Psychological Harm Research Articles

“Actually, the psychological wounds are more difficult than physical injuries:” a qualitative analysis of the impacts of attacks on health on the personal and professional lives of health workers in the Syrian conflict

IntroductionAttacks on healthcare in armed conflict have far-reaching impacts on the personal and professional lives of health workers, as well as the communities they serve. Despite this, even in protracted conflicts such as in Syria, health workers may choose to stay despite repeated attacks on health facilities, resulting in compounded traumas. This research explores the intermediate and long-term impacts of such attacks on healthcare on the local health professionals who have lived through them with the aim of strengthening the evidence base around such impacts and better supporting them.MethodsWe undertook purposive sampling of health workers in northwest and northeast Syria; we actively sought to interview non-physician and female health workers as these groups are often neglected in similar research. In-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted in Arabic and transcribed into English for framework analysis. We used an a priori codebook to explore the short- and long-term impacts of attacks on the health workers and incorporated emergent themes as analysis progressed.ResultsA total of 40 health workers who had experienced attacks between 2013 and 2020 participated in IDIs. 13 were female (32.5%). Various health cadres including doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, students in healthcare and technicians were represented. They were mainly based in Idlib (39.5%), and Aleppo (37.5%) governorates. Themes emerged related to personal and professional impacts as well as coping mechanisms. The key themes include firstly the psychological harms, second the impacts of the nature of the attacks e.g. anticipatory stress related to the ‘double tap’ nature of attacks as well as opportunities related to coping mechanisms among health workers.ConclusionViolence against healthcare in Syria has had profound and lasting impacts on the health workforce due to the relentless and intentional targeting of healthcare facilities. They not only face the challenges of providing care for a conflict-affected population but are also part of the community themselves. They also face ethical dilemmas in their work leading to moral distress and moral injury. Donors must support funding for psychosocial support for health workers in Syria and similar contexts; the focus must be on supporting and enhancing existing context-specific coping strategies.

Aspects of Research Ethics in Studies Involving Women Who Are Victims of Domestic Violence

Even if research on women who experience acts of aggression within their home is mostly conducted similarly to other research involving human participants, a type of research that implies both respect for individual autonomy and other particular rights (like informed consent, or the protection of personal data, while avoiding to do unnecessary physical, patrimonial or psychological harm to those who take part in the research), the ones who fall victims acts of abuse in their household present a series of particularities that represent as many specific aspects of the research. The purpose of this paper is to identify these specific aspects and analyze the way to make sure that those particularities are the manner in which they must be taken into account in order to carry out ethical research.

Intersexuality: What Primary and Specialized Healthcare Providers Should Know and Do to End Cosmetic and Harmful Medical Practices on Infants and Children Born with Intersex Variations in Tanzania

The Public Statement by the African Intersex Movement, 2017 extends demands to end discrimination against persons born with intersex variations in Africa through legislative and other means. Comestic, irreversible and harmful medical and clinical procedures infants and children born with intersex variations have been subject to include unconsented and medically unnecessary surgeries, mutilation and sterilization that cause irreversible physical and psychological harm. I demonstrate, Tanzania a signatory to The Human Rights Charter is mandated to follow the same route to ensure persons born with intersex variations live and enjoy the right to quality and equitable health and healthcare available without discrimination. To date, however, it is unclear what measures Tanzanian government has taken to prohibit medically unnecessary surgeries and procedures on infants and children born with intersex variations. Similarly, no enacted law banning harmful medical and clinical variations on infants and children born with intersex variations in this country; suggesting violation of intersex rights is ongoing. Data presented in this paper come from desk research I conducted on intersexuality in Tanzania and beyond. I conclude awareness of intersex conditions is increasing among researchers, persons born with intersex variations, parents/guardians, activists and the media. This increase would come with increasing horror, which may stimulate legal reform. I recommend primary and specialized care providers, and the Tanzania government in particular, ought not to wait for this dishonor to surface — rather should act now to end cosmetic and harmful surgeries and protect vulnerable infants and children born with intersex variations in this country.

Hyperglycaemia aversion in type 1 diabetes: A grounded theory study.

Very little is known about the circumstances under which hyperglycaemia aversion develops and is maintained. The present study aimed to identify psychological factors involved in the process of hyperglycaemia aversion and to understand how it affects people's self-management of type 1 diabetes. Qualitative, in-depth interviews were used. A constructivist grounded theory study, using semi-structured participant interviews, was undertaken to build a theoretical model of the process of hyperglycaemia aversion. Eighteen participants were interviewed. Fifteen were considered hyperglycaemia averse and included in the analysis. A theoretical model was developed to describe and explain processes involved in hyperglycaemia aversion. Many participants held very high standards for themselves and often had a strong preference for control. While some participants described anxiety associated with higher blood glucose, the most proximal driver of their approach was self-criticism and frustration associated with not meeting their own high standards for blood glucose. A number of attentional processes and beliefs, mostly related to hypoglycaemia, maintained and reinforced their blood glucose preference. Diabetes technology served as an enabler, raiser of standards, and additional critical judge of participants' hyperglycaemia aversion. The trans-diagnostic concept of emotional over-control is used to understand the proposed model of processes of hyperglycaemia aversion. The present study offers new insight which will aid clinicians in identifying and supporting those who may be at risk of psychological distress and harm associated with a preference for avoidance of higher blood glucose levels.

Ayahuasca: A review of historical, pharmacological, and therapeutic aspects.

Ayahuasca is a psychedelic plant brew originating from the Amazon rainforest. It is formed from two basic components, the Banisteriopsis caapi vine and a plant containing the potent psychedelic dimethyltryptamine (DMT), usually Psychotria viridis. Here we review the history of ayahuasca and describe recent work on its pharmacology, phenomenological responses, and clinical applications. There has been a significant increase in interest in ayahuasca since the turn of the millennium. Anecdotal evidence varies significantly, ranging from evangelical accounts to horror stories involving physical and psychological harm. The effects of the brew on personality and mental health outcomes are discussed in this review. Furthermore, phenomenological analyses of the ayahuasca experience are explored. Ayahuasca is a promising psychedelic agent that warrants greater empirical attention regarding its basic neurochemical mechanisms of action and potential therapeutic application.

Antisocial Personality Traits Link Family of Origin Violence and Emotional Partner Abuse in College Students

Intimate partner violence (IPV), which can include physical and psychological harm toward an intimate partner, is a significant problem on college campuses with 20%–50% of college students reporting victimization during their college careers. The intergenerational transmission of violence theory suggests that Family of Origin Violence (FOV; e.g.,witnessingIPV between parental figures andexperiencingchildhood physical abuse) increases the likelihood of perpetrating IPV as an adult. FOV is also associated with an increased risk of developing antisocial personality traits, a correlate of IPV perpetration. We examined whether antisocial personality traits explained the relationship between FOV (i.e., experiencing and witnessing) and four different types of emotional partner abuse (i.e., restrictive engulfment, denigration, hostile withdrawal, and dominance/intimidation) while controlling for sex, alcohol, and drug use/problems. Experiencing FOV positively associated with restrictive engulfment emotional partner abuse (B= .04, 95% CI [.01, .08]), hostile withdrawal emotional partner abuse (B= .07, 95% CI [.03, .13]), and dominance/intimidation emotional partner abuse (B= .04, 95% CI [.01, .09]) through antisocial personality traits. These findings have implications for the long-term consequences of FOV.

Adolescents' Cyber-Defending for Cyberbullying: A Socio-Emotional, Beliefs, and Past Experience Model.

Adolescents experiencing cyberbullying attacks (i.e., cyber-victims) can suffer severe psychological harm (e.g., suicide). To combat cyberbullying, people can defend the cyber-victims (cyber-defending). Unlike past studies, we proposed a comprehensive theoretical model of cyber-defending that includes socio-emotional aspects, beliefs, and past bullying experiences (as a bully, victim, and/or witness; face-to-face vs. online). We then empirically tested it among 817 students across seven secondary schools using structural equation modeling (SEM). Results revealed that participants with higher social competence, depression, affective empathy, or stronger pro-victim beliefs reported more cyber-defending. Furthermore, beliefs and past experiences mediated the relationships between socio-emotional factors and cyber-defending. These findings help build a theory of cyber-defending, provide practical implications, and offer future directions for promoting cyber-defending, which will ultimately reduce cyberbullying.

범죄피해자의 트라우마에 대한 법적 지평과 쟁점

In psychiatry, trauma is the psychological harm caused by directly experiencing life-threatening, serious injury, or sexual violence; witnessing such events happen to others or learning that they have happened to a family member, close relative, or close friend; and being repeatedly or excessively exposed to the aversive details of the events. Trauma goes beyond everyday stress and can cause major disruptions in an individual's life, so it is necessary to have a criminal policy approach that punishes criminals and rescues victims of crime. Thus, this study examines the understanding of trauma in psychiatry and reviews the laws related to the mental harm of crime victims in Korea and abroad to provide a basis for identifying the need to consider the mental harm of crime victims in criminal proceedings.We first examine the applicability of the criminal law concept of injury to trauma as a substantive legal approach. Then, specific issues will be introduced step by step, including procedural law approaches, especially systems to prevent secondary victimization of crime victims and support their psychological stability, such as the departure of the accused, witness testimony through relay devices and shielded facilities, the presence of trusted persons, recording and preservation of video, the system of witness assistants, the system of witness support units, the system of non-disclosure of hearings during witness testimony, the system to limit unreasonable newspaper reports, and the system of rewriting and prohibition of disclosure of personal information.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PARENTS' OVERPROTECTIVE BEHAVIOR AND STUDENTS' SELF-ADJUSTMENT

Problems Children are important members of the family. When children are present in the midst of the family, parents definitely want their children to develop normally, so parents have their own way of treating children. There are also parents who give freedom to children, there are also parents who give freedom to children but still provide control, and there are also parents who indulge in protecting children excessively by providing protection against physical and psychological disturbances and harm, until the child does not reach freedom, the behavior of the parents is called overprotective, with the reason that the child does not experience harm. Many parents intentionally or unintentionally behave over protective. The method used in this study is a qualitative correlation with the data collection technique used, namely a scale questionnaire. The data obtained through the use of questionnaires is data that is classified as factual data. The results of the study based on the line test table 0.01 can be interpreted as significant, because it is smaller than 0.05 and the significant value for the deviation from linearity is 0.052, so it can be interpreted as a significance value greater than 0.05, so from this it can be concluded that the relationship between adjustment variables and parents' overprotective behavior has a linear relationship so that it can also be said that the linearity test is fulfilled in this study.

The Prohibited Artificial Intelligence Practice

The research strives to provide a comprehensive understanding of the regulation of Artificial Intelligence (AI), known as the AI act of the European Union, with a specific focus on the regulatory challenges related to the prohibition of AI systems that deploy subliminal techniques. To achieve this, the author proposes the perspective of metaverse to enhance the user experience and biometric psychography to avoid reality eye-tracking-based models. However, the current AI act needs to be prepared to address biometrics, which merely repeats the GDPR, giving a hand to AI market growth. Regardless, the author offers four key contributions. Firstly, it shows up a course on the prohibition of AI systems contrasting to the pupillometry market that strive for an opposite course. Secondly, it clarifies the image of subliminal techniques beyond a person’s consciousness of Article 5 para 1 point (a) with reference to the ‘vulnerability’ urge as per point (b). Thirdly, the research compiles perspicuity of ‘psychological harm’ criterion through the assessment of case law practice. Finally, it proposes to fill the gaps in privacy especially when the AI system initially appears friendly but becomes tracking. To support this outcome, the manuscript refers to biometric psychography expanding the concept of biometric data for AI systems.

Breaking The Silence: Civil society organizations promoting women’s personal security against sexual violence in Jombang Islamic boarding schools

The prevalence of sexual violence against women (SVAW) in Indonesian Islamic boarding schools highlights that these institutions have not yet become safe spaces. The physical and psychological harm of sexual violence experienced by women poses a significant threat to their human security, a fundamental right that the state should ideally ensure. However, promoting personal security requires the collective support of society as a whole. This study focuses on Jombang Regency's pesantren (Islamic boarding schools), which is renowned as a city of Islamic education or “Kota Santri”. It explores the role of local civil society organizations (CSOs) in promoting personal security against sexual violence in these settings. Through qualitative methods such as in-depth interviews with CSOs’ representatives and a comprehensive literature review from 2017 to 2022, the research reveals that CSOs in Jombang Regency engage in prevention, protection, and empowerment. However, the roles are not fully optimized, particularly in terms of protection, due to limited implementation and a focus on case management. The findings highlight the importance of implementing binding policies to govern pesantren management and encourage active participation in preventing and addressing sexual violence within religious educational institutions.
 CSOs, islamic boarding school, personal security, pesantren, sexual violence against women

A Study on the Basic Characteristics and Coping Strategies of Bullying in Japanese School

Globally, school bullying has become a serious educational and social problem in different countries. Japan has developed a response system with its own characteristics in dealing with bullying in schools. Based on a review of the definitions of bullying and school bullying response measures in Japan at different times, the study is centered on the results of the 2022 survey on bullying in schools conducted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan and based on the data published by MEXT and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) in 2022, the study focuses on "early prevention, early detection, early response and response to major incidents", and describes responses in these four aspects at both the national and school levels. The results of the study show that bullying in Japanese schools is becoming more prevalent and serious, the group of school bullying tends to be younger, non-violent psychological harm is the main type of school bullying, and methods of school bullying tend to be more covert, and cyber bullying tends to be more serious. The current response to bullying in schools in Japan emphasizes the strengthening of bullying prevention education from primary school onwards, with a tendency to strengthen education on interpersonal relationships and awareness of collective norms within the school (or classroom) . The specific response to school bullying consists of four components: early prevention, early detection, early response, and response to major incidents. Utilizing the role of the state, regional public bodies, schools, and other institutions is an important way to respond properly to incidents of bullying in schools. Among them, particular emphasis is placed on early detection and early response, and a special response to major incidents of school bullying.

The Prevalence of Physical Violence, Drivers of Imprisonment, and Conduct of Prisoners in Mogadishu Central Prison, Somalia

Violence is described as the intentional use of physical force against a person, oneself, or a group of people that causes trauma, psychological harm, or even death. It could take the shape of physical or psychological harm, deprivation, or emotional or sexual assault. Violence of many different kinds is committed in jails globally. However, they are frequently carried out in secrecy, which makes them challenging to establish. The target population for the study were prisoners and staff in Mogadishu Central Prison. A descriptive cross-sectional research design was applied to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. Systematic sampling was used to select prisoners, while purposive sampling was used to select key informants (staff). The study used questionnaires and key informant interviews as data collection tools. Quantitative analysis was conducted using SPSS version 27, and both Fisher’s exact test and Pearson’s Chi-square were used to test for associations and relationships between variables after descriptive analysis had been done. Qualitative analysis was conducted using thematic analysis. The study found that the overall prevalence of physical violence in the prison was 16.3%, with the majority of violence being conducted by convicts against other inmates, but there were also instances of violence committed against and committed by prison staff. The prevalence among inmates was 15%, and prisoners against warden was 1.3%. The most common types of physical violence were fist fights (11.8%), flogging (1.6%), use of weapons or other instruments (1.6%) such as razor blades, throwing shoes at each other, or use of finger rings and slapping (1.3%). The study highlights a concerning high prevalence of physical violence within Mogadishu Central Prison, primarily perpetrated by inmates against each other and occasionally involving prison staff. To address the issue, the study recommends a multifaceted approach, including heightened conflict recognition and resolution training for prison staff, increased investment in resources to alleviate overcrowding, and the establishment of rehabilitation and mental health programs to target the underlying triggers of violence

Men's household water fetching in India: Gender inequity is associated with greater responsibility and related risks.

Household water fetching elevates physical and emotional harms, and these are generally assumed to accrue to women due to gendered labor assignments. But even in cases like India where fetching remains a highly feminized task, there are households where the primary responsibility is assumed by men. We test the proposition that men's responsibility for water fetching is predicted by greater gender equity, reflected in measures of wives' empowerment. We used an extremely large, nationally representative Demographic and Health Survey dataset from India (2019-2020), narrowed to only households in which spouses co-reside with off-plot water sources (N = 10 616), and applying a multinomial regression approach. In >20% of households, men are the primary fetchers. They are more likely to have primary responsibility when water is more distant, privately purchased, or transported by vehicle. Contrary to predictions, men assume greater responsibility for household water fetching as their wives' empowerment measures decrease and when they want to control their movement. Married men in India sometimes assume responsibility for water fetching, but this is not explained by greater household gender equity. The findings also suggest that when men are responsible for fetching they have heightened risk of some forms of physical trauma but less relative psychological harm. Detailing why men fetch water matters for identifying and mitigating the physical and emotion harms of bearing responsibility for water labor, with implications for how gender should be conceptualized in water interventions intending to improve health and well-being.

Multi-Cancer Early Detection: The New Frontier in Cancer Early Detection.

The new generation of cancer early detection tests holds remarkable promise for revolutionizing and changing the paradigm of cancer early detection. Dozens of cancer early detection tests are being developed and evaluated. Some are already commercialized and available for use, most as a complement to and not in place of existing recommended cancer screening tests. This review evaluates existing single- and multi-cancer early detection tests (MCEDs), discussing their performance characteristics including sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and accuracy. It also critically looks at the potential harms that could result from these tests, including false positive and negative results, the risk of overdiagnosis and overtreatment, psychological and economic harms, and the risk of widening cancer inequities. We also review the large-scale, population-based studies that are being launched in the United States and United Kingdom to determine the impact of MCEDs on clinically relevant outcomes and implications for current practice.

Bullying in School and the Impact on Students' Future at SMA S Xaverius Bukittinggi

Bullying is the act of using power to harm a person or group of people either verbally, physically, or psychologically so that the victim feels depressed, traumatized, and helpless (Sejiwa, 2008). students who are victims of bullying are more at risk of experiencing various health problems both physically and mentally. The problems that are more likely to be suffered by students who become sleeping dreams may be carried over into adulthood, physical health complaints such as headaches, not feeling safe while in the school environment, and decreased enthusiasm for learning and academic achievement. Bullying is intentional aggressive behavior to inflict physical or psychological harm on others. Bullying occurs in various parts of the world and the general public it can cause various negative effects, both for the victim and the perpetrator. The research aims to conduct a literature review on the factors that influence bullying behavior. According to the results of school research on bullying, the majority is carried out in adolescents with the scope of research at school.

The psychological impacts of content moderation on content moderators: A qualitative study

Content moderation generally refers to the practice of monitoring user generated content and applying a set of rules defining what is acceptable. As a result, Content Moderators (CMs) are responsible for reviewing and removing harmful online material, which has the potential to cause psychological harm. However, little is known about the perceived impacts of the job. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 commercial CMs who were exposed to child sexual abuse material (CSAM) as part of their job. Interviews were analysed using framework analysis to investigate any psychological impacts. Results demonstrated that CMs manifested with a range of symptoms consistent with experiencing repeated trauma. This included experiencing intrusive thoughts of CSAM, triggered by situations with similar contexts to those encountered at work, avoidance of children and negative cognitive and emotional effects such as cynicism, anxiety and detachment. These symptoms fit into a framework of post traumatic and secondary traumatic stress and suggest CMs wellbeing and exposure to stressful stimuli may be comparable to professionals working in the emergency services or caring professions, such as social workers. These personnel are at heightened risk of various problems including compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma and burnout. Companies which employ moderators should learn from these comparable professions and provide psychoeducation and trauma-informed care to CMs which have been demonstrated to help mitigate these challenges.

259 Understanding carer harm- insights from family carers of people living with dementia and dementia professionals

Abstract Background ‘Carer harm’ is when carers experience violence or become subject to controlling or coercive behaviour, either on an incidental or systematic basis, resulting in physical, psychological and/or sexual harm. Little is known however about the harm experienced by carers at the hands of the person to whom they provide care. Challenges are often faced by social workers and other professionals when care and violence intersect, and a service user is the alleged perpetrator of abuse against their family carer. This study explores the concept of carer harm from the perspective of family carers of People Living with Dementia (PLwD) and dementia professionals. Methods The project deploys an engaged research approach that produced knowledge in collaboration with family carers and professionals. Work Package 1 involved narrative interviews with four family carers of PLwD who self-identified as experiencing carer harm. Work Package 2 involved two focus groups. One with Family Carers Ireland staff and one with dementia professionals. Work Package 3 comprised one World Café Co-Design Workshop with family carers, professionals, and service providers where education and training materials were developed. Results Findings indicate high levels of unmet need and psychological distress with family carers of PLwD regularly experiencing verbal and physical aggression. Stigma and shame were identified as barriers for family carers in disclosing their experiences of carer harm. Professionals reflected on their immense feelings of helplessness and frustration about their inability to respond, highlighting the link between carer harm and the absence of appropriate condition-responsive services. Conclusion Information booklets for family carers of PLwD were developed to raise awareness of carer harm and to empower family carers to protect themselves and seek help. A practice guide was also developed for professionals and support organisations in order to improve our understanding of and responses to, those experiencing carer harm.

A perspective on potential psychological risks and solutions of using virtual reality in palliative care

Initial evidence suggests that virtual reality (VR) can effectively reduce palliative symptoms. While such findings shed a positive light on the ability of VR exposure to improve patients’ physical and emotional symptoms, VR could have downsides with adverse effects. As most of the reported adverse effects are related to physical risks or technical challenges, there is a scarcity of reports on possible psychological risks posed by VR exposure in palliative care settings, an area with considerable concerns. This is an area that is likely to have a significant impact on the future of clinical practice and research on the use of VR in palliative care. Based on the clinical experience of a registered clinical psychologist who has delivered VR in a palliative care unit for 3 years, we put forward a perspective on the potential psychological complications of using VR in palliative care. Our clinical experiences show that exposure to a desirable virtual environment that is beneficial to patients might not always align with realistic expectations, and that should the use of VR be considered, special precautions are needed to minimize possible psychological harms. This perspective article further proposes three approaches aiming to minimize possible psychological hazards: incorporation of psychological assessment prior to VR administration, psychological interventions right after VR, and professional training of the VR facilitators. We hope that our personally witnessed concerns and perspectives can alert future VR facilitators to the potential psychological hazards of using VR for patients receiving palliative care and inspire future research to minimize psychological harms.

Psychosocial stress and methamphetamine use: A mixed-methods study of intersectional stigma and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander methamphetamine use

BackgroundRegular methamphetamine use can cause a range of physical, psychological and social harms. Stigma is one factor that impacts engagement and successful completion of treatment. In Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who regularly use methamphetamine experience multiple stigmas, which further compounds access to treatment and quality of life. This paper explores the cumulative and compounding effects of participating in a stigmatised activity such as illicit drug use in relation to the stigma experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as a population marginalised through colonisation. MethodsTen sites nationally participated in a cross-sectional survey measuring a range of factors including psychosocial stress in methamphetamine users. The survey sample size was 734, with 59% identifying as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (n = 433). In addition, a total of 147 mainly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who use methamphetamine, community and family members, and service providers took part in a total of 19 focus groups and 7 interviews. ResultsAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants experienced multiple psychosocial stressors at significantly higher rates than non-Indigenous participants. These stressors include diminished access to health care (33%), experiences of racism (34%), grief and sorrow (39%), worry for family (46%), and child welfare experiences (46%). The qualitative findings highlight the cumulative impact of historical, political and social stressors on an already stigmatised population. ConclusionsThe findings of this unique analysis demonstrate the disruptive impact of methamphetamine use on the lives of those who use methamphetamines and their family members. They also illustrate challenges, such as stigma, that may confront those seeking assistance for drug-related issues. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community involvement is necessary to provide support and education for the individual, the family, and the community as a whole. Stigma reduction is therefore a worthy target for intervention.