labour takes place in neoliberal academia and argue that this type of work is gendered. Our findings contribute to the growing body of research on gendered emotional labour in the neoliberal academy and add to our understanding of how this form of management affects the emotional lives of those working there.

‘Circling the Drain’: The Emotional ‘Dirty’ Work of Legal Aid Workers

Emotions have traditionally been seen as out of place in law. They are viewed in opposition to many of law’s central values such as efficiency and rationality. Despite this, legal work often involves brushing up against the messy, complex and emotional realities of people’s lives. Those who do this work must occupy a liminal space between the law’s prescribed rationality and decorum and the emotional lives of their clients. Drawing on 27 interviews from people working with the Legal Aid Board in Ireland, k, this article considers what the social consequences of this might be for the workers. It explores how emotions in this context can be understood as emotional dirt, how legal aid workers are tainted due to their proximity to this dirt and how they engage in practices to deal with the consequences of this. The article highlights how understanding legal aid work as emotionally dirty provides important insights into the role of emotions and stigma in this type of work.

The mediating effect of problem-focused coping on the relationship between emotional clarity and mental health among older adults.

Individuals who can recognize emotions well are better able to identify and accept their feelings and manage them. This study examined the mediation of problem-focused coping in the pathway through which emotional clarity predicts higher life satisfaction and lower depression in older adults. In total, 150 older adults (75 male and 75 female, aged 60-69 years, with a mean of 64.53 [SD = 2.49]) participated in a face-to-face survey, answering questions on emotional clarity, problem-focused coping, life satisfaction, and depression. Emotional clarity was associated with higher life satisfaction and lower depression in older adults. People who were aware of their emotions well were in better emotional condition. Mediation analysis revealed that problem-focused coping mediated the positive relationship between emotional clarity and life satisfaction and the negative relationship between emotional clarity and depression. Older adults who understand their own emotions tend to deal with emotional events in a problem-focused manner, leading to high life satisfaction and low depression. This study identifies cognitive conditions for increasing life satisfaction and preventing depression in later life and offers suggestions for personal and social efforts to maintain mental health.

The Impact of Distance Learning During the Corona Pandemic on the Mental Health of Primary School Students

This paper investigates the impact of distance learning, within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, on the mental health of primary school students, as perceived by their parents. The critical factors examined in this paper include the use of technology, the lack of physical interaction between the students and the teachers, and whether adequate psychological support was provided to the students from school. It wants to explain how such variables influenced the emotional life of students, whether they developed anxiety or stress, had behavioral changes, or had much change in social interactions. A sample of 150 parents whose students were at the primary level of education and attended distance learning classes during the pandemic took part in the data collection. The structured questionnaire would be prepared to assess the parents' perception of their children's mental health. The items would range from a 3-point Likert scale addressing mental health and wellbeing, the influence of technology, and school support. The results of the present study indicated that, from the perspective of their parents, primary school students have been considerably affected mentally as a consequence of distance learning. The highest mean, 2.26, refers to increased anxiety and stress, which is very strong. Changes in behavior were moderate, as reflected by the mean of 2.11, and so was its impact on sleep at 2.01. With the advent of technology, stress levels went up, as shown by the strong correlation of 0.66, while technology influencing independent learning was negatively correlated at -0.46. Not having physical interaction with others greatly affected the mental health status of the students, as depicted by the mean of 2.31 and significant results in introversion: F-statistic 7.06 and p-value 0.0006. Moreover, more than 53% of parents felt that psychological support from schools needed to be increased, and 60.1% needed more recommendations for helping their children cope with the psychological burden of transitioning to remote learning.

Of Queerness and Caregiving: Family, Emotional Labor and Livability in India

What does it mean to be queer, a care seeker and a caregiver in India? This article, an auto-ethnographic, self-reflexive account, thinks through this question, while charting the history of the emergence of a queer citizenship in India. Analyzing a contested, yet loving relationship between an aging and ailing mother and a queer AMAB (assigned male at birth) son, also the former’s primary caregiver, the article locates the nuances of being queer within a largely homophobic society, through a personal testimony spanning two decades, and ending with the COVID-19 pandemic. In the process, the article decodes the ever-changing ambivalent relationship of the queer citizen subject with the Indian nation-state, roughly from the time when the first petition for scrapping Sec. 377 of the India Penal Code was filed at the Delhi High Court. This ambivalent relationship continues to massively impact emotional lives and labor expended in the act of caregiving and cohabitation with the natal family, particularly, when the heteronormative family breaks down, as in the case of the author. The life story narrated, while foregrounding queer victimization makes way for optimism as well – significantly lacking within the Indian queer community – for a relatively livable life.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on reproductive intentions and contraceptive use among females in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Pandemics have affected many people's social and emotional lives. Conception planning, contraceptive usage, and pregnancy intentions are activities with minimal research. This study is the first to evaluate how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced reproductive plans and contraceptive use among women during the pandemic in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in 2022. A cross-sectional survey was conducted by sending an online questionnaire to married women from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire included demographics, personal obstetrics information, changes in pregnancy intentions owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, and questions about contraceptive usage. Qualitative data were presented as frequencies, and a χ2 test was performed to determine the relationships among the variables. A total of 639 women enrolled in the study; most participants were 25-34 years old, and most indicated they changed their reproductive intentions during the pandemic (49%). Family planning accounted for 25.8% of participants who changed their reproductive intentions. Only 17.5% changed their choices because of fear of the COVID-19 impact. The percentage of women using contraception was significantly reduced during the lockdown, to 36.8%. Oral contraceptive pills were the most frequently used method during the curfew period (17.5%). The COVID-19 lockdown affected the reproductive intentions of most women in Jeddah, and it significantly reduced contraceptive use.

Age and Psychological Well-being as Predictors of Male Child Parenting among Married Adults

Age is a critical factor in parenting, as parenting styles and attitudes can vary significantly across different age groups. Psychological well-being encompasses an individual's emotional health, life satisfaction, and overall mental state. The study examined age and psychological well-being as predictors of Male Child Parenting among married adults in Kwara State. A descriptive survey was used. The study was conducted on 384 married adults in Kwara Central Senatorial District, Kwara State, using a self-designed questionnaire called "Age and Psychological Wellbeing as Predictors of Male Child Parenting Questionnaire (APWDMCPQ). The questionnaire was validated by experts and its reliability was established through pilot testing using the Split-half method. The results were correlated using Spearman-Brown Correlation Coefficient Statistics (PBCCS) with a reliability index of 0.76. The study used mean and standard deviation to present answers to research questions, and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) statistics to test hypotheses at a 0.05 level of significance. The study show that there is a significant effect of age on male child parenting (F.cal.=25.60, p.<0.05). The study found that there is no significant effect of psychological well-being on male child parenting (F.cal.=3.34, p.>0.05). The study found that age significantly impacts male-child parenting, but parental psychological well-being doesn't significantly affect it. It recommended that married adults aged 25-35 and 36-45 should seek counselling to develop appropriate parenting skills. Additionally, they should be educated on coping mechanisms to withstand the pressure of parenting male children, improving their psychological well-being and enabling effective male child parenting.

Better together: involving parents to improve the impact of a video game program to promote primary school students’ emotional competencies

AbstractThe objective of the present study was to evaluate whether parents’ participation could enhance the impact of a video game designed to promote children’s emotional competencies. To achieve this, the video game Happy 8–12 was implemented at school. A separate group of children also played the video game Happy for Families at home with their parents. Differences between children who participated together with their parents, children who played only at school and a control group were explored. Additionally, the study examined improvements in children’s anxiety and academic performance, as well as parents’ emotional awareness, emotional regulation, and parental stress. The sample comprised 137 students along with 42 parents. Results indicated improvements in both groups of children compared to the control group, particularly in emotional awareness, life and well-being competencies, and the global emotional competence. Increases in emotional regulation, emotional autonomy, and social competence, were observed solely among children who participated with their parents. However, no differences emerged in terms of anxiety and academic achievement when compared to the control group. In addition to these findings, parents demonstrated improvements in emotional awareness and regulation, though there was no significant reduction in parental stress. These preliminary results support the efficacy of Happy 8–12 and Happy for Families in promoting children’s emotional competencies and emphasize the importance of involving parents to enhance the intervention outcomes.

The Impact of Life Skills Training (LST) on Emotional Intelligence of High School Students

Emotional Intelligence (EI) has a major role in one’s mental health and Life Skills Training (LST) (LST) could be viewed as a bridge relating Emotional Intelligence and mental health. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Life Skills Training (LST) on the Emotional Intelligence and Life skills of adolescent students. Using a pretest posttest control group design this hypothesis was analyzed.

How the Approaches of Managing Conflict With Patients Affect Nurse Emotional Exhaustion and Life Satisfaction: A Time‐Lagged Three‐Wave Survey

How the Approaches of Managing Conflict With Patients Affect Nurse Emotional Exhaustion and Life Satisfaction: A Time‐Lagged Three‐Wave Survey

Environmental Ethics in Islāmic Perspective: Relevance and Application

God has created all living and non-living things with a distinctive purpose. As the Sustainer of all, He has also arranged for each living organism a desirable environment that provides sustainable items. So, each life requires a sound environment for sustainability. Ecological studies help us understand organisms’ relationship to the environment around them. As God’s highest creation, humans have a close relationship with Nature to maintain and sustain their lives in vibrant caravans. The philosophical interpretations do accept the intimate relationship between humanity and Nature. However, our lifestyle is based on the rich consumption of resources, the development of new technologies and sciences for processing natural resources, burning fossil fuels, and discharging harmful radiation, which has alienated Nature from humanity. We can also point out other causes responsible for a radical break between human society and Nature. The Qur’ān and the Sunnah of the Prophet of Islām are the primary sources of all arts and thoughts. They may lead us to develop an Islāmic perspective on ecological crises and help us solve them. It is attempted here to understand some of the vital environmental phenomena in the light of these sources of Islām. There is intrinsic goodness, beauty, harmony and orderliness in the creation of God; everything in it, the sky and earth, including the sun, moon, stars, water, air, land and a thousand other things have been created for the benefit of man. The Creator created the universe with a Divine trust, which he had accepted and blessed to live in. He thanks God for all bestowed gifts practical in his entire gamut of human emotional life. From the Islāmic perspective, environmental ethics has become intrinsically relevant to dealing with all issues related to ecological crises. In the present paper, we are attempting to briefly discuss the Islāmic perspective on environmental ethics with particular reference to the Qur’ān and the traditions of Prophet Muhammad. It is assumed that the Islāmic framework on the said topic can also pave the way to bring out its relevance and application in crucial times. Philosophy and Progress, Vol#73-74; No#1-2; Jan-Dec 2023 P 1-20

Impact of hepatitis B immunoglobulin mode of administration on treatment experiences of patients after liver transplantation: Results from an online survey.

Hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) in combination with a potent nucleos(t)ide analog is considered the standard of care for prophylaxis against hepatitis B virus (HBV) reinfection after liver transplantation for HBV-associated disease. To evaluate patients' satisfaction, preferences, and requirements for subcutaneous (SC), intramuscular (IM), and intravenous (IV) HBIG treatments. A self-completion, cross-sectional, online, 22-question survey was conducted to examine perceptions and satisfaction with current HBIG treatment in adults receiving HBIG treatment following liver transplantation for HBV-associated disease in France, Italy, and Turkey. Hypothetical HBIG products with different administration modes were evaluated using target product profile assessment and a conjoint (trade-off) exercise. Ninety patients were enrolled; 32%, 17%, and 51% were SC, IM, and IV HBIG users, respectively. Mean duration of treatment was 36.2 months. SC HBIG had the least negative impact on emotional well-being and social life and was perceived as the most convenient, easiest to administer, least painful, and had the highest self-rating of treatment compliance. More IM HBIG users than SC or IV HBIG users reported that administration frequency was excessive (67%, 28%, and 28%, respectively). In the target product profile assessment, 76% of patients were likely to use hypothetical SC HBIG. In the conjoint exercise, administration route, frequency, and duration were key drivers of treatment preferences. Ease, frequency, duration, and side effects of HBIG treatment administration were key drivers of treatment preferences, and SC HBIG appeared advantageous over IM and IV HBIG for administration ease, convenience, and pain. A hypothetical SC HBIG product elicited a favorable response. Patient demographics, personal preferences, and satisfaction with HBIG treatment modalities may influence long-term treatment compliance.

The Relationship between Family Functioning, Emotional Intelligence, Loneliness, Social Support, and Depressive Symptoms among Undergraduate Students.

The transition from adolescence to college is a significant developmental stage marked by challenges such as high academic pressure, changes in living environments, and social support systems. These challenges can lead to increased rates of depression among college students. This study investigates the relationships between family functioning, emotional intelligence, loneliness, social support, and depressive symptoms in Chinese college students. A cross-sectional design was employed, with data collected via questionnaires from undergraduate students at Xi'an Jiaotong University. Variables such as family functioning, emotional intelligence, loneliness, social support, and depressive symptoms were assessed. Statistical analyses, including correlation and hierarchical regression, were conducted to explore these relationships. The study found a diverse distribution of depressive symptoms among students, with significant gender differences indicating higher depression rates in females. No significant differences were observed across academic disciplines, grades, or between only children and non-only children. Family functioning, emotional intelligence, and social support were negatively correlated with depressive symptoms, while loneliness was positively correlated. Hierarchical regression analysis confirmed that social support significantly moderated the relationship between family functioning and depressive symptoms. Mediation analysis showed that emotional intelligence and loneliness mediated this relationship. The findings highlight the complex interplay between family dynamics, emotional capabilities, social connectedness, and mental health. Enhancing family functioning, emotional intelligence, and social support can effectively reduce depressive symptoms among college students. These results underscore the need for holistic interventions that address multiple aspects of students' social and emotional lives.

Eva Illouz, The Emotional Life of Populism: How Fear, Disgust, Resentment, and Love Undermine Democracy

Eva Illouz, The Emotional Life of Populism: How Fear, Disgust, Resentment, and Love Undermine Democracy

How can the Social Family Climate Contribute to Emotional Intelligence in Preventing Suicidal Ideation and Promoting Life Satisfaction Among Adolescents?

While findings have documented the association between emotional intelligence, life satisfaction, and suicidal ideation among adolescents, few studies have investigated the moderating effect of family climate on the association. This study examined the moderating effect of family cohesion, expressiveness, and conflict on the relationships between emotional intelligence, life satisfaction, and suicidal ideation among Spanish adolescents. A total of 2,722 adolescents aged 12 to 18 (Mage = 14.11, SD = 1.42, 52.8% girls) formed the sample. The interaction effects were significant, with family conflict mitigating the effects of emotional intelligence on life satisfaction, and family cohesion and expressiveness strengthening the effects of emotional intelligence on suicidal ideation. These findings provide additional evidence for the protective role of family cohesion and expressiveness in adolescent suicidal ideation, and the harmful role of family conflict in adolescent wellbeing. The results imply that enhancing family cohesion and expressiveness and reducing family conflict may be a promising way to boost the link between emotional intelligence and life satisfaction and to prevent suicidal ideation among adolescents.

Investigation of the effects of some demographic characteristics of female athletes on emotional intelligence and life satisfaction

In many subjects and fields, emotional intelligence refers to the ability of individuals to understand, express and manage their own emotions and the emotions of others. Especially sport is known to have a significant effect on emotional intelligence. In this study, it was aimed to examine the effects of some demographic characteristics of female athletes on emotional intelligence and life satisfaction. The participants were all women and analyses were performed by taking into account age groups, sports branches and education departments. Emotional intelligence and life satisfaction scales were evaluated by factor analysis and the suitability of the data was confirmed by Bartlett's test. The internal consistency of the questionnaire was evaluated with Cronbach's alpha coefficients. Anova, Kruskal Wallis and Jonckheere-Terpstra tests were used to analyse the data. All analyses were performed with SPSS v22.0. 34% of the participants were 18-21 years old, 45% were 22-25 years old and 21% were over 26 years old. 31% were interested in team sports and 69% were interested in individual sports. The fields of education are 37% coaching, 32% physical education and sports teaching, 31% sports management. According to the factor analysis results, Bartlett's test p<0.001 and KMO coefficient 0.896 were found. Cronbach's alpha coefficients ranged between 0.583 and 0.924. While some factors differed according to age, no difference was found according to sport branch. While evaluation of own emotions and social skills differed according to departments, other factors did not differ. Participants over 26 years of age had low scores in the use of emotions and life satisfaction factors. These findings provide important clues for developing strategies for improving emotional intelligence and increasing life satisfaction.

Examination of Emotional Intelligence, Hope, Self-Confidence and Life Satisfaction in Terms of Various Sociodemographic Variables

Pozitif psikoloji, yaşamdaki problemlere takılı kalmak yerine bu problemleri çözmeyi ve onarmayı bununla birlikte hayatın içerisindeki iyi ve olumlu durumlara odaklanıp bunları çoğaltmayı amaçlamaktadır. Bu araştırmanın temel amacı pozitif psikolojide sıklıkla çalışılan kavramlar olan duygusal zekâ, umut, öz saygı ve yaşam doyumunun çeşitli sosyo-demografik değişkenler (cinsiyet, sınıf düzeyi, katılımcıların anne eğitim düzeyi, katılımcıların baba eğitim düzeyi, aile sosyo-ekonomik düzeyi) açısından incelenmesidir. İlişkisel tarama modelinin kullanıldığı bu araştırmanın çalışma grubunu 819 üniversite öğrencisi oluşturmaktadır. Verilerin toplanmasında Kişisel Bilgi Formu, Asıl Form Schutte Duygusal Zekâ Ölçeği-33-Tr, Yaşam Doyumu Ölçeği, Sürekli Umut Ölçeği ve Rosenberg Benlik Saygısı Ölçeği kullanılmıştır. Verilerin analizinde t-testi ve tek yönlü varyans analizi (ANOVA) kullanılmıştır. Araştırmada duygusal zekâ ve öz saygının araştırmanın sosyo-demografik değişkenlerine göre anlamlı bir şekilde farklılaşmadığı saptanmıştır. Yaşam doyumunun cinsiyete, anne eğitim düzeyine ve aile sosyo-ekonomik düzeyine göre anlamlı bir şekilde farklılaştığı; sınıf düzeyi ve baba eğitim düzeyine göre ise anlamlı bir şekilde farklılaşmadığı bulunmuştur. Umudun cinsiyete göre anlamlı bir şekilde farklılaştığı; sınıf düzeyine, anne eğitim düzeyine, baba eğitim düzeyine ve aile sosyo-ekonomik düzeyine göre ise farklılaşmadığı belirlenmiştir. Araştırmanın bulguları literatür ışığında tartışılmış ve çeşitli önerilerde bulunulmuştur.

Emotional fuctioning of people who experienced COVID-19 infection - the moderating role of gender

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on people’s psychological functioning, altering emotional lives by increasing anxiety and lowering mood. The purpose of the present study was to analyze the impact of COVID-19 infection on anxiety and mood, and to examine the role of gender and the significance of the number of infections. The study was based on a questionnaire and involved 210 participants (n = 101 who contracted COVID-19 and n = 109 who never experienced the disease). The Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), a tool with good psychometric properties, was used for assessment. Gender differences were observed in levels of anxiety and depression. Men reported higher levels of anxiety and depression compared to women. Interestingly, those who had not experienced COVID-19 reported higher levels of depression. The study indicated a moderating role of gender in the relationship between anxiety, depression, and the number of infections. Experiencing an infection may reduce tension and possibly increase feelings of better coping and greater self-confidence, which is particularly significant for men, given the persistence of stereotypical attitudes towards male and female roles in society. The individual experience of COVID-19 infection, coupled with the unpredictability of the body’s response, may foster a sense of uncertainty, exacerbating negative emotions. However, participants who had contracted the disease learned to cope with it and developed some immunity, which might explain the observed differences. This conclusion is important in the context of potential subsequent waves of the epidemic.