Overall Levels Of Anxiety Research Articles

Investigating changes in student mental health and help-seeking behaviour after the introduction of new well-being support services at a UK university.

Growing numbers of students now seek mental health support from their higher education providers. In response, a number of universities have invested in non-clinical well-being services, but there have been few evaluations of these. This research addresses a critical gap in the existing literature. This study examined the impact of introducing non-clinical well-being advisers on student mental health and help-seeking behaviour at a large UK university. Survey data collected pre-post service introduction in 2018 (n = 5562) and 2019 (n = 2637) measured prevalence of depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), anxiety (Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7), and low mental well-being (Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale), alongside student support-seeking behaviour. Logistic regression models investigated changes in outcome measures. Administrative data (2014-2020) were used to investigate corresponding trends in antidepressant prescribing at the onsite health service, student counselling referrals and course withdrawal rates. Adjusted models suggested reductions in students' levels of anxiety (odds ratio 0.86, 95% CI 0.77-0.96) and low well-being (odds ratio 0.84, 95% CI 0.75-0.94) in 2019, but not depression symptoms (odds ratio 1.05, 95% CI 0.93-1.17). Statistical evidence showed reduced student counselling referrals, with antidepressant prescribing and course withdrawal rates levelling off. Student perception of the availability and accessibility of university support improved. Our findings suggest a non-clinical well-being service model may improve student perception of support, influence overall levels of anxiety and low well-being, and reduce clinical need. The current study was only able to examine changes over the short term, and a longer follow-up is needed.

Mental Health Status and Fear of COVID-19 in Young Adult Male Inmates in Portugal

IntroductionIncarcerated individuals are subject to a heightened risk of both mental and physical ailments. Hence, it is important to conduct regular assessments of their mental well-being and other potential health hazards.ObjectivesThe aim of this study is to examine the subjective experience of fear related to COVID-19 and the psychological consequences of the pandemic among a cohort of young adult male convicts.MethodsA research design using an institutional-based quantitative cross-sectional approach was used. The data collecting period was from July to September 2022, during which data was gathered at a juvenile correctional facility located in the center area of Portugal. The researchers used questionnaires to gather data pertaining to demographic and health attributes, fear related to COVID-19, as well as measures of depression, anxiety, stress, and resilient coping.Results The study included a cohort of 60 incarcerated males who had been imprisoned for a duration exceeding 2 years. The prevalence of stress was found to be the highest among offenders, with around 75% reporting this symptom. Anxiety was the second most often reported symptom, with 38.3% of inmates experiencing it, followed closely by depression, which was reported by 36.7% of the inmate population. The average score on the Fear of COVID-19 Scale was 17.38 ± 4.80, suggesting that participants generally reported mild levels of fear. A total of 38 subjects, accounting for 63.3% of the sample, had low scores in resilience. The participants’ responses indicated that their perceptions of mental health were within a fairly high range, with an average score of 3.62 ± 0.87. Similarly, their perceptions of physical health were also moderately high, with an average score of 3.73 ± 0.95. In terms of global health, participants reported a slightly lower average score of 3.27 ± 0.82 for the preceding month. The Pearson correlation matrix revealed statistically significant associations between fear of COVID-19 and characteristics linked to mental health, with the strength of these associations ranging from moderate to high (p < 0.001). The identification of predictive variables for fear of COVID-19 was accomplished by the use of a multiple linear regression model. Four predictors were identified in the study, namely age, perception of mental health, and overall levels of anxiety and stress. These predictors together account for about 49.7% of the variance in the outcome variable.ConclusionsThe findings of our research indicate a significant prevalence of stress among incarcerated individuals, accompanied by moderate levels of anxiety and depression. Our research has the potential to provide valuable insights for policymakers, mental health professionals, public health specialists, and other relevant stakeholders in the identification and effective management of pandemic-induced anxieties and mental health symptoms.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Developing and testing a program for reducing aggressive behavior in adolescents

Background. The study considers the problem of increasing aggression and anxiety among teenagers in the modern society. The programs for correction of aggressive behavior allowing for effective work with teenagers are in great demand in psychological practice. Objectives. Testing the effectiveness of the correctional program “Face of Aggression” which has its purpose to optimize (reduce) the level of aggressiveness and anxiety in teenage schoolchildren. Study Participants. The study involved 61 schoolchildren aged 11 to 14, of them 26 teenagers made up two training groups and 35 teenagers constituted the control group. The research was carried out on the basis of the Universal Library affiliated to the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research named after D.I. Blokhintsev in Dubna, RF. Methods. Personal anxiety scale for students aged 10–16 years by A.M. Prikhozhan; Bass — Perry method for assessing the level of aggression; Toronto Alexithymia Scale. Results. The obtained data analysis demonstrated effectiveness of the correction program “Face of Aggression”. Comparison of the studied psychodiagnostic indicators before and after the training in the experimental group revealed a significant decrease in the level of anger, statistically significant differences in the overall level of aggression, at the trend level — in indicators of physical aggression and the overall level of anxiety. Conclusions. Aggression and anxiety, which are significant indicators of the difficulties experienced in adolescence, are “two sides of the same coin” and can be reduced by means of the psychological training using Burno’s method. The empirical study confirmed previously obtained data on the relationship between the emotion of anger and hostility as a factor of readiness for aggressive behavior with self-assessment and interpersonal anxiety in adolescents.

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF DESIRE FOR AND ANXIETY IN LEARNING CHINESE AMONG GRADES 3-5 STUDENTS AT AN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL IN BANGKOK, THAILAND

This study was conducted to determine whether there were significant differences in desire for and anxiety in learning Chinese among students in Grades 3-5 at an international school in Bangkok, Thailand. A sample of 74 students enrolled in the target international school participated in this study. After performing descriptive statistics on the collected data, it was determined that the overall level of desire to learn Chinese was slightly high for Grade 3 students, high for Grade 4 students, and slightly high for Grade 5 students at the target school. The overall level of anxiety in Chinese classes was interpreted as slightly high for Grade 3 students, slightly low for Grade 4 students, and slightly high for Grade 5 students at the target school. Through quantitative comparative analysis, a statistically significant difference in desire for learning Chinese was found between Grade 4 and Grade 5 students at the target international school. Additionally, there was a statistically significant difference in anxiety in learning Chinese between Grade 4 and Grade 5 students at the international school in Bangkok. Based on the research findings, recommendations are provided for students, teachers, school administrators, and future researchers.

Variations in Anxiety and Related Psychiatric Comorbidity Levels Among Youths With Individual Diagnoses of Autism Spectrum Disorder or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Those With Both Diagnoses.

Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) individuallyand those with co-occurring ADHD and ASDexperience higher rates of total anxiety and psychiatric comorbidities such as gender dysphoria and locomotor skillscompared to their typically developing (TD) peers. In this study, it was hypothesized that youth with comorbid ADHD and ASD would experience higher levels of overall anxiety, specifically separation, generalized, and social anxiety. A literature review of relevant studies published from2007 to 2020 was performed, with a search involvingkey terms such as "Anxiety," "ADHD" and "ASD'". It was discovered that individuals with ADHD or ASD had higher levels of anxiety compared to their peers. Furthermore, children who have co-occurring ADHD and ASD had more serve levels of anxiety than children with an individual diagnosis of ADHD or ASD. Children with ASD, ADHD, and co-occurring ADHD and ASD had a higher prevalence of gender dysphoria and impaired locomotor skills, which lead to higher levels of psychiatric comorbidities seen in this population. It can be hypothesized psychiatric comorbidities could also have implications for the high anxiety levels seen in this population but further research is needed to confirm this.

Fear of COVID-19, Mental Health and Resilient Coping in Young Adult Male Inmates: A Portuguese Cross-Sectional Study.

Inmates are highly exposed to mental and physical disorders. Therefore, periodic screening of their mental health and other health risks is required. This study aims to investigate the perceived fear of COVID-19 and the psychological impact of the pandemic in a sample of young adult male inmates. An institutional-based quantitative cross-sectional study design was performed. Data collection took place from July to September 2022 at a juvenile prison in the central region of Portugal. Data were collected using questionnaires on demographic and health characteristics; fear of COVID-19; depression, anxiety and stress levels; and resilient coping. The sample included 60 male inmates imprisoned for over 2 years. Stress was the most common symptom among inmates (75%), followed by anxiety (38.3%) and depression (36.7%). The mean score on the Fear of COVID-19 Scale was 17.38 ± 4.80, indicating relatively low fear levels. Low resilient scores were found in 38 participants (63.3%). Participants reported moderately high ranges of 3.62 ± 0.87 regarding mental health perception, 3.73 ± 0.95 for physical health perception, and 3.27 ± 0.82 for global health concerning the previous month. The Pearson correlation matrix indicated significant and moderate to strong correlations between fear of COVID-19 and mental health-related variables (p < 0.001). The predicting factors of fear of COVID-19 were identified by deploying a multiple linear regression model. We found four predictors: age, perception of mental health, and overall levels of anxiety and stress (R2 = 0.497). Fear of a given scenario or factor may shift with time. Therefore, long-term research is needed to evaluate whether fear of COVID-19 is adaptive or long-reactive in victims. Our study can assist policymakers, mental health and public health experts, and others in recognizing and managing pandemic-related fears and mental health symptoms.

Parent-rated anxiety in autistic adolescents and young adults: Concurrent links to autism traits and chronic sleep problems

BackgroundAnxiety is prevalent among autistic individuals, but less is known about the different anxiety problems autistic adolescents and young adults experience and the main behavioral manifestations of their anxiety. This study investigated these issues and the relation between the overall level of anxiety and a range of factors in autistic adolescents and young adults, including autism traits, challenging behaviors, adaptive behavior, sleep problems, and gastrointestinal issues. Method66 parents of autistic adolescents and young adults completed an interview and responded to questionnaires on their children’s anxiety, autism traits, sensory processing, challenging behaviors, adaptive behavior, and medical issues. ResultsThe most frequently parent-endorsed moderate and severe anxiety problems were related to social situations, new situations, upcoming events, loud noises, and changes in routine. In contrast, parents were least likely to endorse anxiety problems related to being separated from others, being noticed, or being late. Regarding anxiety-related behaviors, parents frequently endorsed avoidance, requiring constant reassurance, performing repetitive behaviors, shutting down, and overreacting to changes. Individuals with more severe social cognition difficulties, restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRBs), and chronic sleep problems demonstrated elevated levels of anxiety. Chronic sleep problems emerged as the primary concurrent predictor of anxiety in autistic adolescents and young adults and mediated the association between RRBs and anxiety. ConclusionsFuture anxiety treatment should consider targeting sleep problems simultaneously for autistic adolescents and young adults.

Anxiety symptoms among children visiting a pediatric emergency center in Qatar during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study.

Although the evidence base regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children has been growing, descriptions of their experiences remain scarce. In this cross-sectional study, the authors used the Child-Reported Spence Children's Anxiety Scale to collect data from 91 children visiting a pediatric emergency center in Qatar during the pandemic. Around 25% of the children reported elevated levels of overall anxiety. Obsessive-compulsive symptoms were the most common, with 59.3% of children reporting elevated symptoms. The mean score of physical injury fears was significantly affected by gender, with females having higher scores. Overall rates for elevated anxiety symptoms were similar in natives and expatriate children. The findings suggest that the effects of the pandemic on children may depend on several vulnerability factors, including developmental age and gender. This study highlights the need to plan multidisciplinary strategies to enhance children's access to mental health services during and after the current health crisis.

Cross-cultural differences in men on active surveillance’ anxiety: a longitudinal comparison between Italian and Dutch patients from the Prostate cancer Research International Active Surveillance study

BackgroundMen diagnosed with localized prostate cancer (PCa) on active surveillance (AS) have shown to cope with anxiety caused by living with an ‘untreated cancer’ and different factors can influence the tolerance level for anxiety in these patients. The present study analyzes Italian (Milan) and Dutch (Rotterdam) men prospectively included in the Prostate cancer International Active Surveillance (PRIAS) trial, aiming to explore whether socio-demographic factors (i.e. age, relationship status, education, nationality) may be relevant factors in conditioning the level of anxiety at AS entry and over time.MethodsItalian and Dutch men participating in the IRB-approved PRIAS study, after signing an informed consent, filled in the Memorial Anxiety Scale for PCa (MAX-PC) at multiple time points after diagnosis. A linear mixed model was used to assess the relationship between the level of patient’s anxiety and time spent on AS, country of origin, the interaction between country and time on AS, patients’ relationship status and education, on PCa anxiety during AS.Results823 MAX-PC questionnaires were available for Italian and 307 for Dutch men, respectively. Median age at diagnosis was 64 years (IQR 60–70 years) and did not differ between countries. On average, Dutch men had a higher total MAX-PC score than Italian men. However, the level of their anxiety decreased over time. Dutch men on average had a higher score on the PCa anxiety sub-domain, which did not decrease over time. Minimal differences were observed in the sub-domains PSA anxiety and fear of recurrence.ConclusionSignificant differences in PCa anxiety between the Italian and Dutch cohorts were observed, the latter group of men showing higher overall levels of anxiety. These differences were not related to the socio-demographic factors we studied. Although both PRIAS-centers are dedicated AS-centers, differences in PCa-care organization (e.g. having a multidisciplinary team) may have contributed to the observed different level of anxiety at the start and during AS.Trial registration This study is registered in the Dutch Trial Registry (www.trialregister.nl) under NL1622 (registration date 11-03-2009), ‘PRIAS: Prostate cancer Research International: Active Surveillance—guideline and study for the expectant management of localized prostate cancer with curative intent’.

Adaptation of child and adolescent worry scale (caws) in Bangla

The present study aimed to adapt the Child and Adolescent Worry Scale (CAWS) to use in the context of Bangladesh. The original scale developed by Campbell and Rapee in 1994 consisted of 20 items and higher scores on the scale indicate higher anxiety. Standard procedure for adaptation was followed. Item analysis was done on school going 130 mainstream and special need children aged between 6 to 15 years. The Cronbach’s Alpha and test-retest reliability was found to be .799 and .858 respectively for the adapted scale indicating high level of reliability. Criterion-related validity was measured by calculating concurrent and postdictive validity. Concurrent validity was measured by computing correlation (r= .912, p=.001) between the adapted scale and Beck Anxiety Inventory. Similarly, correlation value of postdictive validity was found to be .806, p=.001. Both measures ensured that the adapted scale measures the same construct as the original one. Moreover, the Mann-Whitney U test also indicated that the scale could differentiate between the mainstream and special need children regarding their worry/anxiety. Worry score was greater for the special need children than the other group (U= 608.50 at p =.001). It indicates that the adapted scale has good sensitivity to varying levels of anxiety severity. The psychometric properties of the Bangla CAWS suggest that professionals and the researchers can use the scale to assess children and adolescent’s overall level of anxiety in Bangladeshi context. Dhaka Univ. J. Biol. Sci. 30(3 CSI): 417-427, 2022 (June)

Cognitive risk factors and the experience of acute anxiety following social stressors: An ecological momentary assessment study

To better understand how social anxiety develops, it is crucial to identify mechanisms that influence anxiety following social stressors. Anxiety sensitivity social concerns (ASSC; fear of publicly observable anxiety symptoms) and fear of negative evaluation (FNE; distress arising from concerns about negative judgment) are constructs that amplify anxiety following social stressors. However, it is unclear how ASSC and FNE influence acute anxiety following stressors in naturalistic settings. In the current study, the impact of ASSC and FNE on anxious arousal and anxious apprehension following stressors was examined in community adults (N = 83; M age = 29.66 years, SD = 12.49, 59.0% female) who completed questionnaires five times per day for two-weeks. Dynamic structural equation modeling was used to examine predictors of overall levels of anxiety as well as anxiety following social and nonsocial stressors. ASSC interacted with the presence of social stressors, such that ASSC positively predicted anxious arousal following social stressors. FNE interacted with the presence of nonsocial stressors to predict both forms of anxiety, such that FNE positively predicted anxiety following nonsocial stressors. These findings suggest ASSC may specifically amplify anxious arousal following social stressors, whereas FNE may broadly amplify anxiety following nonsocial stressors.

Examining the Relationship between Depression, Anxiety and Stress in Kidney Cancer Patients.

Cancer of the kidney is one of the 10 most common cancers found globally. Overall, it is the fourth most common cancer in men and the eighth most common cancer in women. Many kidney cancer patients experience psychologic problems and reactions. The present study examined relationship between anxiety, depression, and perceived stress symptoms in kidney cancer patients. Cross-sectional data were obtained from the patients diagnosed with kidney cancer. All participants completed sociodemographic form, Hospital Anxiety and Depression form, and Perceived Stress Scale. Statistical analysis was exercised using the Student's t-test, Chi-squared test (χ2), Fischer's exact test, ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U test, and Kruskal-Wallis one-way variance analysis. A total of 250 patients participated in the study. The mean age was 57.4 years (SD 6.4, range = 25-76 years). The majority of patients were males (73%) and married (218). Anxiety symptoms were determined in 91.2% patients, depression symptoms in 87.2% patients, and perceived stress symptoms in 93.6% patients. The mean scores of Hospital Depression and Anxiety Scale (HADS)-Anxiety, HADS-Depression, and HADS-Perceived Stress were significantly different between age (P < 0.05), gender (P < 0.05), and income groups (P < 0.001). Kidney cancer patients showed poorer psychologic health. The overall levels of anxiety, depression, and perceived stress symptoms were higher among the studied kidney cancer patients. Findings of the current study could improve both psychologic well-being of patients and health-related quality of life.

CLINICAL FEATURES OF ANXIETY DISORDER IN POST-COVID-19 SYNDROME AND FINDING OF ITS PREDICTORS

the article summarizes and describes clinical features of anxiety disorders in post-COVID-19 syndrome. Mental and neurological disorders occupy a leading place in the structure of post-COVID syndrome. Recent studies indicate an increase in the incidence of anxiety disorders in individuals with COVID-19. However, no clinical or laboratory features of the post-COVID anxiety disorders have been identified. Therefore, our study aimed to describe the clinical features of anxiety disorders in the post-COVID period and to develop a mathematical prognostic model to identify potential predictors of post-COVID anxiety disorder. We conducted a case-control clinical study, which included 145 males and females, which were divided into 2 groups, namely: group 1 - patients who became ill with COVID-19 during the last 6 months and group 2 - persons who were not ill with COVID-19 during the last 6 months. The clinical interview included the registration of symptoms of the debut and the time of the debut relative to the episode of COVID-19. The Beck anxiety inventory was used for the assessment of the overall level of anxiety. The State-trait anxiety inventory was used to assess state and trait anxiety. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using the program EZR Statistics 1.54. Anxiety disorders during the first 6 months after COVID-19 develop more often than those who have not had the disease in the last six months. Patients who had COVID-19 in the last 5-24 weeks have an increased risk of anxiety disorders during this period and therefore require close medical supervision and sufficient awareness of the likely symptoms. People with a post-COVID anxiety disorder reported the presence of autonomic symptoms, including excessive sweating and tachycardia, a feeling of inner emptiness, as well as circadian rhythm disorders in the form of difficulty falling asleep and waking up at the desired time. It should be noted that the overall frequency of detection of anxiety disorders in the post-COVID period is increasing. It has been established that the risk of developing post-COVID disorder decreases with knowledge of the fact of contact with an infected person before the COVID onset and increases with a heightened level of prior personal anxiety. Circadian rhythm disorders, in particular sleep phase shift and abnormal fatigue, may be predictors of post-COVID anxiety disorder.

Anxiety and depressive symptoms in college students during the late stage of the COVID-19 outbreak: a network approach

Mental health problems are common in college students even in the late stage of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. Network analysis is a novel approach to explore interactions of mental disorders at the symptom level. The aim of this study was to elucidate characteristics of depressive and anxiety symptoms network in college students in the late stage of the COVID-19 outbreak. A total of 3062 college students were included. The seven-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) and nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) were used to measure anxiety and depressive symptoms, respectively. Central symptoms and bridge symptoms were identified based on centrality and bridge centrality indices, respectively. Network stability was examined using the case-dropping procedure. The strongest direct relation was between anxiety symptoms “Nervousness” and “Uncontrollable worry”. “Fatigue” has the highest node strength in the anxiety and depression network, followed by “Excessive worry”, “Trouble relaxing”, and “Uncontrollable worry”. “Motor” showed the highest bridge strength, followed by “Feeling afraid” and “Restlessness”. The whole network was robust in both stability and accuracy tests. Central symptoms “Fatigue”, “Excessive worry”, “Trouble relaxing” and “Uncontrollable worry”, and critical bridge symptoms “Motor”, “Feeling afraid” and “Restlessness” were highlighted in this study. Targeting interventions to these symptoms may be important to effectively alleviate the overall level of anxiety and depressive symptoms in college students.

Examining the Relationship between Depression, Anxiety and Stress in Kidney Cancer Patients

Cancer of the kidney is one of the 10 most common cancers found globally. Overall, it is the fourth most common cancer in men and the eighth most common cancer in women. Many kidney cancer patients experience psychologic problems and reactions. The present study examined relationship between anxiety, depression, and perceived stress symptoms in kidney cancer patients. Cross-sectional data were obtained from the patients diagnosed with kidney cancer. All participants completed sociodemographic form, Hospital Anxiety and Depression form, and Perceived Stress Scale. Statistical analysis was exercised using the Student’s t-test, Chi-squared test (χ2), Fischer’s exact test, ANOVA, Mann–Whitney U test, and Kruskal–Wallis one-way variance analysis. A total of 250 patients participated in the study. The mean age was 57.4 years (SD 6.4, range = 25–76 years). The majority of patients were males (73%) and married (218). Anxiety symptoms were determined in 91.2% patients, depression symptoms in 87.2% patients, and perceived stress symptoms in 93.6% patients. The mean scores of Hospital Depression and Anxiety Scale (HADS)-Anxiety, HADS-Depression, and HADS-Perceived Stress were significantly different between age (P < 0.05), gender (P < 0.05), and income groups (P < 0.001). Kidney cancer patients showed poorer psychologic health. The overall levels of anxiety, depression, and perceived stress symptoms were higher among the studied kidney cancer patients. Findings of the current study could improve both psychologic well-being of patients and health-related quality of life.

Emotional adaptation during a crisis: decline in anxiety and depression after the initial weeks of COVID-19 in the United States

Crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic are known to exacerbate depression and anxiety, though their temporal trajectories remain under-investigated. The present study aims to investigate fluctuations in depression and anxiety using the COVID-19 pandemic as a model crisis. A total of 1512 adults living in the United States enrolled in this online study beginning April 2, 2020 and were assessed weekly for 10 weeks (until June 4, 2020). We measured depression and anxiety using the Zung Self-Rating Depression scale and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (state subscale), respectively, along with demographic and COVID-related surveys. Linear mixed-effects models were used to examine factors contributing to longitudinal changes in depression and anxiety. We found that depression and anxiety levels were high in early April, but declined over time. Being female, younger age, lower-income, and previous psychiatric diagnosis correlated with higher overall levels of anxiety and depression; being married additionally correlated with lower overall levels of depression, but not anxiety. Importantly, worsening of COVID-related economic impact and increase in projected pandemic duration exacerbated both depression and anxiety over time. Finally, increasing levels of informedness correlated with decreasing levels of depression, while increased COVID-19 severity (i.e., 7-day change in cases) and social media use were positively associated with anxiety over time. These findings not only provide evidence for overall emotional adaptation during the initial weeks of the pandemic, but also provide insight into overlapping, yet distinct, factors contributing to depression and anxiety throughout the first wave of the pandemic.

P–506 Low anxiety and depression levels and a confronting attitude characterise infertile couples undergoing ART treatments during phases 2 and 3 of COVID–19 pandemic in Italy

Study questionWhich pshycological factors have influenced the choice of infertile couples seeking for ART treatment during Phases 2 and 3 of COVID–19 pandemic in Italy?Summary answerCouples undergoing ART treatment during Phases 2 and 3 of COVID–19 pandemic in Italy show low levels of anxiety and depression and a problem-centred attitude.What is known alreadyCOVID–19 pandemic has exposed people to psychological and health safety risks, forcing acceptance of important work and social restrictions. In lockdown Phase 1, all ART procedures were suddenly suspended. This was superimposed to the already critical emotional burden carried by infertile couples undergoing ART treatments. In our analysis performed in Phase 1, couples showed a logical consciousness regarding the need of such measures, given the evident risks, but the emotional drive was towards the continuity of the ART procedure. The emotional impact linked to the obligation of ART treatment suspension was in fact superior than that due to the lockdown.Study design, size, durationFrom July 7th to November 28th of 2020, an online form was made available to the patients of the Biogenesi Reproductive Medicine Centre of Monza and of the Eugin Fertility Clinics in Italy (Milano, Modena and Taranto), which was filled anonymously and voluntarily by 326 subjects.Participants/materials, setting, methodsThe questionnaire was composed by sociodemographic data, a Zung’s scale for anxiety self-evaluation, a Zung’s scale for depression self-evaluation, the COPE-NVI–25 questionnaire, five specific questions relative to what contributed for the decision of undergoing ART treatment during Phases 2 and 3 of the pandemic, and four specific questions relative to which support measures could have been efficacious to reduce stress. Main results and the role of chance: Of the 326 subjects included in the study, 19.9% were men and 80.1% were women; 77.3% underwent homologous and 22.7% underwent heterologous treatments; 44.5% lived in Lombardy, 20.9% in Liguria and the remaining 34.6% in different parts of Italy; 75.6% were seeking for maternity/paternity for less than 5 years and 24.4% for more than 5 years. The overall level of anxiety was low, as well as the level of depression, without any particular variations for gender or treatment type. The COPE-NVI–25 questionnaire revealed that couple strategies linked to a positive attitude towards the problem prevailed. What mostly contributed to ART treatment start or continuity in Phases 2 and 3 was the support to the couple agreement, couple age and the non-renounceable desire of having a child. Among the possible supporting measures aiming to reduce ART-related stress in this context we identified: greater support from the partner and inclusion of supporting treatments such as nutritional advises, massage and specifically driven physical activity.Limitations, reasons for cautionThe range of the present study is limited by the number of voluntaries and possible unprecise representation of the real ART patient population in Italy. The results presented could have been affected by variables that are uncontrolled for.Wider implications of the findings: The findings contribute to understand the psychological status of infertile couples that start or resume ART treatments under stressful conditions determined by the COVID–19 pandemic. These data shall provide valuable references for multidisciplinary discussion and strategy formulation aiming to improve the overall quality of ART treatments.Trial registration numberNot applicable

Reducing anxiety in the foreign language classroom: A positive psychology approach

This paper reports on a study that took a positive psychology approach to foreign language anxiety reduction. More specifically, it investigated whether reminiscing about language achievements could effectively diminish the learners’ foreign language classroom anxiety. It also explored the patterns nested in the reminiscing process. To this end, 88 first language Chinese university students of English were randomly assigned into experimental (n = 43) and control groups (n = 45), who filled out a short-form anxiety scale before and after a 30-day intervention. The experimental group students were also requested to record what they had reminisced about as well as their emotional experiences during each lab session. The results showed that the dimensional and overall levels of anxiety decreased significantly over time in the experimental group but remained stable in the control group. In addition, textual analysis showed that the experimental group students recalled their progress in particularly speaking, listening, writing, reading, vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation, as well as non-language proficiency progress such as increased cross-cultural knowledge and testing ability. This reminiscing was linked to more frequent positive emotions than negative emotions. The findings and their implications for foreign language anxiety research and foreign language teaching and learning were discussed.

Psychological state, family functioning and coping strategies among undergraduate students in a Nigerian University during the COVID-19 lockdown.

SummaryIntroductionThe curtailment of social gatherings and the lack of online academic engagement during the COVID-19 lockdown could have potentially damaging effects on the psychological state of university students in Nigerian public universities. This study examined the prevalence of anxiety and depression, including associated factors and coping methods, among undergraduate students.MethodsThis cross-sectional study, which involved 386 undergraduate students, was assigned approval number UI/EC/20/0242. An online questionnaire consisting mainly of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the McMaster Family Assessment Device was circulated among the students. The results were analysed by means of descriptive statistics, chi-square, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and linear logistical regression, at α 0.05.ResultsMean age was 21 ± 2.9 years, with females constituting 60.1% of the sample. The prevalence rates of anxiety and depression were 41.5 and 31.9%, respectively. Students in health-related faculties were significantly less anxious than others. Inability to afford three square meals, negative family functioning, chronic illness and living in a State/Region with a high incidence of COVID-19 were significantly associated with depression. These factors jointly accounted for 14% of depression. Coping methods included the use of social media, watching movies and participating in online skills-development programs.ConclusionThe overall level of anxiety and depression among undergraduate students during the COVID-19 lockdown was higher than the levels previously reported. Inadequate nutrition and poor family functioning contributed significantly to this. Proactive measures ought to be taken to support undergraduate students in order to prevent the negative consequences of poor mental health.

PSYCHOLOGICAL RESPONSES, COPING STRATEGIES, AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY DURING THE COVID – 19 PANDEMIC: BULGARIAN PERSPECTIVE

Nowadays our global society faces big challenges and threats in the times of the first major pandemic. The outbreak of COVID-19 has forced governments to impose the lock-down policies around the world. Social isolation became a new normal form of living. After the first confirmed case on the 8th of March in Bulgaria, the government announced on the 14th of March the lock-down as a preventive strategy for the whole Bulgarian population. Under such circumstances, the big issue became the question of how to maintain the physical and mental health of people, and how to cope with the new reality. Based on this evidence the aim of the joint research study with Ohio State University, USA, entitled “Psychological Responses, Coping Strategies, and Physical Activity during the COVID – 19 Pandemic” has been proposed from the Bulgarian perspective as follows: 1. Investigate psychological responses, coping strategies, and physical activity during the COVID – 19 lock-down periods. 2. Examine the influence of physical activity as a coping strategy in psychological health and overall well-being during social isolation. To this end, an online questionnaire containing an adapted version of the short-form of International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF) has been used to assess the practiced level of physical activity and Metabolic Equivalents (MET) energy expenditure, PROMIS Item Bank v1.0 Emotional distress-Anxiety, Herth Hope Index (HHI) (Herth, 1992), and Brief Resilient Coping Scale BRCS (Sinclaire, Wallston, 2004) to evaluate psychological well-being during the social isolation. Evidence suggests that regular participation in physical activity helps decrease overall levels of anxiety and depression as a reliable coping strategy to overcome the social isolation and, as a whole, the negative aspects of lockdown