Increased Stress Levels Research Articles

Research on the breakage and fractal characteristics of calcareous sand

Calcareous sand is widely used in coastal engineering and island construction, which has the characteristic of easy crushing. A series of ring shear and one-dimensional compression creep tests were carried out for the crushing evolution under the influence of large deformation and time length effects. The mechanical characteristics and deformation properties of the single-graded specimens were analyzed, focusing on the crushing characteristics, and fractal properties under the action of different shear displacements, stress levels, initial gradations and creeping motion effects. The results show that the fractal dimension is positively correlated with crushing, the increase of shear displacement, stress level, and initial mean particle size has a facilitating effect on crushing. Under large deformation conditions, this promoting effect gradually tends to slow down, and the characteristic of limit fractal exists. The creep behavior reflects the continuous deformation characteristics of calcareous sand, and the specimen as a whole is still in the stage of crushing development, and the effect of time duration on the fractal is limited.

SOX4 as a potential therapeutic target for pathological cardiac hypertrophy

Pathological cardiac hypertrophy can lead to heart failure, making its prevention crucial. SOX4, a SOX transcription factor, regulates tissue growth and development, although its role in pathological cardiac hypertrophy is unclear. We found that the SOX4 expression was elevated in hypertrophic hearts and angiotensin II (Ang II)-treated neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCMs), and knocking down the SOX4 expression in NRCMs and mouse hearts significantly reduced the hypertrophic response. Mechanistically, SOX4 can bind to the SIRT3 promoter, inhibit SIRT3 transcription and expression, and thus affect downstream MnSOD acetylation levels, leading to abnormal increases in ROS and oxidative stress levels and promoting the occurrence of cardiac hypertrophy. In conclusion, this study identified a new role for SOX4 in regulating cardiac hypertrophy, and decreasing SOX4 expression may be a potential treatment for pathological cardiac hypertrophy.

Degradation of physico-mechanical properties and damage mechanisms of sandstone under the combined action of freeze–thaw cycles, chemical solution, and compressive stress

Rocks in cold regions subjected to freeze–thaw cycles are often affected by the surrounding hydro-chemical solutions and external load. In this study, the evolution of physical and mechanical characteristics and the damage mechanism of sandstone under the combined action of freeze–thaw cycles, chemical solution, and compressive stress were investigated. A series of quick cyclic freeze–thaw tests in different chemical solutions and stress levels were conducted. The dry mass, wave velocity, and compressive strength decrease as the number of freeze–thaw cycles increases. The variations in dry mass, wave velocity, and rock appearance indicate that lower stress levels (<0.5σ0, σ0 is the saturated uniaxial compressive strength of the original specimen) can limit the effect of repeated freeze–thaw cycles and chemical corrosion, whereas higher stress levels (>0.5σ0) can exacerbate the combined effect on rock damage. In addition, a modified decay model is proposed that incorporates the initial properties and residual integrity of the rock to describe the evolution of rock strength and wave velocity. Both the residual strength and wave velocity of sandstone are constants that are independent of stress level and chemical solution. The degradation rate of compressive strength increases abruptly at higher stress, whereas that of wave velocity generally decreases with increasing stress level. The continuous action of the cyclic frost-heaving force, hydrolysis and chemical corrosion, and external compressive stress promote generation and propagation of pores and microcracks, causing deterioration of the mass, wave velocity, and compressive strength.

Academics' perceptions regarding performance evaluations and the consequences for their professional and personal activity

PurposeImproving and assuring the quality of higher education has become a key element of policy agendas worldwide. To this end, a complete accountability system has been developed through various evaluation procedures. Specifically, this study analyzes the perceptions of university teaching staff on the impact of performance appraisal systems on their professional activity, health and personal lives.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopted a nonexperimental descriptive and causal-comparative design using a questionnaire that was completed by a sample of 2,183 Spanish teachers. The data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics and comparisons of differences.FindingsThe results show that, according to teachers, the evaluation criteria undermine the quality of their work by encouraging them to neglect teaching, increase scientific production and engage in unethical research practices. Their views also emphasize the social and health-related consequences of an increasingly competitive work climate, including increased stress levels. Finally, significant differences are observed regarding gender, professional category and academic discipline, with women, junior faculty and social sciences teachers expressing particularly strong views.Originality/valueThe originality of this study lies in the application of a method that contributes to the international debate through a national perspective (Spain) that has so far received little attention.

Effect of stress level and localized corrosion on the strain transfer between corroded steel rebar and distributed fiber optic sensor

Distributed fiber optic sensors (DFOSs) have become an effective tool for deformation and cracking monitoring in reinforced concrete structures due to their multiple sensing points. However, the monitoring accuracy is affected by the strain transfer efficiency between the monitored structural substrate and DFOS. This study experimentally investigates the effect of localized corrosion and stress level on the strain transfer efficiency between corroded steel rebars and DFOS. Steel rebars installed with DFOS were cast in a concrete slab and then subjected to accelerated corrosion tests up to ∼ 12.00% area loss. The residual cross-sectional area distribution of corroded steel rebars was determined based on 3D laser scan data. Tensile tests were conducted, during which the strain distribution of DFOS under different loading levels was recorded with an optical interrogator and then compared with theoretical values. Results show that corrosion does not directly affect the strain transfer efficiency between steel rebars and DFOS, but spatial variation of corrosion causes high strain gradients in steel rebars that result in erroneous strain readings. DFOSs are able to identify the location of big corrosion pits, but the strain transfer coefficient is less than 100% at locations with big corrosion pits while it is over 100% at nearby sections. The strain transfer coefficient increases with an increase in stress level in the elastic stage of steel rebars, while it decreases with an increase in area loss especially for sections with pitting corrosion.

O.1.1-11 Are stress symptoms associated to health-enhancing physical activity levels in university students? The case of a Belgian French-speaking university in 2022

Abstract Purpose Starting university is often associated with a decrease in physical activity and an increase in stress levels. In students, higher levels of stress have been associated with lower PA participation. During the pandemic, students’ levels of PA seem to have decreased whilst stress symptoms (SS) have increased. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA) and SS in students attending a French-speaking university in Brussels in spring 2022. Methods Data was collected using an online questionnaire in 1,754 voluntary students. HEPA was measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF) and SS were assessed using the Stress single item measure. Binary logistic regressions were used to investigate how much HEPA (yes/no) was associated to SS in three categories: minimally to not at all; very stressed; and highly stressed. Models were adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics. All analyses were weighed to calibrate estimates to the entire university population. Results Among the study population (females: 59.3%), over a third of students (35.3%) were classified as HEPA active. This prevalence was the lowest amongst those who were “highly” stressed (28.8%), intermediate in those who were “very” stressed (34.0%) and the highest amongst those who were “minimally or not at all” stressed (39.6%) (p = 0.0005). After adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, compared to those who were “highly” stressed, those who were “minimally or not at all” stressed were more likely to be HEPA active (aOR: 1.30; 95%CI: 1.00-1.70). There was no difference in the likelihood of being HEPA active for those who were “very” stressed (vs. highly stressed: aOR: 1.16; 95%CI: 0.87-1.56). Among the sociodemographic characteristics, sex and year of study were associated to HEPA. Females were less likely to be HEPA active compared to males (aOR: 0.38; 95%CI: 0.30-0.47), whereas undergraduate students were more likely to undertake HEPA than master’s students (1st year: aOR: 1.30; 95%CI: 1.00-1.69, 2nd-3rd year: aOR: 1.33; 95%CI: 1.03-1.72). Conclusions These findings indicate an association between HEPA and SS in students attending a French-speaking university in Belgium in 2022. They will enable to inform health promotion initiatives encouraging HEPA at the university.

Investigation of stress-induced effects on structural, optoelectronic, and elastic characteristics of cubic CaHfO3 perovskite oxide; A DFT study

Perovskite oxide being a fascinating class of perovskite materials, captured the significant attention of the scientific community in diverse fields due to its intriguing features. A cubic Calcium Hafnium Oxide (CaHfO3) perovskite supercell was designed using a DFT approach within the CASTEP framework with PBE-GGA approximation. The primary objective was to thoroughly investigate the effect of varying applied stress (0–160 GPa) on the structural, optoelectronic, and elastic characteristics in detail for appropriate device application. Findings reveal that with increasing stress levels, no phase transformation occurs, and cubic structure remains intact, as confirmed from the XRD profile, while a reduction in lattice parameters and volume of the unit cell is observed. Moreover, the optical analysis reveals the reduction in the band gap from 3.170 to 2.299, unveiling the narrow as the stress level rises. Additionally, optical characteristics showed that stress influences optical behaviour, resulting in low loss function, high absorption, high conductivity, and low reflectivity. The elastic constants and their derived parameters were investigated in this study. The results indicate that the material exhibits a ductile nature and anisotropy, as evidenced by Poisson's ratio, Cauchy pressure, and Frantsevich ratio. Notably, the mechanical stability of the material is maintained even as the stress level increases (0, 40, 80, and 120 GPa). These comprehensive findings contribute to a deeper understanding of stress-induced effects on perovskite oxides, offering valuable insights for their potential application and opening new avenues for experimental researchers by bridging the gap between theory and practical implementation for next-generation real practice in diverse fields.

Study on failure characteristics of basalt fiber reactive powder concrete under uniaxial loading

The uniaxial compression experiments of basalt fiber reactive powder concrete (BFRPC) were carried out by acoustic emission (AE) and DIC techniques, focusing on the AE characteristics in the process of BFRPC failure. The cracking modes of internal and surface cracks of BFRPC are judged by clustering analysis of average frequency (AF) and rise angle (RA) based on Gaussian mixture model (GMM) and displacement on both sides of cracks measured by DIC. Research investigates that the peak frequencies of BFRPC are mainly distributed in 5 ∼ 35 kHz, 60 ∼ 100 kHz, 185 ∼ 215 kHz and 230 ∼ 280 kHz. With the increase of stress level, the absolute energy in the peak frequency range increases gradually. The volume content of 0.5% and 1.0% basalt fiber increased the absolute energy in each peak frequency range. Basalt fiber can improve the compressive strength and the strength and density of AE energy of RPC to some extent. The shear failure of BFRPC mainly occurs in the later stage of loading. Basalt fiber can change the failure mode of BFRPC from tensile failure to tensile shear failure. Meanwhile, basalt fiber can effectively increase the stress level during cracking and reduce the damage degree of BFRPC. Judging the AE characteristics and crack types of concrete failure is of great consequence to predict the precursory failure of BFRPC.

Application of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network-distress thermometer in pediatric patients during autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and relationship to blood parameters of the stress axis

PurposeHematopoietic stem cell transplantations (HSCT) are extremely stressful procedures for pediatric patients. The activation of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenocortical axis (HPA) can influence the immune system negatively and therefore the overall outcome. The distress thermometer (DT) is an easy to use tool for the self-assessment of perceived distress.MethodsIn this prospective study, a DT with an attached problem list was used in 40 pediatric patients undergoing HSCT and in one parent of each patient. The patients were aged 10–18 years. The patients' cortisol, thyroid stimulating hormone, free triiodothyronine and thyroxine levels were measured regularly during the in-patient stay.ResultsAfter admission to the hospital, the stress levels of the pediatric patients and their parents increased and reached their maximum on the day of HSCT. The overall stress values of the parents were higher than those of their children. There was a significant difference in the parents’ stress levels on the day of HSCT, as compared to their stress levels on other days. The mean cortisol values of the pediatric patients also increased after admission, reaching significant elevated levels above the upper normal limit 1 week after HSCT and on discharge day. Although the pediatric patients experienced mainly exhaustion, especially on the day of transplantation, their parents mainly felt worry and anxiety. Interestingly, the rate of worry among children increased in the post-transplant period and reached its maximum on the day of discharge.ConclusionsIn summary, a significantly increased stress level is shown for both the patients and their parents. This is reflected for the patients both in the DT scores and in the increased cortisol values. For the parents, the focus is primarily on worry and anxiety, for the patients primarily on exhaustion and worry.

Hydrodynamic and Static Stability Analysis of a Hybrid Offshore Wind-Wave Energy Generation

Marine structures like Floating Wind Turbine (FWT) is exposed to the oncoming waves and wind that can cause oscillatory motions within the system. These undesired oscillations can have negative impacts on the efficiency of the system, reduce its lifespan, hinder energy extraction, increase stress levels, and raise maintenance costs. To mitigate these negative impacts, the integration of Wave Energy Converters (WECs) into the FWT system has been proposed. This hybrid system may be capable of extracting coupled wind-wave energy and transferring electrical power to the shared grid. This paper presents an investigation of the use of Oscillating Water Columns (OWCs), a type of WECs, within a FWT system. The purpose of using an OWC to increase the hydrodynamic damping and reduce the resonant motions of the floating wind turbines under environmental loads, including both wind and wave loads. This is because the wave energy from OWC would be very small as compared to the wind energy. However, OWCs can provide a damping source for reducing the resonant motions of the floater, especially the pitch resonant motions. This would be very beneficial for the power performance of the floating wind turbine and the structural design of the floater. The purpose of this paper is to redesign the original FWT platform to accommodate the additional OWCs by considering the hydrostatic stability and hydrodynamics since the new elements, the OWCs, can significantly change the response of the platform. The redesign of the original FWT involves the integration of OWCs within two out of three columns of an existing semisubmersible platform for a 12 MW FWT. To do this, two moonpools, which are consistent with OWC air chambers, have been created within two columns of the FWT. The water ballast was designed for the columns with and without OWCs. After that the redesign is done hydrostatic stability and hydrodynamics analyses are evaluated. The hydrodynamics properties are discussed in terms of the hybrid platform response as compared to the original platform. The hybrid platform was modeled using GeniE and the hydrostatic stability and hydrodynamics of the system was evaluated by HydroD, tools developed and marketed by DNV. The results of this study demonstrate the potential benefits of integrating OWCs within a FWT system in terms of reducing the platform oscillatory motion.&#x0D;

Psychiatric comorbidities, quality of life, and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with heart failure

Background: Heart failure (HF) leads to various changes including physiological (neurohormonal) changes and an increase in stress level, which can become a risk factor for the development of various psychiatric disorders, further worsening quality of life (QOL). Methods: Patients of HF between 18 and 60 years of age attending the outpatient department of the Department of Cardiology were enrolled. Patients were screened for psychiatric illness by applying Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview 7.0.2. The diagnosis was made through the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5. The severity of anxiety and depression was assessed by applying the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale. Sleep quality was measured by applying the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Subsyndromal symptoms were assessed via SADS-CB. QOL was measured by the World Health Organization QOL-BREF. Data were statistically analyzed. Results: Out of 70 enrolled patients, 32 patients did not have any psychiatric illness (Group A), 20 patients were in the subsyndromal group (Group B), and 18 patients had psychiatric disorders (Group C). Tobacco use and the number of risk factors of HF present were significantly higher in Group C. A significantly higher number of patients in Group C were lying in the New York Heart Association (NYHA) II class (patients lying in NYHA III and NYHA IV classes were excluded) than in other groups. In addition, sleep and QOL (especially among patients under NYHA I class) were significantly impaired in Group C. Conclusion: Psychiatric illness is common in patients with HF. Despite guidelines to screen for them, clinicians either do not screen for them or otherwise miss the psychiatric illness. These psychiatric illnesses may further impair the outcome of heart diseases and worsen QOL.

Effect of static elastic stress on the corrosion behavior of 7A04 aluminum alloy exposed to real marine atmospheric environment

Aluminum alloy structural materials are widely subjected to the interactive effect of atmospheric corrosion under thin liquid film and elastic stress during the actual service. This study utilized the real marine atmospheric environment as the corrosion environment of thin liquid film for 7A04 aluminum alloy, and the specially designed outdoor device was used to apply varying levels of static elastic tensile stress at the same time, and then the corrosion damage behavior of 7A04 alloy under the interactive effect was studied. The research indicates that the 7A04 alloy suffers from pitting and exfoliation corrosion under the test conditions. The applied elastic tensile stress can accelerate the corrosion damage process of 7A04 alloy, and the degree of acceleration increases with increasing stress levels and exposure time. Moreover, the applied stress can also significantly accelerate the deterioration of the mechanical properties of 7A04 alloy, which has a more prominent effect on the elongation after fracture. Additionally, the corrosion mechanism of 7A04 alloy under the interactive effect was also discussed in this paper.

The need for wildlife research and improved management of protected areas in the face of increased nature-based tourism

Abstract Nature-based tourist destinations attract millions of visitors every year. In 2020, this trend was interrupted by the emergence of the COVID-19 disease and the introduction of global travel restrictions, which significantly reduced the number of tourists. However, with the lifting of these restrictions, the number of visitors to natural areas is increasing even faster. Many of these destinations are national parks and are poorly prepared for rapidly growing attendance, making the impact of human presence on wildlife in protected areas a concern. The main impacts of nature-based tourism on protected areas are: negative impacts on wildlife behaviour by increasing stress levels and spreading diseases and invasive species. There is a risk that nature-based tourism will cause even more damage to nature in the near future, as tourists’ knowledge of ecology and nature conservation is still insufficient, visitor numbers are increasing dynamically and the adaptation and management of protected areas is still inadequate. The most urgent research directions related to nature-based tourism are: large carnivores, ungulates, birds, amphibians and reptiles. Solutions for the management of protected areas should include: e.g. the establishment of educational centres, the provision of additional attractions, the temporary exclusion of certain parts of national parks and the reconstruction of tourism infrastructure in protected areas.

TSUNAMI EVACUATION IN A MASSIVE CROWD EVENT USING AN AGENT-BASED MODEL

Under emergencies, individuals tend to move faster than during normal conditions, i.e., evacuation vs non-evacuation scenarios (Helbing et al., 2000; Cornes et al., 2019; Chen et al., 2018). Evacuations because of false alarms, terrorist attacks, fires, or disasters like earthquakes or tsunamis can quickly increase stress levels in people. Activities such as carnivals, festivals, sports, pilgrimages, and marches gather thousands of people in one place. In the literature, open space tsunami evacuations in places such as beaches are scarce. Studies from Takabatake et al. (2018) and Lanza et al. (2021) have integrated beach users in their simulations. However, studies involving massive tsunami evacuations including socio-psychological interactions, to our knowledge, are not documented. The main objective of this study is to assess human behavior in a hypothetical scenario such as a massive tsunami evacuation in a coastal area, using Valparaíso City as a case study.

A Cross-Sectional Study Exploring the Relationship Between BMI and Nursing Students' Emotional Well-Being During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Having a weight problem can cause emotional distress, especially in students, who suffer from both issues at a high rate. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic's negative impact on society, these problems can be significantly impacted. The study aims to investigate the relationship between nursing students' BMI and their mental well-being. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 423 students from the second through fourth baccalaureate years of Science of Nursing program - KSA. The instrument for the study was an online questionnaire distributed to the students via Google Forms during the academic year 2021-2022 to collect data on the emotional state of students directly as a result of COVID-19 restrictions and limitations. The statistical analysis was carried out through Chi-square test was used to compare categorical data between groups and the Pearson coefficient is used to determine the correlation between two quantitative variables with normal distribution. There is a significant correlation between BMI with depression score, anxiety score and stress score. Higher BMI indicated 6.4 times more likeliness to have depression than lower BMI (OR = 6.4). Students who had higher BMI were 2.7 times more likely to have anxiety than those who had lower BMI (OR = 2.7), and 9.4 times more likely to have stress than those who had lower BMI (OR = 9.4). Study findings indicate that nursing students' BMI increases as depression, anxiety, and stress increase. During the COVID-19 pandemic, participants reported increased weight due to increased stress levels and increased eating. Students in nursing should be aware of the importance of adopting healthy habits and following a healthy lifestyle.

Exploration on the characteristics of 3D crack network expansion induced by hydraulic fracturing: A hybrid approach combining experiments and algorithms

To efficiently develop and utilize unconventional energy, it is essential to investigate the characteristics of 3D crack network expansion during sandstone hydraulic fracturing (HF). This paper presents the results of physical simulation experiments of sandstone HF under varying shear stress levels, where CT image data acquisition was used to enable 3D reconstruction and establishment of identification algorithms for 3D crack network. The graph theory representation method of crack network was improved using the intersection and extension of crack branch elements as precursors for two vertex sets U and V of a bipartite graph G=(U,V,E), extending the topological structure representation method to 3D crack network. Using topology and fractal theory, a quantitative characterization method of crack network was developed, which comprehensively considered topological structure parameters and fractal dimension. The findings showed that the fractal dimension of the crack increases linearly with the increase of the shear stress level, and the parameters of the crack topological structure increased first and then decreased. While the parameters of the crack topological structure first increased and then decreased.

Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Patient Changes during the COVID-19 Quarantine.

Background and Objective: To examine the effects of the lockdown on diet adherence and stress levels in patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). Materials and Methods: Patients with a positive LPR diagnosis at the hypopharyngeal-esophageal impedance-pH monitoring were treated from a pre- to lockdown period with a 3-month high-protein, low-fat, alkaline, plant-based diet, with behavioral changes, and an association of pantoprazole (20 MG/d) and alginate (Gaviscon 3/d). The following patient-reported outcomes questionnaire and findings instrument were used: Reflux Symptom Score-12 (RSS-12) and Reflux Sign Assessment (RSA). At the posttreatment time, patients were invited to evaluate the impact of lockdown on diet adherence and stress management with a predefined grid of foods and beverages and the perceived stress scale (PSS), respectively. Results: Thirty-two patients completed the evaluations. RSS-12 and RSA significantly improved from baseline to 3-month posttreatment. Most patients experienced mild-to-severe stress levels at the end of the lockdown. The level of stress substantially increased in 11 patients (34%) due to the lockdown, while it did not change in 11 patients (44%). In 11 cases (34%), patients reported that the adherence to the anti-reflux diet was better than initially presumed thanks to the lockdown period, while 44% (N = 14) reported that the lockdown did not impact the adherence to a diet. PSS and RSS-12 were significantly correlated at the end of the pandemic (rs = 0.681; p < 0.001). The increase in stress level was positively associated with the lack of adherence to diet (rs = 0.367; p = 0.039). Conclusions: During the lockdown, the diet habits of LPR patients were improved in one-third and unchanged in 44% of cases. The stress level was increased in one-third of patients, which was associated with an increase in symptom scores.

Transition to a market economy and chronic psychosocial stress in northern Laos: An exploratory study of urinary free cortisol in rural residents.

The indigenous population in northern Laos has experienced a transition from self-sufficiency to a market-oriented economy, which may have brought about unprecedented chronic psychosocial stress. This study examined the association between the transition to a market economy and urinary free cortisol (UFC) concentration as a stress biomarker among rural residents of three villages with different degrees of integration into the market economy. An interview survey and urine sample collection were conducted in August 2018 and March 2019. We measured the UFC concentration in spot urine samples collected in the morning from participants aged 20-60 years (n = 168) using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to examine differences in UFC concentrations among villages by sex, with time of arrival for the survey, age, and body mass index included as covariates. The UFC concentration was higher in men living in the village with the highest degree of integration into the market economy than in those in the two villages with a lower dependence on cash, possibly linking increased stress levels with a change in employment type. This trend was not observed in women. Socioeconomic changes incidental to a transition to a market economy may increase the stress levels of men in northern Laos.

Shortage of General Practitioners as a Topic in the Media—A Systematic Content-Related Analytical Study on Depiction Patterns (Frames) in News Media Coverage in the Federal Republic of Germany

The shortage of general practitioners (GPs) and the fact that country doctors’ practices are vanishing—a situation that is currently taking a turn for the worse in some regions of Germany—are issues that have been dealt with in the media as a topic of specific discussion for some time now. In the process, news coverage is dominated by certain depiction patterns, referred to as frames, which are shaped in terms of textual and visual impact. The present explorative study addresses the questions of which media depiction and interpretation patterns (frames) are encountered on the shortage of general practitioners in news coverage in the Federal Republic of Germany and how general practitioners, the circumstances, and the benefits of their care are presented in this context. In the course of a search via the Lexis Nexis database, a total of 655 news items were found or selected that mainly deal with the shortage of general practitioners (period from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2022). Furthermore, the media libraries of the two public television broadcasters ARD and ZDF were specifically searched for documentaries on the shortage of general practitioners for the said period. A qualitative content analysis was subsequently performed, in which characteristic reporting patterns on the topic under consideration were identified based on frame-defining categories. Five frames could be identified that outline the shortage of general practitioners in different ways. The first three frames present the dominant image of GPs as highly stressed, aged, or frustrated primary care providers who attempt to keep their practice going for as long as possible despite their increasing stress levels. The other frames portray the phenomenon of the shortage of GPs, in particular, as a side effect of demographic and structural changes, discuss the (diminishing) appeal of the profession of a general practitioner, or discuss the issue of remote areas that no longer have access to a GP practice and now receive ‘alternative solutions’. The frames identified reflect societal views and anxieties regarding the consequences of a progressive shortage of GPs, which have been spurred on by the media. They reflect the significance of the GP as a trustworthy and competent primary care provider who is not readily replaceable, neither in his/her role as a guide in the healthcare system nor with regard to his social function.

Working time variation and mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic in China

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought about a significant shift in labor market dynamics, leading to a notable increase in labor market flexibilization. One prominent aspect of this transformation is the growing variation in working time patterns. The irregular and unpredictable nature of working time may contribute to increased stress levels, difficulty in establishing routines, and challenges in maintaining work-life boundaries. Drawing on China General Social survey 2021, this study aims to examine (1) the relationship between working time variation and mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic in China; (2) whether the relationship can be mediated by work-family conflict; (3) to what extent the relationship varies across occupations. We find that working time variation is associated with significantly worse mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic in China, and around half of the negative effect can be mediated by increased work-family conflict. Moreover, the negative association is more pronounced among non-professional occupations than professional occupations. Overall, these findings shed light on the detrimental impact of working time variation on mental health and its potential mechanism, highlighting how novel work paradigm may interact with existing labor market inequalities to shape workers’ mental health.