General Psychological State Research Articles

Psychological state, self-assessment y emotional stability of a severely wounded combatant

The article presents a comprehensive analysis of the peculiarities of the psychological state, self-esteem and emotional stability of severely wounded combatants who returned from combat. The research is based on the study of the psychological well-being of this category of victims, their adaptation and rehabilitation after severe physical injuries. The main focus is on identifying the manifestations of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depressive and anxiety symptoms in severely wounded combatants. It was found that severe combat trauma significantly increases the risk of developing mental disorders in victims, significantly complicating their recovery and return to a full-fledged peaceful life.The main factors that affect the emotional stability and general psychological state of severely wounded combatants are analyzed. These factors include physical pain and limitations, loss of functional capabilities, psychological trauma, social isolation, feelings of loss and helplessness, as well as problems with employment and financial stability. The role and importance of family care in supporting the psychological well-being of severely wounded combatants is considered. It is noted that effective rehabilitation requires close cooperation between medical professionals, psychologists, social workers and families of the victims. An important aspect is raising public awareness of the problems faced by severely wounded combatants and developing social support and adaptation programs for this category of people. Based on the results obtained, the article outlines the main areas of psychological assistance to severely wounded combatants. The author emphasizes the need for a comprehensive psychological rehabilitation program aimed at processing traumatic experiences and restoring self-esteem.

Online and offline dating violence: same same, but different?

BackgroundViolent behaviors in romantic relationships among adolescents and young people are pressing social matter as they have an effect on both victims and aggressors. Moreover, in the last decades, new forms of harassment, control, and abuse through social networks and mobile phones have arisen. Therefore, now forms of online and offline dating violence coexist.ObjectivesThe aim was to analyze the prevalence rates by sex and age and the co-occurrence of online and offline dating violence. Moreover, the roles of online and offline dating violence aggressors and victims for their self-esteem, hostility, general psychological state, and emotional intelligence were investigated.MethodThree hundred forty-one university students from the Basque Country, Spain, participated in the study. They completed six validated instruments related to the mentioned variables.ResultsResults highlight the high prevalence of online and offline dating violence in the sample and the co-occurrence of both types. No gender nor sex differences were found for online and offline dating violence perpetration and victimization. The correlation between online and offline dating violence was confirmed, and the reciprocity of violence is greater for offline violence. In relation to the role, both types of victims (online and offline) showed higher levels of hostility and psychological symptomatology than non-victims, but differences in self-esteem and emotional regulation were found in these modalities. Online and offline perpetrators shared hostility and some psychological symptoms as characteristics compared to non-victims, but differed in other symptoms and emotional intelligence.ConclusionThere is a continuum between offline and online victimization perpetration albeit differences in the characteristics such as self-esteem, emotional intelligence, and general functioning exist.

Mechanisms of stress-overcoming behavior in women with oncopathology

The article describes the empirical research of the features of stress coping behavior in patients with newly diagnosed oncopathology. The author's attention is directed to the analysis of the chronic social stress impact on the psychological state of women with cancer due to its relevance in modern social conditions. The article highlights the hypothesis that the effectiveness of stress coping behavior and the general psychological state of patients are closely related to the quality and specificity of provided psychological support. Particular attention is paid to the study of the connection between individual strategies for stress coping and social factors, in particular, family support, dealing with friends and medical personnel. The research is based on an interdisciplinary approach, including knowledge from medicine, psychology, sociology, and other fields for a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of stress coping behavior in patients with oncology and the development of a comprehensive support strategy considering a wide range of factors: from individual characteristics to social living conditions. The conclusions of the empirical study are important for the practice of medical psychology and further research in the field of psycho-oncology.

Sexual Disorders in Women: Causes and their Correction

Introduction: Difficulties caused by sexual disorders can lead to psychological problems in women associated with feelings of loneliness, shame, alienation, conflicts, and physical and psychological violence, therefore this issue needs detailed consideration. This research was conducted since sexual health is an integral part of a woman’s life and inextricably affects psychological well-being, a sense of happiness, and quality of life. Objectives: The research aimed to identify the prerequisites for the occurrence of sexual disorders and to select methods for effective psychocorrection. Methods: Several research methods were used in the work, such as dialectical, interpretive, synthesis and analysis, and questionnaire. The causes of sexual dysfunctions in women were analyzed, the relationship with psychological, physiological, and interpersonal factors was described, and the diagnostic criteria of certain types of disorders and their prevalence were given. The consequences of sexual disorders on the general psychological state of women and their relationships with partners are emphasized.

Analysis of the Main Aggravating Consequences of Transient Ischemic Attacks

The purpose of the article is to analyze the psychological consequences, including the aggravating ones, of such a typical phenomenon as a transient ischemic attack. Methods of the research. Research methods included both hardware (SCT, MRI) and mandatory screening diagnostic methods (MMSE, Verbal Fluency Test), as well as personal questionnaires and tests of emotional states (Mini- Mult, PHQ-9, HADS, etc.). Research results. TIAs are generally thought to have no long-term effects, but patients report experiencing problems ranging from muscle weakness, poor memory and fatigue to anxiety, panic attacks and suicidal thoughts. Diagnostic tests have shown that in addition to temporary cognitive decline, patients who have suffered a TIA suffer from increased anxiety, low mood, panic attacks, and even suicidal moods. Also, the aggravating component of the mental state can aggravate family problems, which affects the quality of life. Conclusions. This study places important emphasis on a number of factors for the prevention of aggravating consequences of TIA, emphasizing that a timely visit to a doctor, as well as, above all, the organization of an adequate situation of psychological examination, monitoring and counseling helps patients and their families to receive psychological support, which improves the general psychological state and quality of life. The latter performs an important function in ensuring compliant behavior of the victim, ensuring prevention of new exacerbations.

Some trends of social and psychological maladaptation of medical university students in wartime

Annotation. In aim to study the socio-demographic and socio-psychological features of higher medical education graduates in the context of social-psychological maladaptation in wartime, a survey of 167 higher medical education graduates was conducted using questionnaires and a scale of social-psychological adaptation C. Rogers and R.F. Dymond. Statistical analysis of differences in quantitative traits was performed using the non-parametric Mann-Whitney test, categorized using Fisher's exact test (one-sided) at p<0.05. It was found that under the influence of the stress of war, the social and psychological adaptation of the students worsens in the areas of psychological well-being, microsocial interaction, learning and leisure. Socio-psychological maladaptation among students of higher medical education is more common among women and senior students, while the influence of age and material well-being on the risk of maladaptation turned out to be secondary. As socio-psychological maladaptation deepens in wartime, the specific weight of students with disorders of social functioning, in particular, intensified psychological problems, increases – among students without manifestations of socio-psychological maladaptation, 58.3%, with individual manifestations – 92.0%, with pronounced maladaptation – 90.6%; decrease in communication – 22.3%, 74.7% and 68.7%, respectively; worsening of studies – 47.2%, 59.6% and 87.5% respectively, worsening of relations with relatives – 27.8%, 47.5% and 71.8% respectively; deterioration of relations with friends – 38.8%, 61.6% and 75.0% respectively; deterioration of relations with other people – 74.9%, 71.7% and 78.2% respectively; as well as deterioration of leisure time – 55.5%, 47.5% and 81.2% respectively. At the same time, a certain part of the students without signs of socio-psychological maladaptation even in wartime proved to be able to improve their socio-psychological functioning: general psychological state – 8.4%, communication – 19.4%, education – 16.7%, relations with relatives – 50.0%, relations with friends – 44.5%, relations with other people – 8.4%, leisure – 13.9%. The revealed patterns should be taken into account when developing rehabilitation and preventive measures for higher education students with manifestations of social and psychological maladaptation.

Effectiveness of an Internet-Based Self-Guided Program to Treat Depression in a Sample of Brazilian Users: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Depression is undertreated in Brazil. Deprexis is a self-guided internet-based program used to treat depressive symptoms based on empirically supported integrative and cognitive behavioral therapy. Evidence from a meta-analysis supports Deprexis' efficacy in German-speaking countries and the United States, but no study has been conducted using this program in countries with low literacy rates and large social disparities. Furthermore, few studies have investigated whether internet-based interventions ameliorate the psychological processes that might underlie depressive symptomatology, such as low perceived self-efficacy. The main objective of this study was to replicate in Brazil previously reported effects of Deprexis on depressive symptom reduction. Therefore, the main research question was whether Deprexis is effective in reducing depressive symptoms and the general psychological state in Brazilian users with moderate and severe depression in comparison with a control group that does not receive access to Deprexis. A secondary research question was whether the use of Deprexis affects perceptions of self-efficacy. We interviewed 312 participants recruited over the internet and randomized 189 participants with moderate to severe depression (according to the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and a semistructured interview) to an intervention condition (treatment as usual plus immediate access to Deprexis for 90 days, n=94) or to a control condition (treatment as usual and delayed access to Deprexis, after 8 weeks, n=95). Participants from the immediate access group logged in at Deprexis an average of 14.81 (SD 12.16) times. The intention-to-treat analysis using a linear mixed model showed that participants who received Deprexis improved significantly more than participants assigned to the delayed access control group on the primary depression self-assessment measure (Patient Health Questionnaire-9; Cohen d=0.80; P<.001) and secondary outcomes, such as general psychological state measure (Clinical Outcome in Routine Evaluation-Outcome Measurement; Cohen d=0.82; P<.001) and the perceived self-efficacy measure (Cohen d=0.63; P<.001). The intention-to-treat analyses showed that 21% (20/94) of the participants achieved remission compared with 7% (7/95) in the control group (P<.001). The deterioration rates were lower in the immediate access control group. The dropout rate was high, but no differences in demographic and clinical variables were found. Participants reported a medium to high level of satisfaction with Deprexis. These results replicate previous findings by showing that Deprexis can facilitate symptomatic improvement over 3 months in depressed samples of Brazilian users. From a public health perspective, this is important information to expand the reach of internet-based interventions for those who really need them, especially in countries with less access to mental health care. This extends previous research by showing significant effects on perceived self-efficacy. Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clíncos (ReBec) RBR-6kk3bx UTN U1111-1212-8998; https://ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-6kk3bx/. RR2-10.1590/1516-4446-2019-0582.

The relationship between parental stress and psychological adjustment of the children: The role of parental psychological flexibility as a mediator

There is growing interest in parental psychological flexibility, understood as parents' ability to enjoy an optimal relationship with their children by accepting their negative emotions and thoughts in the present moment, while remaining child-conscious, in value-based parenting. Parenting can sometimes be stressful, especially when faced with the varied and changing challenges of parenthood. Parental stress, in turn, has been related to high levels of psychological inflexibility. So, this study aimed to analyze the relationship of parental psychological flexibility with parental stress and its impact on children's psychological adjustment. The sample consisted of 909 families with children aged 3–18 years who answered the following questionnaires: The Parental Acceptance Questionnaire (6-PAQ), which measures psychological flexibility, the Parental Stress Scale (PSS), and the Strenght and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), which studies the general psychological state of children and adolescents by screening for emotional and behavioral difficulties. These variables were analyzed by difference analysis according to the level of psychological flexibility, regression analysis, and mediation analysis. The group of parents who scored highest on psychological inflexibility scored high on parental stress and the child psychological adjustment scales, except for the prosocial behavior subscale. The results show that parental psychological inflexibility is related to higher levels of parental stress, and in turn, has an impact on greater psychological maladjustment in children. These relationships are analyzed from their clinical and educational implications as factors and objectives to be incorporated into family intervention.

SOCIAL NETWORKS AND SUPPORT FOR WOMEN SURVIVING THE LOSS OF A SPOUSE

Aim. To discuss the results of the study on the effectiveness of psychological assistance to women experiencing the loss of a spouse in the form of social networks support groups.Methodology. The study used the comparison method of the results of psychodiagnostics of two groups of women who participated and did not participate in a psychological assistance program in the VK (social network) support groups. The research also relies on a number of psychodiagnostic techniques aimed at studying psychological characteristics of women. To process the data obtained, methods of qualitative and quantitative analysis, methods of mathematical data processing were used.Results. The study proves the effectiveness of the proposed psychological program of assistance to women experiencing the loss of a spouse, implemented through a social network community. It was determined that women who have completed the program tend to experience reduced impact of a psychotraumatic event on their general psychological state, as well as a decrease in the level of psychological stress and depressive symptoms manifestations. Emerging models of coping behavior and strategies for coping with stress tend to be optimized in terms of getting out of social “isolation”, making social contact and seeking social support.Research implication. The results obtained and the materials presented in this article, as well as the proposed organizational and methodological recommendations for the program, expand the possibilities of providing psychological assistance to people facing the loss, and allow the material to be used by practicing psychologists working with the above-mentioned problem.

Reports of Delegations of the Union of the Liberation of Ukraine as a Source for Studying Specifics of International Relations and Conditions of Stay of Prisoners of the Tsarist Army in Austria-Hungary, 1915

The article analyses the source and information potential of the reports of the delegations of the Union for the Liberation of Ukraine, which were sent to multinational camps of captured soldiers of the tsarist army for the purpose of compiling lists of Ukrainians for their subsequent transfer to the Ukrainian Freistadt camp. The importance of the topic chosen for research lies in the fact that the information gleaned from these reports makes it possible to clarify in detail the main manifestations of the daily life of prisoners, as well as to learn some features of their national character. At the same time, the mentioned reports fully illustrate certain aspects of the organizational activities of the Union, which made it possible to lay a lasting foundation for the unity of Ukrainians in the multinational camps of prisoners of war from the tsarist army. The stay of the IED delegates in the camps made it possible to form a small circle of Ukrainian activists capable of risking their lives to carry out the difficult task of spreading national liberation ideas among prisoners of the tsarist army. The methods used by the author of this article include the narrative methodology, which involves the description of a social phenomenon, as well as military anthropology, with its focus on the study of world pictures, symbolic systems and fundamental forms of human behavior, mostly hidden and not clearly formulated. It became possible to analyze the general psychological state of prisoners in the conditions of camp isolation thanks to the use of the methodology of social determinism. The characteristics of the national types of prisoners of the tsarist army are of significant scientific interest, the knowledge of which is an important task of Ukrainian historical science — especially in the light of the Russian-Ukrainian war of 2022–2023. Studying the mental traits of captured Russians and Russified Jews, who were ready for any tricks against those Ukrainians who dared to have their own opinion, allows us to understand the depth of the fall of the modern Russian ethno-social conglomerate.

A Study of the Value of Network Media in Covering the COVID-19 Epidemic

The relevance of the article lies in the study of the value aspect of the functioning of online media, which played an important role in overcoming the COVID-19 epidemic. The object of the study is the network media Weibo, TikTok and the network platform “Gosuslugi. Let’s decide together.” Scientifi c novelty is manifested in the analysis of the little-studied problem of the value of network media as sources of information in overcoming the real diffi culty of communication in an epidemic. The value of online media is expressed in educating the audience and jointly overcoming the consequences of the pandemic. The following methods were used: mass media monitoring, comparative analysis method, study of documents. A comparative analysis of the functioning of traditional and online media led to the conclusion that during the study period (from December 31, 2019 to July 15, 2020), traditional media did not pay due attention to organizing feedback from the audience, studying its opinion, as well as its emotional state. Traditional media have focused exclusively on factual messages, unlike online media, which are interested in: 1) engaging the audience in the exchange of information; 2) articulating its information needs and 3) expressing its emotions about the pandemic. A critical analysis of the literature has shown that the value of online media increases signifi cantly in emergency situations, such as an epidemic, since these information platforms are able to overcome time and space barriers in real time, distributing high-quality news and realizing the vital interests of the audience. The study of documents and reports of international health organizations confi rmed this thesis: the activities of the media lead to changes in public opinion and behavior and can affect the general psychological state of society. In the article, the value of network media is considered in three aspects: 1) social value is expressed in bringing the voices of ordinary people to everyone’s attention, satisfying their need to express emotions; 2) the value of communication ‒ in removing restrictions in intersocial and internatio nal dialogue and information exchange; 3) the value of propaganda lies in uniting peoples and promoting social cooperation in overcoming global dangers. In the future, it seems necessary to study the value of network media in the scientifi c discourse in the dissemination of information and organization of communication in emergency situations.

Impact of COVID19 Lockdown in Eating Disorders: A Multicenter Collaborative International Study

IntroductionCOVID19 lockdown is having a significant impact on mental health, patients with eating disorders (ED) are particularly vulnerable.Objectives1) To explore changes in eating and other psychological features due to confinement in patients with ED from various European and Asian countries; and 2) to assess differences related to diagnostic subtypes, age and geography.MethodsThe sample comprised 829 participants, diagnosed with an ED according to DSM-5 criteria from specialized ED units in Europe and Asia. Participants were assessed using the COVID19 Isolation Scale (CIES).ResultsOn one hand, patients with Binge Eating Disorder experienced the highest impact on weight and ED symptoms due to confinement. Together with subjects diagnosed with Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorders (OFSED), they also experienced a deterioration in general psychological state. On the other hand, there was less symptomatic impact on people with Bulimia Nervosa or Anorexia Nervosa and asian and younger individuals appeared to be more resilient in this situation.ConclusionsThe impact of COVID varied by cultural context and individual variation in age and form of illness. Services may need to target preventive measures and adapting therapeutic approaches for the most vulnerable patients.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

ПСИХОЛОГИЧЕСКОЕ СОСТОЯНИЕ СТУДЕНТОВ В УСЛОВИЯХ ДИСТАНЦИОННОГО ОБУЧЕНИЯ В ПЕРИОД ПАНДЕМИИ COVID-19

The study deals with the current problem of the psychological state, coping behavior and psychological resources of students during distance learning in 2020. The study involved 136 students (58.8% girls and 41.2% boys) aged 17 to 21 years, studying at different faculties. In the course of study, an author's questionnaire, aimed at studying the general psychological state of students as well as determining the coping strategies used by students, was compiled. The main difficulties students faced with during this period were identified. They include, first of all, educational (the amount of tasks, academic deadlines), technical (communication failures, acquisition of new studying platforms) and communicative (communication difficulties of students due to quarantine, high emotional tension and conflicts due to self-isolation with close people and relatives, untimely and inaccurate feedback from teachers or fear of contac ting to the teacher for additional explanations ). The psychologi cal coping resources were identified both for boys and girls, these are communication with close people, selforganization, strong-will personality. Communication with close people for girls turned out to be a higher priority resource comparing with boys. The study tracked the dynamic characteristics of the psychological state of students (cognitive, emotional, behavioral components) and their changes during the distance learning period. A relatively calm and optimistic state and rest were replaced by a period of anxiety and active work, which determined the emotional stability of students duringexamination period.

Effects of bali yoga program for athletes (BYP-A) on psychological state related to performance of circus artists

Yoga and the practice of mindfulness have gained popularity as performance psychology interventions, by promoting a relaxed state of focus, increasing body flexibility, and improving awareness during performances. Like professional athletes, circus performers invest a great deal of time, resources, and mental and physical energy in their performances. The present pilot project focuses on the effect of the Bali Yoga Program, adapted for athletes (BYP-A), on the general psychological state, quality of life, performance anxiety, and perceived athletic performance of circus artists studying at the National Circus School in Montreal. Over 8 weeks, student circus artists (n= 18) attended 90-min yoga session. Results showed that following the intervention, participants reported decreased depressive and somatic symptoms, decreased cognitive and somatic performance anxiety and enhanced coping abilities (relaxation, mental distractions). BYP-A has initially shown to provide benefits for circus artists, such as factors related to improved psychological health and mental state related to performance. Future avenues for research should explore yoga intervention more thoroughly and pursue to investigate the differences existing between circus arts and other performance fields.

Environmental Taxes Impact for the Population Health Protection: Cross-Country Analysis

The current demographic situation in the world encourages the search and implementation of optimal tools for stabilizing the population’s life expectancy and ensuring their health. The study was designed to investigate the impact of environmental taxes, as environmental policy instruments, on the state and the health of the population. The analysis of scientific works, built based on the Publish or Perish software, made it possible to confirm the unfailing relevance of research on the topic of the impact of environmental taxes. Where environmental taxes are considered as a tool for influencing the level of pollution of the surrounding natural Environment and indicators of life and health of the population. The analysis of scientific works published in recent years under the keywords «environmental tax» and «healthy» based on the Scopus scientometric database also confirmed the study’s relevance, considering the level of citations of the presented works. Some authors pay considerable attention to additional taxation of producers of harmful products and subsidizing enterprises that grow or produce eco-products. Other scientists emphasize changing the existing environmental legislation (increasing environmental tax rates, targeted use, introducing additional critical emission limits, etc.). They believe this will have the effect of a hidden intervention in the prevention of disease through reducing climate change. The main part of the study was based on visual confirmation of the relationship between environmental taxes and the population’s level of health using the VOSviewer software product. This bibliometric analysis confirmed that limiting the environmental pollution level due to environmental taxes determines the possibility of improving the population’s health. At the same time, financial instruments for curbing habits harmful to human health also have a positive impact. Clustering made it possible to: confirm the impact of environmental taxes on the actual level of environmental pollution; reflect the dependence of personal habits and tendencies that affect the life and health of the population; to argue the fact that ecological culture and the culture of a healthy lifestyle are formed not only by objective but also by subjective reasons, as well as by the general psychological state of the population; to confirm the existence of the socio-regulatory orientation of the ecological tax, including the environmental exposure and the level of health of the people, etc. The graphical method (built based on Stata software) made it possible to confirm that environmental taxation can improve the state of the natural environment. The transmission nature of environmental taxation’s impact on the population’s life and health is also determined. The research results are a scientific basis for developing the latest environmental policy, which would fully enable the environmental tax to perform its compensatory function, as well as ensure the formation of green production and expand the access of individuals to quality food products.

Being adults with cerebral palsy: results of a multicenter Italian study on quality of life and participation.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is still the most common cause of disability developing in infancy. How such a complex disorder affects adult life raises important questions on the critical issues to consider and the most appropriate care pathway right from early childhood. We conducted a multicenter study on a sample of 109 individuals with CP followed up from infancy and recalled for an assessment at ages ranging between 18 and 50 years (mean age 26 years). Semi-structured interviews and specific questionnaires (SF36, LIFE-H and Hollingshead Index) were conducted to assess general psychological state, quality of life, and socio-economic conditions. Our findings showed a globally positive perception of quality of life, albeit with lower scores for physical than for mental health. Our cases generally showed good scores on participation scales, though those with more severe forms scored lower on parameters such as mobility, autonomy, and self-care. These findings were investigated in more depth in interviews, in which our participants painted a picture showing that gradual improvements have been made in several aspects over the years, in the academic attainment and employment, for instance. On the downside, our sample reported persistent limitations on autonomy in daily life. As for the more profound psychological domain, there was evidence of suffering due to isolation and relational difficulties in most cases that had not emerged from the questionnaires. Our data have possible implications for the management of CP during childhood, suggesting the need to avoid an exclusive focus on motor function goals, and to promote strategies to facilitate communication, participation, autonomy, and social relations.

Psychological State and Low Immunity during Corona Season in KSA

Background: In March 2020, WHO declared COVID-19 as pandemic with very high incidence of case-fatality, after that COVID-19 Pandemic was found in China, Europe and USA where these regions were the most affected areas. The new virus attack patients with low-immunity than healthier population causing many psychological conditions. In this study, we aimed to assess prevalence of patient have low immunity symptoms, determine general psychological state in corona season, and demographic factors affecting both variable.&#x0D; Methodology: This is an analytical cross-sectional study conducted in kingdom of Saudi Arabia (General population) from 19/7/2020 till 25/10/2020. The study depended on online self-report questionnaire which assessing demographic factors including age and nationality besides disease-related information.&#x0D; Results: We had received 228 responses to our questionnaire where three quarter of them were female (75.9%). 21.1% of the participants were between 19-25 years old while 19.7% were between 36-40 while most of the sample had bachelor (73.7%). It was found that the most common symptoms were having trouble sleeping, low energy, felling tired, having to change the diet and having asthma where 8.8% had at least one symptom, 8.3% had two symptoms and 14.2% had 3 or more symptoms. Considering psychological status, we had found that the most common symptoms reported by participants were concerning about future, the always need for naps and caffeine, afraid of getting sick, afraid of worsen health, and extreme mood change. It was found that gender had a significant effect on developing both low immunity and poor psychological status (P=0.029, 0.02) where female seems to have more low immunity and poorer psychological status than male. Age is another significant factor in determining low immunity and poor psychological status (P=0.026, 0.001) where younger participants reported more symptoms of low immunity and poor psychological than older participants where the most affected age interval was 19-25 years old.&#x0D; Conclusion: we had found high prevalence of low immune status and poor psychological status which were more associated with females and younger populations. Moreover, there is a significant correlation between poor psychological status and low immune status.

Personal exceptionality of an individual’s existential experience

The article analyses theoretically the philosophical trends and psychological concepts examining the problem of an individual’s alienation. The article notes an existing parallel between formed alienation and denial or ignorance of such existential constructs as life meanings, human existence, an individual’s links with the world, attitudes to death, completeness of human life. The factors are analyzed that influence alienation with the world and self-alienation as well as the consequences of such interaction with the world. The processes of self-cognition and reflection are considered as the leading processes in elderly people’s cognitive sphere. Elderly people are characterized by acute age and existential crises, which are caused by both external and internal factors. The article substantiates that these crises can be overcame adequately by accepting one’s individuality and exclusivity as one of the ways of living happily at the old age.&#x0D; The article examines life meanings as they understood in different psychological schools, through goals, assessments, motivation, freedom, introspection, reflection. A social situation is changed at the old age because activities become less, access to many activities or to work duties is restricted (due to objective or subjective reasons), that affect an individual’s life. Active and passive forms of life at the old age are analyzed, which influence in various ways on negative emotions, self-acceptance, acceptance of others, a general psychological state.&#x0D; The article emphasizes that the cognitive construct “personal exceptionality of an individual’s existential experience” should be formed at the old age. The content of this cognitive construct is revealed, which is understood as an individual’s conviction in the uniqueness of his/her life path. This cognitive construct acts as a constructive defense mechanism, a strategy, and it opposes to the anxiety of non-being. For further research, “personal exceptionality of an individual’s existential experience” is proposed to study empirically in connection with elderly people’s hardiness.&#x0D;

What does social distancing mean for patients in forensic mental health settings?

Abstract Governments across the globe have called for social distancing measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These calls typically request non-essential workers to remain at home, stepping outside only for exercise or to purchase necessary groceries. Secure settings will not be able to comply with these strictly, nor will they have the same recourse to the novel and creative solutions the general population does. Activities have been restricted in quality, quantity and scope; transfers and discharges have been halted and patient progress put on pause. Understanding how and what ways these restrictions will affect patients is crucial. This is especially salient given that large numbers of the general population have reported heightened mental health burden in recent surveys. However, it is not yet clear how and in what ways the COVID-19 restrictions will affect the mental health of patients in secure care. Past research investigating patients experiences of restrictions on autonomy in secure care that were present before the pandemic can be helpful here. Studies suggest that patient experience restrictions in care in myriad subjective ways. These include limitations on family contact, outside leave, and making hot drinks but also more profoundly on their autonomy, sense of self, and personhood. Quantitative studies have found correlations between experiences of restrictiveness and ward atmosphere, quality of life, suicidal ideation, depression and general psychological state in this patient group. This paper suggests how we can use past research exploring patient expereinces of restrictive interventions to guide the implementation of social distancing measures in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

ВПЛИВ УСПІШНОСТІ ТА ЕМОЦІЙНО-ПСИХОЛОГІЧНОГО КЛІМАТУ НА ДЕВІАНТНУ ПОВЕДІНКУ ПІДЛІТКІВ

У статті проводиться психологічний аналіз підліткового віку, як перехідного періоду, що накладає відбиток на систему взаємовідносин підлітків як з дорослими, так і з ровесниками. Стверджується, що норми поведінки, які встановлені на макрорівні суспільством, і на мікрорівні правилами шкільного життя та сімейними традиціями, часто порушуються у вигляді девіантної поведінки. Виявлено, що девіантна поведінка з’являється на фоні потреби самоствердження підлітків в перехідний період від дитинства до дорослості, – та зовнішніх чинників, пов’язаних з елементами жорстокості, агресії, ворожості, індивідуалізму. Також проаналізовано психологічні фактори, які провокують та стають поштовхом до формування у підлітка девіантну форму поведінки. Відповідно до цього важливим є урахування індивідуально-типологічних особливостей підлітків під час їх консультування, що дозволить покращити загальний психологічний стан. Наголошено, що застосування методик дослідження девіантної поведінки підлітків у роботі практичного психолога, мають ґрунтуватися як на симптоматичному (робота із конкретними симптомами девіацій), так і на профілактичному (зняття причин, факторів і умов, що їх провокують) підходах. Отримані теоретико-емпіричні результаті можуть використовуватися практичними психологами не лише при наданні кваліфікованої психологічної допомоги батькам, що виховують підлітка з девіантною поведінкою, а й для самоосвіти та просвітницької діяльності усіх верств населення.