Polish Adults Research Articles

Active sport participation and walking before and during COVID-19 pandemic in a large cohort of Polish adults: results of the National Test for Poles' Health.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to significant changes in daily life, including changes in physical activity levels. This study aims to examine the impact of the pandemic on sport participation and walking among Polish adults. The data was collected using the National Test for Poles' Health, a large-scale online survey. The survey was conducted before and 1 year after the pandemic onset in Poland (March 2020 and March 2021), with >300 000 participants in each year. The results revealed that the percentage of respondents engaging in at least 2 h/week of sport increased by 2.3% (from 24.6% to 26.9%) (p < 0.0001) and percentage of respondents not engaging in any sport decreased by 2.5% (from 48.0% to 45.5%) (p < 0.0001). These trends were observed across different age, sex, dwelling-place, education level, and employment groups. Percentage of respondents declaring they spend >2 h/day on walking also increased, from 5.6% to 6.6% (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, a positive association was found between sport participation and walking time (p < 0.0001). The findings suggest a slight improvement in physical activity levels among Polish adults during the pandemic, which may be attributed to factors such as increased time available due to remote work and the prioritization of health during the crisis. Further research is needed to explore the long-term consequences of the pandemic on physical activity and public health. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2024;37(4).

Potential changes in ties with people all over the world during the COVID-19 pandemic: Quantitative and qualitative analyses of Polish adults

Potential changes in ties with people all over the world during the COVID-19 pandemic: Quantitative and qualitative analyses of Polish adults

Adverse childhood experiences and profiles of healthy orthorexia versus orthorexia nervosa: towards an explanatory model of orthorexia as a multidimensional eating style

BackgroundOrthorexia is a complex phenomenon comprising distinct dimensions, including orthorexia nervosa (ON) and healthy orthorexia (HO). However, little is known about the factors influencing these dimensions, their disparities, and the psychological factors underlying orthorexia behaviours.ObjectivesThis study aims to explore ON versus HO dimensions and the predictive role of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in a nationally representative sample of Polish individuals. In addition, we aim to investigate the mediating roles of alexithymia, embodiment, and experiential avoidance levels in this association.MethodsA representative sample of Polish adults (n = 3557) participated in this study. Dimensions of orthorexia (HO, ON) were assessed using the Teruel Orthorexia Scale, while ACEs were evaluated using the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire. Levels of alexithymia were measured using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, experiential avoidance through the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire, and embodiment intensity via the Experience of Embodiment Scale.ResultsCluster analysis identified two distinctive orthorexia profiles in the whole sample, i.e., HO (n = 469) and ON (n = 1217), alongside three intermediate HO/ON profiles (n = 1871). The number of ACEs predicted ON tendencies as opposed to HO behaviours in participants. The mediating role of alexithymia, experiential avoidance, and embodiment in the association between ACEs and ON was also observed.ConclusionsOur study suggests that orthorexia is a multidimensional eating style shaped by socio-cultural factors. Adverse childhood experiences may be related to ON behaviours by mediating psychological factors such as experiential avoidance, alexithymia, and embodiment. Effective education and collaborative support are necessary for addressing ON tendencies.

Fish Consumption Frequency in the Adult Population in Poland

Fish provide energy, protein, and other important nutrients, including n-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, and iodine. However, some species of fish could contain contaminants such as mercury and dioxins. The aim of the study was to assess the frequency of fish consumption in Poland, including of sea and freshwater fish species, referring to some socio-economic determinants. The frequency of consumption was assessed using Food Propensity Questionnaire data from 1489 adults (722 males, 767 females) in 2019–2020. The fish consumption frequency in Polish adults was lower than the recommendation (at least twice a week). About 80% of respondents consumed fish less frequently than recommended. Sea fish were mostly consumed less than once a month (31.8%) or 1–3 times a month (30.9%). Most subjects (44.8%) consumed freshwater fish less than once a month. Consumption also depended educational level, economic status, place of residence, declared health status, and BMI value or BMI status. However, taking into account sex, the occurrence of these relationships was different between men and women. It seems that educational activities and dissemination of proper nutrition principles is necessary in order to increase the consumption of fish in Poland. It is important to emphasize the health benefits of fish consumption in relation to the possible adverse effects of their contamination.

Betaine and B12 intake, glutathione concentration, and MTHFR, PEMT, and MTHFD1 genotypes are associated with diabetes-related parameters in Polish adults

BackgroundThere is a growing body of evidence on associations between one-carbon metabolism (OCM) and diabetes-related parameters. For this reason, we aimed to examine the associations of plasma choline, betaine, trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), glutathione (GSH), serum folate, vitamin B12, DHFR (rs70991108) genotype, MTHFR (rs180113) genotype, MTHFD1 (rs2236225) genotype, PEMT (rs7946 and rs12325817) genotype with fasting glucose level insulin level, and diabetes related indices. MethodsThe study group consisted of 421 Polish adults aged 20–40 years old. Food intake was assessed using a three-day food diary. Plasma concentrations of choline, betaine, and TMAO were determined using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Total plasma GSH level was measured using high-performance liquid chromatography. Insulin, folate and vitamin B12 concentrations were estimated using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Genotyping was performed using TaqMan probes. ResultsGSH level was negatively associated with insulin (β = -0.11, p < 0.05) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (β = -0.12, p < 0.05), and positively associated with fasting glucose (β = 0.11, p < 0.05). Betaine intake was negatively associated with serum insulin concentration (β = -0.13, p < 0.05) and HOMA-IR (β = -0.12, p < 0.05). Choline intake was negatively associated with insulin (β = -0.17, p < 0.01). Serum folate level was negatively associated with GGTP (β = -0.11; p < 0.05). The MTHFR CC genotype was associated with higher serum insulin level (β = 0.15; p < 0.01) and higher HOMA-IR (β = 0.15, p < 0.01), while the MTHFD1 AA genotype was negatively associated with QUICKI (β = -0.11, p < 0.05). ConclusionsOur findings suggest that higher GSHl higher intake of betaine, B12, and choline; as well as TT genotype of MTHFR and AA genotype of MTHFD1 are associated with lower diabetes-related parameters among adults.

Personal Values of Young Persons with Intellectual Disabilities. Before and during COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: A study of the personal values of 109 young adults with intellectual disabilities was conducted before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Learning about the personal values of this population group is important for implementing core curriculum content and developing support programs. Method: The purpose of the study (in a quantitative strategy) was to learn about the hierarchy of personal values and symbols of happiness in young Polish adults with intellectual disabilities before and during the pandemic. The questionnaire “List of Personal Values” by Zygfryd Juczynski, developed basing on the Rokeach’s concept of value measurement, was used. In particular, the position of health in the hierarchy of personal values was examined. Results: Health remains one of the three most important values before and during the pandemic, together with love and friendship. The least frequently chosen are fame, popularity, and good looks. Conclusions: Persons with intellectual disabilities are raised in a cult health. In their case, health is equated with “normalcy”, the chance to live independently. The category of health occupies such a high position in their personal values, regardless of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The mediating effect of maturity on anxiety and the motives for postponing parenthood

Postponed parenthood is considered one of the most extensive changes in the process of family formation. Among the many reasons for deferred parenthood, those related to greater feelings of incompetence as a potential parent, self-focus, perceiving parenthood as a burden, fearing the changes that the birth of a child may bring to a person’s life, financial insecurity, and worrying about the child’s future seem particularly important. Since little is known about the motives for delayed parenthood in relation to anxiety and psychological maturity, the main goal of our study was to verify how these variables may be related to each other and whether maturity for parenthood mediates the direct association between anxiety and the motives for delayed parenthood. The sample consisted of 223 Polish adults (the age range of the participants was 18–44 years). The respondents completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Maturity to Parenthood Scale (MPS), and the Multidimensional Scale of Motives for Postponing Parenthood (MSMPP-18). The results showed positive correlations between anxiety and four (uncertainty, burden, change, and finance) of the six motives for postponing parenthood and postponed parenthood overall. Maturity for parenting and all its dimensions correlated negatively with anxiety and all factors of postponed parenthood, except worry about the child’s future. In all six of the seven models (except “worry”), at least one of the factors of maturity to parenthood mediated the relationship between trait anxiety and motives for postponing parenthood/total score. Based on the results it can be assumed that a tendency to direct attention to a threat related to the context of child-bearing and child-rearing may lead to lower maturity to parenthood, which in turn may result in various motives for postponing parenthood.

Translation and psychometric properties of a Polish version of the Body Acceptance by Others Scale-2 (BAOS-2)

The 13-item Body Acceptance by Others Scale-2 (BAOS-2) measures generalised perceptions of body acceptance by others. Here, we examined the psychometric properties of a novel Polish translation of the BAOS-2. A sample of 1183 adults (898 women, 285 men; age M = 28.98) from Poland completed a Polish version of the BAOS-2, alongside measures of body appreciation, pressure to conform to appearance ideals, self-compassion, self-esteem, and impression management. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis identified a stable unidimensional model of the Polish BAOS-2, with all 13 items retained. Additionally, the Polish BAOS-2 evidenced complete invariance (i.e., through to latent mean invariance) across gender identity. Scores on the BAOS-2 evidenced adequate composite reliability and, in a retest subsample (n = 260), showed complete invariance across four weeks. Evidence of convergent, criterion-related, discriminant, and incremental validity was very strong when based on observed BAOS-2 scores, but weaker when based on latent BAOS-2 scores. Whether examined at the observed or latent level, greater body acceptance by others was consistently and strongly associated with higher body appreciation. These results suggest that the psychometric properties of the Polish BAOS-2 are robust and that this instrument can be confidently utilised in future research with Polish adults.

Active and Passive Outdoor Recreation Among Young Polish Adults: Measurement, Profiles, and Correlates with Well-Being

Active and Passive Outdoor Recreation Among Young Polish Adults: Measurement, Profiles, and Correlates with Well-Being

Retrospective assessment of parental attitudes versus severity of early maladaptive schemas in a non-clinical population of Polish adults – preliminary reports

Objectives: While from a developmental perspective, a secure bond with a parent is of great importance to a child's functioning, its establishment depends mainly on the caregivers and their parental attitudes – specific strategies or styles that enable the fulfilment of parental responsibilities. The objective of the presented study was to assess the correlation between the early maladaptive schemas and retrospectively assessed parental attitudes. Methods: The study involved 94 people between the ages of 18 and 64 (average age: M=34.84, SD=11.12). Each participant completed a set of the following tools: the Young Schema Questionnaire (YSQ-S3-PL), the Parent-Child Relationship Questionnaire (PCR), and the Young Parent Inventory (YPI). Both parents’ attitudes were similarly associated with the formation of early maladaptive schemas. For both mothers and fathers, loving and rejecting attitudes had the most numerous associations with the formation of early maladaptive schemas. Conclusions: 1. In a retrospective evaluation of the subjects, both parents had a similar impact on the formation of domains of early maladaptive schemas. The Results: only statistically significant differences occurred in the domain of Impaired Autonomy and Performance. Mothers had a stronger influence on the formation of schemas in this group. 2. For both mothers and fathers, loving (L) and rejecting (R) attitudes had the most numerous associations with the formation of early maladaptive schemas. Keywords: early maladaptive schemas, parental attitudes, attachment

Seasonal changes and sex differences in peripheral blood γδ T and iNKT cells in healthy Polish adults

Seasonal changes and sex differences in peripheral blood γδ T and iNKT cells in healthy Polish adults

The Climate Change Worry Scale (CCWS) and Its Links with Demographics and Mental Health Outcomes in a Polish Sample.

Developing valid and reliable measures of psychological responses to climate change is of high importance, as this facilitates our understanding of people's psychological responses, including their pro-environmental behavior. Recently, the Climate Change Worry Scale (CCWS) was introduced. This study aimed to develop the first Polish version of the CCWS and explore its psychometric properties. Our sample comprised 420 Polish adults aged 18-70, with a mean age of 26.20 (standard deviation = 10.61) years. The CCWS's factor structure was assessed with confirmatory factor analysis. McDonald's omega and Cronbach's alpha coefficients were computed to assess internal consistency reliability. Pearson correlations between climate change worry (CCW) and experience of climate change (i.e., an individual's level of perception of being affected by climate change), pro-environmental behavior, ill-being (i.e., anxiety and depression symptoms), and well-being were calculated. Our results support the strong factorial validity of the CCWS, conforming to its intended one-factor solution, with excellent internal consistency reliability for the total scale score (i.e., McDonald's omega and Cronbach's alpha values of 0.93). We noted large positive correlations between CCW and experiences of climate change, as well as pro-environmental behavior, and medium positive correlations with psychopathology symptoms. CCW scores were not associated with well-being. As the CCWS represents a measure of a specific manifestation of worry, we also examined its discriminant validity against more general psychological distress markers, and it evidenced strong validity in this regard. Overall, the Polish version of the CCWS appears to have strong psychometric properties, and will therefore be a useful tool to use in research on psychological responses to climate change.

Predictors of Eating Less Meat and More Plant-Based Food in the Polish Sample.

The study aimed to identify predictors of the intention to eat less meat and more plant-based foods, including attitudes towards eating meat, habitual meat eating, subjective norms, and self-identity. A cross-sectional study using CAWI (Computer-Assisted Web Interview) was conducted in a group of 1003 Polish adults in 2023. To measure the predictor variables, the following tools were used: Beliefs and Eating Habits Questionnaire (KomPAN), Meat Attachment Questionnaire (MAQ), and scales to measure subjective norms and self-identity. Logistic regression analysis was used to verify associations between independent variables, and the intentions to eat more plant-based food and less meat next year were treated as dependent variables. More respondents were willing to increase their consumption of plant-based foods rather than reduce their meat consumption. The intention to consume less meat and more plant foods was more prevalent among women, older people (only intention to reduce meat consumption), and better-educated people (only intention to increase plant food consumption). Habitual frequency of eating plant foods, negative feelings about meat, and environmentally oriented identities had a stimulating effect on the intention to eat more plant foods and less meat, while experiencing pleasure in eating meat had a limiting effect on the intention to eat more plant foods and less meat. In addition, the habitual frequency of meat consumption and subjective norms reduced the likelihood of eating less meat, while no predictive effect was observed for the intention to eat more plant foods. In conclusion, educational and promotional activities to raise awareness of the link between food consumption and the environment can have a strong impact on eating less meat and more plant-based food, even among those strongly accustomed to meat consumption.

“Living the stories of your great-grandmother”: Making sense of Russia’s war in Ukraine through Polish intergenerational family storytelling

ABSTRACT After the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Polish people were tasked with making sense of war in close proximity while supporting millions of Ukrainian refugees fleeing to Poland. In times of distress, such as war and refugee crises, intergenerational storytelling helps people make sense of their experience. Interviews with 28 Polish adults during the first five months of the war revealed that intergenerational family storytelling prompted them to: cope with war, connect with Ukraine, and help others. These narrative functions were informed by various levels of culture, as proposed by ecological systems theorizing. Findings expand communication narrative sense-making theory by accounting for sociohistorical influences in intergenerational family storytelling and highlighting how family storytelling can motivate action during crisis.

Orthorexic tendency and its association with weight control methods and dietary variety in Polish adults: a cross-sectional study.

The methods for controlling weight play a central role in formally diagnosed eating disorders (EDs) and appear to be important in the context of other nonformally recognized disorders, such as orthorexia nervosa (ON). These methods also have an impact on eating behaviors, including dietary variety. Our study aimed to: (i) assess the intensity of ON tendency by sex and BMI groups, (ii) evaluate the associations between ON tendency, weight control methods, and dietary variety, and (iii) determine the extent to which weight control methods and dietary variety contribute to the ON tendency among both females and males. Data were gathered from a sample of 936 Polish adults (463 females and 473 males) through a cross-sectional quantitative study conducted in 2019. Participants were requested to complete the ORTO-6, the Weight Control Methods Scale, and the Food Intake Variety Questionnaire (FIVeQ). Multiple linear regression analysis was employed to evaluate associations between ON tendency, weight control methods, and dietary variety. Females exhibited a higher ON tendency than males (14.4 ± 3.4 vs. 13.5 ± 3.7, p < 0.001, d = 0.25). In the regression model, the higher ON tendency was predicted by more frequent use of weight control methods, such as restricting the amount of food consumed, using laxatives, and physical exercise among both females and males as well as following a starvation diet in females, and drinking teas to aid bowel movements among males. Moreover, the higher ON tendency was predicted by higher dietary variety, lower age in both sexes, and higher level of education among males. However, there were no differences in ON tendency across BMI groups. In conclusion, the findings showed that ON tendency was predicted by a higher frequency of weight control methods commonly used by individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN). The resemblance to these two EDs is also suggested by the higher intensity of ON tendency among females and younger people. However, the prediction of ON tendency by dietary variety indicates that the obsessive preoccupation with healthy eating may not be advanced enough to observe a decrease in the dietary variety among these individuals.

Changes in body weight in various population groups in Poland during the COVID-19 pandemic - a comparison of two cross-sectional studies.

The disruption of daily activities caused by the COVID-19 pandemic had health consequences, especially during peak lockdown periods. The aim of the study is to assess the impact of the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic on the process of weight change among Polish adults. Two representative studies involving Polish adults aged 18-65 years were conducted, the first in June 2020 (N = 2527, from the perspective of the last 2-3 months), and the second a year later, in June 2021 (N = 2087, covering the last 12 months). Both surveys included two groups of respondents, and conducted using the CAWI method - computer-assisted web interview. In the first period of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were more individuals with obesity than a year later (18.7% vs 19.9%), and more respondents reported weight change in 2020 than in 2021 (53% vs 49.6%). In both surveys, women were more likely to report weight gain than men (p<0.001). Statistically significant factors for weight change in 2020 and 2021 were gender, age, and in 2021, education and relationship status. Multinomial logistic regression showed that BMI, age of 18-29 and 30-49, being male, and education below high school, was significant for weight gain. While for weight loss, BMI, age 18-29 and 30-49, being male, and year of study, were statistically significant. The findings confirmed that body weight changed throughout the pandemic, depending on the time of the pandemic and selected socio-demographic factors.

The Father’s Love: Collective Narcissism and Defensive Reactions to Allegations about Pope John Paul II in Polish Public Opinion

Abstract Recent allegations that Pope John Paul II turned a blind eye to clergy sexual abuse as archbishop and pope have ignited much controversy in Poland. In this study, we utilize data from an original representative survey of Polish adults to examine predictors of defensive political reactions to these allegations. We hypothesized that national and Catholic collective narcissism (an exaggerated belief in in-group greatness that requires consistent external validation) would predict defensive attitudes in the face of the allegation, and that nonnarcissistic in-group satisfaction with national and Polish identities would be less related to defensive attitudes. Using a variety of statistical approaches, we find support for these predictions among Polish Catholics.

The change in handgrip strength, after physical exercise, is moderated by digit ratio (2D:4D): A study among the young adults in Poland.

The digit ratio (2D:4D), the ratio of the lengths of second (2D) to the fourth (4D) fingers, is a proxy indicator of prenatal androgen exposure. On average, males display lower 2D:4D than females. Previous studies have shown that lower 2D:4D ratios were associated with better sports and physical abilities. To assess whether a challenge condition, imposed by intense exercise, could increase handgrip strength (HGS) associated with 2D:4D. This cross-sectional experimental study included 90 healthy young Polish adults (40 males, 50 females). They underwent intense physical exercise, before (7 days) and after which they were measured for HGS and 2D:4D. Height and weight were also measured. Analyses of Covariance were employed to delineate associations. 2D:4D had significant predictive effects on the differences in HGS (DHGS) measured in two occasions, without and after, physical exercises. The lower was the 2D:4D, the higher the DHGS, particularly, for the left hand. The results reconfirmed that the link between prenatal testosterone exposure (indicated by 2D:4D) and physical strength depends on the context, such as a challenged condition.

Unpacking the Relationship Between Right-Wing Authoritarianism and Religiosity in Poland: A Panel Analysis

ABSTRACT Right-wing authoritarianism (RWA) is typically correlated with measures of religiosity. Though there is much cross-sectional evidence for this relationship, few studies have examined the reason for the correlation. Does one variable induce change in the other over time in single individuals, or do they correlate because the same kind of people (as defined by potential third variables) select into both authoritarianism and religiosity? We examine this question with data from a six-wave panel study of Polish adults, using the random-intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM) to disentangle within-person relationships from between-person relationships. Though cross-section regressions reveal positive relationships between RWA and two indices of religiosity (attendance and identification as religious), analyses using the RI-CLPM suggest that these relationships are due to between-person differences rather than within-person effects of RWA on religiosity variables and vice versa.

The relationship between meaning in life, forgiveness, and gratitude among Polish adults: the mediating role of time perspective

ABSTRACT Two cross-sectional studies were performed to test two competing models in which time perspective orientation mediated the relationship between meaning in life (MIL) and positive resources, such as forgiveness and gratitude, in Polish adults. The results of the first study (N = 170) show that past negative time mediates the relationship between MIL and forgiveness. The second study (N = 218) found MIL to have a significant effect, direct and indirect, on gratitude via a past positive and present fatalistic time perspective. The alternative models were tested, MIL was the outcome variable, and forgiveness and gratitude were independent variables. Our findings show the mediating role of past negative between forgiveness and the presence of meaning, and the role of both positive and negative temporal orientations in the relationship between MIL and gratitude. The multidimensional approach to forgiveness and gratitude and the mediator role of positive and negative time perspectives in MIL can be widely used in psychoeducation and psychotherapy.