Stressful Life Research Articles

Friendship-Related Stress and Alcohol Use Among Post-college Emerging Adults

Friendship-related stress is an understudied factor that may explain variation in coping-motivated and socially-motivated drinking among emerging adults. This study examined chronic and episodic friendship stress as predictors of drinking levels and motivations among emerging adults transitioning to post-college life. College drinkers reported drinking motives and alcohol consumption daily for 30 days using an Internet-based diary in college and five years later ( N = 897, 54.2% women, Mage = 24.6 at follow-up, 86.0% White). Post-college, participants completed by phone the UCLA-Life Stress Interview assessing chronic and episodic friendship/social life stress. Chronic friendship/social life stress was positively correlated with mean levels of post-college drinking-to-cope motivation and was negatively related to post-college heavy drinking and social drinking motivation. Emerging adults experiencing friendship stress are more likely to use alcohol as a coping mechanism, elevating their risk for alcohol-related problems. Those with low friendship stress may require public health interventions around the risks of heavy drinking.

Does the estrogen elicit or suppresses stress susceptibility in women?

The perimenopausal period has been linked to heightened stress levels in women, even in the absence of a history of affective disorder. This may be attributed to the impact of fluctuating levels of gonadal steroids on neurotransmitters and mood-regulating systems. This article reviews the interactions between estrogen changes and psychosocial stress and their contribution to women’s vulnerability to stress. Estrogen plays a crucial role in regulating brain functions and networks associated with alterations in stress reactivity, cognitive abilities, and emotional regulation. The combined impact of estrogen on cognitive and emotional processes, especially in the context of psychosocial stress, could explain the link between fluctuations in ovarian hormones and stress levels in females. Our hypothesis suggests a framework detailing how estrogen influences various brain systems involved in emotional and cognitive responses to stress, and we explore potential pathways through which reproductive events and estrogen fluctuations might raise stress vulnerability in women with additional risk factors. Fluctuation in estrogen levels can directly influence the functioning of emotional regulation nodes and circuits in the brain, impacting cognitive responses to life stress.

Prevalence and Risk Factors for the Development of Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorder in a Large U.S. Military Cohort.

While bulimia nervosa (BN) and binge eating disorder (BED) are prevalent in military populations, an understanding of risk and protective factors is limited by a lack of longitudinal population-based epidemiological research. This study examined the prevalence of BN and BED among active duty service members and identified military and psychosocial factors associated with their development. Millennium Cohort Study participants were followed for up to 15 years and prevalence was ascertained using survey and electronic medical record data. Longitudinal multivariable logistic regression models evaluated risk factors associated with the development of bulimia nervosa (n=96,245) or binge eating disorder (n=113,733). Weighted prevalence estimates from survey data (range, 0.80%-4.80%) were higher than those from medical records (0.04%-0.14%). Military factors significantly associated with increased risk for BN and BED included active duty component (vs Reserve/Guard); serving in the Army, Marines, or Navy/Coast Guard (vs Air Force); and combat deployment (vs deployment without combat). Associated psychosocial factors included lack of social support, experiencing at least one life stressor, and screening positive for posttraumatic stress disorder or problem drinking. Findings highlight the critical need for disordered eating screening and prevention efforts that bolster coping skills, which can ultimately improve service member functioning and readiness.

Mediating Role of Psychological Status in the Association Between Resiliency and Quality of Life Among Older Malaysians Living with Knee Osteoarthritis

ABSTRACT Resilience increases the ability of an individual to overcome adversity. It has not yet been determined how resilience is linked to quality of life among individuals experiencing knee osteoarthritis symptoms. To explore the inter-relationships of psychological distress, resilience and quality of life among older individuals with knee osteoarthritis. The study examined older adults in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, identifying osteoarthritis through verified physician diagnosis. Various factors, including resilience, psychological status, and quality of life, were measured. In the study with 338 older adults, 50.9% had knee osteoarthritis. Higher resilience was linked to lower depression, anxiety, and stress, and better quality of life in both groups with and without knee osteoarthritis. Psychological factors consistently mediated the link between resilience and quality of life even after controlling potential confounders. Analysis showed that depression, anxiety, and stress mediate the relationship between resilience and quality of life, indicating a significant influence even when considering various factors. Resilience appears to influence psychological well-being and quality of life among older adult with knee osteoarthritis.

Microbiome signature of posttraumatic stress disorder and resilience in youth.

Identifying biomarkers that can distinguish trauma-exposed youth at risk for developing posttraumatic pathology from resilient individuals is essential for targeted interventions. As trauma can alter the microbiome with lasting effects on the host, our longitudinal, multimeasure, cross-species study aimed to identify the microbial signature of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We followed children exposed to war-related trauma and matched controls from early childhood (Mage = 2.76 years, N = 232) to adolescence (Mage = 16.13 years, N = 84), repeatedly assessing posttraumatic symptomatology and maternal caregiving. In late adolescence, we collected fecal samples from mothers and youth and assessed microbiome composition, diversity, and mother-child microbial synchrony. We then transplanted adolescents' fecal samples into germ-free mice to determine if behavioral changes are observed. Youth with PTSD exhibited a distinct gut microbiome profile and lower diversity compared to resilient individuals, and microbiome diversity mediated the continuity of posttraumatic symptomatology throughout development. Low microbiome diversity correlated with more posttraumatic symptoms in early childhood, more emotional and behavioral problems in adolescence, and poor maternal caregiving. Youth with PTSD demonstrated less mother-child microbial synchrony, suggesting that low microbial concordance between mother and child may indicate susceptibility to posttraumatic illness. Germ-free mice transplanted with microbiomes from individuals with PTSD displayed increased anxious behavior. Our findings provide evidence that the trauma-associated microbiome profile is at least partially responsible for the anxiety component of the PTSD phenotype and highlight microbial underpinnings of resilience. Further, our results suggest that the microbiome may serve as additional biological memory of early life stress and underscore the potential for microbiome-related diagnosis and treatment following trauma. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Parental care and overprotection predict worry and anxiety symptoms in emerging adult students

Anxiety disorders represent a prevalent mental health concern, with escalating rates, especially among emerging adults. University students, in particular, face a myriad of academic and life stressors that can amplify feelings of worry and anxiety. While early parental bonding seem to predict anxiety disorders later in life, the applicability to emerging adult students and its applicability to predict sub-clinical and transdiagnostic anxiety features remain unclear. This study aims to examine i) the relationship between demographic variables and key features of anxiety disorders (i.e., worry and anxiety symptoms); and ii) the predictive association between early parental bonding and anxiety-related features. A sample of 370 university students in Italy (n = 279 females; M age = 20.84 years, SD age = 1.81 years) completed the Parental Bonding Instrument, the Penn State Worry Questionnaire, and the Beck Anxiety Inventory. Females reported higher levels of worry and anxiety compared to males. Significantly higher worry and anxiety symptoms were reported by individuals who experienced affectionless control (low care and high overprotection) as compared to those exposed to optimal parenting (high care and low overprotection). Predictive models indicated that scores of parental care (i.e., the principal component between maternal and paternal care scores) and parental overprotection (i.e., the principal component between maternal and paternal overprotection scores) are robust predictors of worry and anxiety symptoms. However, this relationship showed a gender-specific pattern: lower parental care was more significant in predicting anxiety features in males, while high overprotection was more significant in females. The findings contribute to the comprehension of the risk factors influencing the susceptibility of emerging adult students to anxiety disorders.

Psychological Benefits of a Preoperative Educational Bridging Program for Bariatric Surgery: Does Face-to-Face versus Videoconference-based delivery make a difference?

Short educational programs prior to metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) provide information to prepare patients adequately for surgery and subsequent changes. Our knowledge of the beneficial effects of these programs on stabilizing and improving mental health of patients with obesity awaiting surgery is incomplete. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of a group-based educational program before MBS on three key factors: i) patients' mental health, ii) the program's perceived helpfulness from the patients' perspective, and iii) the effectiveness of delivering the program online via videoconferencing. Validated questionnaires for anxiety, depression, stress, and quality of life before and after the program were assessed. Additionally, participants' perspectives of benefits were assessed. Two subgroups, one participating in face-to-face classes, the other participating online via videoconferencing, were compared. Three hundred five patients with obesity waiting for MBS participated in the program. The dropout rate was 3%. On mean average, symptoms of anxiety (-1.1 units (SD 4.6), p < 0.001), depression (-0.9 units (SD 4.6), p < 0.001), and stress (-4.6 units (SD 15.6), p < 0.001) improved, while physical quality of life (+1.7 (SD 9.7), p = 0.016) and body weight (-0.3 kg (SD 8.7), p = 0.57) remained stable. Patients perceived the program as very beneficial. The results were similar between delivery methods (face-to-face versus videoconferencing). The educational program proved to be effective in bridging the gap in preoperative preparation while also stabilizing participants' mental health. In addition, participants perceived the program as supportive. Online participation via video conferencing can be offered as an equivalent option to face-to-face classes.

MHQ: constructing an aggregate metric of population mental wellbeing

BackgroundAccording to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health is ‘a state of wellbeing in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community’. Any population metric of mental health and wellbeing should therefore not only reflect the presence or absence of mental challenges but also a person’s broad mental capacity and functioning across a range of cognitive, social, emotional and physical dimensions. However, while existing metrics of mental health typically emphasize ill health, existing metrics of wellbeing typically focus on happiness or life satisfaction, indirectly infer wellbeing from a selection of social and economic factors, or do not reflect a read out of the full spectrum of mental functioning that impacts people’s everyday life and that spans the continuum from distress and the inability to function, through to the ability to function to one’s full potential.MethodsWe present the Mental Health Quotient, or MHQ, a population metric of mental wellbeing that comprehensively captures mental functioning, and examine how it relates to functional productivity. We describe the 47-item assessment and the life impact rating scale on which the MHQ metric is based, as well as the rationale behind each step of the nonlinear algorithm used to construct the MHQ metric.ResultsWe demonstrate a linear relationship between the MHQ metric and productive life function where movement on the scale from any point or in any direction relates to an equivalent shift in productive ability at the population level, a relationship that is not borne out using simple sum scores. We further show that this relationship is the same across all age groups. Finally, we demonstrate the potential for the types of insights arising from the MHQ metric, offering examples from the Global Mind Project, an initiative that aims to track and understand our evolving mental wellbeing, and since 2020 has collected responses from over 1 million individuals across 140 + countries.ConclusionThe MHQ is a metric of mental wellbeing that aligns with the WHO definition and is amenable to large scale population monitoring.

Acceleration of Service Life Testing by Using Weibull Distribution on Fiber Optical Connectors

The service life assessment of previous fatigue stress has a fundamental role in estimating the reliability of products like fiber optical connectors, and should replicate use in severe environments in telecommunications systems. However, the vibration prediction models used in the literature present limitations in vibration life prediction. In this paper, we propose using the insertion loss fatigue life and including it in the Weibull distribution to determine the Weibull parameters ƞ and β to evaluate fiber optic connector reliability R(t) under environmental and mechanical testing stress. We analyzed the failure data of a standard telecommunication fiber optical connector under a program of service life stress testing against that of a fiber optical connector under only mechanical vibration stress testing. The fiber connectors were monitored during the vibration testing to review the transient change of the optical signal. Their results showed that the reliability of the fiber connectors submitted to the service life program was Rt=0.694, while that of the fiber connectors submitted to mechanical vibration only was Rt=0.970. In addition, the analysis showed that the service life testing consumed 70.2% of the product’s lifetime. We present in Numerical Validation the steps to determine the acceleration factors of the vibration test developed.

Early life stress and iron metabolism in developmental psychoneuroimmunology

An estimated 250 million children face adverse health outcomes from early life exposure to severe or chronic social, economic, and nutritional adversity, highlighting/emphasizing the pressing concern about the link between ELS and long-term implications on mental and physical health. There is significant overlap between populations experiencing high levels of chronic stress and those experiencing iron deficiency, spotlighting the potential role of iron as a key mediator in this association. Iron, an essential micronutrient for brain development and immune function, is often depleted in stress conditions. Iron deficiency among the most common nutrient deficiencies in the world. Fetal and infant iron status may thus serve as a crucial intermediary between early chronic psychological stress and subsequent immune system changes to impact neurodevelopment. The review presents a hypothesized pathway between early life stress (ELS), iron deficiency, and neurodevelopment through the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis and the IL-6-hepcidin axis. This hypothesis is derived from (1) evidence that stress impacts iron status (2) long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes that are shared by ELS and iron deficiency exposure, and (3) possible mechanisms for how iron may mediate the relation between ELS and iron deficiency through alterations in the developing immune system. The article concludes by proposing future research directions, emphasizing the need for rigorous studies to elucidate how stress and iron metabolism interact to modify the developing immune system. Understanding these mechanisms could open new avenues for improving human health and neurodevelopment for women and children globally, making it a timely and vital area of study in psychoneuroimmunology research.

Influence of Diet on Reproducible Corticosterone Levels in a Mouse Model of Maternal Separation with Early Weaning.

Maternal separation with early weaning (MSEW) is a popular early life stress (ELS) model in rodents, which emulates childhood neglect through scheduled mother-offspring separation. Although variations of ELS models, including maternal separation and MSEW, have been published for the mouse species, the reported results are inconsistent. Corticosterone is considered the main stress hormone involved in regulating stress responses in rodents-yet generating a robust and reproducible corticosterone response in mouse models of ELS has been elusive. Considering the current lack of standardization for MSEW protocols, these inconsistent results may be attributed to variations in model methodologies. Here, we compared the effects of select early wean diet sources-which are the non-milk diets used to complete early weaning in MSEW pups-on the immediate stress phenotype of C57BL/6J mice at postnatal day 21. Non-aversive handling was an integral component of our modified MSEW model. The evaluation of body weight and serum corticosterone revealed the early wean diet to be a key variable in the resulting stress phenotype. Interestingly, select non-milk diets facilitated a stress phenotype in which low body weight was accompanied by significant corticosterone elevation. Our data indicate that dietary considerations are critical in MSEW-based studies and provide insight into improving the reproducibility of key stress-associated outcomes as a function of this widely used ELS paradigm.

Post-weaning social isolation alters sociability in a sex-specific manner.

Adolescence is a critical period for brain development in humans and stress exposure during this time can have lasting effects on behavior and brain development. Social isolation and loneliness are particularly salient stressors that lead to detrimental mental health outcomes particularly in females, although most of the preclinical work on social isolation has been done in male animals. Our lab has developed a model of post-weaning adolescent social isolation that leads to increased drug reward sensitivity and altered neuronal structure in limbic brain regions. The current study utilized this model to determine the impact of adolescent social isolation on a three-chamber social interaction task both during adolescence and adulthood. We found that while post-weaning isolation does not alter social interaction during adolescence (PND45), it has sex-specific effects on social interaction in adulthood (PND60), potentiating social interaction in male mice and decreasing it in female mice. As early life stress can activate microglia leading to alterations in neuronal pruning, we next examined the impact of inhibiting microglial activation with daily minocycline administration during the first three weeks of social isolation on these changes in social interaction. During adolescence, minocycline dampened social interaction in male mice, while having no effect in females. In contrast, during adulthood, minocycline did not alter the impact of adolescent social isolation in males, with socially isolated males exhibiting higher levels of social interaction compared to their group housed counterparts. In females, adolescent minocycline treatment reversed the effect of social isolation leading to increased social interaction in the social isolation group, mimicking what is seen in naïve males. Taken together, adolescent social isolation leads to sex-specific effects on social interaction in adulthood and adolescent minocycline treatment alters the effects of social isolation in females, but not males.

Long-term stress exposure, cortisol level and cardiovascular activity and reactivity: Observations in patients with fibromyalgia.

Previous research suggested that exposure to long-lasting or repeated laboratory stressors may lead to rearrangement of cardiovascular control, with a shift of regulation mechanisms from dominant cardiac to dominant vascular influences between the early and late response phases, respectively. This study investigated whether similar rearrangement occurs during life stress accompanying chronic disease by analyzing also associations between cortisol level and cardiovascular variables in patients with fibromyalgia (FM). In 47 women with FM and 36 healthy women (HW), cardiovascular recordings were taken during active body posture changes (sitting, lying down, and standing). Moreover, hair cortisol concentration (HCC) was obtained. During standing, which involved orthostatic challenge, FM patients showed higher total peripheral resistance (TPR) but lower stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), and baroreflex sensitivity than HW. During sitting and lying down, TPR was more closely associated with blood pressure (BP) than CO in FM patients; in contrast, CO was more closely associated with BP than TPR in HW. HCC correlated positively with TPR and BP in FM patients, but negatively with TPR and BP and positively with SV and CO in HW. Results suggest that chronic disease-related stress is associated with alterations in cardiovascular regulation toward greater involvement of vascular than cardiac mechanisms in BP control. Stress-related cortisol release may contribute to the long-term rearrangement of autonomic regulation. At the behavioral level, the dominance of vascular over cardiovascular control may relate to reduced somatic mobilization during an active fight-flight response in favor of passive and behaviorally immobile coping.

Reliability modeling to predict in‐service weatherability of polyurethane nanocomposite coatings: Approach, comparison and validation

AbstractThis article addresses the challenge of comparing in‐service weatherability among newly developed coatings. The study aims to compare the durability of three thermoplastic polyurethane‐based coatings specifically formulated for defense inflatables. It introduces a reliability model that incorporates two weathering stresses, namely, ultra‐violet radiation and temperature, to predict the service life of the coatings. A life–stress relationship has been established from the accelerated aging tests, which facilitates the determination of material service life at use level conditions. Notably, the analysis underscores the significant improvement in service lifetime achieved with nanocomposite‐based coatings. The validity of the proposed model is established through comparison with real‐world field test data, emphasizing the effectiveness of the approach in assessing and comparing the performance of the three coated samples. The insights gained from this research will surely contribute to enhancing the durability assessment of coated systems in real‐world conditions for various fields of applications.Highlights Introduces a unique method to compare weatherability of three polyurethane coatings. Reliability model predicts service life under UV and temperature stresses. Life–stress relationship via accelerated aging for accurate service life. Nanocomposite coatings show longer service life than conventional ones. Model validated with field data, confirming practical applicability.

Yoga as a Contemplative Practice and Its Contribution to Participatory Self-Knowledge and Student Retention: A Scoping Review of the First-Year Undergraduate Student Transition.

Contemplative pedagogy, specifically yoga, introduced into the higher education curriculum has the potential to develop and entrain intellectual, emotional, and social development in relation to mental health among university students studying for medical and nursing degrees. The objective of the study is to determine the extent of the current literature on the prevalence of yoga as a contemplative practice that contributes to student well-being and self-knowledge in the first-year transition from high school to university. As part of the scoping review, CINAHL, EBSCO, Medline, Emerald, Eric, and PsycINFO were searched to identify the prevalence and connection of mind-body courses to student well-being between 2011 and 2022. Screening and selection of studies were based on eligibility criteria and methodological quality assessment. Colaizzi's method of data analysis enabled the phenomena of interest to be examined and follows the PRISMA for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist. Seventeen studies were included with two themes emerging, which include physical practices and training and barriers to success. Yoga is a practice that supports undergraduate students in managing their stressful lives. Due to the experiential nature of yoga the participatory reflective processes established within the physicality of the students provided a framework to cope with the stress and challenges of higher education.

Polysubstance puzzle: A case report on alcohol, pregabalin, cyproheptadine, and dexamethasone dependence

This case report explores the intricate landscape of polysubstance dependence, focusing on a 24-year-old male presenting with concurrent reliance on alcohol, pregabalin, cyproheptadine, and dexamethasone. This unique case underscores the complexities inherent in diagnosing and managing overlapping substance use disorders, emphasizing the need for thorough assessment and comprehensive intervention strategies. With substance dependence representing a significant global health concern, this report contributes valuable insights to the scientific literature by elucidating the multifaceted dynamics of polysubstance misuse. A 24-year-old male of asthenic built, with a history of alcohol consumption for 8 years initiated by peer pressure and escalated by life stressors, presented with depressive symptoms and reliance on multiple substances. His main concerns included mood disturbances, fatigue, and decreased appetite. Clinical evaluation revealed depressive features, substance dependence, and comorbidities associated with polysubstance misuse. Notably, he self-medicated with pregabalin for its euphoric effects, consumed cyproheptadine and dexamethasone to alter his body weight, and relied on alcohol as a coping mechanism. Treatment involved pharmacotherapy and motivational enhancement therapy, resulting in significant improvement and subsequent abstinence from all substances. This case underscores the complexities encountered in diagnosing, treating, and managing polysubstance dependence, exemplified by the dependencies on alcohol, pregabalin, cyproheptadine, and dexamethasone within a single patient. A comprehensive treatment approach incorporating detoxification, tapering, and psychological counseling facilitated significant progress. Achievements included successful abstinence from alcohol and notable reductions in cravings for pregabalin, cyproheptadine, and dexamethasone.

Changes in subjective well-being and stress of older adults before, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal study in Switzerland.

Despite the concerns about older adults' overall quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic, they often demonstrated better resilience, adaptability, and subjective well-being (SWB) than younger individuals. However, longer-term trends remain unclear. This study aims to describe older adults' trajectories in SWB dimensions before, during, and after the pandemic spanning 2017-2022. This study used piecewise growth curve analysis on a subsample of the Swiss Household Panel to investigate the population-average (n individuals = 3086; n = observations = 13,780) trajectories of SWB dimensions and stress among adults aged 65 and older between 2017 and 2022. We also tested whether these trajectories differed by age, gender, and household income. Life satisfaction and positive affect remained stable among older people during the pandemic (2019-2021) but declined after. Negative affect increased during the pandemic and decreased afterward, while stress levels increased slightly before and significantly after the pandemic. The trajectories did not differ by gender or household income, but the oldest-old (> 75-year-old) had a more significant decline in positive affect and life satisfaction pre-pandemic (2017-2019) and stress during the pandemic (2020-2021). Research shows that older adults possess adaptation skills and emotional competencies, which enable them to navigate pandemic challenges. However, we show that the post-pandemic era presents more substantial challenges for this older population, who perhaps face more difficulties adapting to the new uncertain post-pandemic world. Further research needs to examine if these findings replicate in other contexts, for instance, where pandemic containment measures have been more stringent.

Maternal victimization and neglected offspring: Child marriage, IPV and depression symptoms among Salar Muslim women

BackgroundChild neglect is prevalent in western rural China, yet there is limited research among ethnic minority communities. The Salar, a Turkic-Muslim ethnic minority residing primarily in western China, also face this specific problem. The group is deeply influenced by ethnicity, Islam and Chinese Confucianism, which in turn makes women vulnerable to child marriage and IPV. These victimizations, coupled with various life stressors, further complicate the challenges of providing adequate care for their children. ObjectiveThis study hypothesizes a relationship between child neglect and maternal child marriage, IPV victimization, and depression symptoms. Participants and setting201 married Salar women from five villages in Xunhua Salar Autonomous County, China, were randomly selected to participate in the study. MethodA probability proportional to size (PPS) sampling approach was used to collect a random representative multi-stage cluster sample in 2022. Random effects Poisson regression models were used to test the hypotheses. ResultsThe participants reported a 65.6 % rate of child neglect and a 30.8 % rate of IPV in the past year. 37.6 % experienced child marriage. Results revealed significant associations between child neglect and child marriage, IPV, and depression symptoms. A two-way interaction between IPV and depression symptoms was strongly positively associated with child neglect. ConclusionsThis research indicates that Salar Muslim mothers who have experienced child marriage, adulthood victimization, and depression are at a higher risk of neglecting their children. The findings represent a valuable initial step toward researching and addressing the protection needs of women and children from Muslim ethnic minorities in China.

The use of herbal medicine in patients with inflammatory bowel disorders in Iran: A cross-sectional study

IntroductionThe use of complementary and alternative medicine, particularly herbal medicine, is increasing, especially in chronic disorders. This study aims to identify common herbal medicines used by patients with inflammatory bowel disease, and to investigate their relationship with the quality of life, disease severity, and levels of anxiety, stress, and depression experienced by these patients. MethodsA total of 104 eligible patients with inflammatory bowel disease and in the middle years of life (20- 60 years old) participated in this cross-sectional study. Data collection was conducted using various assessment tools, i.e. a self-administered ethnomedicine questionnaire, Partial Mayo scoring index assessment, Crohn's disease activity index, Quality of Life Questionnaire, and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale. ResultsThe findings of the present study revealed that 61.5% of the patients surveyed commonly used herbal medicine to alleviate their symptoms in the past year. Among the various herbs, Matricaria chamomilla L., Zataria multiflora Boiss., and Mentha Spicata L. were found to be most commonly used. Furthermore, a significant association was identified between herbal medicine use and age, Body Mass Index, marital status, level of education, alcohol consumption, Quality of Life, and severity disorder scores of the patients. ConclusionOur results suggested a significant association between herbal medicine use and lower severity disorder scores and higher quality of life in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. However, these findings may not be generalizable to all patients with inflammatory bowel disease, or to patients in other geographical regions.

Опросник повседневных стрессоров для подростков

<p>The article presents the results of the development and testing of psychodiagnostic tools designed to study adolescents’ perception of everyday stress. Everyday stress is an integral part of life in the modern world, and teenagers can be especially vulnerable to everyday stressors. Despite a growing body of research, there is a lack of necessary tools to identify stressful areas in adolescents' daily lives. The article presents research materials obtained from a sample of 555 adolescents, 339 girls and 216 boys aged 13 to 17 years. Validization included a preliminary survey of adolescents, compiling a list of stressors in the everyday life of adolescents, factoring stressors and identifying zones of stress intensity, interpreting the data obtained, assessing zones of everyday stress and convergent validity. As a result, a questionnaire on daily stress for adolescents was developed and tested; zones of everyday stress were identified, including both spheres of the external environment and internal life: “Loneliness, health”, “Self-attitude”, “Rejection”, “Fears, anxieties”, “School, study”, “Communication with elders”, “Affairs, planning”, “Finance”, “Mystical fears”. The results of the analysis showed high consistency of the Questionnaire factors.</p>