Levels Of Psychosocial Stress Research Articles

The level of psychosocial stress and mental health state in sailors of long-distance voyages

Annotation. The purpose of the work is to study the level of psychosocial stress and mental health state in sailors of long-distance voyages, to determine the need to create system-specific measures for the protection of their mental health. During 2016–2019, 300 sailors of long-distance voyages were surveyed, including 200 merchant fleet representatives (110 crew members and 90 sailors) and 100 workers of passenger-carrying fleet of Ukraine (70 crew members and 30 sailors). All surveyed were male, citizens of Ukraine. The study involved the use of clinical psychopathological and psychodiagnostic methods. Revealed that among the surveyed in each group, at least one third of the people who were consulted by a doctor did not show signs of mental health disorder or maladaptation. Among the respondents with some manifestations of mental maladaptation of different severity and clinical filling, there were more representatives of crew members (the number of merchant fleet commanders was higher than the number of passenger-carrying fleet commanders - 53% vs. 45%), and among sailors of both fleets the number of such persons was approximately the same (37% vs. 40%). The highest number of persons with pronounced manifestations of mental maladaptation of the clinical level of severity was recorded among sailors of the passenger-carrying fleet (27%), while among commanders the number of such persons had no statistical difference (16% vs. 13%). Healthy individuals without signs of maladaptation did not feel the burden of stress; surveyed with maladaptive manifestations of donozological severity and content, had a moderate level of psychosocial stress; patients with severe psychopathological inclusions have a severe level of stress. Thus, the level of psychosocial stress has a significant impact on the formation of mental health disorders in sailors of long-distance voyages, which should be taken into account when developing specific measures of psychotherapy and psychoprophylaxis for this contingent.

ТРУДЪТ В СЕКТОР "ВИСШЕ ОБРАЗОВАНИЕ" СПЕЦИФИКИ, ОСОБЕНОСТИ, ПРЕДИЗВИКАТЕЛСТВА, (Labor in the Higher Education Sector Specifications, Features, Challenges)

Bulgarian Abstract: Резюме: Настоящата студия разглежда специфичните особености на труда на преподавателите във висшите училища в България. На основата на емпирични оценки от национално представително изследване по поръчка на Фонд Условия на труд и е реализирано от Синдикат Висше образование - КТ Подкрепа, се анализират основните характеристики на преподавателския труд. Специално внимание се обръща на тези особености на труда на преподавателите, които провокират възникването на психосоциален стрес и генерират психическа, умствена и интелектуална умора. Осъщественият анализ доказва, че трудът на преподавателите е с висок умствен, интелектуален и психически интензитет, поради което в процеса на неговото упражняване възникват наднормени нива на психосоциален стрес. English Abstract: Current study examines the specific features of the work of teachers in higher education institutions in Bulgaria. Based on empirical evaluations from a national representative survey, commissioned by the Working Conditions Fund and implemented by the “Higher Education” Trade Union - Podkrepa Confederation of Labour, the main characteristics of teaching work are analyzed. Particular attention is paid to these characteristics of the work of teachers, which provoke the occurrence of psycho-social stress and generate mental, psychological and intellectual fatigue. The conducted analysis proves that the work of the teachers is of high psychological, intellectual and mental intensity, which is why excessive levels of psycho-social stress occur in the course of its exercising.

Analysis of severity and variability of psychopathology disturbances in structure mental health disorders in long-distance sailors depending on their levels of psychosocial stress

Using clinical-psychopathological and psychodiagnostic methods, we studied the severity and variability of psychopathological symptoms in the structure of mental health disorders in seafarers, depending on the level of psychosocial stress they experienced, to determine the targets of personalized mental health care measures for this contingent. During 2016–2019, 110 officers of the command staff of the Maritime Merchant Navy (CMN), 90 sailors of the Maritime Merchant Navy (SMN), 70 representatives of the command staff of the Maritime Passenger Fleet (CPF) and 30 privates of the Maritime Passenger Fleet (SPF) were surveyed. All were examined by men, citizens of Ukraine. The study included the use of clinical-psychopathological and psychodiagnostic methods. In the inter-voyage period, the vast majority of long-distance sailors are either mentally healthy (30.9 % CMN, 41.1 % SMN, 42.9 % CPF, 33.3 % SPF), or have some signs of mental maladaptation (52.7 % CMN, 37.7 % SMN, 44.3 % CPF, 40.0 % SPF). Clinically delineated disorders of the neurotic register of the F43 cluster (adaptation disorders) are characterized by 26.7 % SPF, 21.1 % SMN, 16.4 % CMN and 12.8 % CPF. The severity and variability of psychopathological manifestations, in general in the sample, correspond to the neurotic level of response, however, have differences among the examined different groups. The greatest severity of symptoms of depression on the background of high levels of anxiety, hostility and psychosis is inherent in SPF, and the greatest severity of anxiety, phobic anxiety, hostility and somatization is inherent in CMN. The lowest severity of psychopathological symptoms is characteristic of CPF. The severity and variability of psychopathological manifestations is directly associated with the level of stress experienced by the subjects: with increasing stress burden, the severity of the psychopathological response increases. The identified patterns should be taken into account in the development of specific measures of psychotherapy and psychoprophylaxis for this contingent, which is the prospect of this study.

EFFECTIVENESS OF A SIMULATION-BASED EMPATHY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM WITH MINDFULNESS ON SOCIAL WORKERS

Empathy enhancement programs and mindfulness-based practices may reduce care practitioners’ burnout and stress while increasing satisfaction, caring efficacy, and well-being. No study has been conducted to measure the effectiveness of a simulation-based empathy enhancement program combined with mindfulness practice on professionals working with older adults living alone. This study, therefore, assessed the effectiveness of a simulation-based empathy enhancement program with a brief mindfulness practice session on social workers working with older adults living alone. This study was a quasi-experimental study involving 105 social workers in South Korea. The experimental group received a simulation-based empathy enhancement program with mindfulness practice, and the attention control group watched a 30-minute-long educational video about empathy. Data were collected prior to the intervention and at two weeks after the intervention using self-reported questionnaires measuring empathy, caring efficacy, psychosocial stress, compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress. The experimental group had significantly lower levels of psychosocial stress compared to the attention control group. Both groups showed significant improvements in empathy but in different empathy measures. Also, the experimental group only showed significantly lower levels of burnout and secondary traumatic stress after the intervention while the attention control group only showed significant improvements in compassion satisfaction and caring efficacy. Although between-group differences were found in psychosocial stress only, pre-and post-test differences in different outcome measures from experimental and attention control groups indicate limited but possible effectiveness of each of the empathy enhancement programs on people in caring professionals.

Depression, stress and vascular function from childhood to adolescence: A longitudinal investigation

BackgroundPsychological distress is associated with risk markers for cardiovascular disease, including increased arterial stiffness and high blood pressure, but it's unclear when these first manifest. This study aims to investigate the effect of psychosocial stress and depression on arterial stiffness and blood pressure in a cohort study of Australian children followed through to adolescence. MethodDepression and psychosocial stress in 520 young people (265 boys; M age = 11.6 y) were assessed via the Children's Depression Inventory and Children's Stress Questionnaire respectively. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity was assessed using applanation tonometry, with further assessments of supine brachial blood pressure and percent body fat (dual x-ray absorptiometry). All measures were repeated four years later at age 16-years. ResultsWe found no cross-sectional or longitudinal evidence that children self-reporting higher levels of psychosocial stress or depressive symptoms had greater arterial stiffness. Children reporting an increase in depressive symptoms had an increase in diastolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure over time. An effect was also evident for pulse pressure, where higher pulse pressure was found in children with lower psychosocial stress at baseline and in children self-reporting a decrease in stress between baseline and follow-up. ConclusionsFindings from the current study contribute to the scant paediatric literature but only provide limited support for any influence of psychological factors on blood pressure. Depressive symptoms in apparently healthy adolescents may exert some influence on later risk for cardiovascular disease via increases in diastolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure, but these effects were small.

Associations between psychosocial stress and oxidative stress during pregnancy in Puerto Rico

TPS 742: Adverse birth outcomes 1, Exhibition Hall, Ground floor, August 27, 2019, 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM Background/Aim: Psychosocial stress during pregnancy has been associated with adverse birth outcomes including preterm birth. While hypothalamic-pituitary-axis activation is thought to be the primary driver, oxidative stress and inflammation may also be involved mechanistically. We used data from the Puerto Rico Testsite for Exploring Contamination Threats (PROTECT) cohort (N=476), which examines environmental risk factors for preterm birth in the Northern Karst region of Puerto Rico, to examine associations between psychosocial stress measures, demographic characteristics, and urinary oxidative stress biomarker concentrations. Methods: Perceived stress, depression, negative life experiences, neighborhood perceptions, and social support were self-reported in questionnaires administered during pregnancy. Responses were grouped into tertiles for analysis, where the highest tertile corresponded to highest level of psychosocial stress. Urinary concentrations of 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (8-iso-PGF2α), its primary metabolite, and prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) were measured at three study visits (median 18, 24, 28 weeks gestation) and averaged to reflect oxidative stress or inflammation across pregnancy. Geometric means and standard deviations were used to examine distributions of biomarkers across demographic characteristics. Linear models were used to examine adjusted associations between tertiles of psychosocial stress and oxidative stress biomarkers. Results: Average levels of 8-iso-PGF2α, its metabolite, and PGF2α were higher among pregnant women who were between 18-24 compared to 25-29 years of age, who had public compared to private insurance, and who were unemployed compared to employed (p-value<0.05). However, no associations were observed between tertiles of psychosocial stress measures and biomarker concentrations. Notably, compared to other populations, there are relatively low levels of psychosocial stress in PROTECT. Conclusions: Psychosocial stress during pregnancy, as indicated by self-reported questionnaire measures, was not associated with biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation in the PROTECT population. However, results from our study suggest that these biomarkers are elevated among women of lower socio-economic status, which is typically associated with stress.

Effects of an 8-Week Body Scan Intervention on Individually Perceived Psychological Stress and Related Steroid Hormones in Hair

An increased psychosocial stress level is a continuously growing public health problem. While previous studies investigated the stress-related effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), it is still largely unknown, whether chronic stress decreases after an 8-week training of a body scan meditation. This study aimed at closing this gap by examining the effects of a body scan on chronic stress markers. In this study, 47 healthy students were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 24) and a control group (n = 23). Participants in the intervention group used a 20-min long audio recording of a guided body scan. The control group listened to an audio book for the same amount of time. On the biological level, stress was assessed by selected stress hormones (cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and its ratio) from hair samples. Psychological stress load was measured by the Screening of the Trier Inventory of Chronic Stress. The body scan group showed a decreased level of cortisol, and cortisol/DHEA ratio, as well as an increased level of DHEA compared with the audio book group. Regarding psychological stress, a decreased value was observed in both groups. Additional correlation analyses demonstrate no relationship between biological and psychological chronic stress markers. Overall, data suggest positive effects of an 8-week body scan, especially for biological stress markers. Investigating the effects of this intervention in populations with a high risk for increased levels of stress (e.g., unemployment) would be particularly interesting.

Psychosocial stress associated with memory performance in older South African adults

ABSTRACTOlder adults with past or current chronic stress exposure perform poorly on memory assessments and are at higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In low- or middle-income countries, many older adults are, or have been, exposed to stress-provoking events. Few published studies examine such populations, however, and few take multiple measures of stress. In a sample of South African older adults with mild-to-moderate AD (n = 65) and healthy controls (n = 69), we assessed relations between stress (psychosocial and physiological), memory performance, and patient status. Participants, all aged > 60, were administered the Perceived Stress Scale (a questionnaire assessing subjective psychosocial stress) and the Cambridge Cognitive Examination-Revised (CAMCOG-R; a test battery measuring performance across several cognitive domains). We measured their salivary cortisol concentrations as a proxy for physiological stress. Patients reported significantly higher levels of psychosocial stress than controls, p = .008. Logistic regression showed that psychosocial stress, but not cortisol, predicted AD patient status. CAMCOG-R Memory subscale scores were significantly associated with psychosocial stress, r = −.18, p = .040, but not with cortisol levels. These findings are the first on the topic to emerge from a low-or middle-income country. We replicated findings from previous studies conducted in high-income countries, with data supporting predictions derived from the glucocorticoid cascade/neurotoxicity hypothesis. The results suggest that clinical interventions focused on increasing resilience of older adults to effects of chronic stress may help protect against declining memory performance and reduce the risk for AD.

Associations between socioeconomic status, psychosocial stress, and urinary levels of 8-iso-prostaglandin-F2α during pregnancy in Puerto Rico

BackgroundLower socioeconomic status (SES) and psychosocial stress during pregnancy have been associated with adverse birth outcomes. While hypothalamic-pituitary-axis activation is thought to be the primary driver, oxidative stress may also be involved mechanistically. We used data from the Puerto Rico Testsite for Exploring Contamination Threats (PROTECT) cohort (N=476) to examine associations between self-reported psychosocial stress measures, SES indicators, and urinary oxidative stress biomarker concentrations, hypothesizing that women with lower SES and increased psychosocial stress would have elevated oxidative stress biomarkers. MethodsMaternal age, education, marital status, insurance status, alcohol use and smoking status were obtained via self-reported questionnaires and were used as indicators of SES. Perceived stress, depression, negative life experiences, neighborhood perceptions, and social support were self-reported in questionnaires administered during pregnancy. Responses were grouped into tertiles for analysis, where the highest tertile corresponded to highest level of psychosocial stress. Urinary concentrations of 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (8-iso-PGF2α) and its primary metabolite were measured at three study visits (median 18, 24, 28 weeks gestation) and averaged to reflect oxidative stress across pregnancy. Linear models were used to examine associations between SES indicators, tertiles of psychosocial stress and oxidative stress biomarkers. ResultsAverage levels of 8-iso-PGF2α and the 8-iso-PGF2α metabolite were higher among pregnant women who were younger, who had public compared to private insurance, and who were unemployed compared to employed. However, no associations were observed between psychosocial stress measures and biomarker concentrations in adjusted analyses. ConclusionsPsychosocial stress during pregnancy, as indicated by self-reported questionnaire measures, was not associated with biomarkers of oxidative stress in the PROTECT study. However, results suggest that these biomarkers are elevated among women of lower SES, which is typically associated with stress. Notably, compared to other populations, self-reported psychosocial stress measures were lower in PROTECT compared to other populations.

Association of MAOA genetic variants and resilience with psychosocial stress: A longitudinal study of Syrian refugees.

Early childhood trauma can have profound and lifelong effects on adult mental health and psychosocial wellbeing. Nevertheless, responses to trauma are highly variable. Genetic variants may help explain variation in responses to trauma by identifying alleles that associate with changes in mental health measures. Protective factors, such as resilience, likely also play an important role in responses to trauma. The effects of genetic variants, in combination with protective factors, on psychosocial health are not well understood, particularly in non-Western contexts. In this study, we test the relative influence of genetic variants of monoamine oxidase A (MAOA, a gene proposed to influence the impact of childhood trauma on adult violence and antisocial behavior), levels of resilience, and exposure to traumatic events on psychosocial stress and mental health trajectories over time. We use data from a cohort of 12-18-year-old Syrian refugees who were forcibly displaced to neighboring Jordan (n = 399). DNA samples and survey data on trauma exposure, resilience (CYRM-12), and psychosocial stress were collected at three time points: baseline, ~13 weeks, and ~48 weeks. Using multilevel models, we identified an association of MAOA variant, in males only, with symptom scores of psychosocial stress on the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) over time (p = 8.1 x 10−4). We also found that resilience is strongly associated with PSS (p = 7.9 x 10−9), underscoring the importance of protective factors in influencing levels of psychosocial stress. Furthermore, there was an additive effect wherein the sharpest reductions in perceived psychosocial stress are seen in low-activity MAOA males with low trauma exposure or high resilience levels. Our results highlight the value of studies that integrate genetic and psychosocial factors to better understand complex phenotypes, such as responses to trauma in contexts of high trauma exposure.

The role of shift work and psychosocial stress in development of hemostasis disorders in employees of EMERCOM of Russia

Relevance. Shift work was found to induce pathological processes due to desynchronization of human circadian biorhythms.Intention. To determine incidence of hemostasis disorders and their relation to labour nature in employees of EMERCOM of Russia.Methodology.There were examined 37 employees of EMERCOM of Russia aged 32–58 (42.0 ± 6.8) with work experience (12.0 ± 6.9) years, high level of psychosocial stress and different work schedules: day (n = 11), shift (n = 14), irregular working hours (n = 12). The level of professional stress was studied using a specially developed questionnaire and the night sleep – using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Сortisol circadian dynamics was evaluated, hemostasis state was fully assessed.Results and Discussion.The questionnaire showed irregularity of work schedule, additional working hours, decreased leisure time and high intensity of work in all study groups. High incidence of arterial hypertension (44 %) was registered without constant antihypertensive therapy. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) indicated sleep disorders among 24 (65 %) EMERCOM employees. Сortisol circadian dynamics test demonstrated increased level of the evening cortisol in 40 % of EMERCOM employees indicating widespread desynchronosis signs in the study group. Hemostatic system comprehensive assessment showed absence of considerable changes in thrombocytic component and a significant activation of plasma hemostasis according to the thrombodynamics assay. Hemostasis disorders were most expressed in the group with shift work and high psychosocial stress; they manifested in increased clots formation, spontaneous clots formation and increased VIII coagulation factor activity.Conclusion. The study confirmed the existing vision that chronic stress and desynchronosis change the hemostatic balance into chronic hypercoagulation state.

Evaluation of the effects of open and closed rhinoplasty on the psychosocial stress level and quality of life of rhinoplasty patients

To investigate patient-reported functional and aesthetic outcomes and psycho-social distress levels in patients undergoing rhinoplasty with regard to technique, type, and indications of surgery. A total of 90 patients (mean(SD) age: 27.4(6.5) years, 64.4% females) undergoing rhinoplasty were included prospectively. Data of Nasal Symptom Obstruction Evaluation (NOSE) scale for the functional outcome, the rhinoplasty outcome evaluation (ROE) scale for the esthetic outcome, and the Derriford Appearance Scale (DAS-24) for psychosocial outcomes were recorded preoperatively and in the postoperative 1st, 3rd, and 6th month. No significant difference was noted in ROE or NOSE scores with regard to technique (open vs. closed), type (primary vs. secondary), and indication (functional vs. cosmetic) of rhinoplasty during study visits. Open vs. closed surgery, secondary vs. primary rhinoplasty, and cosmetic vs. functional indication for rhinoplasty were associated with significantly higher DAS-24 scores at the preoperative visit (p<0.001 for each) and postoperative 1st (p<0.001 for each) and 3rd month (p<0.001, p<0.001, and p<0.01, respectively) visits. NOSE, ROE, and DAS-24 scores significantly decreased from the preoperative to the postoperative period and from 1st month to 3rd and 6th months of postoperative follow-up in all patients, regardless of the rhinoplasty subgroup (p<0.001 for each). In conclusion, our findings revealed favorable postoperative functional and esthetic outcome and improved psycho-social distress in patients undergoing rhinoplasty, with significantly improved NOSE, ROE, and DAS-24 scores after rhinoplasty during the entire 6-month follow-up, regardless of the technique (open vs. closed), type (primary vs. revision), and indication (cosmetic vs. functional) of rhinoplasty. Closed rhinoplasty may be a more preferable method because of less psycho-social distress.

Sex differences in eating related behaviors and psychopathology among adolescent military dependents at risk for adult obesity and eating disorders

Stressors unique to military families may place dependents of military service members of both sexes at high-risk for disordered-eating. Yet, there are no data examining sex-related differences in eating pathology and distress among this population. Therefore, we examined disordered-eating attitudes and associated psychosocial characteristics in adolescent military dependents at high-risk for both eating disorders and adult obesity (i.e., BMI ≥ 85th percentile and elevated anxiety symptoms and/or loss-of-control eating). One-hundred-twenty-five (55.2% female) adolescent (12–17 y) military dependents were studied prior to entry in an eating disorder and obesity prevention trial. Youth were administered the Eating Disorder Examination interview to determine disordered-eating attitudes, and completed questionnaires to assess self-esteem, social functioning, and depression. Girls and boys did not differ in BMIz (p = .66) or race/ethnicity (p = .997/p = .55). Adjusting for relevant covariates, girls and boys did not differ significantly with regard to disordered-eating global scores (p = .38), self-esteem (p = .23), or social functioning (p = .19). By contrast, girls reported significantly more symptoms of depression (p = .001). Adolescent male and female dependents at high-risk for eating disorders and adult obesity reported comparable levels of eating-related and psychosocial stress. Data are needed to elucidate how adolescent military dependents respond to intervention and whether sex moderates outcome.

Social support and quality of life of persons of different social groups and with various levels of psychosocial stress, which are suffering from disorders due to use of alcohol

Background. In recent years, researchers’ interest in the social context of the problem of alcohol dependence (AD) has tended to increase. However, to date, there are no enough studies about relationship between the characteristics of social support in patients with AD and the level of psychosocial stress to which they are exposed. Taking into account the specifics of this interaction, we have opportunity significantly increase the effectiveness of AD therapy in conditions of social stress. Also it can become the basis for modifying existing therapeutic and rehabilitation strategies for treating and rehabilitating patients with alcohol dependence.&#x0D; Objective – to determine the peculiarities of social support and quality of life of alcohol-dependent patients with varying levels of psychosocial stress.&#x0D; Materials and methods. 312 men with alcohol dependence were examined: 107 combatants, 89 forcibly displaced persons and 116 people – civilians living in Kharkiv and Kharkiv region. We used such research methods as clinical, psychopathological, psychodiagnostic and statistical.&#x0D; Results. As a result of the work, it has been established that patients with alcohol dependence of all social groups, regardless of the level of psychosocial stress, are characterized by a lack of social support and poor quality of life. Combatants feel the least social support from the family, however, the highest support among all patients is from friends and significant others. The displaced people have stable low support for all its sources. The civilians use bigger support from families than from other sources. As the stress increases, social support is reduced, which is a paradoxical phenomenon, since it is in a situation of severe stress that patients need some support the most.&#x0D; Ability to search and acceptance of social support decreases with increasing levels of psychosocial stress, although among forcibly displaced persons it is the lowest regardless of the level of stress experienced by them. Combatants and locals with mild and moderate stress find the need and ability to seek and accept social support, but do not get it to the proper extent, which is an adverse factor in the dynamics of the progression of alcohol dependence and increased stress.&#x0D; Among all components of quality of life, in all patients with alcohol addiction, the lowest level of implementation is observed in the field of subjective well-being and a sense of satisfaction from life. The dynamics of quality of life indicators is inversely associated with the level of psychosocial stress: the tendency towards deterioration of the quality of life in all spheres of functioning of patients with alcohol dependence with the increase in the severity of psychosocial stress is established; significantly lower quality of life (both in terms of the integral index and its components) is characteristic for patients with alcohol dependence with a severe level of psychosocial stress, as compared to individuals with mild to moderate stress.&#x0D; Conclusions. The revealed regularities should be taken into account when developing treatment, rehabilitation and preventive measures for persons suffering from alcohol dependence.

ПОРІВНЯЛЬНИЙ АНАЛІЗ ОСОБЛИВОСТЕЙ СТРЕСОСТІЙКОСТІ СТУДЕНТІВ ТА ФАХІВЦІВ СОЦІОНОМІЧНИХ ПРОФЕСІЙ

The article substantiates the relevance of studying the problem of professional stress resistance of specialists of socionomic professions. The content of the concept "professional stress-resistance" is explained. The article describes the procedure of the study with the use of the method of express diagnostics of the level of psychoemotional tension (O.Kopina, K.Suslova, E.Zaikin, 1995) and the Boston stress-resistance test.The paper presents the results of the empirical study of the features of stress and psycho-emotional tension among students of socionomic profile and working professionals. There were determined the common and distinctive features of stress resistance of future and working specialists of various socionomic professions.It is revealed that modern Ukrainian students from higher and secondary educational institutions have a high level of satisfaction with life, living conditions and basic vital needs. However, university students are more satisfied with life in general, but less with living conditions and the level of satisfaction of their basic needs compared with students in secondary education. Analysis of the survey data showed no statistically significant differences between genders. It has been found that students are more satisfied with their health, living conditions, and the level of satisfaction of their basic needs and life in general compared with specialists.By the level of psycho-emotional tension the study groups vary significantly: among students of institutions of higher education the level of psychosocial stress is significantly lower than among students of secondary education institutions. It was also found that the level of psychosocial stress is significantly higher among boys than among girls. It was revealed that working specialists are featured by significantly higher stress resistance in comparison to students.The results of the analysis indicate that stress is a professionally important quality of specialists of socionomic professions, and its formation is a prerequisite for effective professional activity.

ANALYSIS FACTORS OF PSYCHOSOCIAL STRESS IN PREGNANCY

The Pregnancy period begins from conception until birth. It is hard to figure out if the pregnancy will get any problem. The process will involve emotional, physical and social alteration in the family. Until now,the maternal emotional condition, psychosocial stress are rarely to watch over by medical practisioners meanwhile at some study said that maternal psychosocial stress influence the outcome of baby. The aim of this study to analyze some factors that is associated to psychosocial stress in pregnancy women. This was a cross-sectional study of collected by using questionaires, were comprised of 11 questions using likert-scales, then using bivariat analysis by t-test and chi square to evaluate the sample characteristic at teaching hospital Hasanuddin University in 2015. There are 158 pregnant woman, shows who are in the age of 26,25 ± 6,319, suffer from stress, who are in their gestasional age of 30,63 ± 9,164 weeks will be going through the high level of stress. The age of pregnant women and their gestasional age in this study do not influence significantly toward psychosocial stress. Social economic factors such as level of education, occupation, and parity influence the pregnant women psychosocial stress level.

Influences of continuous sitting and psychosocial stress on low back kinematics, kinetics, discomfort, and localized muscle fatigue during unsupported sitting activities

Continuous seated postures may increase the risk of adverse health outcomes such as low-back pain, and this risk may be influenced by several modifying factors. In the present study, we aimed to quantify the effects of continuous sitting and psychosocial stress under an unsupported sitting condition. Fourteen participants completed continuous, 40 min. periods of computer-based tasks, involving both low and higher levels of psychosocial stress, while using a laptop computer without a desk. Continuous sitting significantly increased perceived discomfort (particularly in the upper and lower back), trunk flexion and metrics of localized muscle fatigue. A higher level of psychosocial stress increased estimated lumbosacral compression forces (by ∼12%). Only weak correlations were found between subjective and objective measures, while various fatigue metrics showed a good level of correspondence with each other. These results could support the future evaluation or design of diverse seated work configurations.Practitioner Summary: Continuous, 40 min. periods of unsupported sitting had broad impacts on subjective and objective outcomes, including discomfort, postures, spine loads and localized muscle fatigue, while psychosocial stress only had a substantial influence on lumbosacral compression. These results extend our understanding of sitting behaviors and provide information for designing future sitting environments.

Exercise is medicine in the 21st century – Emphasis on efficacy, dosing, and safety/toxicity

Substantial evidence from epidemiologic and cohort studies has established the critical importance of physical activity (PA), exercise training (ET), and overall levels of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). In fact, low levels of CRF may be the strongest CVD risk factor and predictor of higher mortality, and many studies show that relatively fit subjects with certain disorders, such as obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes, have considerably better prognosis than do unfit subjects without these disorders. The role of low PA as the fundamental cause of obesity will be discussed, as well as low levels of CRF explaining the obesity paradox. The potential benefits of PA/ET and increases in CRF to protect against CVD will be discussed, especially the impact on psychological risk factors, such as depression, anxiety and hostility and overall high levels of psychosocial stress to increase mortality risk, especially in patients with established CVD, such as coronary heart disease (CHD). Even small improvements in CRF and peak VO2 can produce marked reductions in depression and psychological risk factors and lead to marked reductions in mortality risk in cohorts of CVD patients, such as CHD and heart failure. Most of the evidence indicates that the ET benefits especially occur at low doses; in fact, in our major running studies, quite low doses of running appear to produce the greatest reductions in CVD- and all-cause mortality during long-term follow-up studies. On the other hand, high doses of running may be associated with some loss of the ET/running benefits; and very high levels of ET (e.g. marathons and triathlons) are associated with potential cardiotoxicity, which will be briefly discussed. Exercise is Medicine and optimal dosing for this potentially beneficial therapy will be discussed for long-term prevention of chronic diseases, especially CVD and premature mortality.

MEDIATING ROLE OF MATERNAL SENSITIVITY: ENHANCING LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT IN AT-RISK FAMILIES.

Home-visiting programs have gained increasing importance in family-centered prevention and intervention. However, few studies have examined the mechanisms underlying early intervention treatment effects. The goal of this study is to analyze the mediating role of maternal sensitivity in enhancing language development with the home-visiting program Parents as Teachers (PAT). Data were collected and analyzed within the ongoing, long-term ZEPPELIN study, a randomized controlled trial with 251 participating at-risk families. Via longitudinal mediation analysis, we examined whether effects of the PAT on receptive and expressive language outcomes at 24 and 36 months were mediated by maternal sensitivity at 12 months. Within a moderated mediation framework, we investigated whether the level of family psychosocial stress affects this mediation. Results showed that intervention effects on language outcomes are mediated by maternal sensitivity-weakly and through specific pathways. Moderation and moderated mediation analyses indicated that effects of the PAT and also specific mediation effects increase with the level of psychosocial stress. Implications of the results for practice are discussed.

Abstract A52: Disparities in psychosocial stress and breast cancer survival by race/ethnicity

Abstract Background: Greater levels of stress, anxiety, or isolation (psychosocial stress) have been hypothesized to negatively alter the sympathetic-parasympathetic autonomic nervous system, suppress immune function, and have other physiologic effects that, in turn, might impact survival in breast cancer patients. Prior research in a variety of contexts has documented greater levels of psychosocial stress among non-Latina (nL) Black and Latina women when comparted to nL White women in the United States. We examined associations between patient-reported psychosocial stress and survival (breast cancer-specific and overall) in the Breast Cancer Care in Chicago (BCCC) study, a cross-sectional study of 989 recently diagnosed breast cancer patients, including 397 non-Hispanic White (white), 411 non-Hispanic Black (black), and 181 Latina patients. Methods: Eligible patients were between 30 and 79 years of age at diagnosis, resided in Chicago, and were diagnosed with a first primary breast cancer (in situ or invasive) between 2005 and 2008. Psychosocial stress was defined based on three existing scales. The four items from the Cohen perceived stress subscale were summed to create a measure with an inter-item reliability (Cronbach's alpha of 0.74). The three items from the UCLA felt loneliness scale (alpha=0.79) and the 12 items from the Cockburn psychological consequences scale (alpha=0.93) were also summed. The probability of death due to breast cancer was modeled in multivariable logistic regression followed by conditional standardization, separately for each psychosocial stress measure while controlling for age, race/ethnicity, insurance, mode of detection, socioeconomic status, and treatment variables. Results: Compared to white patients, black and Latina patients reported greater levels of stress, loneliness, and psychological consequences (p=0.001 for each). When comparing patients one SD above vs. one SD below the mean for each psychosocial stress measure, perceived stress and psychological consequences were associated or marginally associated with increased risk of death from breast cancer (RR =1.90, 95% CI: 1.21, 3.12 and RR=1.42, 95%CI: 0.84, 2.36, respectively), whereas loneliness was not (RR=1.08, 95%CI: 0.61, 1.68). With respect to death from all causes, RRs for perceived stress, psychological consequences, and loneliness were 1.77 (95% CI: 1.24, 2.46), 1.37 (95%CI: 0.94, 2.04) and 1.17 (95%CI: 0.78, 1.63), respectively. The black-white disparity in breast cancer-specific death (HR=3.63, 95%CI: 2.08, 6.34) was slightly attenuated with control for all three psychosocial stress variables (HR=3.46, 95%CI: 1.98, 6.06). The black-white disparity in death from any cause (HR=2.41, 95%CI: 1.60, 3.62) was again slightly attenuated with control for all three psychosocial stress variables (HR=2.30, 95%CI: 1.53, 3.47). Additional mediation analyses confirmed that these three psychosocial stress variables did not appear to mediate black-white survival disparities. Conclusions: Psychosocial stress was associated with increased mortality from breast cancer among recently diagnosed patients. Although it seems to not be very meaningful in the context of black-white survival disparities, elevated stress could lead to detrimental effects on immune function, or could adversely affect patient adherence and completion of recommended treatment, in addition to other mental health illnesses, such as depression. For this reason, further analysis and interventions at the extent of multilevel contributing factors may be needed in order to address survival disparities in breast cancer. Citation Format: Carola T. Sánchez-Díaz, Garth H. Rasucher. Disparities in psychosocial stress and breast cancer survival by race/ethnicity [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Tenth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2017 Sep 25-28; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2018;27(7 Suppl):Abstract nr A52.