Psychological Problems Research Articles

Experience of psychological problems in crisis events: how does social support affect teenagers’ psychological security through emotion during the COVID-19 pandemic?

ABSTRACT The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has brought a series of psychological shocks to adolescents, it may cause psychological security problems. The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of social support on psychological security of adolescents and the role of emotional regulation and the experience of COVID-19 infection. 615 ( 14.64 ± 1.29) randomly selected Chinese adolescents were tested with the Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS), Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), and Psychological Security Questionnaire (PSQ). Structural equation modelling results show that: (1) Social support positively predicted psychological security; (2) Social support positively predicted cognitive reappraisal, and cognitive reappraisal positively predicted psychological security. At the same time, cognitive reappraisal played a mediating role in the relationship between social support and psychological security; (3) Social support negatively predicted expressive suppression, and expressive suppression negatively predicted psychological security. Meanwhile, expressive suppression played a mediating role in the relationship between social support and psychological security; (4) COVID-19 infection experience positively moderates the relationship between expression inhibition and psychological safety. This study provides theoretical experience reference for the solution of adolescent psychological problems in crisis situation.

A Review of the Child Anxiety Questionnaire Based on the Left-behind Children

Left-behind children are a special group in the process of urban development. They lack parental care, which affects the development of mental health. Anxiety is one of the most common psychological problems in children around the world. It has an important impact on children’s emotions and social interaction, lasting until adulthood. To study the anxiety of left-behind children, this study summarized the screening tools for children’s anxiety in this review and found that there is no anxiety questionnaire for left-behind children at present and most of the existing anxiety questionnaires for children are not completely based on the existing diagnostic criteria. As a result, these scales are not able to accurately measure all contents covered by the concept of children’s anxiety. The study summarized the left-behind anxiety questionnaire to provide some ideas for choosing a questionnaire for researchers studying left-behind children. In addition, the study believes that the development of anxiety scales for left-behind children as soon as possible and the use of multiple measurement methods should be the direction of future researchers.

Impact of the Mediterranean diet and the consumption of fermented beverages on subjective well-being in different contexts in Spain

The relationship between the Mediterranean diet, the consumption of fermented beverages (beer and wine), and subjective well-being in Spain was investigated. Using a cross-sectional study with 2,752 participants, dietary patterns and emotional well-being were evaluated in contexts such as work, the gym, and bars/restaurants. The results showed that context significantly impacts dietary habits and well-being. Participants at the gym adhered more to the Mediterranean diet and reported fewer negative emotions compared to other contexts. Correlation maps indicated that beer consumption was associated with a higher intake of red meat, while wine was related to a higher consumption of fish and seafood. Additionally, the study found that participants following the Mediterranean diet experienced higher levels of emotional well-being, with less frequent negative emotions such as anxiety and anger, and higher levels of life satisfaction, especially in contexts like the gym. These findings suggest that public health interventions should consider contextual factors to promote healthy eating habits and improve emotional well-being, highlighting the importance of the Mediterranean diet in health and the prevention of psychological problems.

The impact of spousal violence on children: Empirical study

Family violence is a traumatic social phenomenon where family members, including women, children and the elderly, are subjected to multiple forms of violence within their intimate environment, which include physical, psychological and sexual assaults, as well as neglect and psychological abuse, which can result in serious psychological and physical effects. This study aimed to understand the impact of spousal violence on children, where the descriptive approach was used by conducting a sociological survey on a sample of 90 individuals. The results of the study showed that violence between parents consists of yelling at Children and may reach physical abuse, which results in children feeling afraid and the appearance of psychological problems. The results also showed that there were no significant differences in the negative effects of parental violence on children, which is due to the sex factor and the level of morale in the study sample (coefficient equal to 0.361).

Mediating role of affective experiences in the link between intolerance of uncertainty and psychological adjustment problems and loneliness in emerging adults

ABSTRACT This study examined whether positive and negative experiences mediate the association of intolerance of uncertainty with psychological adjustment problems as well as loneliness. A total of 366 undergraduate students (50.3% females; mean age = 21.24 ± 2.96 years) completed an online survey that included measures of intolerance of uncertainty, positive experiences, negative experiences, psychological adjustment problems, and loneliness. The findings indicated that the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and psychological adjustment problems was mediated by positive and negative experiences. Similarly, the association between intolerance of uncertainty and loneliness was also mediated by positive and negative experiences. These findings suggest that emotional experiences are important in mitigating the negative effects of intolerance of uncertainty on mental health outcomes. Theoretical contributions and practical implications of the results are also discussed.

Preparedness of Filipino Neurologists on the Provision of Medical Care Toward Patients of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Plus Community

ABSTRACT The study aimed to describe the preparedness of active members of the Philippine Neurological Association (PNA) in providing medical care to LGBTQ+ patients. We electronically sent out a 21-item self-administered online survey adapted from the 2019 American Academy of Neurology LGBTQ+ Survey Task Force to 511 active members of PNA that included questions about demographic information, knowledge, attitude, and clinical practices. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze variables. Text responses were transcribed and summarized. Seventy-nine (15.5%) of 511 PNA members participated. Most participants were aware of local (53%) and national (56%) barriers that preclude patients in the LGBTQ+ sector from accessing quality health care. The majority (90%) of participants agreed that LGBTQ+ patients experience disproportionate levels of physical and psychological problems. Forty-two percent (42%) of respondents believed that sexual and gender issues have no bearing on neurological management, although a majority (53%) reported individualizing their management considering these issues. The majority were cognizant of the challenges that LGBTQ+ patients face in the health care system. However, awareness has not translated into modifications in neurological management. The openness of the participants to educational opportunities concerning health care related to LGBTQ+ can be leveraged to address this gap.

Psychometric Properties of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) for Ages 6-18 to Identify Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in a Turkish Parent Sample.

The Child Behavior Checklist for ages 6-18 (CBCL/6-18) is broadly used for psycho-educational assessment in identifying children's behavior problems in special education and psychology. However, the usefulness of the CBCL/6-18 in a Turkish sample still needs to be investigated. The current study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties of the measures of the CBCL/6-18 within a sample of Turkish parents. The psychometric evaluation includes item calibration using the Partial Credit Model (PCM). We analyzed data from 548 parents who have children with autism spectrum disorder. According to the PCM calibration, the results suggested that the Internalizing, Externalizing, and Total Problem subscales were unidimensional and showed local independence successfully. All subscales demonstrated adequate reliability, indicating that the scale distinguishes between children with different behavior problems. The subscales had varying item step ordering, meaning that transitions from one category to second by parent ratings are relatively straightforward. Some items with easy-to-define behavior problems, for example, Item 42 (constipated), were more likely to be endorsed by parents. Consequently, the CBCL/6-18 has adequate psychometric properties for accurately assessing problem behaviors in children based on parent ratings.

Actual problems of law enforcement psychology: concepts, approaches, technologies (Vasiliev Readings – 2024) (analytical review of the international scientific-practical conference)

Actual problems of law enforcement psychology: concepts, approaches, technologies (Vasiliev Readings – 2024) (analytical review of the international scientific-practical conference)

Comparative study on emotional behavior and parental job stress of only-child and non-only-child preschool children.

Studies have revealed that Children's psychological, behavioral, and emotional problems are easily influenced by the family environment. In recent years, the family structure in China has undergone significant changes, with more families having two or three children. To explore the relationship between emotional behavior and parental job stress in only preschool and non-only preschool children. Children aged 3-6 in kindergartens in four main urban areas of Shijiazhuang were selected by stratified sampling for a questionnaire and divided into only and non-only child groups. Their emotional behaviors and parental pressure were compared. Only and non-only children were paired in a 1:1 ratio by class and age (difference less than or equal to 6 months), and the matched data were compared. The relationship between children's emotional behavior and parents' job stress before and after matching was analyzed. Before matching, the mother's occupation, children's personality characteristics, and children's rearing patterns differed between the groups (P < 0.05). After matching 550 pairs, differences in the children's parenting styles remained. There were significant differences in children's gender and parents' attitudes toward children between the two groups. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) scores of children in the only child group and the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form (PSI-SF) scores of parents were significantly lower than those in the non-only child group (P < 0.05). Pearson's correlation analysis showed that after matching, there was a positive correlation between children's parenting style and parents' attitudes toward their children (r = 0.096, P < 0.01), and the PSI-SF score was positively correlated with children's gender, parents' attitudes toward their children, and SDQ scores (r = 0.077, 0.193, 0.172, 0.222). Preschool children's emotional behavior and parental pressure were significantly higher in multi-child families. Parental pressure in differently structured families was associated with many factors, and preschool children's emotional behavior was positively correlated with parental pressure.

Mental Health in Families Caring for People with Mental Disorders

Caring for family members who suffer from mental disorders at home is not easy and causes various problems for other family members. Problems often experienced by families include physical, psychological, social, financial and family function problems that can disrupt mental health. This research aims to determine the description of mental health in families who care for people with mental disorders. The method in this research was descriptive. The population in this study were families who had family members with mental disorders in the Jatibarang Community Health Center Work Area. The research sampling technique used purposive sampling on 73 respondents. The instrument used the Self Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ) with 20 question items. Data analysis used univariate analysis. The research was found that 62% of respondents did not experience emotional mental disorders and 38% experienced emotional mental disorders. The conclusion of this research was that 38% of families experience mental health problems (emotional mental disorders). Suggestions for health workers are expected to provide appropriate interventions to families in an effort to prevent mental health problems and provide support to families to ease the burden of family care in caring for people with mental disorders.

Factors Related to Quality of Life among People Living with HIV in Indonesia: A Cross-Sectional Study

People living with HIV (PLWH) have a complex problem with their disease including stigma and psychological problems. This research focused on measuring level of self-esteem, perceived human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) stigma, social support, and quality of live (QOL) among PLWH in Surabaya, Indonesia. Comparing part of social support which were by family and by friends would be explained. Our study used a cross-sectional correlation design. Variable self-esteem was measured using State Self-Esteem Scale by Heatherton and perceived HIV stigma by The Berger Scale, the social support was the multidimensional scale of social support by Zimet and WHOQOL-HIV instrument was by WHO. Univariate analyses and multiple regression analyses examine between predictors. The existence of moderate level of perceived HIV stigma was observed (mean: 95.67). There were significantly positive relationships between self-esteem and QOL (p &lt; .01; r = .642); social support and QOL (p &lt; .01; r = .592). In contrast, perceived HIV stigma showed a negative correlation with QOL (p &lt; .05; r = -.222). In self-esteem (p &lt; .01), social support by family (p &lt; .01), and that by friends (p &lt; .01) were shown to be significant predictors of higher QOL level. Self-esteem and support by family and friends were considered possible promoting factor of QOL of PLWH.

Assessment of lifestyle and health-related behaviors and correlates during the COVID-19 pandemic among Lebanese adults

IntroductionThe novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has quickly become a worldwide threat to human health and has significantly impacted people’s lives and changed their lifestyles and health behaviors. This study aims to assess lifestyle and health-related behaviors (LHBs) and associated factors among the general population in Lebanon during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsAn online cross-sectional study was conducted among 403 Lebanese adults. The study questionnaire was developed on Google Forms in English and Arabic. It included self-reported questions about sociodemographic characteristics, COVID-19, and perceived behavioral changes (smoking, alcohol consumption, sexual and hygiene behaviors, and intake of nutritional supplements and immunity-boosting foods). It also comprised three scales, i.e., the Lifestyle and Health Behaviors questionnaire (LHB-17), the WHO-5 Well-being Index, and the Fear of COVID-19 scale (FCV-19S).ResultsThe mean age of participants was 29.74 ± 10.81 years, with 51.2% females. Most participants reported that COVID-19 negatively affected their LHBs, mainly diet, sleep, and psychological well-being, while physical activity aspects remained unaffected. Female gender (Unstandardized Beta (ß) = − 2.336), living in Lebanon (ß = − 7.502), nargileh smoking (ß = − 3.433), high BMI (ß = − 0.263), and increased daily usage of electronic devices during the COVID-19 lockdown (ß = − 0.853) were significantly associated with lower LHB-17 scores, indicating worsened LHB. However, living in urban areas (ß = 2.464), employment status (ß = 1.920), good overall health (ß = 3.543), a higher quality of life (ß = 0.204), and unaffected physical (ß = 2.101) and mental (ß = 1.586) health during the COVID-19 lockdown were all significantly associated with higher LHB-17 scores, reflecting positive LHB.ConclusionLebanese adults reported several unfavorable lifestyle changes and psychological problems during the lockdown due to COVID-19, particularly affecting women, non-workers, waterpipe smokers, electronic device heavy users, people of lower socioeconomic status, and those with chronic diseases. Health promotion strategies are needed to assess negative changes both in physical and mental health and maintain as many positive health-related behaviors as possible among the Lebanese population.

Qualitative Study on Youth Out-Migration and its Impact on Elderly Parents

Migration has become a prominent phenomenon where young people migrate to foreign lands or within the country in search of various opportunities like better employment or education. Very little is known about the migration and its impact on the elderly parents who are left behind. The article examines the impact of migration on the life of the elderly people and the change in the role of elderly parents caused by youth out-migration in Dhungkharka of Bethanchok rural municipality, Kavrepalanchowk district. The data was collected by interviewing with the elderly participants. All the interviews were transcribed Verbatim in Nepali and translated into English for thematic analysis. It is very important to analyze and address the issues related to elderly people with regular studies and appropriate policies before the problem becomes persistent. The findings of the study revealed that migration has increased the daily workload of the elderly parents and the land remained either barren or less productive due to shortage of labor. Moreover, they faced different kinds of problems like physical, psychological or emotional problems.

Adolescents’ School-Based Universal Well-Being Screening: A Validation of the Student Subjective Wellbeing Questionnaire in Portugal

AbstractSchool-based universal well-being screening is proposed within the Multi-tiered Systems of Support approach to collect data on school and individual well-being. Universal screening allows for data-based informed decision, allocating each pupil or set of pupils in universal, selective and/or indicated structured interventions and supports. However, schools require adequate and validated measures of both positive well-being and indicators of psychological health problems. This study focused on the adaptation and validation of the Student Subjective Wellbeing Questionnaire (SSWQ) in Portugal, a tool directed to positive well-being screening. After a translation process, data was collected in 10 schools. A sample of 942 school pupils in the 3rd cycle was randomly split into two subsamples. First was conducted on one subsample, and then, CFA was conducted in the other. Gender and school year invariance were also conducted with the CFA subsample. Internal consistency was likewise analysed. The analysis finished with convergent and discriminant validity. Overall, results supported a second-order factor model (subjective well-being), including four first-order factors, with the elimination of one item and changing one item to another subscale. Results showed good reliability of each factor (all above 0.70). Full measurement invariance was reached for gender (male and female) and school year (7th, 8th and 9th grades). Convergent validity was found with measures of satisfaction with school, group identification with peers and school social support, and divergent validity was found with BPM-Y. Altogether, results support that SSWQ-PG can be used to screen for subjective well-being in schools, helping schools in identifying and addressing pupils’ mental health needs more effectively.

Martin Seligman's Theory in the Perspective of Positive Psychology

Happiness is people's eternal pursuit of the goal, but in the pursuit of the road, some people will lose themselves because of the arrival of setbacks and difficulties, forget their original heart, or because of the pressure of modern social life leads to a variety of psychological problems. People should keep their positive and optimistic attitude to achieve their goals in today's society. Through the collection and analysis of literature review, this paper mainly introduces several theories related to happiness from the perspective of positive psychology by Martin Seligman, the father of positive psychology, with the purpose of allowing people to understand how negative thinking patterns are produced and some measures can be taken to improve their positive thinking. At the same time, this paper also points out the limitations of these theories and some critical thinking and makes an in-depth exploration of the emergence and formation of these theories.

Effects of Extreme Environments on Human Sleep

Recently, with the rapid growth of the global population and the exhaustion of resources, exploration activities in extreme environments such as the polar regions, the outer space, the deep sea, the deep underground and highlands are becoming increasingly more frequent. This in-depth exploration of the external environment and the consequent dramatic changes in lifestyles impact on sleep, a basic life activity of humans, in ways that cannot be overlooked. the basic life activity of human beings. Sleep, a basic life activity and the result of the evolution of organisms to adapt to their environment, is closely associated with sleep homeostasis and endogenous rhythms. However, external environmental changes and lifestyle shifts in extreme environments have had a significant impact on the patterns and the quality of sleep in humans. Furthermore, this impact can lead to many physiological and psychological problems, posing a great threat to human health. In this review, we delved into the specific effects of different extreme natural environments and enclosed environments on sleep, elaborating on how these environments alter the patterns and the quality of sleep in humans. In addition, we summarized the changes in human sleep under extreme environments to help gain a better understanding of the mechanisms by which these specific environments impact human sleep. It is expected that this review will provide a solid theoretical foundation for optimizing long-term survival strategies in extreme environments and help humans adapt to and overcome the challenges posed by extreme environments more effectively.

Thought contagion? Conspiracy beliefs boost paranoid thoughts.

Conspiracy theories accusing specific groups of secret malevolent actions can foster a perception of the world as a dangerous place. In our research, we contend that both adherence and exposure to conspiracy beliefs can serve as a potential cause of certain psychological problems in the form of paranoid thoughts. This hypothesis was tested in three studies conducted among Polish and British participants. In Study 1 (longitudinal, N = 603), we found that conspiracy beliefs exerted a positive overtime effect on paranoid thoughts. Experimental studies 2 (N = 384) and 3 (N = 445), showed that being exposed to conspiracy theories (vs. control stimuli) heightened paranoid thoughts. In Study 3, we proposed a potential mechanism explaining this effect, according to which exposure to conspiracies increased paranoid thoughts via only negative intense emotions. Our work adds to the discussion on the consequences of conspiracy beliefs and has implications for mental health research, underlining the importance of designing interventions limiting the adverse effects of conspiracy beliefs.

Predictors of Symptom Reduction and Remission Among People with Anxiety: Secondary Analyses from a Randomized Controlled Trial

Despite the substantial disease burden of anxiety disorders, only limited or conflicting data on prognostic factors is available. Most studies include patients in the secondary healthcare sector thus, the generalizability of findings is limited. The present study examines predictors of symptom reduction and remission in patients with anxiety disorders in a primary care setting. 214 patients with anxiety disorders, recruited as part of the Collabri Flex trial, were included in secondary analyses. Data on potential predictors of anxiety symptoms at 6-month follow-up was collected at baseline, including patient characteristics related to demography, illness, comorbidity, functional level, life quality, and self-efficacy. The outcomes were symptom reduction and remission. Univariate and multivariate linear and logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess the associations between predictor variables and the outcome, and machine-learning methods were also applied. In multiple linear regression analysis, anxiety severity at baseline (β = -6.05, 95% CI = -7.54,-4.56, p < 0.001) and general psychological problems and symptoms of psychopathology (SCL-90-R score) (β = 2.19, 95% CI = 0.24,4.14, p = 0.028) were significantly associated with symptom change at 6 months. Moreover, self-efficacy was associated with the outcome, however no longer significant in the multiple regression model. In multiple logistic regression analysis, anxiety severity at baseline (OR = 0.54, 95% CI = -1.13,-0.12, p = 0.018) was significantly associated with remission at 6 months. There was no predictive performance of the machine-learning models. Our study contributes with information that could be valuable knowledge for managing anxiety disorders in primary care.

Eating disorders, body image dissatisfaction and their association with gluten-free diet adherence among patients with celiac disease

BackgroundConsidering the higher prevalence of psychological problems in patients with Celiac disease (CD), the current study aims to assess the prevalence of eating disorders (EDs) and body image disturbance in patients with CD and examine the possible correlation between EDs, body image dissatisfaction and distortion, and gluten-free diet (GFD) adherence in these patients.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, 217 patients with CD (18–55 years old) were recruited randomly from the CD registry database. EDs and body image issues were assessed using the 26-item Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26) and Stunkard Figure Rating Scale (FRS), respectively. Adherence to GFD was evaluated by the Celiac Dietary Adherence Test (CDAT) questionnaire.ResultsThe prevalence of EDs was 43.5%. Furthermore, the prevalence of body dissatisfaction and distortion was 65.9% and 41.1%, respectively. The logistic regression demonstrated a significant negative association between adherence to the GFD and EDs (OR = 2.09, 95% CI: 1.11–3.91, P = 0.022). However, there was no significant association between following GFD and body image dissatisfaction (OR = 1.70, CI: 0.92–3.17, P = 0.090), and distortion (OR = 0.65, CI: 0.36–1.18, P = 0.163).ConclusionConsidering the high prevalence of EDs in patients with CD and owing to the inverse association between EDs and GFD adherence, nutritionists should consider the psychological barriers in adhering to a GFD when consulting patients with CD.

The Mediating Role of Cardiorespiratory Fitness in the Association between a Negative Lifestyle and Poor Mental Health in Chilean Schoolchildren.

A negative lifestyle has a reported relationship with psychological problems and deteriorated well-being. However, there is little information regarding the mediating role of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in this relationship. The objectives of the present study are twofold: first, to investigate the association between negative lifestyle, physical self-concept (PSC), and depression, and second, to assess the potential mediating role of CRF in this complex relationship. This cross-sectional study included 612 schoolchildren aged between 9 and 14 years from the Araucanía region (southern Chile). CRF was measured using the Leger test, and lifestyle, depression, and PSC were measured using validated questionnaires. A negative lifestyle reported an inverse association with PSC (p < 0.001) and a positive association with depression levels (p < 0.001). The mediation analysis showed that CRF was positively related to PSC (p < 0.001) and inversely related to depression (p = 0.001); besides, the indirect effect CRF acted as a partial mediator in the association between a negative lifestyle and PSC (indirect effect = -1.15; SE = 0.01; 95% CI, -1.87, -0.55) and depression levels (indirect effect = 0.22; SE = 0.08; 95% CI, 0.08, 0.38). In conclusion, CRF in schoolchildren played a potential mediating role in the association between a negative lifestyle and depression and PSC.