Psychological Demands Research Articles

The efficacy of a specifically designed printed material on satisfaction from information provision and Quality of Life of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients: A randomized controlled trial

Background: Patients with hematological malignancies who undergo hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) face complex challenges and need appropriate information to help them cope with the physical and psychological demands of their treatment and experience greater health related quality of life (HRQoL). This study investigated the impact of a specially designed booklet about HSCT, on patients’ satisfaction from information, overall emotional distress and HRQoL. Method and Material: A total of 127 HSCT patients were randomly assigned to receive standard verbal information (control group, n=63) or the additional printed information (intervention group, n=64). Patients’ satisfaction was assessed at two time-points; at admission to the transplant unit and at discharge. Emotional distress and HRQoL were also evaluated at 3 and 6 months post-HSCT. Intention-to-treat analysis was performed. Results: Patients’ characteristics were similar in the two arms. The experimental group reported highest levels of satisfaction when compared with patients attending standard verbal approach (p<0.004). No significant differences between groups were noted, regarding patients’ desired attitude about the amount of perceived information. Overall, 65% of patients wanted all the available information. Most participants considered that the booklet was easy to read and helpful in recalling medical instructions. High levels of satisfaction were strongly correlated with reduction in anxiety levels and improvement in overall HRQoL, at discharge from the transplant unit. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate printed materials can be a beneficial and practical method for patients to gain comprehensible information for HSCT. However, further well-designed, longitudinal multicenter randomized trials are needed to confirm our findings.

Overview of the impact of sleep monitoring on optimal performance, immune system function and injury risk reduction in athletes: A narrative review.

Sleep is essential for a range of physiological and mental functions in professional athletes. There is proof that athletes may experience lower quality and quantity of sleep. While adequate sleep has been shown to have restorative effects on the immune system and endocrine system, facilitate nervous system recovery and the metabolic cost of wakefulness, and play a significant role in learning, memory, and synaptic plasticity, which can affect sports recovery, injury risk reduction, and performance. Sports performance may suffer significantly from a lack of sleep, especially under maximal and long-term exercise. Due to the potential harm, these factors may do to an athlete's endocrine, metabolic, and nutritional health, sports performance is impacted by reduced sleep quality or quantity. There are several neurotransmitters associated with the sleep-wake cycle that have been discovered. They comprise cholinergic hormone, orexin, melanin, galanin, serotonin, gamma-aminobutyric acid, histamine, and serotonin. Therefore, dietary modifications that affect the neurotransmitters in the brain also may affect sleep; particularly for athletes who require more physical and psychological recovery owing to the tremendous physiological and psychological demands placed on them during training and performance. This review explores the variables that influence the quantity and quality of sleep-in populations of athletes and assesses their possible effects. In addition, several recommendations for improving sleep are presented. Even though there has been much research on variables that impact sleep, future studies may highlight the significance of these aspects for athletes.

Prevalence and Association of Exercise Dependence and Eating Disorder Risk in Collegiate Student-Athletes.

Exercise dependence (EXD) is a compulsive and addictive behavior that can negatively affect physical and mental health, leading to significant impairment or distress. Exercise dependence has been associated with symptoms of eating disorders (EDs). Student-athletes are an at-risk population for EXD and EDs given the physical and psychological demands of competitive sports. To examine the EXD and ED risks in student-athletes across sex and sport category and to determine the association between EXD and ED. Cross-sectional study. Collegiate athletics. National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and II student-athletes (n = 1885; age = 19.8 ± 1.4 years; females = 69.6%, n = 1312; males = 30.4%, n = 573). A web-based survey including demographics, the Exercise Dependence Scale-21, the Eating Attitudes Test-26, and questions about pathogenic behaviors. Overall, 4.9% (n = 92) of the student-athletes were categorized as at risk for EXD (females = 4.8%, n = 63/1312; males = 5.1%, n = 29/573), with differences across sex and sport categories (all: χ28,1885 = 99.1, P < .001). The ED risk in student-athletes (Eating Attitudes Test-2, pathogenic behavior use, or both) was 22.7% (n = 428; females = 25.5%, n = 334/1312; males = 16.4%, n = 94/573), with differences by sex (χ24,1885 = 10.1, P = .039). Multiple logistic regressions indicated a significant association between the risks of EXD and ED for all student-athletes; athletes at risk for EXD were also at greater risk for EDs (odds ratio = 5.104; 95% CI = 3.237, 8.046) than nondependent-asymptomatic athletes (odds ratio = 2.4068; 95% CI = 1.5618, 3.7089). Although physical activity has become a public health intervention to improve overall health in populations, EXD can be considered a problem related to physical activity. Exercise dependence can negatively affect physical and mental health, whereas EDs may be psychiatric disorders influenced by EXD, as exercise can be a compensatory behavior to achieve weight loss. To minimize the overall risk of EDs in student-athletes, additional education and awareness are needed. Special attention should be given to any student-athletes, in particular females, who display signs of EXD.

The Future(s) of Work? Disparities Around Changing Job Conditions When Remote/Hybrid or Returning to Working at Work

The future of work is ambiguous at best. Despite widespread shifts to remote/hybrid work during the COVID-19 lockdown, there is a paucity of knowledge about changing job conditions in tandem with different work locales. Is the move to remote/hybrid work a disrupter or accentuator of existing norms and inequalities? Drawing on nationally representative, four-wave panel survey data (October 2020 to April 2022) collected from U.S. workers who spent at least some time working from home since the pandemic onset, we examine effects of within-person changes in where respondents work on changes in job conditions (psychological job demands, job control, coworker support, and monitoring). Estimates from fixed-effects models show that, compared with returning to working at work, ongoing remote and moving to hybrid work lead to greater reductions in psychological job demands, especially among older women and men. Black and Hispanic women moving back to the office experience the greatest loss of decision latitude and schedule control. While white workers see increased coworker support when returning to the office, returning Black and Hispanic men report a decline in coworker support. Family caregivers’ job conditions do not improve whether remote/hybrid or returning to work. Qualitative data collected from Amazon Mechanic Turk illuminate mechanisms leading to salutary effects of remote work, but also the stress of combining jobs with family carework.

The Interplay of Job Demands–Resources: Experiences of Public Health Inspectors of Sri Lanka During the First and Second Waves of the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic posed unprecedented challenges to healthcare employees worldwide. As part of combatting the disease, they were often confronted with numerous physical and psychological job demands. Studies have explored the experiences of and responses to a COVID-19-related job demand–resource (JD-R) interplay of Western hospital-based healthcare staff. However, whether community-based, non-clinical healthcare workers experienced and responded to the COVID-19-related JD-R interplay similarly to hospital-based clinical healthcare employees is severely under-researched. This article explores how Sri Lanka’s public health inspectors (PHIs), a group of community-based, non-clinical healthcare workers experienced and responded to the COVID-19-related JD-R interplay. Using 18 in-depth interviews, this study found that PHIs were confronted with COVID-19-specific physical and psychological job demands including work pressure, workload, ambiguities in authority and job responsibilities, fear of contracting and passing on the disease to family members and social rejection which they managed with limited training, minimal rewards and less recognition. This JD-R incompatibility led to stress, exhaustion and coping inflexibility to which PHIs responded through approach and avoidance coping. While most coping strategies enabled PHIs to ease their stress and exhaustion, there were others that exacerbated the feelings of burnout.

Determinants influencing burnout levels among Ukrainian EFL educators: theoretical constructs and personal experience

The purpose of this article is to explore and analyse the theoretical aspects of factors affecting burnout levels among Ukrainian EFL (English as a Foreign Language) teachers. This article aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the main contributors to teacher burnout and stress, as well as examine the potential impact of the socio-political and educational context in Ukraine. By delving into these factors, the article seeks to offer valuable insights for improving teacher well-being and retention, and ultimately, enhance the quality of English language education in Ukraine. This investigation synthesized and analysed existing literature on burnout among Ukrainian EFL teachers, revealing a complex interplay of work-related factors, such as workload, classroom management, and student behaviour, and the unique socio-political context in Ukraine. The ongoing conflict and political turmoil in Ukraine, coupled with language policy reforms and national testing systems, have emerged as critical factors affecting EFL teachers’ burnout levels. Additionally, the full-scale armed aggression of Russia against Ukraine has further heightened stress and burnout among teachers due to the disruption of normal school functioning and increased emotional and psychological demands. Addressing the specific challenges faced by EFL teachers in Ukraine, including the impact of the armed aggression, is crucial for promoting well-being and resilience. Previously unsolved aspects of the problem, such as the cumulative impact of multiple factors and coping strategies, warrant further investigation. The insights gained from this analysis can inform the development of targeted interventions and strategies to support teacher well-being and retention, ultimately enhancing the quality of English language education in Ukraine. A continued focus on understanding and addressing burnout among Ukrainian EFL teachers is essential for fostering a sustainable and resilient teaching workforce. The scientific novelty of this investigation lies in its comprehensive analysis of the factors contributing to burnout among Ukrainian EFL teachers, with a particular emphasis on the unique socio-political context and ongoing armed aggression. By synthesizing and analysing existing literature, this investigation identifies previously unsolved aspects of the general problem and highlights potential avenues for future research. The insights gained from this study contribute to the existing body of knowledge on teacher burnout and inform the development of targeted interventions and strategies to support teacher well-being and retention in the specific context of Ukraine. The practical value of this research is its potential to inform the development of targeted interventions and strategies that address the specific challenges faced by Ukrainian EFL teachers, ultimately supporting their well-being and retention. By identifying key factors contributing to burnout, this investigation provides valuable insights for policymakers, educational institutions, and teacher support services in designing and implementing effective measures to mitigate teacher burnout. The findings also highlight the importance of offering tailored professional development opportunities, promoting positive teacher-student relationships, and addressing workload and classroom management challenges. This research serves as a foundation for fostering a more sustainable and resilient teaching workforce, which is essential for enhancing the quality of English language education in Ukraine.

Hubungan Tingkat Stres Terhadap Mekanisme Koping Pada Retaker Profesi Ners Di Universitas Bina Bangsa Getsempena Banda Aceh

Stress is a stimulus or situation that causes distress and can create physical and psychological demands on a person. Nursing professional education is an advanced program from students to professional nurses, Retaker is a candidate who has participated in Ukom more than once where students who experience this repeatedly will cause stress so it is necessary to overcome these problems with a coping mechanism to find out the extent of the stress experienced that student. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between stress levels and coping mechanisms in nursing professions at Bina Bangsa University Getsempena Banda Aceh in 2023. By using a descriptive correlational research type with a cross-sectoral study approach design with a population of 48 respondents, the technique used in This research uses total sampling technique. This research was conducted on January 18-24 2023 with univariate and bivariate analysis. The results showed that of the 48 respondents who had moderate stress, there were 24 people (82.8%), while those who were heavily stressed were 4 people (13.8%), and those who experienced mild stress were 1 person (0%) with a p value 0.048, so there is a relationship between the level of stress on coping mechanisms in professional nurses. It is hoped that all students will increase their knowledge by digging up information about stress levels and improving coping mechanisms in dealing with UKOM.

The meaningfulness of challenging the controlled drinking discourse. An autoethnographic study

Being able to control ones drinking is an expression of attitudes in most western societies towards the act of drinking, and if losing control, one breaks with these attitudes. This is what I call the “controlled drinking discourse.” Loss of control can be understood as any drinking of alcohol which starts a chain of reaction that is felt as a physical and psychological demand for alcohol. This is a description of how I related to alcohol for years until a complete crisis of meaning in my life in 2014. In recovery research, different kinds of “doings” are well documented as meaningful, while meaningful ways of thinking is less explored. Ways of thinking is influenced by available discourses. Through an autoethnographic approach, I explore ways of thinking with use of an analytical framework focusing on the relationship between discourses, narratives, and small stories. I also discuss theories on non-drinking, alcoholism, and recovery. Doing a discursively shift in thinking by accepting that controlled drinking is not possible, is for me a meaningful and self-sustainable way of thinking, which keeps me sober and away from crisis of meaning in my life.

Assessment of Workplace Stress Impacts in Omdurman locality, Khartoum State, Sudan.

This study is an attempt to assess Work stress using work–related stress questionnaire (Karasek) among 241 workers and measured thermal stress using Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) in °C taking into consideration the plight of the Sudan, hot climates, in different industrial sectors in Omdurman to improve working. This study covers food industries, oils and soap, iron and metals, plastic, cement, and derivatives. Ninety-two factories in various industrial sectors were visited to collect data on the workplace and individuals (241 workers were surveyed for possible heat stress exposure such as name, age, sex, occupation, work duration, shift, working hours, habits related to smoking, etc.). This study found that psychological demands represented the most significant causes of stress. This study showed that socio-demographics, job characteristics, and work-related and related factors were highly influential in developing high heat stress. The study shows a relation be-tween the upper limits of heat and high workplace stress and illustrates the variation of heat stress between different industry types. Plastic, food, iron and metals, and cement, and derivatives. Socio–economic factors among workers were examined by the study to ascertain if there was a significant relationship between high-stress symptoms development among the workers; the study also inspects the association between high stress and factors such as working hours, shift system, marital status, personal hobbies, and bad habits. This present study aims to propose the guidelines for Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) for the prevention of heat stress and workplace stress.

In what ways does age-differentiated leadership influence employee health?

According to Wegge et al. (2014), leadership behavior can affect employee health in several ways. The model describes leaders (1) as actors with a direct influence on the health of employees, (2) as designers of work systems, (3) as a moderating factor (buffer/amplifier) of the effects of work requirements and resources on health, (4) as a developer of group climate and identification and (5) as direct role models for health-related behavior. In order to collect evidence for the usefulness of this multi-path model, connections between age-differentiated leadership (ADL) and health were analyzed in 947 employees of a German technology company. ADL is a management style that takes into account the particularities of mixed-age teams and also differentiates between the different needs of different age groups. It was found that better ADL (when controlling for employee-oriented leadership) is associated with fewer physical and psychological complaints (pathway 1). This relationship is mediated by the manager’s social support (path 2) and a better recreational climate in the team (path 4). Better ADL also reduced the negative effects of psychological work demands on the psychological symptoms (pathway 3).Practical Relevance: This article provides practical evidence for the multi-way model of leadership and health. Using the example of age-differentiated leadership (ADL)—with control of employee-oriented leadership—it was also found that this leadership behavior has a positive effect on the mental and physical health of employees via four different paths and should therefore be encouraged.

Rural tourism service design based on collaborative filtering algorithm after epidemic normalization

Abstract In the epidemic, normalized tertiary and rural tourism service industries are in the economic depression stage. Under the epidemic, combined with big data technology to improve the economic income and development scale of rural tourism services become the current development trend of the tourism industry. This paper first proposes a collaborative filtering recommendation algorithm based on big data technology to study the design of rural tourism services under the new epidemic normalization. Then the basic principle of the content-based recommendation algorithm is to obtain the interests of tourists based on their historical behaviors and recommend rural tourism similar to their interest preferences, and choosing the appropriate similarity function can improve the accuracy of the neighborhood-based CF method. Finally, to meet the tourists’ demand for a full range of tourism experience services and build a rural tourism service system, the psychological demand of rural tourism tourists’ consumption is analyzed based on a collaborative recommendation algorithm. The results show that among the main factors attracting tourists, 75.54% are natural scenery, 54.68% are folk culture, 51.08% are unique flavors and food, 43.17 are experiencing rural life, and 41.73% are promoting relationships with friends. This study plays an important role in accelerating rural revitalization by attracting urban tourists back to the countryside and driving the transfer of consumer groups and the rural economy to increase income; thus, rural tourism plays an important role in accelerating rural revitalization.

Nourishing the brain on deep space missions: nutritional psychiatry in promoting resilience.

The grueling psychological demands of a journey into deep space coupled with ever-increasing distances away from home pose a unique problem: how can we best take advantage of the benefits of fresh foods in a place that has none? Here, we consider the biggest challenges associated with our current spaceflight food system, highlight the importance of supporting optimal brain health on missions into deep space, and discuss evidence about food components that impact brain health. We propose a future food system that leverages the gut microbiota that can be individually tailored to best support the brain and mental health of crews on deep space long-duration missions. Working toward this goal, we will also be making investments in sustainable means to nourish the crew that remains here on spaceship Earth.

English

Introduction: Soccer referees need excellent conditioning to withstand the physical and psychological demands of games. Objective: To compare the hemodynamic variables, speed, cadence, and distance coursed of referees during soccer games of series A and B in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Material and method: The total number of decisions made during the 10 soccer matches evaluated was 1,224 observable decisions of 10 professional Soccer referees (one per soccer match: 5 in series A and 5 in series B). We used a frequency meter (Polar, model V800, PolarFlow software) and video footage of the games (Sony, model PXW-Z150, 4K). The moments considered were: the decision, 15 seconds that preceded it, and the period from the beginning of each stage to each decision. Were studied the hemodynamic [average heat rate (mean HR), maximum heart rate (HRmax), and minimum heart rate (HRmin)] and motion variables [average speed (Vmed), maximum speed (Vmax), average cadence (cadencemed), maximum cadence (cadencemax), minimum cadence (cadencemin), and distance covered]. Descriptive measures were used to present the results of the variables studied and the Student’s T-Test for independent samples to test the study hypotheses. The significance level was set at 95% (P &lt;0.05). Results: The matches of series A had a greater number of interventions and greater hemodynamic load at the exact moment of the decision than those of series B. significantly (P &lt;0.05): mean HR, HRmax, HRmin, Vmax, Cadencemed, and Cadencemax in series A were higher compared to series B. In the 15 seconds before the decisions: mean HR, HRmax, and HRmin in series A were higher than in series B, and Vmed in series B was higher in relation to series A. At the exact moment of the decisions: mean HR in series A was higher in relation to series B. Conclusion: Referees’ interventions are generally carried out under high hemodynamic pressure. The matches played in the A series require a higher number of interventions and hemodynamic intensity than the matches in the series B under high hemodynamic pressure, other psychological factors may play a role; however, this needs to be studied in greater depth.

DAPATKAH PERSEPSI DUKUNGAN ATASAN MENGURANGI DAMPAK NEGATIF PSYCHOLOGICAL JOB DEMAND TERHADAP WORK ENGAGEMENT, SURVEI PADA KARYAWAN PT GLOBAL SAMUDRA BORNEO BANJARMASIN

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of psychological job demand on work engagement and the moderating role of perceived supervisor support to reduce the impact of psychological job demand on work engagement. The survey was conducted on 64 employees from PT. Global Ocean Borneo in Banjarmasin. Data analysis used regression analysis with moderation. The findings of this study reinforce many previous studies where it has been proven that a negative psychological effect of job demand has a negative effect on work engagement. Other results show that perceived supervisor support does not play a role in reducing the effect of psychological job demand on work engagement among employees.

Women's Employment in Industries and Risk of Preeclampsia and Gestational Diabetes: A National Population Study of Republic of Korea

BackgroundSome working conditions may pose a higher physical or psychological demand to pregnant women leading to increased risks of pregnancy complications. ObjectivesWe assessed the association of woman's employment status and the industrial classification with obstetric complications. MethodsWe conducted a national population study using the National Health Information Service database of Republic of Korea. Our analysis encompassed 1,316,310 women who experienced first-order live births in 2010–2019. We collected data on the employment status and the industrial classification of women, as well as their diagnoses of preeclampsia (PE) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) classified as A1 (well controlled by diet) or A2 (requiring medication). We calculated odds ratios (aORs) of complications per employment, and each industrial classification was adjusted for individual risk factors. ResultsMost (64.7%) were in employment during pregnancy. Manufacturing (16.4%) and the health and social (16.2%) work represented the most prevalent industries. The health and social work exhibited a higher risk of PE (aOR = 1.11, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03–1.21), while the manufacturing industry demonstrated a higher risk of class A2 GDM (1.20, 95% CI: 1.03–1.41) than financial intermediation. When analyzing both classes of GDM, women who worked in public administration and defense/social security showed higher risk of class A1 GDM (1.04, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.07). When comparing high-risk industries with nonemployment, the health and social work showed a comparable risk of PE (1.02, 95% CI: 0.97, 1.07). ConclusionEmployment was associated with overall lower risks of obstetric complications. Health and social service work can counteract the healthy worker effect in relation to PE. This highlights the importance of further elucidating specific occupational risk factors within the high-risk industries.

Health-promoting work schedules among nurses and nurse assistants in France: results from nationwide AMADEUS survey

BackgroundThe study aimed to investigate the relationship between different work schedules and self-reported working conditions and health risk behaviours among nurses and nurse assistants (NNA) in France. It hypothesized that work schedules, particularly long shifts, could impact work-life balance, workload, stress levels, burnout, and smoking habits. NNA had the option to work either with a 7-hour schedule, 5 days per week, or with long work schedules consisting of ten to twelve-hour shifts, three days per week. These schedules could potentially influence various aspects of their professional lives.MethodsThe survey followed the guidelines of the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) Statement and was administered to NNA working in public and private national healthcare facilities in France. The researchers used the Job Content Questionnaire to assess the work environment and the French version of the 22-item Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) scale to measure burnout.ResultsA total of 3,133 NNA participated in the study, including 2,369 nurses (75.6%) and 764 nurse assistants (24.4%). Among them, 1,811 individuals (57.8%) followed a 7-hour work schedule, while 1,322 individuals (42.2%) had a long work schedule. Multivariate analyses revealed that NNA working with long schedules reported higher psychological demands, more frequent burnout, a higher number of daily smoked cigarettes, and greater coffee consumption. These findings were independent of other factors such as sector of employment, type of healthcare facility, job status, work schedules, night shifts, department specialty, age, and family responsibilities.ConclusionsWhile some NNA may choose long schedules to have more days off, those working with these schedules experience greater work-related burdens and engage in worse health risk behaviours as a coping mechanism. It emphasizes the importance of considering health-promoting work schedules to address the high psychological demands and burnout experienced by NNA with long schedules. Implementing changes in work schedules could potentially improve the overall well-being and job satisfaction of these healthcare professionals.

Toward a Common Customer Identity Framework for Managing Participatory Marketing Communication Campaigns

Empowering customers through participation is known to enhance brand promotion. A popular strategy involves asking customers to vote on marketing communication tactics, which activates empowerment effects through increased psychological ownership. Prior research has found that while winning voters experience empowerment effects, losing voters report lower psychological ownership, product evaluations, and demand. In this research, through four studies we develop and test a parsimonious common customer identity framework to understand and reduce the effects of losing. This research advances marketing communication theory by highlighting the distinctive processes underlying the empowerment versus losing effect and demonstrating the value of engaging losing voters by enhancing intergroup interdependence through the activation of cooperative mindsets. Specifically, the study identifies that framing a voting event as a collaborative (versus competitive) effort is effective in mitigating the losing effect, particularly among those with high self–brand connection. Therefore, this research offers managerial implications on managing empowerment strategies, which is potentially generalizable to other marketing communication channels involving customer participation.

Neck and upper extremity musculoskeletal problems in cosmetologists caused by work-related ergonomic risk factors in Denizli, Turkey.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) of the neck and upper limbs are a common health problem among cosmetologists. Hairdressing requires bending, twisting, static postures, prolonged standing, repetitive motions, and vigorous movements of the hands and fingers. In order to determine the proper ergonomic measures, identifying the factors and hairdressing jobs that increase the risk of work-related neck and upper limb disorders is needed. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of MSDs in the neck and upper extremities of cosmetologists and to investigate the association with ergonomic risk factors and hairdressing work. The cross-sectional study was conducted on cosmetologists in Denizli, Turkey province (n = 504). Data collected through a survey included questions on sociodemographic characteristics, work organization, equipment, and hairdressing work, items on work posture, the Extended Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, and the Demand-Control-Support Questionnaire. Work posture in hairdressing was assessed using the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA). The prevalence of MSDs of the neck and upper limbs in the previous twelve months ranged from 7.7-55.8%. There was high, or very high, risk in 56.1% of work postures, and the median RULA score was 5.0 (4.0-6.0). The significant predictors of pain were work experience, gender, marital status, risk perception, awkward posture, psychological demand, and hair coloring. It is necessary to take control measures in hairdressing salons promptly to adopt more suitable working posture and to design workplaces ergonomically.

Samatha Meditation, Tao, and Routine Training: Case Study of a World-Class Rifle Athlete

In this study, I developed a meditation-based psychological intervention, named the Samatha Meditation, Tao, and Routine Training (SMTRT), to help a world-class rifle shooting athlete improve his performance in competitions. The SMTRT program is guided by the Buddhist principles of Nine Mental Abidings taking into account the specific characteristics of psychological demands on rifle athletes. The program’s efficacy was preliminarily ascertained based on positive qualitative feedback from the participant and his winning performance in a national championship competition. The potential pathways of psychological and behavioral changes and their implications for future practice are discussed.

Magnitude and influencing factors of work-related low back pain among high school teachers in West Arsi zone, Southwest Ethiopia: evidenced from multicentred cross-sectional study

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the prevalence of low back pain and its associated factors among high school teachers in the West Arsi zone, Southwest Ethiopia.DesignA school-based cross-sectional study was...