Mental Adaptation Research Articles

Investigating the relationship between personality types and resilience in pregnant women. A cross-sectional study

BackgroundChildbirth is considered a critical experience in a woman's life when she needs mental adaptation and reorganization of relationships. Factors such as personality and self-perception can help facing and solving crises. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between personality types and stress resilience among pregnant women. MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study on 210 multiparous and nulliparous pregnant women who were 32–37 weeks pregnant and referred to Shiraz medical hospitals for delivery selected via convenience sampling. Data collection tools were personal and midwifery information questionnaires and the Goldberg personality and visual pain assessment scale that were completed through interviews. Data analysis was performed by SPSS software using descriptive tests to describe the data and the Pearson correlation test to analyze the data. ResultsThe highest personality type was conscientiousness (48.1%) and the lowest was extraversion (2.4%). Maternal resilience had a significant positive relationship with extraversion (p=.001) and conscientiousness (p=.001). There was no significant relationship between the 2 variables of neuroticism and maternal resilience (p=.12). There was a significant positive relationship between the 2 variables of openness to experience and maternal resilience (p=.005). ConclusionWomen's healthcare providers can help to mitigate the negative effects of psychological distress, and psychologically empower this vulnerable group by considering the resilience and personality type of pregnant women during prenatal care.

Network Analyses Applied to the Dimensions of Cancer-Related Fatigue in Women With Breast Cancer.

Understanding cancer symptom cluster through network analyses is a new approach in oncology, revealing interconnected and influential relationships among reported symptoms. We aimed to assess these relationships using network analysis in posttreatment breast cancer patients, focusing on the five dimensions of cancer-related fatigue (CRF), and on other common difficulties encountered by oncological patients (i.e., pain, anxiety, depression, sleep difficulties, cognitive impairments, and emotion regulation and mental adaptation difficulties). This study involved a complementary analysis of data from two interventional studies. Participants completed questionnaires before and after the intervention, with baseline scores being used in this article. Partial correlation network analysis modeled the relationships between symptoms in five distinct networks, each of them including one specific dimension of CRF. The core symptom in each network was identified based on the highest centrality indices. Depression emerged as the core symptom in all networks, strongly associated with all fatigue dimensions (partial correlations ranging from 0.183 to 0.269) except mental fatigue. These findings indicate robust connections between symptoms, as variations in depression scores directly or indirectly influence fatigue and other symptoms within the cluster. Our results support the multidimensional aspect of CRF, and its links with other common symptoms. To effectively reduce patient CRF, interventions should address not only fatigue but also the closely related symptoms from the cluster, such as depression, given its centrality in the cluster. ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03144154 and NCT04873661). Retrospectively registered on May 1, 2017 and April 29, 2021, respectively.

ГЕНДЕРНЫЕ ОСОБЕННОСТИ МЕХАНИЗМОВ ПСИХИЧЕСКОЙ АДАПТАЦИИ У ПСИХИЧЕСКИ ЗДОРОВЫХ ЛЮДЕЙ

It seems important to study the gender features of the mechanisms of mental adaptation in mentally healthy people due to a high correlation between the increase in the number of mental disorders and the frequency of catastrophes, social crisis periods and traumatic situations, as well as the fact that perceived levels of stress and stress factors can vary between genders. The aim of this study to identify the psychological features of stress response, taking into account gender specifics, to determine adaptation mechanisms in life-threatening situations. Two hundred mentally healthy people aged 18–60 years with a high level of adaptation to stress took part in the research. The diagnostic complex was aimed at studying individual psychological and individual typological characteristics, regulatory processes, and assessing the value-semantic component of personality. Women are distinguished by high rates of anxiety and depression, emotional instability and sensitivity; use of defense mechanisms of regression, compensation and hypercompensation; the use of coping strategies — “escape” and “positive revaluation”. Men are characterized by high levels of modeling in the regulatory profile and the use of the protective mechanism of displacement. They are able to plan in accordance with goals and suppress unacceptable desires, thoughts and feelings in situations of stress. Analysis of intragroup relationships showed that in men and women anxiety is associated with personal characteristics, as well as with the general level of formation of the self-regulation system. For men, the profile of intragroup connections is represented primarily by personal characteristics. Whereas women have a more complex profile organization, which includes not only personal characteristics, but also variables of the value-semantic level, as well as a broader system of regulatory processes. It is advisable that the identified patterns be taken into account when developing individualized programs for the prevention of stress-related disorders in lifethreatening situations and creating medical and psychological technologies for preserving health and extending professional longevity.

Mental adaptation to cancer mechanisms as predictors of somatization and its impact- a survivor population survey as part of the Psycho-Oncologic multidisciplinary approach

Mental adaptation to cancer mechanisms as predictors of somatization and its impact- a survivor population survey as part of the Psycho-Oncologic multidisciplinary approach

Promoting residents’ happiness through a human-centric approach to tourism city development

PurposeThe study aims to delve into the influence of tourism on the happiness of city residents, grounded in the overarching concept of livability. It posits that prioritizing residents’ happiness is crucial for effectively addressing cities’ challenges in balancing development and distinctiveness. The study pursues three primary objectives: first, establishing a potential correlation between city tourism and residents’ happiness; second, examining the contributing factors to this correlation and third, identifying potential mediators that influence the connection between tourism development and residents’ happiness.Design/methodology/approachUsing a quantitative single-case design and partial least square analysis, the study underscores the intricate nature of various tourism development components. It specifically explores the roles of cognitive flexibility and social comparison in shaping the relationship between city tourism and happiness.FindingsThe findings make a distinctive contribution by revealing that not all tourism domains contribute positively to happiness. Furthermore, it sheds light on how tourism development impacts the emotional and cognitive dimensions of happiness, emphasizing the adverse effects of inequality and feelings of insecurity.Research limitations/implicationsThe study acknowledges certain constraints, including its employment of a cross-sectional design, the issue of generalizability, potential sampling bias and the reliance on subjective measurements when evaluating constructs like happiness and satisfaction with life. Using self-reported data introduces susceptibility to social desirability bias and individual perceptual differences, potentially resulting in measurement inaccuracies. Nevertheless, despite these limitations, the study’s findings offer valuable insights that contribute to both theoretical advancement and the realm of urban management.Practical implicationsThe findings elucidated through the mediation analyses conducted for hypotheses three to seven shed light on the significant roles played by mental adaptation and social comparison mechanisms in shaping individuals’ happiness. These insights substantially enhance our understanding of this field. Particularly, the dimensions of social and environmental impact within tourism appear to counterbalance the positive effects stemming from the economic and cultural aspects. This suggests a scenario where an excessive focus on tourism development could potentially undermine the overall livability of the city. These outcomes further indicate the necessity for proactive interventions by destination managers. Their efforts should be directed toward enhancing the environmental and social domains, aiming to reinvigorate the sense of community among residents, which appears to be gradually waning.Social implicationsThe outcomes of this study emphasize the utmost significance of prioritizing residents’ happiness above mere considerations of economic growth when formulating efficacious strategies for tourism. By concentrating on the happiness of the local population, a harmonious resonance is established with Sustainable Development Goal 11, which advocates for the creation of habitable cities founded upon the principle that “a city that is not good for its citizens is not good for tourists.” This alignment underscores the interconnected nature of residents’ happiness and the sustainable development of tourism. Moreover, residents’ happiness plays a pivotal role in addressing the challenge that cities face in harmonizing growth and their uniqueness, ensuring competitiveness and sustainability.Originality/valueThe research underscores the need for a people-oriented perspective in urban planning and tourism development initiatives. The study identifies diverse factors impacting residents’ happiness in city tourism, highlighting the complex interplay of environmental, cultural and socioeconomic elements. It emphasizes income’s role but underscores nonmaterial factors and individual preferences. Overall, the study offers timely and valuable insights into the intricate connection between tourism development, residents’ happiness, living conditions and human perception, guiding urban planners and stakeholders.

CLINICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL FEATURES OF DISTRESS IN PERSONS WHO WERE FORCED TO MOVE DUE TO THE WAR

Aim – to investigate and study the clinical and psychological characteristics of persons who were forced to move due to the war in 2022 to provide recommendations for medical and psychological care and support.Material and methods. Diagnostic interviews used in the study are based on screening methods for assessing mental status, in particular depression, anxiety states, the impact of traumatic events, and assessment of psycho-emotional distress in work and everyday activities. The study was supplemented with the SCL-90-R method, which contributed to a better generalization of data on the mental state, and the AAQ-II method, which made it possible to assess the tendency to emotional avoidance as a mechanism of mental adaptation disorders.Results. The presence of clinically significant anxiety-depressive symptoms associated with the impact of traumatic events and causing psycho-emotional distress in everyday life has been demonstrated. Predictor factors determining distress and psychosocial functioning in various areas are described and can be used as targets for medical and psychological interventions. An analysis of gender differences is presented.Conclusions. The main predictors of distress in work and everyday activities were found to be the impact of traumatic experience, tendency to emotional avoidance, and symptoms of depressive states. Men prevailed in the level of distress in significant areas related to work and household maintenance. Medical-psychological interventions for the development of conscious strategies for coping with distress and overcoming emotional avoidance are promising for further research and clinical practice.

Theoretical analysis of the problem of developing personal resilience

Military operations on the territory of Ukraine have a devastating impact on the entire population of the state. Daily shelling, participation in combat, loss of loved ones, and the experience of prolonged stressful situations affect all areas of the population's life and, in particular, their psychological and mental health. An important task of modern psychological science is to explore ways to develop constructive ways to overcome stressful situations and develop personal resilience and counteract difficult life circumstances.In recent years, the study of the problem of resilience as the ability to resist life's difficulties has been actively developing. The study of this problem helps to solve many problems of practical psychology, since the development of resilience and the ability to resist stressful situations is a necessary component of the personality in wartime.The article presents a theoretical generalization of scientific approaches to the study of the concept of resilience. The main directions in the study of resilience of foreign and domestic authors are revealed. Various factors and determinants that influence the development of resilience as a process of resistance to stress are analyzed. The historical dynamics of understanding and studying the concept of resilience and the study of the development of personality resilience are presented.Based on the results of the theoretical analysis, we can distinguish the following scientific generalizations of the concept of resilience: it has a dynamic nature and biological basis, is an important prerequisite for successful adaptation and development of the individual, can be considered in social, biological or psychological aspects, its development depends not on the living conditions of a person, but on his/her perception of life difficulties, during the emergence of difficult living conditions, as well as in the process of experiencing life difficulties, a person is capable of post-traumatic growth and resilience.There are four stages in the study of the concept of resilience:1. Identification of signs based on longitudinal studies of children's defensive functions.2. Identification of the process. During this stage, the focus of the study changes from defensive factors to consideration of human resilience processes.3. The third stage is based on the first and second, it actively considers resilience as a mechanism that leads to positive human adaptation in adverse conditions.4. The fourth stage was caused by the development of technologies that allowed to study resilience more qualitatively with the help of psychodiagnostic tools.It has been established that resilience is an individual ability to counteract and find constructive methods of overcoming stressful situations, an important prerequisite for mental adaptation and personality development. Resilience depends on the influence of external (social) factors and individual psychological factors.

Mental Adjustment to Cancer and its Effect on the Quality of Life of Women with Breast Cancer

Introduction: Breast cancer has been recognized as the most common malignancy in women during the last 10-15 years. Quality of life is the result of several physical and psychosocial effects. The result of this study was conducted to investigate the strategies of mental adjustment to cancer and its impact on the quality of life of breast cancer patients.
 Methods: This descriptive-correlational study was conducted on 240 breast cancer patients using simple random sampling who were referred in Shahid Ramezanzadeh Radiotherapy Center, Yazd, Iran, from April to October 2021. Data collection tools were standard quality of life questionnaires (EORTC QLQ-C30) and Mini-Comparison of Mental Adaptation to Cancer (Mini-MAC). Data were analyzed using t-test, correlation and regression in SPSS version 16 software.
 Results: The mean age of patients was 44.77(±11.00) years. There was a significant and negative correlation between quality of life and Helplessness hopelessness (r= -.795, p<0.001) and anxious preoccupation (r= -.705, p<0.001). Quality of life was significantly and positively correlated with fighting spirit (r= .368, p<0.001) and cognitive avoidance (r= .364, p<0.001) and Fatefulness(r= .155, p<0.05). In general, cancer coping strategies explained 59% of the quality of life variation in breast cancer patients.
 Conclusion: In order to improve the quality of life of patients, it is necessary to teach them adaptive strategies to adjust with cancer, such as fighting spirit and cognitive avoidance.

Patient perspective in perceived comparative genetic mutation risk: An exploratory review.

The genetic risk of chronic diseases represents a complex medical setting in which individuals need to adapt to health conditions that manage daily living towards to healthy behaviours. This exploratory review focused on psychological counselling for genetic risk diagnosis. This study aimed to address the psychological management of the impact of genetic risk on chronic diseases. We performed a systematic search of MEDLINE via PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, PsycINFO and Scopus for articles from May 2012 to August 2023. A descriptive analysis of the characteristics of the included studies was conducted. Based on the exclusion/inclusion criteria, the literature search yielded 250 studies. Seventeen full texts were assessed for eligibility and 207 articles were excluded. Observational (n = 15) and randomised clinical trials (n = 2) were examined. Most studies have been conducted on oncological diagnoses; the emotional dimensions examined have been worry, depression, anxiety and stress in most diseases. Psychological measures are based on self-reports and questionnaires; few studies have investigated the connections between quality of life, psychological traits and emotional dimensions. The complexity of clinics and from daily diagnostic and treatment practices to the everyday experience of those living with the risk of disease might be addressed in counselling settings to improve quality of life in genetic risk, increasing mental adaptation to tailored chronic conditions. Thus, the empowerment of communication of genetic risk information should be part of the general trend towards personalised medicine.

Attitude to themselves and to the time perspective of women with cosmetic problems of their facial skin

Introduction. The central place in the system of personality relations is occupied by the attitude towards oneself. Its violations are the main link in the development of neurotic disorders and adaptation disorders. There was proved the connection between the attitude to the time perspective and the emotional-affective status, one of the indicators of which is the attitude towards oneself. In this regard, the purpose of the work was to study the attitude towards onуself and to the personal perspective of the patients of a cosmetological clinic with different levels of mental adaptation.Materials and methods. Patients of a cosmetological clinic with different level of mental adaptation detected using the «Test of neuropsychic adaptation» (NPA), were compared in terms of self-attitude and self-esteem studied using the author’s structured interview and S.Ya.Rubinstein’s technique (1999); the same groups were compared accordind to the indicators of the technique of «Semantic time differential» (STD) characterizing the attitude of a person to the time perspective [10]. The were used statistical methods of data analysis (Pearson χ2 and ANOVA, included in the statistical packages SPSS v. 25.0).Results. Among patients of the cosmetological clinic 54,1% have a reduced level of mental adaptation; 45,9% of women have no significant adaptation disorders. Groups of women with a reduced and nonreduced level of mental adaptation differ in the general indicator NPA (М= - 1,16+0,15, М=3,20+0,11 p=0,000), practically do not differ in socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, but statistically significantly differ in all studied psychological characteristics: self-esteem, attitude towards oneself as a person, attitude towards one’s psychical «Ego», confidence in one’s external attractiveness, attitude towards the present, pas, and future. It is concluded that a decrease in the level of mental adaptation in a patient of cosmetological clinic is associated not only with a change in the system of significant personality relationships, but also due to violations of the emotional-affective sphere.Conclusion. Prospects of research related to the study of the dynamics of self-esteem of attitude towards oneself and the perception of a time perspective in the process of cosmetological correction of facial skin defects, as well as the structure of the personality of women seeking cosmetic help.

Assessing the Psychological Adaptation of Kindergarten Teachers in Halabja Province

This research investigates the realm of psychological adaptation, a critical aspect of the human experience that profoundly influences our daily lives, especially as we navigate the complexities of work and existence. Employing a descriptive methodology and quantitative techniques, data was collected from 166 kindergarten teachers in Halabja province, Kurdistan, Iraq, comprising both private and public educational institutions. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used for data analysis, deploying a T-Test to scrutinize disparities in average scores between two groups and a One-way ANOVA for comparisons across multiple groups. The findings reveal that there are no statistically significant gender differences in the mental adaptation of kindergarten teachers in Halabja Province. However, a marginally significant mean difference (3.688, p = 0.058) is noted between the 20 - 29 and 30 - 39 age groups, suggesting a potential trend in mental adaptation levels among these age categories. In contrast, no statistically significant differences emerged in the comparisons involving the 50 - 59 age group. The data accentuates the significance of age disparities in mental adaptation among kindergarten teachers, particularly underscoring the contrast between the 40 - 49 age group and the 20 - 29 age group, emphasizing age as a crucial factor affecting mental adaptation levels.

Nocturnal selective pressures on the evolution of human musicality as a missing piece of the adaptationist puzzle.

Human musicality exhibits the necessary hallmarks for biological adaptations. Evolutionary explanations focus on recurrent adaptive problems that human musicality possibly solved in ancestral environments, such as mate selection and competition, social bonding/cohesion and social grooming, perceptual and motor skill development, conflict reduction, safe time-passing, transgenerational communication, mood regulation and synchronization, and credible signaling of coalition and territorial/predator defense. Although not mutually exclusive, these different hypotheses are still not conceptually integrated nor clearly derived from independent principles. I propose The Nocturnal Evolution of Human Musicality and Performativity Theory in which the night-time is the missing piece of the adaptationist puzzle of human musicality and performing arts. The expansion of nocturnal activities throughout human evolution, which is tied to tree-to-ground sleep transition and habitual use of fire, might help (i) explain the evolution of musicality from independent principles, (ii) explain various seemingly unrelated music features and functions, and (iii) integrate many ancestral adaptive values proposed. The expansion into the nocturnal niche posed recurrent ancestral adaptive challenges/opportunities: lack of luminosity, regrouping to cook before sleep, imminent dangerousness, low temperatures, peak tiredness, and concealment of identity. These crucial night-time features might have selected evening-oriented individuals who were prone to acoustic communication, more alert and imaginative, gregarious, risk-taking and novelty-seeking, prone to anxiety modulation, hedonistic, promiscuous, and disinhibited. Those night-time selected dispositions may have converged and enhanced protomusicality into human musicality by facilitating it to assume many survival- and reproduction-enhancing roles (social cohesion and coordination, signaling of coalitions, territorial defense, antipredatorial defense, knowledge transference, safe passage of time, children lullabies, and sexual selection) that are correspondent to the co-occurring night-time adaptive challenges/opportunities. The nocturnal dynamic may help explain musical features (sound, loudness, repetitiveness, call and response, song, elaboration/virtuosity, and duetting/chorusing). Across vertebrates, acoustic communication mostly occurs in nocturnal species. The eveningness chronotype is common among musicians and composers. Adolescents, who are the most evening-oriented humans, enjoy more music. Contemporary tribal nocturnal activities around the campfire involve eating, singing/dancing, storytelling, and rituals. I discuss the nocturnal integration of musicality's many roles and conclude that musicality is probably a multifunctional mental adaptation that evolved along with the night-time adaptive landscape.

Psychophysiological Assessment of Individual Personality in Two Patients with Severe Local Radiation Injuries (LRI) of Hand and Acute Radiation Sickness (ARS) I Degree (30 Years of Follow-up)

Psychophysiological examination was carried out on two patients, former border guards, who suffered on October 05, 1982 as a result of accidental contact with a source of gamma radiation (137Cs) while on duty while serving on the Iranian-Azerbaijani border in the ranks of the Soviet army. They suffered ARS of the 1st degree with extremely uneven gamma irradiation in the form of local radiation injuries of the hands of varying severity. The assessment of the aver -age dose for the whole body according to the frequency of dicentrics in cultures of peripheral blood lymphocytes in patient No. 1 and patient No. 2 is the same and is 0,26 Gy. Psychophysiological research was carried out in dynamics in 2001-2013 using the automated software and methodological complex «Expert». According to the MMPI data, both victims have a hyperthymic type of psychophysiological adaptation with varying degrees of severity. Patient No. 2 is a chronically hyperthymic personality with a significant increase in the profile on the 9th scale and with its gradual increase in dynamics, which reflects the persistence of hyperthymic personality traits and causes an overstrain of mental adaptation, with an increase in the dynamics of the tendency to explain their difficulties and problems by somatic distress (1Hs). Patient No. 1 has a hyperthymic personality type with a moderate increase in profile dynamics on the ninth scale. A personality trait is indicated by a high, growing in dynamics, indicator on the K scale, which determines behavior depending on social approval and concern for one’s social status. The appearance in dynamics (2013) of a peak on scales 1 (preoccupation with the state of health) and 4 (emotional tension in direct behavior) determines the insufficient ability to internalize the social norm, i.e. insufficient ability to perceive this norm as part of one’s own settings (a combination of profile peaks on scales 4 and 9). The presence of profile peaks on the 7th scale and the scales of the neurotic triad reflect the tendency to various options for the implementation of antisocial attitudes in a socially acceptable way, the desire to appear in a favorable light (scale L). Sufficiently high intelligence and demonstrative behavior determine good adaptation to the environment with self-confidence, high social adaptability, and resilience in overcoming difficulties.

Psychic Transformation Amidst Battle: Understanding PTSD and Combat-Related Psychic Trauma

This paper presents a conceptual framework for understanding post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and psychological battle fatigue (BF) as outcomes of mental adaptation to changing environmental conditions. These conditions are primarily linked to the experience of war, military threats, and the broader challenges of the global landscape. It is worth emphasizing that these challenges have, without exaggeration, affected the global population in 2022. The pressing need for research on PTSD and BF is driven not only by the significant shifts in global military events but also by the absence of fundamental methodological research that aligns with the demands of the 21st century. The author has identified crucial issues that form the basis for further comprehensive scientific and practical investigations. The overarching goal of this research is to develop effective methodologies and establish rehabilitation programs tailored to the specific needs of combatants, internally displaced individuals, and civilians residing in war-affected regions.

Investigation of the Effects of Temperament Traits on Preschool Children's Spiritual Adjustment

Bu çalışmada mizacın okul öncesi dönem çocuklarının ruhsal uyumuna etkisinin incelenmesi hedeflenmiştir. Çalışmada ayrıca çocukların mizaç özellikleri ve ruhsal uyum arasındaki ilişki incelenmiştir. Çalışma grubunu 5-6 yaşındaki 311 çocuk oluşturmuştur. Veriler çocukların annelerinden elde edilmiştir. Veri toplamada Çocuklar İçin Mizaç Ölçeği (ÇİMÖ) ve Hacettepe Ruhsal Uyum Envanteri kullanılmıştır. Verilerin analizinde Spearman Brown Korelasyon analizi ve CHAID analizi kullanılmıştır. Araştırma sonucunda çocukların yakınlık ve uyum, tepkisellik durumu, dikkat ve sebatkarlık, ritmiklik ve duygusal duyarlık mizaç özellikleri arttıkça ruhsal uyumlarının da arttığı belirlenmiştir. Araştırma sonucunda okul öncesi çocukların, anneleri tarafından ruhsal anlamda uyumlu olarak değerlendirildiği görülmüştür. Çocukların ruhsal uyumları üzerinde en etkili mizaç özelliğinin, tepkisellik durumu olduğu, çocukların tepkisellik davranışları ne kadar normal/kabul edilebilir düzeyde ise ruhsal uyumlarının da o kadar iyi düzeyde olduğu belirlenmiştir. Bunun yanında tepkiselliği ve duyusal hassasiyeti normal/kabul edilebilir düzeyde, yakınlık ve uyumu yüksek çocukların ruhsal uyumlarının iyi olduğu belirlenmiştir. Tepkiselliği orta düzeyde olan çocuklardan duygusal duyarlığı ve aktivite düzeyi yüksek çocukların, ayrıca kabul edilebilirliği en düşük tepkiselliğe sahip çocuklardan ritmikliği yüksek olan çocukların ruhsal uyumlarının iyi olduğu belirlenmiştir.

Efficacy of aquatic exercise on pulmonary function and aquatic skills performance in older children with cerebral palsy. Randomised controlled study

IntroductionTo evaluate the effectiveness of the aquatic aerobic exercise training (AqET) on the pulmonary function (PF) and aquatic skills performance in the older children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP). Randomized controlled study.MethodsTwenty-eight children, 13–15 years old, with spastic CP were randomly allocated into AqET group (<i>n</i> = 13; received AqET plus traditional Physiotherapy “TPT” program) and control group (<i>n</i> = 15; received TPT only). The PF [including (the forced vital capacity; FVC), (forced expiratory volume in one second; FEV1)] and the aquatic skills performance (including the WOTA mental adaptation score “WMA”, the WOTA skills balance control movement score “WSBM”, the WOTA total score “WTOT”) were evaluated at the beginning and after 12-weeks.ResultsPost-study results revealed significant increases in the PF, WMA, WSBM, WTOT mean values in both groups. The FEV1% and FVC% mean values and percentages of changes were [84.00% (21.5%), 78.23% (24.56%)] and [(71.13% (6.9%), 62% (7.12%)] for the AqET, and control groups respectively. The WMA, WSBM, WTOT mean scores and percentages of changes were [33.15 (77.01%), 15.46 (643.27%), 48.62, (133.19%)] and [(20.2 (7.59%), 2.27 (23.89%), 22.47 (7.36%) for the AqET, and control groups respectively (<i>p</i> < 0.05). There were significant differences between-groups in the PF and the aquatic skills performance post-study, but in favor of AqET group.ConclusionsChildren with spastic CP benefit favorably from AqET or TPT programs. The AqET is more beneficial than the TPT in increasing the PF and the aquatic skills performance in older children with spastic CP.

Mental adaptation to cancer diagnosis and the health locus of control in patients undergoing treatment

Introduction. Cancer diagnosis and treatment perspectives pose a serious emotional and behavioral burden for the patient, and require adaptation strategies to be adapted. Material and methods. The research consisted of 569 patients aged 19 to 91 undergoing oncological treatment. The study used the mini-MAC scale to measure mental adaptation to cancer and the MHLC scale to measure the health locus of control. Results. The strategy of anxiety preoccupation was highest in breast cancer. The strategy of helplessness and hope­lessness achieved the highest value in breast and reproductive organ cancers. The fighting spirit strategy showed the highest value in cancers of the digestive system. The positive re-evaluation strategy was the highest in cancers of the head and neck, and digestive system. Conclusions. Patients with breast cancer and reproductive organ cancers seem to be at greater risk of developing destructive behavior, therefore extended psychological support has to be considered for these patients.

Passenger Satisfaction and Mental Adaptation under Adverse Conditions: Case Study in Manila

Public transportation systems in several developing cities face congestion, air pollution, and safety problems, yet many passengers use them regularly. This study examines the structure of passenger satisfaction and the role of mental adaptation under such conditions. Metro Manila MRT-3 was analyzed as a case study.The actual and perceived conditions at the MRT-3 were assessed using surveys. Results of the waiting time and PM2.5 monitoring surveys revealed that passengers queue for 30 minutes, on average, while being exposed to unsafe levels of PM2.5. The questionnaire survey results show some discrepancies between actual and perceived values, suggesting a perception gap.Passenger satisfaction in MRT-3 was then modeled using ordered logit, with actual and perceived conditions (waiting time, in-vehicle time, fare levels, risk perception, and air quality perception) as significant explanatory variables. Mental adaptation was found to moderate passenger satisfaction, which may explain why some passengers are satisfied despite MRT-3’s shortcomings.

The Effects of Adapted Physical Education and Sports Activities on Mental Adjustment Levels and Determination of Communication Skills of Trainable Mentally Handicapped Individuals

This study aimed to determine the effect of exercise training on mental adaptation levels and communication skills in mentally handicapped individuals who were at an educable level. Based on this purpose, the Performance Determination Form for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities, which was created in 2018 within the scope of the Ministry of National Education, General Directorate of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services, and Hacettepe Spiritual Adaptation Scale developed by Gökler and Öktem (1985) were given to the families of 11 mentally disabled individuals, (3 girls and 8 boys), with a mean age of 11.90. Afterward, 130 hours of adapted physical education and sports activities were applied to 11 trainable mentally retarded individuals, 90 minutes a day, 2 days a week for 12 weeks. After this activity, the same measurements were performed by the families again and the differences were examined. As a result of SPSS, although there was no statistical significance in the behavioural and neurotic results, which were the sub-dimensions of the psychological adjustment variable, a decrease was observed in the post-test mean scores after the exercise program was applied. This result proves that physical education and sports activities have positive effects on the mental adjustment of individuals with educable mental disabilities. Findings on receptive language skills and expressive language skills, which were sub-dimensions of the participants’ communication skills, were examined. While the mean receptive language skills pre-test score was 31.72±3.00, the post-test mean score was 127.09±6.18, the expressive language skills pre-test mean score was 13.27±2.37, and the post-test mean score was 54.63±1.56. The observed difference was statistically significant. As can be seen, it was determined that physical education and sports activities applied have positive effects on individuals with educable mental disabilities, both in terms of psychological adaptation and communication skills. As a result, it has been determined in this research that physical education activities, which are an integral part of education, are very beneficial in terms of mental adaptation and communication skills, which are vital for individuals with mental disabilities.

Uncertainty in the education sphere of Ukraine: paths to stabilization

The article is dedicated to understanding uncertainty as a state in which social systems exist in crisis conditions. Today, the need to conduct scientific research to determine the factors and ways that can overcome the state of uncertainty and lead to stabilization is extremely urgent. As an illustration of such phenomena, the system of higher education was chosen, which underwent significant systemic transformations and changes in the daily behavioral practices of various subjects of the educational process in the crisis conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. The main idea of the article is based on an attempt to record changes in the educational environment in conditions of social uncertainty, to study changes in established behavioral practices of social subjects and the emergence of qualitatively new phenomena that will require further study. Based on empirical research, the authors identify the factors that contribute to the transition of the education system from a state of crisis to a certain stabilization. Such factors include innovative and technological factors (adaptation of the educational environment with the help of various technological support), mental adaptation to unusual everyday practices (remote learning, new forms of communication, increased psycho-emotional stress, etc.). Factors that have a partially destabilizing nature and exacerbate uncertainties are recorded: the difficulty of identifying students, problems in making socially adequate management decisions at the organizational level, limitations of compensatory mechanisms for adaptation of social subjects to a state of uncertainty. The need for scientific research to study the impact of social and technological innovations on the stabilization of social systems, in particular the system of higher education, is being updated.