Life Orientation Test Research Articles

Perceived risk, illness perception and dispositional optimism related to COVID-19 among oncologic outpatients undergoing in-hospital treatments and healthy controls

Objective This study aimed to explore risk estimations (perceived risk, dispositional optimism) related to COVID-19 perception and distress in oncologic outpatients undergoing active hospital treatments compared to the general population. Design and Main Outcome Measures Data were collected during the Italian lockdown on 150 oncologic outpatients and a sample of 150 healthy subjects. They completed a battery of questionnaires including the Perceived Risk scale, the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, the Life Orientation Test- Revised and the Patient Health Questionnaire-4. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and a moderated mediation model were performed to test the study hypotheses. Results The moderated mediation model attested significant conditional indirect associations of both clinical status and dispositional optimism with distress through the mediation of COVID-19 perceived risk. Healthy individuals and less optimistic people were more likely than others to report higher psychological distress only when they showed neutral or negative COVID-19-related illness perception. Conclusions Cancer patients manifest a lower risk perception and a more positive illness representation related to COVID-19 compared to control subjects; the distress level is not associated with the clinical status, but it is moderated by illness perception. Adequate protective behaviors in cancer patients may avoid a dangerous underestimation of objective risks.

Path analysis of the association between self-compassion and depressive symptoms among nursing and medical students: a cross-sectional survey

BackgroundNursing and medical students are suffering from high rates of depressive symptoms. Mental health benefits students’ learning, growth and professional development. Exploring psychological resources to prevent depression is emphasized recently, and self-compassion is shown to be inversely associated with depressive symptoms. However, the mechanism through which self-compassion contributes to decreased depressive symptoms is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to explore and examine a model detailing the potential paths between self-compassion and depressive symptoms.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted and convenient sampling was used. Among the 1800 nursing and medical students targeted from two universities in East and North China, 1341 completed the questionnaires, and 1127 valid questionnaires were analyzed comprising 566 and 561 from medical and nursing students, respectively. Data in May 2020 and July 2020 were collected through Patient Health Questionnaire, self-compassion scale, resilience scale, Life Orientation Test and Perceived Stress Scale. Then, path model analysis was conducted to analyze the data.ResultsFinally, this study included 1125 valid questionnaires after excluding two extremes of study variables. Participants consisted of 50.2% medical students and 49.8% nursing students. The model showed an acceptable fit to the data. After controlling for the demographics, self-compassion was directly and indirectly associated with decreased depressive symptoms by increasing resilience and optimism and reducing perceived stress among nursing and medical students. Resilience and optimism were directly and indirectly associated with decreased depressive symptoms by reducing perceived stress among nursing students and indirectly associated with decreased depressive symptoms among medical students.ConclusionsThe study provides evidence that self-compassion significantly influences the decrease in depressive symptoms by increasing resilience and optimism and reducing perceived stress. These findings suggested that programs enhancing students’ self-compassion, resilience, and optimism simultaneously can help decrease depressive symptoms and improve mental health in education and healthcare institutes. These findings may facilitate the designing of educational programs for preventing depressive symptoms and promoting mental health among nursing and medical students.

Personal Resources of Winter and Summer Hikers Visiting the Tatra National Park, Poland.

To assess personal resources: Core Self Evaluations and Psychological Capital (HERO) of 95 winter Hikers (M age = 27.10 yrs.; SD = 7.30) and 98 summer Hikers (M age = 25.30 yrs.; SD = 5.40) visiting the Tatra National Park (Poland). The hikers filled in seven scales. These were: the Delta Questionnaire for measure Locus of Control, the Neuroticism scale (from the NEO-FFI), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (SES), the Hope Scale, The Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), the Ego Resiliency Scale, and The Life Orientation Test Revised (LOT-R). The results indicated significant differences between winter and summer hikers in the Tatras. The winter hikers scored higher on self-esteem, hope, self-efficacy, resilience, and optimism, and lower on external locus of control and neuroticism than summer hikers. This study also examined the factor structure of the personal resources in the hikers’ samples. The results suggested that the scales extracted two factors: Cognitive Resources and Affective Reactivity. These factors discriminate between winter and summer hikers. The Cognitive Resources factor is more important in effective adaptation to the wild world of nature than Affective Reactivity.

High School Students Responding to Psychic Difficulties When School Closed because of Covid-19: Case Study in the Suburbs Area of Hanoi

This study applies the Adolescent Coping Scale - ACS by Erica Frydenberg and Ramon Lewis (1991, 1993) to find out the actual reacting status of high school students in the suburbs of Hanoi when facing psychological difficulties during the period of school closures in Covid 19 disease. This paper also uses the Life Orientation Test - Revised - LOT - R scale of Scheier, Carver and Bridges (1994) to classify the state of students' optimism when participating in this study. This study used an online questionnaire survey method using Google form and Zalo form. Survey was conducted from March 2020 to June 2021. The result implied that the influence of optimism on students' responding methods, The result implied that different responding to psychic difficulties accompanied with learning setting can contribute greatly to students’ learning and life process.

Self-Efficacy, Optimism, and Academic Performance as Psychoeducational Variables: Mediation Approach in Students.

Background: During the various stages of education, adolescents undergo emotional and motivational experiences that can play key roles in their development. This study aims to analyse the relationship among academic self-efficacy, optimism, and academic performance. Methods: This study comprised 1852 adolescent (male, N = 956, 51.61% and female, N = 896, 48.38%) aged 12–19 years (M = 14.77; SD = 1.80) from twelve secondary schools in Spain. The instruments used for the evaluation were the Academic Self-Efficacy Scale (ASES) and the Life Orientation Test—Revised (LOT-R); the students’ average marks were used to measure their academic performance. Results: The results of the study revealed significant correlations among self-efficacy, optimism and academic performance. Conclusions: These results emphasise the importance of academic self-efficacy as a mediating variable between the other two variables as well as its central role in the promotion of adaptive behaviours in the classroom, leading to adequate personal development, helping to prevent early school dropout and contributing to a more satisfactory academic experience.

Comparing the Automatic Item Selection Procedure and Exploratory Factor Analysis in Determining Factor Structure

It is necessary to supply proof regarding the construct validity of the scales. Especially, when new scales are developed the construct validity is researched by the Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). Generally, factor extraction is performed via the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) which is not exactly factor analysis and the Principal Axis Factoring (PAF) among EFA methods. Factors may also be determined with different techniques depending on the advances in psychometry. In the context of nonparametric item response theory, the Mokken Scale Analysis (MSA) and the Automatic Item Selection Procedure (AISP) provide significant contributions to researchers in scale development studies. The aim of the current study is to compare the AISP and the EFA methods in determining the factor structures. The Revised Life Orientation Test, whose factor structure was previously known and validated, and the draft Expectation Scale from Academics in Distance Education Scale, which was at the preliminary stage of the scale development process with the unknown factor structure, were considered in this comparison. It was determined that the consistency of the findings obtained from the EFA, and the ones obtained from the AISP provided strong evidence in ensuring the construct validity. The PAF and the AISP produced similar results in this research. The PAF results should be taken into consideration instead of the PCA, especially in scale development studies. It is recommended that the AISP and the PAF results be evaluated together for strong evidence in the investigation of construct validity in scale development studies

Illness Perception and Quality of Life in Patients with Breast Cancer.

Simple SummaryThe declining average age of cancer patients may become a serious problem for health care systems and societies in general in the near future. For this reason, there is a need to fully understand the factors determining health-related quality of life in breast cancer patients, beyond clinical characteristics and sociodemographic factors. In our study, we aimed to demonstrate the relationship between illness perception and quality of life in breast cancer patients. The results of our study confirm the beneficial effect of positive illness perception on the intensity of symptoms related to cancer and treatment, as well as functional domains of EORTC QLQ-C30.Introduction. In 2020, breast cancer was the most frequently diagnosed malignancy worldwide. The QoL level plays a role in assessing the effectiveness of the diagnosis and therapy and is a significant prognostic factor. The subject that is relatively less often addressed in the literature is the impact of psycho-social factors and health-related beliefs on QoL in breast cancer patients. The aim of the study was to assess the association of illness perception, the sense of coherence, and illness acceptance with QoL in breast cancer patients. Methods. The study included 202 women (mean age 53.0 ± 10.3) treated surgically for breast cancer at the Lower Silesian Oncology Centre. The following standardized questionnaires were used: Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS), Mental Adjustment to Cancer (Mini-MAC), Quality of Life Questionnaires (EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BR23), The Multidimensional Essence of Disease and Illness Scale (MEDIS), and Life Orientation Test (LOT-R). Results. There is a statistically significant association between illness acceptance and QoL. There is a statistically significant association between the sense of coherence (life optimism—LOT-R) and QoL among breast cancer patients. There is a statistically significant association between illness perception and QoL. There was a statistically significant correlation between the increasing importance of illness as a dysfunction, decreasing QoL, and increasing intensity of symptoms and complaints. Conclusions. Patients with a high level of illness acceptance, with an optimistic disposition, and with a positive illness perception have better QoL within all the functional domains and experience lower intensity of cancer- and treatment-related symptoms as compared to those with low level of illness acceptance, with moderate optimism or a pessimistic disposition, and with neutral or negative illness perception.

EFIKASI DIRI AKADEMIK DAN OPTIMISME DENGAN RESILIENSI AKADEMIK SISWA YANG BELAJAR DARING DI SMAN 2 CIKARANG UTARA

This study aims to determine the relationship between Academic Self-Efficacy and optimism with the academic resilience of the students studying online at SMAN 2 Cikarang Utara. This research will use quantitative method with research design using correlation and regression. The subject in this study were high school student who were studying online, which consisted of three classes, grades 10, 11, 12 totaling 138 student. This study uses a standard scale. The results of Alpha Cronbach formula include, The Academic Resilience Scale-30 with a value r=0,907, Online Learning Self-Efficacy Scale (OLSES) with a value r=0,755, and Life Orientation Test Revised (LOT-R) with a value r= 0,441. Data anaylsis technique used rank spearman correlation and multiple regression test. The results of the correlation test between academic self-efficacy and academic resilience showed a positive and significant relationship with the value of sig= 0, 000 (< 0,05), while the correlation test between optimism and academic resilience showed a positive and significand relationship with the value of sig= 0, 000 (<0,05). On the results of multiple regression tests between academic self-efficacy and optimism on academi on academic resilience show a significant effect with a value of sig= 0, 000 (<0,05)

Health Behaviours and the Sense of Optimism in Nursing Students in Poland, Spain and Slovakia during the COVID-19 Pandemic

(1) The COVID-19 outbreak brought about several socio-economic changes and has had a negative impact on the mental health of people around the world. The aim of this study was to examine the correlation between health behaviours and dispositional optimism among nursing students in Poland, Spain and Slovakia during the COVID-19 pandemic. (2) The study was carried out in spring 2021 on a group of 756 nursing students in Poland (n = 390), Spain (n = 196) and Slovakia (n = 170). The diagnostic survey method was applied with the questionnaire technique, and the following standardised research tools were used: Life Orientation Test—Revised (LOT-R) and the Health Behaviour Inventory (IZZ). The survey was conducted in a mixed arrangement: in direct contact with the respondents in Poland and in Spain and online in Slovakia. (3) Significant differences were demonstrated in health behaviour preferences in students in Poland, Spain and Slovakia (F = 6.22; p < 0.002). The highest IZZ index was found in Spanish students (82.60 ± 13.65), while lower values were observed in Slovak (80.38 ± 13.74) and Polish (78.44 ± 13.47) students. The correlation between dispositional optimism and a positive attitude was the strongest in the Polish sample (r = 0.56; p < 0.001), at a high level in the Spanish sample (r = 0.53; p < 0.001) and at an average level in the Slovak sample (r = 0.48; p < 0.001). (4) 1. The study showed a moderating effect of the country of origin on the students’ health behaviours. 2. Dispositional optimism is an important predictor of the students’ health behaviours, regardless of the country of origin.

Relationship between Mental Disorders and Optimism in a Community-Based Sample of Adults.

Optimism should be included in efforts to protect mental health, as it can provide cognitive resources. Optimism also reduces the negative effects of stressful life events associated with the occurrence and recurrence of mental disorders. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between mental disorders and optimism in a community-based sample of adults. The study was conducted in three semi-rural clusters determined via random sampling. After adjustment in accordance with the independent variables, the relationship between each psychiatric disorder and Life Orientation Test (LOT) was calculated using logistic models. Overall, 24.5% of participants were categorized into at least one mental disorder group, with 20.8%, 3.5%, and 0.3% having one, two, or three mental disorders, respectively. The median LOT score was lower in patients diagnosed from the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders modules, except for the somatoform disorder module. Maintaining an optimistic view reduced the risk of mood disorders by 0.86 (OR; 95% CI, 0.81–0.91), anxiety disorders by 0.89 (0.83–0.97), and probable alcohol abuse by 0.83 (0.74–0.93) times after adjustment. The role of an optimistic view in coping with mental problems should be investigated in detail.

Develop Webinar-Based Empowerment to Increase Optimism of Breast Cancer Survivors

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer patients must undergo a series of therapies that take a long time with painful side effects. Fellow breast cancer sufferers are people who can provide psychological support to patients. Cancer patients need to get support from others to always motivate, encourage, motivate, control, and assist cancer patients. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to develop a model of webinar-based empowerment to increase optimism of breast cancer survivors in Medan. METHODS: The type of research used is action research with 78 participants. There are two types of instruments for data collection, the focus group discussion (FGD) question guide and the Revised Life Orientation Test (LOT-R) instrument. Six people were used for in-depth interviews and 72 people for the implementation of optimism socialization through webinars. RESULTS: The results of the optimism assessment showed that 83% of participants had positive optimism after the webinar activity on tips and tricks “Successful controlling emotions with Optimism.” Based on the results of the paired t test, p &lt; 0.0001 was obtained. This shows that webinars can affect the optimism of breast cancer survivors. CONCLUSIONS: Fellow breast cancer patients are needed to motivate each other and share experiences in dealing with breast cancer treatment and how to prevent complications or metastases. The role of fellow breast cancer sufferers is currently very easy to do with webinar-based empowerment. Webinars have the effect of increasing optimism.

Optimism and Lipid Profiles in Midlife: A 15-Year Study of Black and White Adults

Optimism is associated with better cardiovascular health, yet little is known about the underlying mechanisms and whether protective relationships are consistently observed across diverse groups. This study examines optimism's association with lipid profiles over time and separately among Black and White men and women. Data were from 3,206 middle-aged adults in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study. Optimism was measured in 2000-2001 using the Revised Life Orientation Test. Triglyceride, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol measurements were obtained at 5-year intervals through 2015-2016. Linear mixed models evaluated relationships between optimism and lipids, adjusting for covariates, including prebaseline lipids. Subgroup differences were examined using interaction terms and stratification. All analyses were conducted in 2020. Higher optimism was associated with both lower baseline total cholesterol (β= -2.33, 95% CI= -4.31, -0.36) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (β= -1.93, 95% CI= -3.65, -0.21) and a more rapid incremental increase in both markers over time (total cholesterol: β=0.09, 95% CI=0.00, 0.18; low-density lipoprotein cholesterol: β=0.09, 95% CI=0.01, 0.16). No associations were apparent with baseline triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, or changes in either lipid over time. Tests for interaction only found evidence of heterogeneous associations with baseline triglyceride levels, but stratified models hinted at stronger protective associations with baseline levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol among White women. Optimism may help diverse individuals establish healthy total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels before midlife. Although associations were largely consistent across subgroups, stronger associations among White men and White women highlight a need to study optimism's health impact in diverse samples.

Resilience and Related Factors: A Comparison of Fathers and Mothers of Patients With Cleft Lip and/or Palate in China

Background: Resilience has become a hot spot in the field of positive psychology to study life-change events. However, there were little information on resilience among the fathers and mothers of patients with cleft lip and/or palate respectively. The present study aimed to explore and compare the level and potential influential factors associated with resilience among fathers/mothers of patients with cleft lip and/or palate in China.Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out between April 2019 and July 2020 among fathers/mothers of patients with cleft lip and/or palate in two cleft lip and/or palate treatment centers in China. Sixty Nine fathers and 179 mothers of patients with cleft lip and/or palate were interviewed with a questionnaire on demographic variables and the Resilience Scale-14 (RS-14), Herth Hope Index (HHI), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), Revised Life Orientation Test (LOT-R), Parenting Stress Index-Short Form (PSI-SF) and Coping Health Inventory for Parents (CHIP). T-test/univariate one-way ANOVA, Pearson's r, hierarchical linear regression analysis were conducted to explore the influential factors of resilience.Results: Fathers of patients with cleft lip and/or palate had a higher level of resilience (77.77 ± 14.18) than mothers (74.52 ± 14.33) though without significance. Resilience was positively associated with hope, perceived social support, optimism and coping and negatively correlated with parenting stress both in the fathers and the mothers. Hierarchical linear regression analysis showed that hope (β = 0.400, P < 0.01), coping (β = 0.281, P < 0.05), job status, medical payments (β = −0.240, P < 0.05) were found to be associated with resilience among the fathers of patients with CL/P, and all four variables in the model could explain 42.8% of the variance in resilience; Hope (β = 0.225, P < 0.05), perceived social support (β = 0.194, P < 0.05), the age of patients (β = 0.189, P < 0.05) were found to be associated with resilience among the mothers, and all three variables in the model could explain 27.6% of the variance in resilience.Conclusion: Our study showed that, in China, fathers of patients with cleft lip and/or palate had a higher level of resilience than mothers though without significance. Hope was the only communal variable strongly associated with resilience among both the fathers and the mothers; besides, coping, job status and medical payments were found to be associated with resilience among the fathers; while perceived social support and the age of patients were found to be associated with resilience among the mothers. The results suggest that enhance hope in parents of patients with cleft lip and/or palate might greatly help improve their resilience. Besides, fathers and mothers need specific intervention to prompt their resilience.

Psychometric Validation of the Persian Self-Compassion Scale Youth Version.

ObjectivesEmpirical research investigating self-compassion is a rapidly developing field, and it is potentially crucial in early adolescence. The primary aim of the present study was to psychometrically evaluate the Persian translation of the Self-Compassion Scale Youth version (SCS-Y) and evaluate its factor structure among young adolescents. The second aim was to explore the buffering effect of self-compassion against the negative effect of difficulties in emotion regulation on COVID-19-related anxiety.MethodsA sample of young students (n = 532; mean age 13.57 years) completed an online survey, which included the SCS-Y, Patient Health Questionnaire, Difficulties In Emotion Regulation Scale, Coronavirus Anxiety Scale, Youth Life Orientation Test, Brief Resilience Scale, and Brief 10-Item Big Five Inventory. First-order (six-factor) confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and bi-factor exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) analysis were used to evaluate the factor structure of the SCS-Y.ResultsResults showed that the SCS-Y had very good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha coefficient: 0.88; McDonald’s omega coefficient: 0.90), composite reliability (0.87), and adequate test–retest reliability after 4 weeks (0.60). The first-order (six-factor) CFA and bi-factor ESEM analysis demonstrated the SCS-Y had excellent dimensionality. Further analysis found negative associations between self-compassion with both depression and neuroticism, and positive associations between self-compassion with both resilience and optimism. Moreover, self-compassion moderated the association between emotion dysregulation and anxiety generated by the COVID-19. Overall, the findings indicated that the SCS-Y had acceptable criterion-related validity, convergent validity, and discriminant validity.ConclusionsThe findings provide evidence that the SCS-Y is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing the six factors of self-compassion among younger adolescents. Based on the study’s findings, self-compassion appears to be a protective factor against mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic for younger adolescents.

РУССКОЯЗЫЧНАЯ ВЕРСИЯ ОПРОСНИКА СПОСОБНОСТИ К СМАКОВАНИЮ ПОЗИТИВНЫХ СОБЫТИЙ

Objective. Th e present study aimed to validate the Russian version of the SBI and determine its factorial structure. Method. Th e participants were 490 adults mainly from Moscow. Th e following measures were used: the Russian version of the SBI, the life orientation test, the attributional style questionnaire, the Rosenberg self-esteem scale, the gratitude scale, the positive and negative aff ect scale, the satisfaction with life scale, the subjective happiness scale, and the Riff ’s scale of psychological well-being. Results. Confi rmatory factor analysis has supported the theoretically expected three-factor structure of the measure. Th ree factors of savoring the moment, anticipation and reminiscence were moderately related. Th e validity of the methodology is confi rmed by correlations of savoring with indicators of psychological well-being, happiness, dispositional optimism, optimistic attributional style for positive events, gratitude, positive aff ect, life satisfaction and self-esteem. All three subscales of savoring and total savoring score showed high level of internal consistency. Th e convergent and structural validity of the method was proved. Conclusion. Th e study showed that the Russian version of the SBI is a valid and reliable instrument to assess savoring ability both in total and in three aspects of the past, present and future.

Post-traumatic Stress Symptoms, Distress, and Optimism in Mexican Colorectal Cancer Patients.

The diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer are considered highly stressful and potentially traumatic events that can generate post-traumatic stress symptoms and distress among patients. This study assessed levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms, distress, and optimism, as well as differences between these conditions relative to sociodemographic and medical variables, in Mexican patients with colorectal cancer. A cross-sectional descriptive study design was employed, in which 192 colorectal cancer patients over the age of 18 years participated. They filled out the following questionnaires in person: a sociodemographic and medical data questionnaire; the Event Impact Scale-Revised (EIE-R); the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS); and the Life Orientation Test (LOT-R). The results showed that 32.3% of the patients reported post-traumatic stress symptomatology, and 21.4% reported distress. Post-traumatic stress symptoms and distress varied according to age and monthly income. Significant differences between the sexes were also observed in the levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms and distress. Post-traumatic stress was positively and significantly related to distress, and negatively and significantly to optimism. Based on these data, we concluded that a significant percentage of colorectal cancer patients present high levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms as well as distress, and that these levels may vary according to sociodemographic and medical characteristics.

Investigation of the Relationships between Life Satisfaction, Optimism, Happiness and Blood Lipid, Vitamin-D Levels of Individuals Aged 55 and Over.

Aim: This study was carried out to investigate of the relationships between life satisfaction, optimism and happiness on blood lipid and vitamin-D levels in people aged 55 and over. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 283 individuals over the age of 55. The survey consisted of two main parts. In the first part, there are 19 questions about the socio-demographic characteristics of the patients, their chronic disease status, alcohol and smoking habits, physical activity and sunbathing duration. In the second part, Life Satisfaction Scale, Life Orientation Test and Subjective Happiness Scale were used. The lipid parameters and Vitamin D levels were investigated as dependent variables. Socio-demographic characteristics of individuals, physical activity status, and average scores of scales were investigated as independent variables. Results: The results indicated that, LDL level was significantly and reverse associated with subjective happiness level. There was no significant relationship between other lipid parameters and subjective happiness level. It was determined that there was a significant and linear relationship between vitamin D level and life satisfaction and subjective happiness levels. Conclusion: Understanding the psychological characteristics and the factors affecting their psychology of individuals aged 55 and over may play a key role for a healthy population, prevention of cardiovascular diseases and low vitamin D deficiency.

Психологические предикторы раннего обращения к врачу женщин с первичным люминальным раком молочной железы

Introduction. One of the most common localizations where there is a connection between early diagnosis, timely treatment and a successful outcome of a disease is breast cancer. The behavior of a woman is associated with whether she is seeking medical help earlier or later, this now is for the first time determined, among other things, by a number of psychological characteristics of her personality. These can be cognitive beliefs included in her picture of the world, locus of control, resilience, and life orientation. The aim of this study is to identify a set of psychological predictive markers that determine the moment of initial medical treatment (early or late stages of the disease) of women with primary luminal breast cancer. Materials and methods. Survey methods were used as research methods: World assumptions scale R. Janoff-Bulman (by M.A. Padun, A.V. Kotelnikova), locus of control scale J.B. Rotter (by E.F. Bazhin, E.A. Golynkina, L.M. Etkind), Life Orientation Test M.F. Scheier, C.S. Carver (by Tsiring D.A., Evnina K.Yu.), Hardiness Survey S. Maddi (by D. Leontiev), methods of mathematical statistics: methods of descriptive statistics, univariate analysis of variance, discriminant analysis. The study involved 138 women with breast cancer in the I-III stages of the disease, who for the first time sought professional medical help. Results. The study of the psychological characteristics of women with breast cancer who first consulted a doctor at various stages of the disease revealed a set of predictive markers that contribute to seeking medical help earlier or later. Women who were diagnosed with cancer at stage I of the disease (early treatment) were characterized by: in comparison with the others, low assessment of their own significance and value, low indicators of life orientation (dispositional pessimism). Whereas in women who applied at stage III of the disease (late treatment), to a lesser extent compared to others, their belief of control in general manifested, however, in situations of achievement and professional relations, the locus of control of these women is internal. Also, for women who applied at The study was funded by Russian Science Foundation, project number 19-18-00426. the third stage of the disease, the indicators of engagement and resilience are lower than for women who applied at the early stages. Analysis of the psychological variables that differentiate women according to the stages of primary treatment showed that resilience, internality in the field of their achievement and life orientation affect the behavior of women associated with the initial visit to the doctor.

Providing a structural model of psychological well-being prediction based on family functioning, optimism, and resilience mediated by social adequacy

Aim: This study was conducted to provide a structural model of psychological well-being prediction based on family functioning, optimism, and resilience mediated by social adequacy. Methods: This was a descriptive correlational study with structural equation modeling (SEM). The statistical population included students of Allameh Tabatabaei Campus in Urmia (for sisters) and Shahid Rajaei Campus in Urmia (for brothers) from which 250 people were selected as the sample by convenient sampling method. The study tools were Ryff's (1989) Psychological Well-Being Scales (PWB), McMaster's (1950) Family Assessment Device (FAD), Scheier and Carver's (1985) Life Orientation Test (LOT), Connor-Davidson (2003) Resilience scale (CD-RISC), and Flanner et al.'s (1990) Social Adequacy Scale. Results: The findings suggested that there was a positive relationship between resilience and psychological well-being (p &lt;0.01, β = 0.240). The total path coefficient between optimism and psychological well-being was positive and significant at the level of 0.01 (p &lt;0.01, β = 0.317). Besides, the total path coefficient between family functioning and psychological well-being was negative (p &lt;0.01, β = -0.225). The path coefficient between social adequacy and psychological well-being was positive and significant at the level of 0.01 (p &lt;0.01, β = 0.225). Indirect path coefficient between resilience (p &lt;0.01, β = 0.089), optimism (p &lt;0.01, β = 0.094), and psychological well-being was positive, and indirect path coefficient between family functioning and psychological well-being (p &lt;0.01, β = -0.101) was negative and significant at the level of 0.01. Conclusion: According to the results, resilience and optimism predicted psychological well-being positively and significantly, family functioning predicted psychological well-being negatively and significantly, and social adequacy mediated the relationship between resilience and optimism positively and significantly and the relationship between family functioning and psychological well-being positively and significantly.

The association of loneliness, mindfulness, and optimism with self-directed learning among nursing students in China: A cross-sectional study.

Successful adaption to the increasing demands of the healthcare system involves self-directed learning (SDL) approach, which contributes to professional values and academic and clinical performance. Although many factors are related to SDL, research examining the association between internal factors such as loneliness, mindfulness and optimism with self-directed learning is limited. This study aims to examine the association between loneliness, mindfulness, and optimism with self-directed learning. A cross-sectional design was conducted, and study participants included 568 nursing students from higher education institutes in North, East and South China from May 2020 to October 2020. Data collection instruments included socio-demographics, the self-directed learning scale, the loneliness scale, the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, and the Life Orientation Test. Hierarchical multiple regression and moderation analyses were used to analyze the data. Findings indicated that loneliness was negatively related to SDL, whereas mindfulness and optimism showed a positive relationship to SDL. Optimism did not significantly moderate the relationship between loneliness and SDL, and between optimism and self-directed learning. The findings suggest that incorporating training programs for reducing loneliness and improving mindfulness and optimism into curricular and extracurricular activities on campuses may help increase SDL.