Levels Of Perceived Stress Research Articles

Stress during the covid-19 pandemic: unusual challenges for university professors

Objective: Investigate the factors related to the stress levels triggered during the COVID-19 pandemic and the quality of life (QOL) of university professors. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with 318 professors from private and public higher education institutions in Maranhão, Brazil. Data collection included a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Brazilian versions of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and the Abbreviated World Health OrganizationQOL Assessment Instrument (WHOQOL-bref). Statistical analyses were performed with Student’s T-test and Analysis of Variance with Duncan’s post-hoc. Results: according to the results of the professor score assessment, perceived stress levels were classified as normal (n = 166, 52.2%), moderate (n = 126, 39.6%), and high (n = 26, 8, 2%), with an average of 26.6 (± 10.5). QOL had an overall average of 56.4 (± 13.0). Among the QOL domains, the physical had the highest mean with 66.1 (± 17.7), while the lowest mean was in the social domain with 55.8 (± 14.8). Conclusion: The factors that influenced the stress levels were being female with age between 31 and 40years old, those who had a child, and those who did not perform a frequent religious practice.

Social identity, social influence, and response to potentially stressful situations

This study investigates the interplay between group identification and source membership in influencing perceived stress levels during challenging tasks. Drawing from self-categorization and social influence theories, two experiments were conducted.In Study 1, participants exposed to a video where the task was portrayed as stressful reported higher stress levels when the task was presented by an ingroup member compared to an outgroup member. However, in the "challenge" condition, where the task was seen as stimulating rather than stressful, no differences in perceived stress were observed between ingroup and outgroup sources.Study 2 further explored the role of group identification and source membership on perceived stress. Results revealed that higher group identification led to increased perceived stress levels, but only when the source was an ingroup member.These findings underscore the intricate relationship between self-categorization and social influence. They highlight that perceived stress levels in challenging situations are influenced by group identity and source membership, particularly when the source is perceived as an ingroup member. However, in situations where the task is perceived as a challenge rather than a threat, this influence may diminish.The study contributes to our understanding of social psychology and the complex dynamics involved in how individuals respond to challenging situations in a social context, offering implications for further research in this area.

Variables Associated with Attitudes toward Biodebridement Using Lucilia sericata Larvae in a Group of Nurses.

Despite numerous studies and recommendations, the acceptance of treatments involving medicinal maggots in many clinics has been slow. Several factors may account for this, including the gender of nurses administering the treatment, their level of work experience, and their perceived level of personal stress. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of selected variables (gender, work experience, stress level) on the readiness of nurses to administer maggot debridement therapy (MDT), which is a form of biodebridement. The study population was a cohort of 290 wound care nurses providing specialist care for patients with chronic wounds. It was assumed that the identified variables may determine the implementation of larval therapy in everyday professional practice. A subsample of 35 men and 35 women was further analyzed to determine if gender, work experience, and/or personal stress levels were correlated with attitudes towards the utilization of maggots in biodebridement. Assessment tools included the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and the MDT 10 Perception Assessment Questionnaire, a protocol by which the subject ranked six wound photographs in order of repulsiveness and responded to questions regarding demographic variables, which include education and work experience. The visual perception of pictures of a wound with larvae is indirectly an indicator of the attitude towards larval therapy. Selection of the photograph with maggots on the wound as the most repulsive image was associated with a personal appraisal of not being ready to implement maggot therapy (chi-square = 8.430, p = 0.015). Low work experience (chi-square = 14.039, df = 4, p = 0.007), and low readiness for MDT (chi-square = 8.430, df = 2, p = 0.015) were also associated with unpreparedness to administer maggot therapy. Neither gender nor perceived stress level were exclusively associated with disgust for maggots or lack of readiness to implement MDT. Low professional experience and a deficit of knowledge in maggot therapy may negatively affect the readiness of nurses to administer biodebridement. Gender and personal stress levels do not affect nurses' readiness to utilize larval therapy.

Psychological Impact of COVID-19 and Its Influence on Parental Willingness to Vaccinate Children: A Cross-Sectional Study at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Kolkata.

Background COVID-19 has affected the physical and mental health of people globally, and vaccination is seen as a crucial tool in controlling the pandemic. However, the readiness to vaccinate children remains a concern, particularly in India. Aim The study aimed to investigate the association between the psychological impact of COVID-19 and willingness to vaccinate their children among attendees of the COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College, Kolkata. Method The study used an observational, cross-sectional design and collected data from 356 participants between August and September 2022. The COVID-19 Perceived Stress Scale-10 was used to assess participants' psychological impact, and willingness to vaccinate was determined using a survey. Results Approximately 64% (n=227) and 71% (n=253) of the participants exhibited a high level of perceived stress and willingness to vaccinate their children. The vaccine acceptance was significantly associated with perceived stress level and other factors such as family type, presence of chronic illness, and history of acquaintances suffering from COVID-19. Conclusion The study highlights the importance of addressing parental stress and anxiety to enhance vaccination rates among children. To achieve this, population-level awareness of vaccine safety measures and benefits should be raised to alleviate stress and increase vaccine uptake.

Influences on Perceived Stress Among Undergraduates During COVID-19-Induced Transition to Open Distance Learning: A Multiple Linear Regression Analysis

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous institutions, encompassing both public and private universities, have shifted their focus towards open and distance learning (ODL) as a replacement method of teaching. This rapid evolution of the education system has brought to the forefront a concerning increase in students' mental health issues. Therefore, this study endeavors to identify the factors that contribute to the perceived stress levels experienced by undergraduate students during ODL. A total of 630 undergraduate students were involved in this research, chosen using a convenience sampling approach. The survey instrument encompassed inquiries about demographic characteristics and employed the Perceived Stress Scale-10 to gauge stress levels. Multiple Linear Regression analysis was employed to scrutinize the data in pursuit of our research objective. The findings underscore the significance of several factors in influencing perceived stress among undergraduate students in the ODL context. Specifically, network condition, level of semester, and gender emerged as noteworthy contributors to the perceived stress experienced by undergraduate students.

Reduced neural responses to pleasant odor stimuli after acute psychological stress is associated with cortisol reactivity

Acute stress alters olfactory perception. However, little is known about the neural processing of olfactory stimuli after acute stress exposure and the role of cortisol in such an effect. Here, we used an event-related olfactory fMRI paradigm to investigate brain responses to odors of different valence (unpleasant, pleasant, or neutral) in healthy young adults following an acute stress (Trier Social Stress Test, TSST) induction (N = 22) or a non-stressful resting condition (N = 22). We obtained the odor pleasantness, intensity, and familiarity ratings after the acute stress induction or resting condition. We also measured the participants' perceived stress and salivary cortisol at four time points during the procedure. We found a stress-related decrease in brain activation in response to the pleasant, but not to the neutral or unpleasant odor stimuli in the right piriform cortex extending to the right amygdala, the right orbitofrontal cortex, and the right insula. In addition, activation of clusters within the regions of interest were negatively associated with individual baseline-to-peak increase in salivary cortisol levels after stress. We also found increased functional connectivity between the right piriform cortex and the right insula after stress when the pleasant odor was presented. The strength of the connectivity was positively correlated with increased perceived stress levels immediately after stress exposure. These results provide novel evidence for the effects of acute stress in attenuating the neural processing of a pleasant olfactory stimulus. Together with previous findings, the effect of acute stress on human olfactory perception appears to depend on both the valence and the concentration (e.g., peri-threshold or suprathreshold levels) of odor stimuli.

Effectiveness of holistic mobile health interventions on diet, and physical, and mental health outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Good physical and mental health are essential for healthy ageing. Holistic mobile health (mHealth) interventions-including at least three components: physical activity, diet, and mental health-could support both physical and mental health and be scaled to the population level. This review aims to describe the characteristics of holistic mHealth interventions and their effects on related behavioural and health outcomes among adults from the general population. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PsycINFO, Scopus, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Google Scholar (first 200 records). The initial search covered January 1, 2011, to April 13, 2022, and an updated search extended from April 13, 2022 to August 30, 2023. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomised studies of interventions (NRSIs) were included if they (i) were delivered via mHealth technologies, (ii) included content on physical activity, diet, and mental health, and (iii) targeted adults (≥18 years old) from the general population or those at risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) or mental disorders. Studies were excluded if they targeted pregnant women (due to distinct physiological responses), individuals with pre-existing NCDs or mental disorders (to emphasise prevention), or primarily utilised web, email, or structured phone support (to focus on mobile technologies without exclusive human support). Data (summary data from published reports) extraction and risk-of-bias assessment were completed by two reviewers using a standard template and Cochrane risk-of-bias tools, respectively. Narrative syntheses were conducted for all studies, and random-effects models were used in the meta-analyses to estimate the pooled effect of interventions for outcomes with comparable data in the RCTs. The study was registered in PROSPERO, CRD42022315166. After screening 5488 identified records, 34 studies (25 RCTs and 9 pre-post NRSIs) reported in 43 articles with 5691 participants (mean age 39 years, SD 12.5) were included. Most (91.2%, n = 31/34) were conducted in high-income countries. The median intervention duration was 3 months, and only 23.5% (n=8/34) of studies reported follow-up data. Mobile applications, short-message services, and mobile device-compatible websites were the most common mHealth delivery modes; 47.1% (n=16/34) studies used multiple mHealth delivery modes. Of 15 studies reporting on weight change, 9 showed significant reductions (6 targeted on individuals with overweight or obesity), and in 10 studies reporting perceived stress levels, 4 found significant reductions (all targeted on general adults). In the meta-analysis, holistic mHealth interventions were associated with significant weight loss (9 RCTs; mean difference-1.70kg, 95% CI-2.45 to-0.95; I2=89.00%) and a significant reduction in perceived stress levels (6 RCTs; standardised mean difference [SMD]-0.32; 95% CI-0.52 to-0.12; I2=14.52%). There were no significant intervention effects on self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (5 RCTs; SMD 0.21; 95%CI-0.25 to 0.67; I2=74.28%) or diet quality scores (5 RCTs; SMD 0.21; 95%CI-0.47 to 0.65; I2=62.27%). All NRSIs were labelled as having a serious risk of bias overall; 56% (n=14/25) of RCTs were classified as having some concerns, and the others as having a high risk of bias. Findings from identified studies suggest that holistic mHealth interventions may aid reductions in weight and in perceived stress levels, with small to medium effect sizes. The observed effects on diet quality scores and self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity were less clear and require more research. High-quality RCTs with longer follow-up durations are needed to provide more robust evidence. To promote population health, future research should focus on vulnerable populations and those in middle- and low-income countries. Optimal combinations of delivery modes and components to improve efficacy and sustain long-term effects should also be explored. National Research Foundation, Prime Minister's Office, Singapore, under its Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE) Programme and Physical Activity and Nutrition Determinants in Asia (PANDA) Research Programme.

Sustaining management quality through stress management

PurposeThis exploratory research aims to identify the effect of perceived stress level and self-efficacy on management quality and what practices and theories need to be enhanced to improve management quality under volatility business environments.Design/methodology/approachThe study surveyed 291 working women, using the Perceived Stress Scale and the General Self-Efficacy Scale. Latent class analysis (LCA) for classifications of respondents, using categorical observed variables and MANCOVA, are applied to determine the relationship between stress and self-efficacy on the assigned classes.FindingsThe study suggests that in a highly volatile business environment, where stress is high, affecting management quality, managers as individuals fall into one of four classes that describe their techniques of coping with the stress, namely Uncommitted Experimenters, Try Anything, Intrinsically Motivated and Externally Motivated. Techniques of stress management classification are significantly related to the combined perceived stress and self-efficacy measures, with Externally Motivated respondents as the classification with a significant mean difference.Research limitations/implicationsThe main limitation of the study at hand refers to the sample size versus the number of potential factors of stress. This limitation highlights the need for further data gathering and research in this area, as stress is a critical factor of performance and often ignored in traditional management theories. Another limitation of this study is the lack of in-depth analysis of the use of meditation; its benefits and how to best use this practice in traditional work settings.Practical implicationsThe outcome of the study could have significant implications for quality of management in business, private and social sectors by providing meditation as a tool for employees and stakeholders to handle stress in conflict zones.Social implicationsUsing stress management techniques might prove to be a low-cost tool for better quality management of human assets.Originality/valueThe authors study focuses on women in volatile economic turmoil, natural devastations, conflict areas and politically insecure environments. This socioeconomic segment was rarely scrutinized despite its direct effect on a large number of economies hosting a sizeable portion of the world’s population. Interesting potential results highlight the relationship between the respondents in the Intrinsically Motivated class and stress reduction for the benefit of management quality.

Sleep, brain systems, and persistent stress in early adolescents during COVID-19: Insights from the ABCD study

PurposeThe first year of the COVID-19 pandemic constituted a major life stress event for many adolescents, associated with disrupted school, behaviors, social networks, and health concerns. However, pandemic-related stress was not equivalent for everyone and could have been influenced by pre-pandemic factors including brain structure and sleep, which both undergo substantial development during adolescence. Here, we analyzed clusters of perceived stress levels across the pandemic and determined developmentally relevant pre-pandemic risk factors in brain structure and sleep of persistently high stress during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. MethodsWe investigated longitudinal changes in perceived stress at six timepoints across the first year of the pandemic (May 2020–March 2021) in 5559 adolescents (50 % female; age range: 11–14 years) in the United States (U.S.) participating in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. In 3141 of these adolescents, we fitted machine learning models to identify the most important pre-pandemic predictors from structural MRI brain measures and self-reported sleep data that were associated with persistently high stress across the first year of the pandemic. ResultsPatterns of perceived stress levels varied across the pandemic, with 5 % reporting persistently high stress. Our classifiers accurately detected persistently high stress (AUC > 0.7). Pre-pandemic brain structure, specifically cortical volume in temporal regions, and cortical thickness in multiple parietal and occipital regions, predicted persistent stress. Pre-pandemic sleep difficulties and short sleep duration were also strong predictors of persistent stress, along with more advanced pubertal stage. ConclusionsAdolescents showed variable stress responses during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, and some reported persistently high stress across the whole first year. Vulnerability to persistent stress was evident in several brain structural and self-reported sleep measures, collected before the pandemic, suggesting the relevance of other pre-existing individual factors beyond pandemic-related factors, for persistently high stress responses.

Perceived Stress, Work–Family Conflict, and Burnout in Irish Certified Athletic Therapists

Burnout and its associated factors are a concern for U.S. athletic trainers, but no research has investigated it from an international perspective. We examined perceived stress, work–family conflict, burnout, coping, and self-care practices in Irish certified athletic therapists. Low burnout (41.0 ± 12.1) and moderate perceived stress levels (17.8 ± 6.2) were observed. Certified athletic therapists with children had significantly higher work–family conflict (p = .02, ) and time-based conflict (p < .001, ) than those without. Moderate resilient coping was noted (14.7 ± 2.5). Low burnout was found, likely due to the use of resilient coping strategies. Time was a limiting factor for both self-care and experiences of work–family conflict.

Physical activity and dietary behavior in relation to perceived stress levels among young adults during the transition to endemic phase of Covid-19

Physical activity and dietary behavior in relation to perceived stress levels among young adults during the transition to endemic phase of Covid-19

The Effect of Mind and Intelligence Games on University Students’ Perceived Stress and Psychological Well-Being Level

This study aims to examine whether mind and intelligence games that support cognitive, social, and emotional skills have an effect on university students' perceived stress and psychological well-being levels. The population of the study consists of students actively studying at Kastamonu University Tosya Vocational School in the 2021-2022 academic year. Two groups of students were included in the study. While one of the groups had mind and intelligence game activities, the other group did not have these activities. The obtained data were analyzed using the statistical package program. As a result of the analysis, it was concluded that the psychological well-being levels of those who participated in the mind and intelligence game workshops were significantly higher in the positive direction and the perceived stress level was significantly lower in the negative direction compared to those who did not participate. According to the results of the research, it can be said that mind and intelligence games are an important educational tool used to support the psychosocial development of students and individuals and reduce stress.

The Reflection of Online Education during the Covid-19 Pandemic on Nursing Students' Care Behaviors and Stress

The pandemic period creates a feeling of inadequacy in applying the education that students receive. During this period, students who receive online education seem to feel inadequate and experience stress in a practical lesson. It aims to evaluate the level of changing the care behaviors of undergraduate nursing students and the stress they experience during the Covid-19 process. This research was completed with a nursing student in 2192 in Turkey. The research is descriptive and relationship-seeking. Data were collected at the end of the semester with the caring behaviors competency and the stress scale. t-tests, Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests, and correlation tests were used in the analysis of the data. Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students are predominantly in the first year of study. A significant difference was found in the perceived stress level according to the variables of gender, education level, perceived care sufficiency, and the type of university attended. It was determined that the caring behaviors of male students were higher than females, and those in private schools were higher than those in public universities. Nursing students' age, class, and perceived stress scores significantly affect their care behavior. Nursing education in Turkey focuses on care-based education which emphasizes skill development across the BSN program, establishing measurable care behavior, and ensuring that managing student stress is part of the curriculum content.

Assessment of Perceived Stress and Stress Predictors Among Dental Students: An Institutional- Based Study

Background: Stress is one of the most prevalent psychological conditions globally. However, healthcare students are at an increased risk of psy-chological distress as compared to the normal population. Medical/Dental training is considered a stressful experience for students as they face a wide range of challenges related to their lengthy curriculums, patient care, and pursuit of academic excellence. Purpose: To assess the prevalence of perceived stress levels and associ-ated risk factors among undergraduate dental students Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 230 under-graduate dental students to assess their perceived stress using the Modi-fied version of the Dental Environment Stress questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used. P<0.05 was considered significant. Results: Most dental students reported mild stress related to most of the academic and clinical components in the questionnaire. However, a higher percentage of pre-clinical students reported moderate and severe stress (37.5% & 14.1% respectively) as compared to clinical year students (6.8% and 1.5% respectively) with p>0.05. The major risk factors causing stress were competitiveness among peers, the pressure of the assessments, and the inability to balance the clinical and academic workload. Conclusion: Undergraduate dental students were found to be under stress due to a range of factors. The faculties need to identify and alleviate such stress among students through support systems.

Association of polygenic scores for depression and neuroticism with perceived stress in daily life during a long-lasting stress period.

Genetic factors contribute significantly to interindividual differences in the susceptibility to stress-related disorders. As stress can also be conceptualized as environmental exposure, controlled gene-environment interaction (GxE) studies with an in-depth phenotyping may help to unravel mechanisms underlying the interplay between genetic factors and stress. In a prospective-longitudinal quasi-experimental study, we investigated whether polygenic scores (PGS) for depression (DEP-PGS) and neuroticism (NEU-PGS), respectively, were associated with responses to chronic stress in daily life. We examined law students (n = 432) over 13 months. Participants in the stress group experienced a long-lasting stress phase, namely the preparation for the first state examination for law students. The control group consisted of law students without particular stress exposure. In the present manuscript, we analyzed perceived stress levels assessed at high frequency and in an ecologically valid manner by ambulatory assessments as well as depression symptoms and two parameters of the cortisol awakening response. The latter was only assessed in a subsample (n = 196). No associations between the DEP-PGS and stress-related variables were found. However, for the NEU-PGS we found a significant GxE effect. Only in individuals experiencing academic stress a higher PGS for neuroticism predicted stronger increases of perceived stress levels until the exam. At baseline, a higher NEU-PGS was associated with higher perceived stress levels in both groups. Despite the small sample size, we provide preliminary evidence that the genetic disposition for neuroticism is associated with stress level increases in daily life during a long-lasting stress period.

Mental health problems, perceived stress, and internet addiction among undergraduate college students of Kathmandu, Nepal

Introduction: The global burden of disease due to mental health problems is on a rise. One of the vulnerable groups are college going youths. The objective of the current study was to examine the frequency and pattern of mental health problems, perceived stress, and internet addiction and explore their relationship with each other among students reporting voluntarily during stress management program. Material and method: A cross-sectional study among 139 undergraduate students was conducted as a part of a program titled "Stress, drugs and internet among college students" during orientation program for undergraduate students of a management college in Kathmandu Valley. Mental Health Screening Questionnaire (MHS), Young's Internet addiction test (YIAT), perceived stress scale (PSS) were used for mental health problems, internet addiction and stress respectively. Results: As per mental health screening questionnaire, 64.7% (90/139) and 7.2% (10/139) participants reported somewhat difficulty and very much or extreme difficulty. There was mild internet addiction among 45.3% and moderate internet addiction among 18.7%. There was significant positive correlation of the MHS score (indicative of number of mental health problems) with the total YIAT score (ρ= 0.404, p< 0.01) and PSS scores (ρ= 0.301, p< 0.01). Also, severity of internet addiction and perceived stress levels were positively associated with each other (ρ= 0.303, p< 0.01). Conclusion: There is significant burden of mental health problems, stress and problematic internet use among the undergraduate students in Nepal. There is also a significant positive correlation of the MHS score (indicative of number of mental health problems) with the Young’s internet addiction test score and perceived stress scale scores.

Organophosphate ester flame retardants and plasticizers in house dust and mental health outcomes among Canadian mothers: A nested prospective cohort study in CHILD

Organophosphate ester flame retardants and plasticizers (OPEs) are common exposures in modern built environments. Toxicological models report that some OPEs reduce dopamine and serotonin in the brain. Deficiencies in these neurotransmitters are associated with anxiety and depression. We hypothesized that exposure to higher concentrations of OPEs in house dust would be associated with a greater risk of depression and stress in mothers across the prenatal and postpartum periods.We conducted a nested prospective cohort study using data collected on mothers (n = 718) in the CHILD Cohort Study, a longitudinal multi-city Canadian birth cohort (2008–2012). OPEs were measured in house dust sampled at 3–4 months postpartum. Maternal depression and stress were measured at 18 and 36 weeks gestation and 6 months and 1 year postpartum using the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies for Depression Scale (CES-D) and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). We used linear mixed models to examine the association between a summed Z-Score OPE index and continuous depression and stress scores. In adjusted models, one standard deviation increase in the OPE Z-score index was associated with a 0.07-point (95% CI: 0.01, 0.13) increase in PSS score. OPEs were not associated with log-transformed CES-D (β: 0.63%, 95% CI: −0.18%, 1.46%). The effect of OPEs on PSS score was strongest at 36 weeks gestation and weakest at 1 year postpartum.We observed small increases in maternal perceived stress levels, but not depression, with increasing OPEs measured in house dust during the prenatal and early postpartum period in this cohort of Canadian women. Given the prevalence of prenatal and postpartum anxiety and the ubiquity of OPE exposures, additional research is warranted to understand if these chemicals affect maternal mental health.

The Effect of Recreational Activities on Perceived Stress and Happiness

This study aimed to determine the effect of recreational activity practices applied for eight weeks on perceived stress and happiness. The model of the research was structured by the pretest-posttest control group model, one of the semi-experimental study designs. The study group of the research consisted of 56 sedentary women volunteers residing in Sakarya province in 2021-2022. The Perceived Stress Scale developed by Cohen, Kamarck, and Mermelstein (1983) and adapted into Turkish by Eskin et al. (2013), and the Perceived Stress Scale developed by Hills and Argyle (2002) and adapted into Turkish by Doğan and Akıncı Çötok (2011) were used as measurement tools. The research results showed that the body mass index of sedentary women who performed regular recreational activities for eight weeks decreased by 6.74%. Moreover, it was determined that the perceived stress level decreased by 21.96% and happiness level increased by 18.01% in the related sample group. Considering the results obtained, it should be aimed to expand the audience addressed by increasing the diversity of sportive recreation activities and studies should be performed to include activities that women can participate in with their children.

B - 64 Association of Perceived Stress during the COVID-19 Pandemic on Cognitive Performance in HIV+ Adults.

Stress may impact cognitive ability, and perceived stress may be a modifiable risk factor for cognitive impairment. This study investigates the potential impact of perceived stress levels on cognitive test performance in a NYC cohort of people living with HIV (PLWH), assessed during the COVID-19 pandemic. 124 racially-diverse PLWH participating in a longitudinal cohort completed comprehensive face-to-face neurocognitive test batteries between August 2020 and February 2023 (Mage = 61.22). Self-reported stress was assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale-14, and a median split (value of 18) was used to divide the sample into high and low stress groups. One-way ANOVAs were used to evaluate differences in cognitive performance based on stress grouping. Significant differences between high and low stress groups were found in: Trail Making Test-A (TMT-A), F(1,104) = 3.962,p = 0.049; Trail Making Test-B (TMT-B), F(1,80) = 7.106,p = 0.009; Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT), F(1,80) = 7.096,p = 0.009; and Symbol Search (SS), F(1,102) = 5.280,p = 0.024. Participants in the high stress group had lower performance on TMT-A (M = 48.78, SD = 13.47), TMT-B(M = 49.56, SD = 13.92), PASAT (M = 43.07, SD = 12.57), and SS (M = 44.85, SD = 11.76) compared to the low stress group (M = 53.71, SD = 11.87; M = 57, SD = 10.72; M = 50.20, SD = 11.62; M = 49.78, SD = 9.85; respectively). Individuals reporting higher levels of stress during the COVID pandemic had reduced performance on tasks assessing information processing speed, executive functioning, and attention. This suggests that higher perceived stress levels and ambient stressors (such as the pandemic) may influence cognitive functioning.

Self-Perceived Stress and Coping Strategies during COVID-19 Pandemic among the Students of Kathmandu Metropolitan City

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic emerged as a global threat. Various factors such as social isolation, perception of disease severity and susceptibility, and frequent exposure to the news have been previously associated with increased levels of perceived stress regarding COVID-19. The choice of coping strategies plays a crucial role in mitigating these effects. Thus, this study aims to assess the perceived stress level and coping strategies among 19-24 age group students during COVID-19. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the 5 colleges of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Nepal with 256 students between May 22 to 24, 2022. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and BRIEF-COPE were used to measure stress and coping behavior. Significant variable differences in stress scores were assessed via t-tests and ANOVA, while the coping-stress relationship was analyzed using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. Results: The majority (69.1%, n=177) of participants were aged 19 to 24, with a mean age of 21.35 (±1.49). Among the total sample, all respondents experienced stress, with 26.2% reporting severe stress and only 1.5% reporting low stress. The mean score for approach coping strategies (2.55) was found to be higher than that for avoidant coping strategies (1.89). Coping strategies such as denial (r = -0.191, p = 0.002), positive reframing (r = -0.147, p =.019), and religion (r = -0.175, p = 0.005) showed a negative correlation with perceived stress, implying that if these strategies increase perceived stress decreases and vice-versa. Conclusion: Based on our data, the majority of participants experienced stress. The negative correlation between coping behavior and stress suggests that effective coping strategies can help reduce stress level and improve well-being.