Increase In Positive Feelings Research Articles

EFFICACY OF A PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC GROUP ON PATIENTS WITH OBESITY AND HYPERTENSION

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of (brief obesity group therapy) BOG as a psychological treatment compared to a control group (CG) in reducing weight, BMI and blood pressure and metabolic profile in patients with obesity and heart disease. To evaluate the effectiveness of the BOG on improving repertoires for coping with stressful situations related to obesity. Verify changes in behaviors that cause emotional suffering and relief from suffering based on the perception of participating patients. Design and method: Controlled clinical trial with patients with obesity and cardiovascular (CV) disease (hypertension, coronary artery disease and/or heart failure). Method: Clinical data (weight, BMI, blood pressure (BP), blood glucose, cholesterol levels, triglycerides) were collected from the electronic medical records before and after the intervention in BOG e CG. Quantitative variables (clinical data and coping strategies) expressed by means and standard deviations were compared by the T-Student test. Qualitative variables (behaviors causing emotional suffering, emotional reactions) were analyzed by thematic content analysis and Wilcoxon test Results: Thirty-eight patients with obesity and CV disease were studied, 19 for each group. After the BOG group therapy, there was a significant (p<0.05) reduction in BMI, weight, and systolic BP of the patients (Before: 39±6 kg/m2, 102±22 kg, 149±24 mmHg vs. after 34±7 kg/m2, 91±24 kg, 132±13 mmHg). In CG, there was a significant (p<0.05) increase in BMI, weight and systolic BP (Before: 35±5 kg/m2, 91±27 kg, 161±28 mmHg vs. after 36±5 kg/m2, 93±21 kg, 171±31 mmHg). We did not observe significant differences in laboratory variables in both groups. It was observed an improvement in the use of active coping, positive reinterpretation and self-distraction and a reduction in the use of maladaptive copings of self-blame, denial and behavioral disinvestment. A reduction in negative feelings, an increase in positive feelings and an attenuation of the desire to eat were identified. Conclusions: BOG was effective and brought clinical benefits in patients with obesity and CV disease, with significant reductions in weight, BMI and systolic BP, in addition to improvements in psychological aspects. It should be considered as a psychological treatment.

Physical Activity in Forest and Psychological Health Benefits: A Field Experiment with Young Polish Adults

Recently, many studies have been conducted on the impact of various elements of the natural environment, including forests, on human physical and mental health. However, little is known about the level of health benefits resulting from contact with forests depending on the type of physical activity undertaken. Therefore, in order to measure the impact of physical activity on the level of mental relaxation, a randomized experiment was conducted, which took into account three types of human physical activity: walking, cycling, and passive (without movement) observation of the forest. The study was carried out in the same forest and at the same time. Forty young people studying in Warsaw took part in the study. Four psychological questionnaires were used in the project before and after the experiment (Profile of Mood States, Schedule of Positive and Negative Affects, Recovery Scale, Subjective Vitality Scale). A pre-test was also performed in a university classroom. Research has shown that staying in the forest, regardless of the type of physical activity, brings positive health benefits in the form of an increase in positive feelings while reducing negative feelings. The results indicate that people who walk have the broadest range of benefits (cumulative benefits), in the form of less tension, reduced anger, fatigue, depression, increased concentration and greater vigor. Cyclists experienced significant benefits only in the form of reduced depression and greater vigor. The group passively observing the forest achieved statistically significant benefits only in terms of reducing fatigue and improving concentration. However, overall, the between-group results showed no statistically significant differences between the restorative effects of walking, cycling, and viewing the forest landscape. Each analyzed form of contact with the forest has a regenerating/regenerating effect (ROS scale) and contributes to the increase in vitality (SVS scale).

The Impact of Employee Perceptions of Inclusion in a Racially Diverse Agency: Lessons From a State Government Survey

Public organizations have long sought to increase workforce diversity and employee inclusion, a goal that has only increased in recent years. The study examines a racially diverse state government agency to explore how employee perceptions of diversity and inclusion relate to workplace happiness, employee engagement, and job satisfaction. Using original survey data of over 1,800 workers, this study explores how employees perceive diversity and inclusion, how these perceptions relate to overall workplace happiness, and examines the factors that may lead to more positive perceptions of diversity and inclusion. The analysis employs principal component analysis and multilevel regression modeling. The findings underscore the connections between overall workplace happiness and positive perceptions of diversity and inclusion. The key takeaways for public organizations include the importance of senior leadership when it comes to cultivating a diverse and inclusive environment. Finally, a notable finding is the statistically significant increase in positive feelings around inclusion and diversity for historically underrepresented racial groups and that low pay for long-term employees decreases these feelings.

Integrated clinical case discussions – a fully student-organized peer-teaching program on internal medicine

BackgroundIn response to students´ poor ratings of emergency remote lectures in internal medicine, a team of undergraduate medical students initiated a series of voluntary peer-moderated clinical case discussions. This study aims to describe the student-led effort to develop peer-moderated clinical case discussions focused on training cognitive clinical skill for first and second-year clinical students.MethodsFollowing the Kern Cycle a didactic concept is conceived by matching cognitive learning theory to the competence levels of the German Medical Training Framework. A 50-item survey is developed based on previous evaluation tools and administered after each tutorial. Educational environment, cognitive congruence, and learning outcomes are assessed using pre-post-self-reports in a single-institution study.ResultsOver the course of two semesters 19 tutors conducted 48 tutorials. There were 794 attendances in total (273 in the first semester and 521 in the second). The response rate was 32%. The didactic concept proved successful in attaining all learning objectives. Students rated the educational environment, cognitive congruence, and tutorials overall as “very good” and significantly better than the corresponding lecture. Students reported a 70%-increase in positive feelings about being tutored by peers after the session.ConclusionPeer-assisted learning can improve students´ subjective satisfaction levels and successfully foster clinical reasoning skills. This highlights successful student contributions to the development of curricula.

The influence of feminist abortion accompaniment on emotions related to abortion: A longitudinal observational study in Mexico

Emotions can reflect how individuals internalize identities, social roles, and broader power structures, including abortion stigma. Abortion accompaniment, in the form of logistical, informational, and emotional support offered by individuals and organizations, takes a person-centered, feminist, and rights-based approach. We tested the extent to which abortion accompaniment may decrease negative and increase positive feelings an individual holds related to their abortion. Using observational longitudinal data collected between January 2017 and mid-2018, we compared negative and positive emotional responses to a personal abortion experience one month and six months following the abortion to emotions immediately prior to the abortion (“baseline”), among women travelling from outside of Mexico City to abortion clinics in Mexico City with and without support of the accompaniment organization, Fondo MARIA. We used doubly robust longitudinal mixed effects models with inverse probability weighting methods. At baseline, accompanied and unaccompanied participants experienced an average of 4.9 and 4.4 negative emotions out of eight respectively (i.e., anguish, nervousness, scared, anxious, sadness, guilt, anger, shame) and 1.7 and 1.9 positive emotions of out 4 respectively (happiness, calmness, decidedness, and relief). From our model results, women accompanied (n = 77) had larger decreases in negative feelings (p < .05) and larger increases in positive feelings (p < .01) toward their abortion compared to those who were not accompanied (n = 119) at six months. These changes led the majority of accompanied respondents to have primarily positive feelings about their abortion by endline. Abortion accompaniment through Fondo MARIA in Mexico City was associated with a larger decrease in negative feelings, particularly those related to stigma, and a larger increase in positive feelings six months after abortion. Accompaniment's focus on person-centered support, self-determination, and autonomy may enable people seeking abortion to view their decision as one that is valid and legitimate, and resist the predominant stigmatizing narratives framing abortion as something that is transgressive.

The Effect of Contact with a Horse During a Three-day Hippotherapy Session on Physiotherapy Students' Emotions.

BackgroundActivities with horses cause many emotional reactions in their recipients, the measurement and analysis of which can provide information about positive or negative attitudes toward hippotherapy activities. The purpose of the study was to explore how horse contact affects the emotions of female and male students experiencing horseback riding during a three-day hippotherapy session.Material and MethodsThe study included 252 physiotherapy students from the Medical University of Wrocław who participated in hippotherapy classes during a three-day didactic and scientific course implemented in the years 2014–2019. The Scale of Positive and Negative Experience (SPANE) and the Sanoquell automatic 766 pulse measuring device were used for the study. The SPANE took place at the beginning (study I) and at the end (study II) of the camp. Pulse was measured daily before and after hippotherapy (6 times).ResultsAnalysis of variance proved the existence of statistically significant difference between the intensity of positive feelings (SPANE-P, p=0.000) and negative feelings (SPANE-N, p=0.000) and in the outcome of overall satisfaction/happiness balance (SPANE-B, p=0.000) in I and II study in the group of women. No such difference was noted for the men. The pulse in women measured on the third day was statistically significantly higher than in men (p=0.0345).ConclusionHippotherapy classes bring physiotherapy students an increase in positive feelings and a decrease in negative feelings. Personal experience seems to be the best way to understand and consciously use hippotherapy as a therapeutic method.

Looking through the Arts: Examining Childrenandrsquo;s Feelings Expressed in Drawings Made while under Home Quarantine

Art activities like drawings serve as a mode of response, especially among children and can provide rich data around interests, fantasies, and socio-emotional experiences of children. This study attempted to examine the children’s feelings expressed in the drawings made while they were strictly under home quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic. It further, ascertained if there are significant differences in the feelings expressed in the drawings of children in terms of age and sex and assessed the impact of drawings on their emotional well-being. The null hypothesis that there is no significance difference in the feelings expressed through the drawings of children in terms of sex and age was tested. The Participatory Action Research (PAR), which is a qualitative approach, was employed in the study. Participation of 174 children from a suburb community was made possible through the assistance of their respective parents who served as co-facilitators of the researchers. These children were provided with drawing materials, written instructions for drawing activities and food packs through the help of their parents. Facilitation of drawing activities and gathering of outputs took about 6 weeks. Qualitative data were analyzed through thematic analysis while numerical data was analyzed through the use of chi-square. Findings revealed that the top 5 most common feelings expressed in the drawings of the children are desire and longing (223 or 20.4%); happiness, joy and excitement (100 or 9.13%); followed by the feelings of appreciation and gratitude (74 or 6.76%); love (50 or 4.57%) and fear and nervousness as well as boredom (which both got a frequency of 37 or 3.38%). It was further revealed that there is no significant difference in the feelings expressed in the drawings of children in terms of sex (chi- square=.165 .00). Both the parents and children-participants confirmed the positive impact of drawing activities on emotional wellbeing of the children. The parents rated the activity as Excellent in all aspects of evaluation: in terms of relevance during this pandemic period (WM=4.70), in terms of the benefits it brought to the participants (WM=4.83) and in terms of the time allotted to it (WM=4.65). Likewise, the children- participants manifested significant increase in positive feelings and notable decrease in negative feelings as they participated in the drawing activities. Before joining the drawing activities, majority of the children, 145 (83.33%) experienced sadness. However, this significantly dropped down to 4 (2.3%) when drawing activities started and almost 100% lost as the activities continued (1 or 0.57%). On the other hand, there was an increase in percentage of children experiencing happiness, from 14 or 8.05% (before participating in the drawing activities) to 167 or 95.98% (when it started) and more enjoyment during the period of art activities (173 or 99.43%). It was then concluded that drawings can be used as a barometer of children’s emotional wellbeing because the children’s drawings revealed their feelings, thoughts, and inner experiences. It was further concluded that drawing activities can improve the emotional wellbeing of children. Several recommendations were forwarded to concerned entities to promote the children’s wellbeing.

Effects of "Dirty" Information on Disgust Responding to an Unknown Animal in Children: The Moderating Role of Maternal Disgust Proneness

Although research has shown that disgust facilitates avoidance of small animals among adults, much less is known about disgust appraisals of small animals in children as well as the predictors of such appraisals. To address this gap, children (ages 5–13) were exposed to dirt-related and cleanliness-related information about unknown animals. The extent to which these types of information influenced children's feelings of fear, disgust, positivity, and avoidance behavior in relation to the animals was examined. The present study then examined the extent to which child and maternal disgust proneness predicted feelings of disgust to the ‘dirty’ animal. The findings show that providing dirt-related information resulted in a significant increase in disgust, but not fear, responding to the animal. Dirt-related information also resulted in a significant decrease in positive feelings toward the animal. Conversely, providing cleanliness-related information resulted in a significant decrease in disgust, but not fear, responding to the animal. In addition, providing cleanliness-related information resulted in a significant increase in positive feelings toward the animal. Children also engage in more avoidance of the animal described as dirty compared to the animal described as clean. In addition, subsequent analysis revealed an interaction between child and maternal disgust propensity in predicting learned disgust to the dirty animal such that the highest levels of feelings of disgust to the dirty animal were observed among children with high disgust proneness who also have mothers with high disgust proneness. The implications of these findings for conceptualizing the role of disgust in animal phobias among youth will be discussed.

The Application of Wearable Technology to Quantify Health and Wellbeing Co-benefits From Urban Wetlands.

Improved nature provision in urban environments offers great potential for achieving both biodiversity conservation and public health objectives. Yet there are few experimental studies that address links between specific natural environments and physiological and/or psychological changes that could contribute to the health and wellbeing co-benefits of urban nature. In addition, relative to green space, the salutogenic impact of aquatic environments are understudied. Here, we present a feasibility study examining the use of low-cost wearable technology to quantify the psychophysiological effects of short-term exposure to urban wetlands. The study took place at the WWT London Wetland Centre, which is characterized by its contrasting biodiverse wetland habitat and surrounding urban setting. Thirty-six healthy participants experienced counterbalanced exposures to an indoor space, a wetland, an urban site. We continuously recorded electroencephalographic (EEG) data and real-time physiological stress responses; with additional monitoring of post-exposure self-reported mood states. We found a significant effect of site on mean resting heart rate (HR), with increased HR in the urban setting, although this was only observed in participants with pre-existing high stress. We found no significant differences in other measures of physiological stress responses (heart rate variability and electrodermal activity). The EEG data showed modulation of high beta band activity only in the wetland setting, potentially related to changes in attention. However, the EEG findings were confounded by low quality signals and artifacts caused by movement and environmental interference. Assessments of self-reported mood states demonstrated an increase in positive feelings in the wetland setting. A pronounced decrease in negative feelings in the wetland setting was observed in stressed individuals only. Our results suggest that pre-existing stress levels may be an important modulator of the salutogenic effect of blue-green space. We provide partial support for the hypothesis that exposure to blue-green space promotes stress recovery and for the use of low-cost psychophysiological measurements to quantify the potential stress-reducing effects of blue–green space exposure in urban dwellers. Further technological refinement is required for this approach to become a viable tool to support evidence-based decision-making for public health and green/blue space provision.

EL TEATRO COMO ESTRATEGIA MOVILIZADORA DE EMOCIONES Y ACTITUDES HACIA LAS CLASES DE FÍSICA

Se describe una estrategia de enseñanza, Gran Teatro de la Física, en la que se escenifican 8 demostraciones de experiencias no triviales, en el área de mecánica, electricidad, magnetismo y ondas. El propósito es generar emociones y actitudes que favorezcan el aprendizaje de la Física. La estrategia se aplicó a un grupo mayoritariamente constituido por estudiantes de nuevo ingreso a las licenciaturas de Física y Matemática en la Facultad de Ciencias. También se explora la motivación hacia las clases de Física en estudiantes de Biología y Química de la Facultad de Ciencias de la Universidad Central de Venezuela. Utilizamos una metodología descriptiva exploratoria y se recoge la información empleando cuestionarios de preguntas cerradas. El Gran teatro de la Física es una actividad que divierte y despierta curiosidad en el espectador. En general, para los estudiantes de las licenciaturas de Física y Matemática, el teatro promueve un aumento en las emociones positivas hacia las clases de Física. Hemos encontrado diferencias significativas en las emociones positivas antes y después del asistir al Teatro; las emociones negativas se reducen, aunque las diferencias no son significativas. Los resultados también arrojan que los hombres experimentan en mayor intensidad que las mujeres emociones positivas, aunque el efecto es mayor para las mujeres, este no es el caso para las emociones negativas.

Both lavender fleur oil and unscented oil aromatherapy reduce preoperative anxiety in breast surgery patients: a randomized trial

Study objectiveThe objective of this study was to determine whether lavender fleur oil (LFO) aromatherapy would reduce anxiety when administered to women before undergoing breast surgery. DesignThis was a single-site, randomized study comparing the effect of LFO to unscented oil (UO). SettingThe study was conducted in the preoperative holding area of the ambulatory surgery department of NYU Langone Medical Center. PatientsNinety three women, 18 years and older, scheduled for breast surgery. Women meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria were randomized to either LFO or UO aromatherapy and were blind to their assigned treatment. Outcome measuresSubjects completed a Speilberger State Anxiety Inventory for Adults (STAI) before and after aromatherapy. Vital signs were recorded before and after aromatherapy. ResultsSTAI-State questions were divided into positive and negative emotions for analysis. Before aromatherapy, there was no significant difference between groups by individual questions or overall average answer of either positive or negative questions. The use of both LFO and UO increased the positive STAI score totals, with the LFO group having a slightly, but statistically significant, greater increase. Both resulted in a statistically significant decrease in the negative score totals after treatment. There were no differences in vital signs between groups for either treatment. Following the conclusion of the trial LFO was analyzed and found to contain a very low content of the 2 major Lavandula angustifolia constituents. ConclusionsBoth LFO and UO aromatherapy treatments lowered anxiety before surgery despite no significant changes in vital signs. LFO treatment generated a slight but statistically significant increase in positive feelings compared with UO treatment. It is probable that the beneficial effect observed was due to both aromatherapy with LFO and a placebo effect related to the added attention given to the patients.

Professional Identity Development of Counselors-in-Training in a School Internship Program in Turkey

The purpose of this study was to identify perceptions about a school counseling internship program at a university in Adana, Turkey by determining counseling interns' perspectives on the effects of the internship program and supervisors' perspectives on interns' professional development. Data were collected from nine school counseling supervisors, 11 school counseling interns, 11 guidance teachers and 34 students who attended group guidance activities during counseling students' internships. Data were analyzed using content analysis, and findings suggested that counseling interns have the opportunity to perform activities that school counselors normally perform, and that interns become competent in performing these activities. The internship program helped interns become competent at applying professional knowledge and skills. Additionally, with the assistance of interns, school counselors were able to provide proactive counseling services to students. The study suggests that positive, constructive feedback and advice from supervisors are essential for interns to be successful in completing internship activities in a positive and confident manner.Keywords: school counseling, school counseling internship, professional development, counselors-in-training, TurkeyProfessional school counselor identity is defined as an integration of professional training with personal attributes in the context of the profession (Nugent & Jones, 2009). Brott and Myers (1999) stated that the development of professional school counselor identity can serve as a frame of reference for implementing work roles and making important decisions. Professional identity develops as part of the experiential maturation process over time, which begins in training and continues throughout a person's career. A school counselor's professional development starts during training, evolves during entry into the profession and continues to develop as the school counselor identifies with the profession (Brott & Myers, 1999).Professional identity has internal as well as external aspects (Auxier, Hughes, & Kline, 2003). Internal aspects are defined as an individuation process derived from a cycle of dependence and autonomy as counselors-in-training (CITs) gain counseling skills (Brott & Myers, 1999). During training, students rely on guidance and support provided by supervisors as external authorities. Gibson, Dollarhide, and Moss (2010) found that CITs needed external validation and assurance from experts, especially at the beginning of their training. Alternatively, counseling students felt much stronger, more confident and more positive toward counseling at the end of their internship and practice, with anxiety levels decreased and feelings of personal accomplishment increased (Nelson & Jackson, 2003). Researchers in Turkey found that the sense of efficacy increased among counseling students who conducted group guidance activities (Atici, Ozyurek & Cam, 2005), while their counseling skills evolved throughout the school counseling internship program (Atici & Ulusoy, 2010). Both an increase in positive feelings and a decrease in negative feelings were observed from the beginning to the end of the term (Atici et al., 2005; Atici & Ulusoy, 2010).The interpersonal aspect of professional identity development involves the role of the professional community in shaping the new professional (Auxier et ah, 2003; Gibson et ah, 2010). In the context of counseling, new professionals are socialized in the language of counseling, learn professional expectations, and learn to become a counselor through observation, supervision, consultation and practice (Gibson et al., 2010; O'Byme & Rosenberg, 1998). This process also is conceptualized as entering a professional culture in which CITs learn appropriate attitudes, values, thinking styles and problem-solving strategies (Dollarhide & Miller, 2006).It can be concluded that school counseling training programs can contribute to the professional development of CITs. …

Acceptability of Favor Requests in the United States and Japan

In previous research, the authors showed that Japanese and Americans would rather be asked to perform a favor than to have their friend solve the problem by asking someone else or getting it done professionally. In the current research, the authors further explore the similarities and differences in Japanese and American reactions to requests for favors by examining whether (a) increasing the size of the request can increase positive feelings, (b) the perceived closeness of the relationship and appraisals of control mediate the effect of request size on feelings, and (c) the increase in positive feelings only occurs in close friendship. In Japan and to some extent the United States, being asked a larger favor made people happier than being asked a smaller favor—up to a point. However, as in the authors’ previous study, cultural differences emerged in the basic pattern and in the associated appraisals. Results are discussed in relation to the Japanese phenomenon of Amae.

Forgivingness and lay conceptualizations of forgiveness

The relationships between conceptualizations of forgiveness and general propensity to forgive were assessed. A positive association was found between unconditional forgiveness and the beliefs that (a) forgiveness corresponds to a decrease in negative feelings and to an increase in positive feelings towards the offender and (b) forgiveness is a broad process that is not limited to the victim-offender dyad. A positive association between the view that forgiveness is immoral and propensity to lasting resentment was also found. These associations were evidenced beyond the associations already found with educational level, religious involvement, and personality variables. Overall, lasting resentment was the construct that was most associated with personality and demographic factors, and unconditional forgiveness was the construct that was most associated with conceptualizations factors (acquired positive conceptions about forgiveness).

Identifying children at high somatic risk: possible long-term effects on the parents' attitudes and feelings associated with the child.

alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency (ATD) predisposes the individual for serious lung disease in adulthood. The identification of ATD by neonatal screening was hypothesized to have negative long-term effects on the parents' attitudes and feelings associated with the child. This hypothesis was tested by comparing these attitudes and feelings of parents of 61 clinically healthy 5-7-year-old children with ATD versus those of parents of 61 control children without ATD. The data were collected by interviews in the home. No evidence was found to support the hypothesized negative effect on parental attitudes and feelings. A consistent but weak increase in positive feelings and attitudes toward the child was noted among the mothers of children with ATD.

The use of movement in a psychotherapy group

A combined movement and psychotherapy group was conducted with eight psychiatric hospital patients. The group met for eight sessions and changes were assessed through the use of the Adjective Check List and the Target Complaints Procedure. Patients were also asked about the elements of each session which they found enjoyable and helpful. The findings from the pre and post tests were compared with a sample of patients who had not participated in any therapy group. The intervention was then replicated with a second group of six patients. The data showed that there was a steady increase in positive feelings about the group in the first week. More irregular ratings were reported in the second week. The data suggest that the inclusion of movement in the therapy group increased interpersonal trust and facilitated self-disclosure in the early stages of the group. Patients’ self-esteem and assertiveness were also furthered by the use of movement.