Lower Levels Of Psychological Distress Research Articles

Is Parental Mindfulness Associated with Quality of Life and Itch Intensity in Children with Psoriasis and Eczema and Well-being in Parents?

ObjectivesChildhood psoriasis and eczema negatively impact the well-being of children and their parents. Identifying variables that protect against, or reduce, the negative impact of these skin conditions could greatly improve the lives of children with these skin conditions and their parents. We therefore aimed to investigate whether higher levels of parental dispositional mindfulness are associated with lower levels of psychological distress and better quality of life in children with psoriasis or eczema and their parents.MethodsChildren with psoriasis or eczema (n = 180, M age = 10.22, females = 108) and their parents (n = 210, M age = 39.97, females = 183) were recruited from social media and NHS dermatology clinics in the UK. Parents completed questionnaires assessing dispositional mindfulness, parental stress, psychological distress (depression, anxiety, general stress), and quality of life related to their child’s skin condition. Children completed questionnaires assessing quality of life related to their skin condition and pruritus (itch intensity).ResultsParental dispositional mindfulness explained significant amounts of variance in parental stress, parent depression, parent anxiety, parent general stress, and both parent and child quality of life. These relationships were not moderated by skin condition.ConclusionParental dispositional mindfulness is associated with better well-being in parents of children with psoriasis or eczema, and their children. Mindfulness-based interventions for parents may be beneficial for improving well-being in both children with skin conditions and their parents.Trial Registration: https://aspredicted.org/xf429.pdf (see Supplementary Materials A).

The Role of Self-esteem and Field of Study in Predicting Mental Health of Undergraduate Health-professional Students

Background and Objectives Self-esteem is an important psychological factor affecting the health and quality of life of students. This study was an attempt to investigate the predictive role of self-esteem and field of study determinants of mental health status of undergraduate health-professional students in Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in Iran. Methods In this descriptive cross-sectional study, a represented sample of year 1-4 undergraduate students (N=184) were invited to participate in the study students (Nursing, Midwifery, Operating room and Emergency medical students). Psychological health was measured using a standard instrument GHQ-28. CSEI also was applied to measure the students’ self-esteem Results A bout 44% of the students had GHQ scores of 23 and above, indicating an increased likelihood of psychological distress. Depression had the lowest Mean±SD score (3.92±4.2), while social dysfunction had the highest Mean±SD score (8.06±3.9) among the subscales. There was a significantly negative correlation between GHQ score and students’ self-esteem (P= 0.000, r= -0.556). The students with higher self-esteem experienced lower level of psychological distress. According to the regression analysis, 30.9% of the variance in students’ mental health is predicted by self-esteem. Conclusion A high prevalence of emotional disturbance among health care practitioners is likely to compound the existing problems of health care provision and that counseling and other support services should be made available to them.

Psychological distress and resilience in first responders and health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the COVID‐19 pandemic, first responders and health care workers faced elevated virus‐related risks through prolonged contacts with the public. Research suggests that these workers already experienced lower levels of psychological well‐being linked to occupational risks. Thus, the pandemic’s impact might have particularly affected mental health in these groups. This paper analysed data from a large‐scale Welsh population study (N = 12,989) from June to July 2020. Levels of psychological distress were compared across various occupations, including police, fire and rescue, and NHS health care workers. Resilience was also indexed, and its role considered as a protective factor for psychological distress. Surprisingly, health care workers reported lower distress levels than the general population. Further, fire and rescue and police groups had lower distress than most groups and significantly higher resilience. Within police officers, higher resilience levels were protective for distress. Fire and rescue workers were half as likely as others to report distress, even accounting for demographic factors and resilience. The findings offer an optimistic view of psychological resilience in these critical occupations. They illustrate potential benefits to one’s mental health of playing a crucial societal role during crises and reiterate the importance of enhancing resilience within groups who encounter high‐risk situations daily.Practitioner points Our findings provide evidence that health care workers and first responders showed lower levels of psychological distress than the general population during the first period of lockdown due to the COVID‐19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. This may indicate that playing a critical role in society during an episode of crisis, and acting to help others, may be protective of one’s own mental health.The research also provides an optimistic view of the psychological resilience of critical first responders and health care workers during a period early on in the COVID‐19 pandemic (June–July 2020). This highlights the benefits of fostering resilience in those working within high‐risk first responder and health care occupations.

Posttraumatic stress disorder and death anxiety among Iraqi civilians exposed to a suicide car bombing: the role of religious coping and attachment

Background Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of a bombing has been studied in the literature. Limited studies have focused attention on PTSD following a suicide car bombing. However, more research is needed to explore the risk factors for this psychological response. Aims To examine a hypothesised model that death anxiety would be associated with PTSD and psychiatric comorbidity following a suicide car bombing, and that attachment styles and religious coping would influence the impact of this anxiety on distress outcomes. Methods 185 Iraqi civilians exposed to the first suicide car bombing completed questionnaires measuring PTSD, psychiatric comorbidity, death anxiety, religious coping, and attachment experiences. Results 82% met diagnostic criteria for PTSD, the remainder did not. Path analysis showed that death anxiety was significantly correlated with psychiatric comorbidity; it was also correlated with attachment, which was correlated with psychiatric comorbidity. Death anxiety was also significantly correlated with religious coping, which was correlated with both distress outcomes. Conclusions Although Iraqi civilians reported increased death anxiety following a suicide car bombing, those who used religion to cope with the traumatic experience and had functional attachment experiences in the past reported low levels of psychological distress.

Association of Psychological Distress, Contextual Factors, and Individual Differences Among Citizen Responders.

BackgroundLittle is known about the psychological risks of dispatched citizen responders who have participated in resuscitation attempts.Methods and ResultsA cross‐sectional survey study was performed with 102 citizen responders who participated in a resuscitation attempt from July 23, 2018, to August 22, 2018, in the Capital Region of Denmark. Psychological distress, defined as symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, was assessed 3 weeks after the resuscitation attempt and measured with the Impact of Event Scale‐Revised. Perceived stress was measured with the Perceived Stress Scale. Individual differences were assessed as the personality traits of agreeableness, conscientiousness, extraversion, neuroticism, and openness to experience with the Big Five Inventory, general self‐efficacy, and coping mechanisms (Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory). Associations between continuous variables were examined with the Pearson correlation. The associations between psychological distress levels and contextual factors and individual differences were analyzed in multivariable linear regression models to determine factors independently associated with psychological distress levels. The mean overall posttraumatic stress disorder score was 0.65 of 12; the mean perceived stress score was 7.61 of 40. The most common coping mechanisms were acceptance and emotional support. Low perceived stress was significantly associated with high general self‐efficacy, and high perceived stress was significantly associated with high scores on neuroticism and openness to experience. Non–healthcare professionals were less likely to report symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder.ConclusionsCitizen responders who participated in resuscitation reported low levels of psychological distress. Individual differences were significantly associated with levels of psychological distress and should be considered when engaging citizen responders in resuscitation.

Differential adherence to peer and nurse components of a supportive care package—The appeal of peer support may be related to women’s health and psychological status

ObjectiveKnowledge of factors associated with intervention non-adherence may provide insights into the clinical utility of non-pharmacologic interventions. MethodsThis study compared complete and incomplete adherers to two separate components of a novel intervention package for women undergoing curative intent radiotherapy for gynaecological cancer on socio-demographic, clinical and pre-radiotherapy patient-reported outcomes data. ResultsAdherence to the tailored specialist nurse consultations was satisfactory (71% participated in all available sessions, 19% participated in all but one). Adherence to the telephone peer support sessions was less satisfactory (47% participated in all available sessions, 24% participated in all but one session). Complete adherers to the peer sessions reported significantly lower levels of psychological distress and significantly higher levels of physical, emotional and functional wellbeing before radiotherapy. No other statistically significant differences were observed between complete and incomplete adherers to the nurse- or peer-led sessions. ConclusionWomen’s ability or motivation to engage with peer support may be influenced by their health and psychological status. Further, the extent of intervention non-adherence to the peer-led component may have compromised the assessment of its efficacy. Practice implicationsPeer support may be less acceptable or appropriate for women with more complex care needs. Such women may prefer specialised care from trained professionals.

Behaviour is the Key in a Pandemic: The Direct and Indirect Effects of COVID-19-Related Variables on Psychological Wellbeing.

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential role of three COVID-19-related variables (i.e., risk perception, knowledge, and behaviour) on four indices of pandemic-related mental health (i.e., anxiety, depression, loneliness, and hopelessness). In total, 337 participants completed four self-report questionnaires: selected subscales of the World Health Organisation's COVID-19 Behavioural Insights Tool, UCLA Loneliness Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Trait Scale, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and Beck Hopelessness Scale. In addition to descriptive statistics and intercorrelations, structural equation modelling was used to compare three models of the potential role (predictor or moderator/mediator) that the three abovementioned COVID-19-related variables could play in psychological wellbeing. The results showed high levels of psychological distress among the current sample. Generally, better knowledge of COVID-19 and engaging in protective behaviours were found to be related to lower levels of psychological distress, whereas increased risk perception was found to be associated with increased feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and depression. It was also found that behaviour mediated the effect of knowledge on psychological wellbeing, suggesting that while publicising information about COVID-19 remains necessary, providing the public with a means to engage in protective behaviours is central for promoting psychological wellbeing.

Pilot investigation into the need and feasibility of a psychoeducation and support group for male caregivers of those with Huntington's disease.

The psychosocial sequelae of caregiving in Huntington's disease (HD) have been shown to be extensive, even in comparison with other progressive neurological disorders. Based on observed clinical need, this investigation aimed to identify psychoeducational and emotional support needs of male HD caregivers and to explore the feasibility and utility of a carer support group. Six male caregivers completed quantitative measures assessing depression, anxiety, carer burden, and carer support needs. The men participated in two education and support group sessions, four weeks apart, which were developed with consideration of male support preferences. Qualitative themes arising in these sessions were documented. Questionnaire results showed overall low levels of psychological distress and carer burden. Despite this, the group sessions facilitated disclosure of significant emotional, practical, and relationship challenges arising from HD. Further, a range of psychoeducational and emotional support needs were identified on quantitative and qualitative assessments. Participants strongly endorsed the format of the group and the benefits of participation, highlighting in particular the importance of meeting other men who understood the experience of living with a spouse with HD.

Moderators and mediators of emotion regulation therapy for psychologically distressed caregivers of cancer patients: secondary analyses from a randomized controlled trial

Background Being an informal caregiver (IC) of a cancer patient is often associated with psychological distress. We have recently, in a randomized controlled trial (RCT), demonstrated efficacy of Emotion Regulation Therapy for ICs (ERT-C), evidenced as lower levels of psychological distress. Such efficacy demonstration is important, but a crucial step in improving treatments for the IC population is the identification of moderators (i.e., for whom the treatment works) and mediators (i.e., the drivers of the detected effect). Material and methods In a sample of 65 psychologically distressed ICs (combining participants who received immediate and delayed treatment in the RCT); we investigated age, gender, and homework completion as moderators of treatment outcome. Proposed mediators were derived from the ERT model and included mindfulness, emotion regulation dysfunction, decentering, and cognitive reappraisal. Results and conclusions The strongest moderation effect was found for homework completion, predicting improvements on psychological distress. Correlational mediation analyses generally supported the ERT model. However, temporal precedence was only established for the association between decentering and worry, where a bidirectional relation was revealed. Homework thus emerged as an important aspect of ERT-C and, albeit a bidirectional relationship, changes in decentering may precede changes in worry. Future trials should ensure the robustness of these results, hone the specificity of process measures, and further investigate the causal timeline of change.

Parental psychological distress and attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination: A cross-sectional survey in Shenzhen, China

BackgroundParental attitudes towards the vaccines play a key role in the success of the herd immunity for the COVID-19. Psychological health seems to be a controversial determinant of vaccine hesitancy and remains to be investigated. This study attempted to measure parental psychological distress, attitudes towards the COVID-19 vaccine, and to explore the potential associations. MethodsAn online survey using convenience sampling method was conducted among parents within the school public health network of Shenzhen. Demographic information and attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination were collected. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-4) was applied to measure psychological distress. ResultsOverall, 4,748 parents were included (average age: 40.28, standard deviation: 5.08). More than one fifth of them demonstrated psychological distress, in which only 3.3% were moderate to severe symptom. The proportions of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy for themselves, their spouses, and their children were 25.2%, 26.1%, and 27.3%, respectively. Parents with psychological distress were more likely to suffer vaccine hesitancy for themselves (OR: 1.277, 95%CI: 1.091~1.494), for their spouses (OR:1.276, 95%CI: 1.088~1.496) and children (OR:1.274, 95%CI: 1.092~1.486). These associations tended to be more significant among parents with mild or severe psychological distress. LimitationNon-random sampling limited the generalization of our findings to all parents. ConclusionParents had a low level of psychological distress but relatively high willingness of COVID-19 vaccination when there was no local epidemic but persistent risk of imported cases. Targeted health education and intervention strategies should be provided to people with vaccine hesitancy, especially for those who are susceptible to psychological distress.

Emergency Room Physicians’ Levels of Anxiety, Depression, Burnout, and Coping Methods During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The present study is believed to be the first study to have evaluated the COVID-19 Pandemic’s effects on U.S. based emergency room (ER) physicians’ mental health. Specifically, the study assessed the levels of anxiety, depression, burnout, and coping skills of 226 ER physicians from 31 January to 6 February 2021. The results indicate that ER physicians reported a high level of both personal and work-related burnout even though few reported clinically significant symptoms of anxiety or depression. Results also align with previous research indicating that active and adaptive coping skills were related to a lower level of psychological distress during the COVID-19 Pandemic whereas maladaptive coping strategies such as self-blame, denial, disengagement, venting, and substance abuse, were related to lower overall mental health.

Individual and organizational health literacies: moderating psychological distress for individuals with chronic conditions.

People with chronic conditions experience high psychological distress. Using the National Health Survey in Australia during 2017-18, the study assessed whether and which health literacies moderated the relationship between chronic conditions and psychological distress for diabetes, chronic kidney disease (CKD), cardiovascular disease (CVD), arthritis, other musculoskeletal conditions, asthma, other chronic lower respiratory diseases and cancer. Psychological distress was regressed on chronic diseases, health literacy domains and their interactions, controlling for demographic, socioeconomic and health factors. Of 5790 adults, 4212 (72.75%) aged 18-64; 846 (14.6%) had high or very high psychological distress, 1819 (31.4%) had diabetes, CKD or CVD, 2645 (45.7%) musculoskeletal conditions, and 910 (15.7%) lower respiratory conditions. Having sufficient information from healthcare providers was associated with the lowest level of psychological distress for CKD and cancer. Social support was associated with significantly lower levels of psychological distress for cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and lower respiratory conditions. Understanding health information was associated with the largest improvement in psychological distress for diabetes. Higher health literacies were associated with reduced risks of psychological distress among individuals managing chronic conditions. Interventions for improving self-management and health inequalities should incorporate disease-specific health literacy enhancement strategies at individual and organizational levels.

Evaluation of the Usability and Acceptability of the InnoWell Platform as Rated by Older Adults: Survey Study.

BackgroundAs the global population ages, there is increased interest in developing strategies to promote health and well-being in later life, thus enabling continued productivity, social engagement, and independence. As older adults use technologies with greater frequency, proficiency, and confidence, health information technologies (HITs) now hold considerable potential as a means to enable broader access to tools and services for the purposes of screening, treatment, monitoring, and ongoing maintenance of health for this group. The InnoWell Platform is a digital tool co-designed with lived experience to facilitate better outcomes by enabling access to a comprehensive multidimensional assessment, the results of which are provided in real time to enable consumers to make informed decisions about clinical and nonclinical care options independently or in collaboration with a health professional.ObjectiveThis study aims to evaluate the usability and acceptability of a prototype of the InnoWell Platform, co-designed and configured with and for older adults, using self-report surveys.MethodsParticipants were adults 50 years and older who were invited to engage with the InnoWell Platform naturalistically (ie, at their own discretion) for a period of 90 days. In addition, they completed short web-based surveys at baseline regarding their background, health, and mental well-being. After 90 days, participants were asked to complete the System Usability Scale to evaluate the usability and acceptability of the prototyped InnoWell Platform, with the aim of informing the iterative redesign and development of this digital tool before implementation within a health service setting.ResultsA total of 19 participants consented to participate in the study; however, only the data from the 16 participants (mean age 62.8 years, SD 7.5; range 50-72) who completed at least part of the survey at 90 days were included in the analyses. Participants generally reported low levels of psychological distress and good mental well-being. In relation to the InnoWell Platform, the usability scores were suboptimal. Although the InnoWell Platform was noted to be easy to use, participants had difficulty identifying the relevance of the tool for their personal circumstances. Ease of use, the comprehensive nature of the assessment tools, and the ability to track progress over time were favored features of the InnoWell Platform, whereas the need for greater personalization and improved mobile functionality were cited as areas for improvement.ConclusionsHITs such as the InnoWell Platform have tremendous potential to improve access to cost-effective and low-intensity interventions at scale to improve and maintain mental health and well-being in later life. However, to promote adoption of and continued engagement with such tools, it is essential that these HITs are personalized and relevant for older adult end users, accounting for differences in background, clinical profiles, and levels of need.

Participation in Existential Groups Led by Norwegian Healthcare Chaplains—Relations to Psychological Distress, Crisis of Meaning and Meaningfulness

ABSTRACT Spirituality groups led by healthcare chaplains have been found to aid patients’ recovery processes in US psychiatric units. In Norway, existential groups (EGs) led by healthcare chaplains and co-led by healthcare staff members are offered at psychiatric units; these groups share commonalities with spirituality groups, group psychotherapy, existential therapy and clinical pastoral care, facilitating patients’ reflections regarding existential, spiritual and religious issues. The study aimed to examine associations between patients’ participation and topics discussed in the EGs and their experiences of psychological distress, crisis of meaning and meaningfulness. A cross-sectional design was applied among 157 patients attending EGs led by healthcare chaplains across Norway. Multivariate regression analyses assessed the strength of possible associations, adjusted for relevant demographical variables. Significant association was found between lengthier EG participation and lower levels of psychological distress, while discussion topics concerning religious and spiritual issues were significantly associated with the experience of meaningfulness.

(Non)Religious Coping with a Natural Disaster in a Rural U.S. Community

Religious/spiritual (R/S) coping following natural disasters is associated with positive outcomes, leading to perceptions that the absence of R/S coping leads to negative outcomes among nonreligious individuals. However, little research explicitly explores the coping strategies of nonreligious individuals in response to natural disasters and traumatic events. The present study collected data from a sample of survivors of a natural disaster event (i.e., a tornado) to test the relationship between (non)religiosity/(non)spirituality, coping, psychological distress, and posttraumatic growth. Statistical models suggested that problem-focused coping facilitated posttraumatic growth and lower levels of psychological distress among people with lower levels of institutional religiousness and/or individual spirituality (consistent with predictions), but not among people at high levels of religiousness/spirituality (contrary to predictions). Participants with moderate levels of institutional religiousness reported more dysfunctional coping and higher levels of psychological distress, as predicted. Emotion-focused coping was associated with fewer depressive symptoms following trauma among participants with low levels of institutional religiousness. These data suggest a complex relationship between trauma, posttraumatic growth, distress, and coping among varying levels of (non)religiousness/(non)spirituality. This study is among the first to suggest that problem-focused coping in particular may promote positive psychological outcomes among nonreligious/nonspiritual people following a natural disaster or traumatic event. Implications of these data (i.e., for treatment of trauma) are discussed.

Identification of subgroup effect with an individual participant data meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials of three different types of therapist-delivered care in low back pain

BackgroundProven treatments for low back pain, at best, only provide modest overall benefits. Matching people to treatments that are likely to be most effective for them may improve clinical outcomes and makes better use of health care resources.MethodsWe conducted an individual participant data meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials of three types of therapist delivered interventions for low back pain (active physical, passive physical and psychological treatments). We applied two statistical methods (recursive partitioning and adaptive risk group refinement) to identify potential subgroups who might gain greater benefits from different treatments from our individual participant data meta-analysis.ResultsWe pooled data from 19 randomised controlled trials, totalling 9328 participants. There were 5349 (57%) females with similar ratios of females in control and intervention arms. The average age was 49 years (standard deviation, SD, 14).Participants with greater psychological distress and physical disability gained most benefit in improving on the mental component scale (MCS) of SF-12/36 from passive physical treatment than non-active usual care (treatment effects, 4.3; 95% confidence interval, CI, 3.39 to 5.15). Recursive partitioning method found that participants with worse disability at baseline gained most benefit in improving the disability (Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire) outcome from psychological treatment than non-active usual care (treatment effects, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.1 to 2.31). Adaptive risk group refinement did not find any subgroup that would gain much treatment effect between psychological and non-active usual care. Neither statistical method identified any subgroups who would gain an additional benefit from active physical treatment compared to non-active usual care.ConclusionsOur methodological approaches worked well and may have applicability in other clinical areas. Passive physical treatments were most likely to help people who were younger with higher levels of disability and low levels of psychological distress. Psychological treatments were more likely to help those with severe disability. Despite this, the clinical importance of identifying these subgroups is limited. The sizes of sub-groups more likely to benefit and the additional effect sizes observed are small. Our analyses provide no evidence to support the use of sub-grouping for people with low back pain.

Trends in the utilization of youth primary healthcare services and psychological distress

BackgroundPsychological distress among young people is increasing in Northern Europe. According to established healthcare utilization theory, this will create a greater need for youth primary healthcare and subsequently lead to more help-seeking behavior by distressed young people. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the use of youth primary healthcare services and psychological distress in times of increasing mental health problems and increased service need.MethodsThis study consisted of five waves of repeated annual cross-sectional data collected from young people (aged 13–19) living in Norway between 2014 and 2018 (n = 368,579). Population-weighted and design-adjusted generalized linear regression with a log-link was used to examine the use of youth primary healthcare services over time.ResultsWe found that a large proportion of young people use primary healthcare services and that young people with high levels of psychological distress use primary healthcare services twice as much as their peers with low levels of psychological distress. In addition, between 2014 and 2018 both psychological distress and primary healthcare service utilization increased: psychological distress increased by 5% and total primary healthcare service use increased by 500 consultations per 1000 young people. Overall, psychological distress had a conditional association with youth primary healthcare service use and could account for between 16 and 66% of the change in the use of services between 2014 and 2018, depending on the service type. However, the absolute increase seen in the use of primary healthcare services was mainly driven by young people with low levels of psychological distress as opposed to young people with high psychological distress. This suggest a converging trend.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that there might be serious barriers between need and help-seeking behavior for young people with high levels of psychological distress and that the pattern of utilization among young people with lower distress may indicate overuse, possibly as an inadvertent consequence of a newly introduced school absence policy. While further research is needed to confirm these findings, our work may inform healthcare providers and policy makers about primary healthcare utilization trends among young people.

Why are some drought-affected farmers less distressed than others? The association between stress, psychological distress, acceptance, behavioural disengagement and neuroticism.

To identify the modifiable psychological and behavioural coping strategies associated with low levels of psychological distress, independent of more stable personality and demographic factors, in a sample of farmers who reported being exposed to a recent stressful event during an extended drought. Three hundred and nine South Australian, drought-affected grain, sheep and/or cattle farmers completed printed or online questionnaires. Only those who reported experiencing a stressful event in the past month that they rated ≥7 on a scale ranging from 1 (not stressful at all) to 10 (extremely stressful) were included in the analyses (n=175, 65.06%). Participants ranged in age from 24 to 85years and 40% were female. Psychological distress was measured using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, and coping strategies were measured using a situational version of the COPE inventory. Five personality factors (extraversion, neuroticism, openness, conscientiousness and agreeableness) were assessed using the Quickscales-R. In the final multivariable model, distress was elevated among individuals reporting higher neuroticism and behavioural disengagement, and lower in individuals reporting greater use of acceptance. These 3 variables explained 44% of the variance in distress. Farmers recently exposed to a significant stressor, who used acceptance as a coping strategy, did not engage in behavioural disengagement and scored low on neuroticism, were least likely to experience distress. Given the stability of personality factors, interventions that foster farmers' use of acceptance and prevent behavioural disengagement as coping strategies might assist them with the management of future stressors, particularly in times of drought.

Brief mindfulness-based training and mindfulness trait attenuate psychological stress in university students: a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundPsychological distress in University settings has grown and became a public health concern. In this context, contemplative practices such as mindfulness have been proposed as a strategy to help students on stress management.MethodsForty university students (20 female), aged between 18 to 30 years (mean = 24.15; SD = 3.56), with no previous experience with meditation or yoga were recruited at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte and randomized to a mindfulness training (MT) or active control (AC) groups. We analyzed measures of anxiety, affect, stress, as well as state and trait mindfulness in order to evaluate the effects of trait mindfulness and a brief mindfulness intervention in forty healthy young students. Participants were classified as Low (n = 27, females = 13) or High (n = 13, females = 7) Trait Mindfulness by k-means clustering and compared between them using Wilcoxon sum rank test. Furthermore, the sample was randomly allocated to an AC (n = 20, females = 10) or a MT (n = 20, females = 10) group, and mixed analysis of variance was performed to analyze the effect of interventions. The mechanisms and role of trait mindfulness in the intervention was assessed by a moderated mediation analysis.ResultsWe found that High Trait individuals have lower anxiety trait, anxiety state and perceived stress levels. Only the MT group reduced their anxiety state and perceived stress after the intervention and increased their state mindfulness. Both groups reduced negative affect and cortisol, and no change was found in positive affect. Moderated mediation analysis showed that the training-induced change in state mindfulness mediated the increase in positive affect and the decrease in perceived stress and cortisol, regardless of trait mindfulness. For anxiety state the decrease only occurred in individuals with High Trait Mindfulness.ConclusionsTogether, these results suggest that higher trait mindfulness is associated with low levels of psychological distress and that a brief mindfulness-based intervention seems to be useful to reduce distress measures in university students.Trial registrationReBEC, U1111-1194-8661. Registered 28 March 2017—Retrospectively registered, http://www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-7b8yh8

Relationship between Religiosity and Psychological Distress among University Students during COVID-19 and Movement Control Order (MCO)

The outbreak of COVID-19 has forced the Malaysian government to initiate a Movement Control Order (MCO) that requires people to stay at home. All businesses have been shut down including private and public higher learning institutions. This pandemic and the MCO may add to the existing stress faced by university students as past studies have reported that psychological distress is prevalent among them. In addition, earlier studies associated low levels of psychological distress with high religiosity. In this regard, this study would like to investigate if there is any association between the degree of psychological distress reported by university students and their religiosity during the pandemic and the MCO. This study was conducted on a purposive sample of Malaysian Muslim undergraduate and postgraduate students (N = 257, Mage = 22.28, SD = 2.16) using the IIUM Religiosity Scale (IIUMRelS) and the General Health Questionnaires (GHQ-12). The results suggest higher average scores in religiosity and lower scores in psychological distress. Furthermore, there was a weak but statistically significant negative correlation between religiosity and psychological distress (r = -.286, p <0.01). These findings provide good suggestions for future studies to explore the predictive effect of religiosity on psychological distress as in this study both variables are associated.