Psychological Reactions Research Articles

Parents’ experiences and need for social support after pregnancy termination for fetal anomaly: a qualitative study in China

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to explore the experiences and need for social support of Chinese parents after termination of pregnancy for fetal anomalies.DesignA qualitative study using semistructured, in-depth...

A Critical Review on Gender Based Violence in Nigeria: Media Dimension

During the Covid-19 pandemic, women and girls around the world have been subjected to sexual and physical violence, which has never happened before. Women are killed in the name of honor in Asia and the Middle East, while girls in West Africa are subjected to genital mutilation in the name of tradition. Because the perpetrators believe that sex with virgins will cure them of their disease, young girls in Southern Africa are raped and infected with HIV/AIDS. According to the findings, the majority of Nigerian women have been victims of gender-based violence, such as incest, rape, physical abuse, verbal abuse, denial of food, forced marriage, and early child marriage. The findings of the study also revealed that age, employment, educational attainment, witnessing a mother being beaten as a child, family type, duration of union, participation in household decision-making, employment status relative to woman, differences in educational qualification between a male partner and woman, attitudes toward wife-beating among men and women, and male right to discipline or control females are all factors that contribute to gender-based violence. Sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions, physical injuries, immediate psychological reactions such as shock, shame, guilt, and anger; and long-term psychological outcomes such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal ideation, lack of sexual pleasure, and fears are all health consequences of gender-based violence. The study concludes that gender-based violence has a negative impact not only on women and their reproductive health but also on Nigeria's economy and progress.

Academic Stress in the Psychological Well-being of Higher Education Students

Academic Stress in the Psychological Well-being of Higher Education Students

Psychological Reactions during and after a Lockdown: Self-Efficacy as a Protective Factor of Mental Health.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of home confinement/social isolation (i.e., lockdown), imposed to reduce large-scale spread of a disease in the population, on the mental health of individuals. Through an online survey during the lockdown (DL) related to COVID-19 (1085 respondents, 627 females, agerange: 18-82) (Italy, 23 April-2 May 2020), we revealed that situational factors, i.e., the presence of children at home and female gender, and psychological factors, i.e., a greater sense of isolation, lower perception of safety outside the home and higher trait anxiety, predicted higher levels of state anxiety (R2 = 0.58). The same factors, but with young age instead of the presence of children, predicted higher levels of perceived stress (R2 = 0.63). Then, these data were compared with those collected after the lockdown (AL) (174 respondents, 128 females, agerange: 19-78) (Italy, 1 July-31 October 2021). The results showed that along with a reduced sense of isolation (DL = 2.90 vs. AL = 2.10) and an increased perception of safety outside the home (DL = 2.63 vs. AL = 3.05), a reduction in state anxiety (DL = 45.76 vs. AL= 40.88) and stress appeared (DL = 18.84 vs. AL = 17.63). However, the situation was better for men than for women. Perceived self-efficacy emerged as a protective factor for mental health (R2range: 0.03-0.27). The results are discussed in light of the evidence on the effects of lockdown on individuals worldwide. These results may be used to make more educated decisions on targeted help for individuals who may be most adversely affected by the adoption of lockdowns in the future.

THE EFFECT OF LAVENDER AROMATHERAPY TO ANXIETY LEVELS PATIENT PREOPERATIVE ORIF ANTEBRACHII FRACTURE

Surgery is a potential or actual threat to a person's integrity and can subsequently cause a psychological reaction, namely anxiety. One alternative in overcoming anxiety is with lavender aromatherapy. Lavender aromatherapy has advantages compared to other types of aromatherapy, namely it is economical, easy to obtain, safe to use, does not take long and is practical because it does not require complicated equipment). Lavender has a chemical content, namely Linalyl acetate and linalool. These molecules have sedative and antidepressant effects that can affect a person's feelings and emotions. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of lavender aromatherapy on the anxiety level of preoperative ORIF antebrachii Fracture patients. The study used a pre-experimental design with a One-group pre-post test design which was carried out on March 9 - April 9 2023. The population in this study were all preoperative ORIF Antebrachial Fracture patients for 1 month as many as 14 people in the bougenvile room at Kertosono Hospital. A sample of 14 respondents with total sampling sampling technique. Measurement of anxiety levels before and after being given lavender aromatherapy with Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HARS). Provision of lavender aromatherapy for 15 minutes. Data analysis used the Wilcoxon sign rank statistical test. The results of the Wilcoxon sign rank statistical test showed P value = 0.001 <α = 0.05 so that there was an effect of lavender aromatherapy on the anxiety level of preoperative ORIF Antebrachii Fracture patients. Lavender aromatherapy can be applied as an alternative solution in overcoming the anxiety of preoperative ORIF Antebrachii Fracture patients.

Motywy wyboru zawodu a zadowolenie z pracy nauczycieli

Introduction: Job satisfaction is a function of meeting the employee’s needs and depends on his individual professional expectations and motives for choosing a profession and the extent to which they have been fulfilled in a specific work situation. Thus, individual needs motivating the choice of the teaching profession are an important factor determining the extent to which the current work is beneficial for them. Thus, it is a typical psychological reaction to a professional situation, expressed through affective reactions and cognitive assessments. Job satisfaction plays an important role in the professional development of teachers, their effective performance and gives them a sense of quality of life. Research Aim: The aim of the research was to determine the relationship between the motives for choosing a profession and teachers’ job satisfaction. Method: The study used the method of diagnostic survey, survey technique and questionnaire. Elements of descriptive and correlation statistics (rho-Spearman linear correlation coefficient) were used for the analysis of the research material. Results: The issue of the dependence of job satisfaction on the motives for choosing a profession is the subject of these empirical analyses. The obtained research results confirm the fully adopted assumption of a significant relationship between these variables. Conclusions: When choosing the profession of a teacher, people are guided mainly by internal motivation, i.e. personal interests, willingness to work with children and youth, a specific pedagogical vocation. For a significant number of teachers, an important motive is also the teacher’s convenient working time and job security guaranteed by law. The structure of internal motives shaped in this way fundamentally determines teachers’ satisfaction with their profession.

Influence of Food Type on Human Psychological-Behavioral Responses and Crime Reduction.

The purpose of this narrative review is to emphasize the importance of food consumption and meal selection on mental health and brain function, including psychological and behavioral reactions such as mood, loving relationships, violence, and criminal activity. Additionally, by being aware of the link between food and mental health, the community can be encouraged to make informed food choices in order to avoid unfavorable outcomes like criminality. Food behaviors are shifting significantly over the world. There are also significant changes in mood, sadness, happiness, and violence, as well as the spread of the variety and severity of mental diseases that lead to violent acts. Food intake and meal selection have evolved over the last ten years as the variety and accessibility of food options have become easier and more diverse. These modifications might have both beneficial and bad consequences. This article examines the relationship between food intake and its impact on marital satisfaction. The goal of this review is to support or refute the claim that food influences mood, love, or criminal behavior, or vice versa. Various diets can have an impact on one's mental health and brain, influencing psychological reactions and behavioral responses such as mood, loving relationships, violence, and even criminal activity. Food insecurity has been demonstrated in various studies to have a negative impact on health and psychological well-being, leading to despair, loss of happiness, marital conflict, and violence. For example, herbal extracts and flavonoids have the potential to improve gut microbiota and treat mood disorders. Understanding how the gut-brain axis communicates might help guide interventions for mood and cognitive function. Since the root of most diseases and behaviors is significantly related to the type of food consumed, this research addresses this issue in order to reduce the cost of treatment and prevention of crime and delinquency at the community level by consciously choosing the food consumed by the society. In other words, prevention is always better than cure.

Effects of Fasting on the Physiological and Psychological Responses in Middle-Aged Men.

Tracking changes in the body during fasting takes into account indicators of mental well-being and physiological parameters. The aim of the study was to measure psychological and physiological reactions, along with their mutual relations, caused by 8 days of water-only fasting. Fourteen men aged 35 to 60 participated in the study, divided into two groups, younger and elder. In addition to physiological parameters, psychological data were collected using four different tests. The obtained results confirmed reduction in body weight, systolic blood pressure, resting diastolic blood pressure and glucose level, and increase in resting heart rate, cortisol and β-hydroxybutyrate concentration. However, no significant psychological changes were observed under the influence of fasting intervention. A significant interaction effect occurred for the state anxiety variable determined before and after the fasting intervention for both groups. Moreover, negative correlations between physiological (cortisol) and psychological factors of subjectively assessed stress were revealed. The only effect on cognitive ability was seen when responding to simple tasks. The study confirmed the beneficial effect of 8 days of water-only fasting on physiological variables without affecting mental well-being. The relatively high level of well-being after fasting intervention was independent of the physiological indicators of stress.

Be Careful When Using Peer-Influence on Nudging Solicitation: Evidence of Potential Negative Effect from a Sample of Chinese University Students.

Peer information is now commonly used in solicitation. However, scholars have long focused on testing its effectiveness on increasing the donation amount without paying attention to its potential negative effects on donors. Thus, the current study employs high vs low peer donation amount (HPDA vs LPDA) information to explore its effect on "how-much-to-donate" decisions and the corresponding neural and psychological reactions at the same time. Student samples from a Chinese university and behavioral experiments with the event-related potential (ERP) method were used in this study. The behavioral results are consistent with previous research in which HPDA was positively associated with higher donation levels. ERP results show the mechanisms behind decision-making can be summarized into a cognitive approach represented by cost-benefit analysis and an affective approach represented by reward perception. More surprisingly, in contrast to the behavioral results, LPDA elicits higher level of reward perception than HPDA. The results indicate that although HPDA leads to higher levels of donation, donors do not show higher levels of reward anticipation at the neurological level, indicating the increment of donation may come at the cost of donors. Theoretical and practical implications are also discussed.

Cancer treatment-related financial toxicity in Japan: a scoping review.

Financial toxicity during cancer survival has been studied mainly in the United States; 47-49% of cancer survivors reported financial hardships and 12-63% reported debt owing to treatment costs. Financial toxicity is influenced by each country's economic status and healthcare system. We aimed to review the evidence on financial toxicity in Japan. A systematic search was performed using PubMed and Ichushi databases. We included English or Japanese peer-reviewed articles that (1) explored the experiences of cancer patients facing financial toxicity due to cancer diagnosis and treatment, (2) were specific to Japan, and (3) focused on the experiences of financial toxicities among cancer patients. Data were extracted focusing on the experiences of patients, families, and healthcare providers. The main themes were synthesized based on a previous study. The search yielded 632 citations from PubMed and 21 from Ichushi, and non-duplicates were identified. Of these, 31 articles were selected for full-text review. Literature was divided into studies describing the following elements: (a) risk factors for financial toxicity, (b) description of financial toxicity, (c) psychological reactions, (d) coping strategies for financial toxicity, and (e) impact on treatment outcomes. Only three studies reported comprehensive financial toxicity scores. Furthermore, treatment costs influenced physicians' treatment decisions, and patients and their families adopted various strategies to cope with treatment costs. Two studies showed that low current income and younger age were high-risk factors. As for utilization of the support system, approximately 70% of the patients used the high-cost medical expense system, 20% used the sickness benefit system, and 40% used the medical expense deduction system. Many cancer patients in Japan suffer from financial toxicity during cancer survival. One reason for this is that the awareness of the system supporting financial toxicity is insufficient and actual utilization is low. It is necessary to actively encourage patients to ask healthcare providers questions, improve the link between patients and the support system, reconstruct the support system design, and improve the method of publicizing the system.

Theorizing Collective Trauma and Identity-Threat in Select Stories from Deshbhager Galpa: Tripura

Memory is a complex phenomenon that reaches out to far beyond what normally constitutes a historian's archives, for memory is much more than what the mind can remember or what objects can help us document about the past. There are then two aspects to this memory that concern us here: the sentiment of nostalgia and the sense of trauma, and their contradictory relationship to the question of the past. A traumatised memory has a narrative structure which works on a principle opposite to that of any historical narrative. At the same time, however, this memory, in order to be the memory of a trauma, has to place the Event - the cause of the trauma, in this case, Partition of 1947 in the context of Tripura-within a past that gives force to the claim of the victim. This has to be a shared past between the narrator of the traumatic experience and the addressee of the narration. Yet it cannot be a historicist version of the past, one that aims to diffuse the shock of the traumatic by explaining away the element of the unexpected. Hence the introductory segment of the paper might highlight the facts related to Tripura Bengalis, their arrival, and their stories of settlement. However, the purpose is to examine the psychological reactions to a traumatic event that affects an entire society; it does not merely reflect an historical fact, the recollection of a terrible event that happened to a group of people. The aim is to analyse the features of traumatic memories and, thus, how individuals construct and integrate their experiences and struggles through narratives. The chosen text is select stories from Deshbhagger Galpa:Tripura, a collection of short stories focusing on Nostalgia, Identity-crisis and Collective Trauma.

Caring for a home-dwelling older parent with mental health problems: a narrative analysis of family caregivers’ experiences

ABSTRACT Purpose To gain knowledge regarding family caregivers of home-dwelling older adults with mental health problems and the meaning-making of the caregiver’s role. Design An explorative qualitative study involving narrative analysis. Methods Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted among eight adult children. Interview data were analysed using narrative analysis. The reporting adhered to consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative studies. Results Each participant narrated unique and nuanced stories of the caregiver role, but their stories also revealed prominent themes across participants’ experiences and meaning-making. The analysis revealed three themes: family relationships through a long life, a demanding and difficult caregiver role, and reconstructing the caregiver’s role by leaving the responsibility to healthcare services. Conclusion Family caregivers experienced the role as purposeful and demanding. Mostly, psychological reactions to behaviour symptoms and duration of caregiving were considered difficult and demanding. They described that they lacked knowledge of the illness and how to perform care. Sharing care responsibility with healthcare services had the potential to ease family caregivers’ burden. However, based on a long life as caregivers, some experienced difficulties when reconstructing and adjusting the role to their life situation.

The experiences of children, adolescents and their parents in isolation in a Danish paediatric unit: A qualitative study

BackgroundPrevious studies on adult patients in hospital isolation show that it can be highly stressful, with some patients affected by depression and anxiety. This study aimed to explore how children, adolescents, and their parents perceive isolation and how it affects them physically, psychologically, and socially. MethodsA qualitative approach was used comprising semi-structured interviews, participant observations, and field notes. FindingsTwo adolescents and 13 parents were selected to participate in the interviews, while three children and their parents participated in participant observation. Besides the participant observation one of the adolescents and one parent also participated in interviews. The children and adolescents were isolated at the hospital due to bacterial or viral infections or were carriers of an antibiotic resistant bacteria. After performing a thematic analysis to identify patterns in the data, four themes emerged: 1. Differing information provided about bacteria, virus, hygiene precautions, and isolation, 2. Dependence on healthcare professionals, 3. Impact of the environment, and 4. Coping and psychological reactions on isolation. DiscussionThe participants conveyed positive and negative experiences and emotions during isolation in relation to daily activities, psychological well-being, and social life. Adolescents and their parents requested clear comprehensible and consistent information on isolation from healthcare professionals. Application to practiceTo improve hospital isolation for children, adolescents, and their parents, well-written information on isolation and hygiene precautions is crucial, as are evolving strategies to minimise social exclusion and the emotional impact of isolation.

Intolerance of Uncertainty and Worry Prospectively Predict COVID-19 Anxiety and Distress: A 4-Year Longitudinal Study

The COVID-19 pandemic precipitated an uptick in poor mental health outcomes, including coronavirus-related anxiety and distress. Preliminary research has shown that intolerance of uncertainty (IU) and worry proneness, two transdiagnostic risk factors for anxiety and related disorders, are associated cross-sectionally with pandemic-related fear and distress. However, the extent to which IU and worry proneness prospectively predict coronavirus-related anxiety and distress is unclear. Whether IU and worry may also interact in prospectively predicting coronavirus-related anxiety and distress is also unknown. To address this knowledge gap, the present study examined IU and trait worry as prospective predictors of the level and trajectory of coronavirus anxiety and COVID stress syndrome over time, as well as the extent to which worry moderated the relation between IU and pandemic-related outcomes. Participants (n = 310) who completed self-report measures of IU and trait worry in 2016 were contacted following the onset of COVID-19 in 2020 and completed biweekly measures of coronavirus anxiety and COVID stress syndrome for 30 weeks. Multilevel models revealed that IU assessed in 2016 significantly predicted the severity of both coronavirus anxiety and COVID stress syndrome throughout the study period in 2020. Worry also moderated the link between IU and coronavirus anxiety, such that individuals with high levels of trait worry and high IU in 2016 experienced the most coronavirus anxiety in 2020. Results suggest that IU and worry functioned as independent and interactive vulnerability factors for subsequent adverse psychological reactions to COVID-19. Clinical implications and future directions are discussed.

The Relation Between the Public Attitude Towards COVID-19 and its Applied Policies – a Dataset for Binational and Temporal Comparison

The here presented data were collected to explore the relationship between people’s attitudes toward COVID-19 measures and policy strictness. We conducted online surveys in July 2020 and May 2021 with 131 respectively 130 participants from Switzerland and Germany. Participants responded on visual analogue scales to 33 respectively 25 questions. Further data on participants’ information sources, health status, and demographics were collected. The data contribute to understanding psychological and behavioural reactions to COVID-19 policies and may help to further examine the pandemic policy management. The dataset, coding, and variables can be found online on PsychArchives (https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.12899). The study was preregistered on OSF (https://osf.io/uw8mh/).

Developing a virtual reality environment for educational and therapeutic application to investigate psychological reactivity to bullying

Understanding how bullying victimisation influences cognitive and emotional processes may help to direct early intervention to prevent the development of psychopathology. In a convenience sample of 67 female adolescents, we assessed the potential of a newly developed classroom-set bullying experience in virtual reality (VR) to evoke psychological reactions. Two VR experiences were co-developed with young people, one neutral and one hostile (bullying). Participants were matched and assigned to a condition based on measures of anxiety, depression, paranoia, and previous bullying, before experiencing either the neutral or hostile scenario. Before and after the VR session, participants completed measures of negative affect and levels of distress. All participants remained immersed for the whole duration, which supports the acceptability of using these VR experiences with more vulnerable participants. Those experiencing the hostile version reported greater negative affect post-immersion compared to those experiencing the neutral version (p = .018; d = 0.61). Although non-significant, a similar outcome was found regarding distress (p = .071; d = 0.37). Whilst we did not find a significant relationship between pre-existing internalisation on negative affect and distress, our sample was limited by containing adolescents with relatively low levels of previous bullying experience. Yet we still found evidence that the VR scenario evoked bullying-related psychological reactions. Further testing with a more representative groups of adolescents, especially those with more experience of bullying, would be advised. The VR scenario could potentially be used in educational and therapeutic settings to enhance empathy towards victimised children or enhance resilience following victimisation.

Patient centered radiology: investigating 3 Tesla whole body MRI acceptance in cancer patients

IntroductionWhole body magnetic resonance imaging (WB-MRI) is a promising emerging imaging technology for detecting bone and soft tissue pathology, especially in the onco-hematological field. This study aims to evaluate cancer patients' experience of WB-MRI performed on a 3T scanner compared to other diagnostic total body examinations.Material and methodIn this prospective committee-approved study, patients completed a questionnaire in person (n = 134) after undergoing a WB-MRI scan to collect data on their physical and psychological reactions during the scan, the global satisfaction level, and preference for other types of MRI or computed tomography (CT), or positron emission tomography (PET/CT). Of all patients who had performed a CT or PET/CT the previous year, 61.9% had already undergone an MRI. The most common symptoms reported were: 38.1% perceived a localized increase in temperature and 34.4% numbness and tingling of the limbs. The scan time averaged 45 min and was well tolerated by most patients (112, 85.5%). Overall, WB-MRI was appreciated by the majority (121/134—90.3%) of patients who said they would probably undergo the procedure again. Patients preferred the WB-MRI in 68.7% of cases (92/134), followed by CT in 15.7% of cases (21/134) and by PET/CT in 7.4% (10/134), with 8.4% (11/134) of patients without any preference. The preference for imaging modalities was age-dependent (p = 0.011), while (p > 0.05) was independent of sex and a primary cancer site.ConclusionThese results demonstrate a high degree of WB-MRI acceptance from a patient's point of view.

Post-traumatic stress syndromes following childbirth influenced by birth mode—is an emergency cesarean section worst?

PurposeThe experience of birth is an emotional challenge for women. Traumatic birth experiences can cause psychological stress symptoms up to post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD), with impact on women’s wellbeing. Primarily unplanned interventions can trigger birth-mode-related traumatization. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether an emergency cesarean section (ECS) is the most traumatizing.MethodsA retrospective case–control study was undertaken. Therefore, data were collected by standardized questionnaires (Impact of Event Scale-Revised and City Birth Trauma Scale) that were sent to women with singleton pregnancies > 34 weeks of gestation who either give birth by ECS (case group, n = 139), unplanned cesarean section (UCS), operative vaginal birth (OVB), or natural birth (NB) (three control groups, n = 139 each). The investigation period was 5 years.ResultsOverall, 126 of 556 (22%) sent questionnaires were returned and could be analyzed (32 ECS, 38 UCS, 36 OVB, and 20 NB). In comparison to other birth modes, women with ECS were associated with a higher degree of traumatization as revealed by statistically significant differences regarding the DSM-5 criteria intrusion and stressor. In addition, women who underwent ECS declared more frequently a demand for professional debriefing compared to other birth modes.DiscussionECS is associated with more post-traumatic stress symptoms compared to other birth modes. Therefore, early interventions are recommended to reduce long-term psychological stress reactions. In addition, outpatient follow-ups by midwives or emotional support programs should be implemented as an integral component of postpartum debriefings.

Factors Affecting Anxiety Levels in Pre-Cataract Surgery Patients

ABSTRACT
 Introduction. Surgery is an experience that can cause anxiety. Anxiety arises as a result of an individual's psychological reactions, and excessive internal and external stimuli or stimuli have an impact on the inability to handle it. Perioperative anxiety in cataract surgery affects the majority of patients, fear of death dominates the patient's concern regardless of whether the patient underwent surgery.
 Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between characteristics (age, gender, education, and experience) with the level of anxiety of patients undergoing surgical procedures cataract at Bhakti Mulia Hospital Jakarta.
 Methods: the research method used was descriptive correlational analytic with a cross-sectional approach. The number of samples was 72 respondents with a non-probability sampling technique, namely quota sampling. The statistical test used was the Spearman Rank.
 Results:The results showed that there was a significant correlation of 0.006 with a closeness level of 0.320 between age and anxiety level. There is a significant relationship of 0.000 with a closeness level of -478 between the level of education and the level of anxiety. There is a significant relationship of 0.000 with a closeness level of 0.513 between experience and anxiety levels. Meanwhile, gender characteristics do not show a significant relationship with the level of anxiety with a p-value of 0.515, a closeness level of -0.078. 000 with a closeness level of -478 between the level of education and the level of anxiety. There is a significant relationship of 0.000 with a closeness level of 0.513 between experience and anxiety levels. Meanwhile, gender characteristics do not show a significant relationship with the level of anxiety with a p-value of 0.515, a closeness level of -0.078. 000 with a closeness level of -478 between the level of education and the level of anxiety. There is a significant relationship of 0.000 with a closeness level of 0.513 between experience and anxiety levels. Meanwhile, gender characteristics do not show a significant relationship with the level of anxiety with a p-value of 0.515, a closeness level of -0.078.
 Keywords: Pre surgery patient, cataract, anxiety level

FEELING OF NOSTALGIA PENNED DOWN BY RUSKIN BOND IN THE ROOM ON THE ROOF

The Room on the roof was Bond`s debut novel which he wrote when he was 17 years old. The novel is depicted from children`s perspective. The novel explores the psychological effect experienced by the children and the emotional turmoil that they go through in their teenage years. This novel has been critically acclaimed by focusing on the aspect of nostalgia and psychological reactions of the readers. The question that remains unanswered in reference to the novel is, why did Ruskin bond choose the theme of youthfulness to trigger the interest of nostalgia in the novel? This paper will attempt to answer this question and venture into this unexplored area.