Psychosocial Coping Research Articles

Psychosocial issues and coping strategies in families affected by long-chain fatty acid oxidation disorders.

Long-chain fatty acid oxidation disorders (lcFAODs) are associated with a high disease burden due to both the risk of metabolic decompensation as well as chronic, partly irreversible complications in some. Little research has been performed on the impact of these disorders on the daily life of parents and caregivers. We performed a web-based questionnaire study among parents/caregivers of patients affected with lcFAODs. The questionnaire focused on challenges at different ages of the child, on disease management issues, schooling, family and social life as well as the parental job situation, and their overall attitude toward the disease and the future life of their child. Data were collected from parents/caregivers of 63 patients (87 respondents, 63% mothers, 36% fathers) with lcFAODs (median age of patients 8.0 years, range 0-25 years, long-chain 3-hydrocyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency 40%, mitochondrial trifunctional protein deficiency 14%, very long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency 41%, carnitine palmitoyltransferase 2 deficiency 5%). The overall disease burden of parents was considered highest during infancy and decreased with increasing age of their child. More than one third of parents were afraid that their child's disease might have an impact on his/her career choice and adult life. Negative effects of the child's disease on the job situation and career development were more commonly reported by mothers compared to fathers. Although the majority of parents considered their child's metabolic disorder a severe disease, most parents had a positive attitude toward their child's disease and seemed to cope well with their situation.

Mental health during wildfires in Southcentral Alaska: An assessment of community-derived mental health categories, interventions, and implementation considerations

Previous studies have linked wildfires to a range of adverse mental health outcomes, but there has been limited research on the mental health impacts of wildfire in Alaska, an area undergoing rapid environmental change. We used a multi-level qualitative approach to identify mental health and psychosocial problems, coping, existing support, and gaps in support among communities who were affected by the Swan Lake and McKinley fires in Alaska in 2019. We recruited 39 community members from Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula to participate in free list interviews, a community ranking workshop, and in-depth interviews, and we recruited 12 professional key informants including wildland firefighters, mental health providers, community advocates, policy makers, and public health professionals to participate in in-depth interviews and a discussion-based workshop. There were several locally-defined categories of mental health issues identified in relation to wildfires in southcentral Alaska in 2019. Key informants who work in the region identified a package of communications-related interventions as being the most impactful and actionable support for wildfire-related mental health concerns. Additional highly rated mental health supports centered around leadership acknowledging the connection between wildfire and mental health, connecting community members to formal or informal systems of mental health care, enhancing the emergency shelter system, and providing crises debriefing during wildfire evacuations. The results of this study can be utilized to facilitate implementation of prevention and response activities to support mental health resilience during wildfires in Alaska and other wildfire-affected regions.

Gender Differences in Psychosocial Outcomes and Coping Strategies of Patients with Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review.

(1) Background: Gender is an important factor impacting cancer experience. This review mainly aimed to summarize colorectal cancer (CRC) patients' gender differences in psychosocial outcomes and coping strategies. (2) Methods: Relevant studies were searched for in four electronic databases from 2007 to July 2023. And manual searching was performed on the included studies' reference lists to identify additional eligible studies. (3) Results: A total of 37 eligible articles were included in this review. These studies were conducted in 19 countries, and they targeted CRC patients at various treatment stages. Significant results showed that female patients tended to have more psychological distress, complex social functioning, and less sexual distress and to choose more positive coping strategies than male patients. But there was no gender difference in psychosocial outcomes and/or coping strategies in some studies, which implied that gender similarity also existed. (4) Conclusions: The findings support the fact that there are both gender differences and similarities in CRC patients' psychosocial outcomes and coping strategies. A perspective beyond the simple masculine-feminine binary improved our in-depth understanding of gender tendency. Importantly, taking gender tendency into account is critical for medical staff to provide more personalized support and communication interventions.

Proposed Mechanisms of Hypertension and Risk of Adverse Cardiovascular Outcomes in LGBT Communities.

Hypertension (HTN), a highly prevalent public issue affecting 1 in 2 US adults, has recently been shown to differentially burden individuals belonging to marginalized communities, such as the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities. The Minority Stress Theory posits that a unique combination of marginalization-related psychosocial stressors and coping behaviors may underlie the increased burden of diseases like HTN in LGBT populations. Uncontrolled or poorly managed HTN often leads to the development of adverse cardiovascular outcomes, such as heart failure (HF). Despite our understanding of Minority Stress Theory and demonstrated associations between LGBT identities and HTN, the mechanisms whereby psychosocial stress drives HTN in LGBT populations remains unclear. This mini review discusses the physiological systems governing blood pressure and the epidemiology of HTN across different subgroups of LGBT people. Additionally, we propose mechanisms demonstrated in the general population whereby psychological stress has been implicated in elevating blood pressure, that may be occurring in LGBT populations. Lastly, we discuss the limitations to current studies and methodological frameworks to make suggestions for study designs to better delineate the mechanisms of psychosocial stress-related HTN in LGBT communities.

Peripheral and Cerebral Vasodilation in Black and White Women: Examining the Impact of Psychosocial Stress Exposure Versus Internalization and Coping.

Black women have among the highest rates of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease prevalence and mortality in part due to blunted vascular function. Psychosocial stress likely also contributes but its relationship to vascular function remains incompletely understood. Recent studies suggest that stress internalization and coping strategies are more important than stress exposures alone. We hypothesized that Black women would have blunted peripheral and cerebral vasodilation and that, among Black women, this would be inversely related with psychosocial stress internalization/coping but not stress exposures. Healthy Black (n=21; 20±2 years) and White (n=16; 25±7 years) women underwent testing for forearm reactive hyperemia, brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD), and cerebrovascular reactivity. Psychosocial stress exposures (adverse childhood experiences; past week discrimination) and internalization/coping techniques (John Henryism Active Coping Scale; Giscombe Superwoman Schema Questionnaire) were assessed. Reactive hyperemia and cerebrovascular reactivity were not different between groups (P>0.05), whereas FMD was lower in Black women (P=0.007). Neither adverse childhood experiences nor past week discrimination were associated with FMD in either group (P>0.05 for all). John Henryism Active Coping Scale scores were negatively associated with FMD in Black women (P=0.014) but positively associated with FMD in White women (P=0.042). Superwoman Schema-Succeed was negatively associated (P=0.044) and Superwoman Schema-Vulnerable tended to be negatively associated (P=0.057) with FMD in Black women. These findings indicate that blunted FMD in Black women may be due more to stress internalization and maladaptive coping than stress exposures alone.

“It’s a big trauma for the family”: A qualitative insight into the psychological trauma of paediatric burns from the perspective of mothers

BackgroundDespite the medical and surgical improvements of paediatric burn injuries, burn injuries can be a painful and traumatic experience for the child and their family. It is therefore important to explore the experiences of caregivers who support their child throughout the burn journey. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore the traumatic nature of paediatric burns on the family from a caregiver’s perspective. MethodsThis study used a descriptive qualitative approach to conduct online semi-structured interviews with caregivers (18 years and older) of children (aged four to 17 years) that had previously been admitted with an unintentional acute burn injury to a paediatric burns unit in Western Australia. Interviews explored the child’s and caregiver’s experiences throughout the burn journey from the perspective of the caregiver and were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were analysed using Braun and Clarke’s six stages of reflexive thematic analysis. ResultsEleven mothers participated in the interviews and identified a range of poor psychological and psychosocial outcomes that themselves and their child experienced. Three overarching themes were elaborated from the interviews: Child and caregiver mental health difficulties during and after the burn (including medical trauma, mental health outcomes and caregiver guilt); Lifestyle and physical changes following the burn (including disruptions to routine, appearance concerns and puberty); and factors supporting or inhibiting the recovery journey (including personality factors, coping strategies, family dynamics and support). Final considerationsThis study has presented the difficulties that children, young people, and their family face throughout a paediatric burn injury, which makes the implementation of timely and effective family centred interventions imperative. Meeting the needs and supporting these families with their mental health throughout this traumatic recovery journey, can ensure positive psychosocial outcomes and adaptive coping strategies are adopted early on.

Identifying psychosocial problems, needs, and coping mechanisms of adolescent Syrian refugees in Jordan.

Refugees who have fled war zones are at a heightened risk of psychosocial problems that can impact their ability to function in day-to-day life and place a significant burden on the family structure. This study aimed to assess the psychosocial problems and needs and coping mechanisms of Adolescent Syrian refugees in Jordan. Between October and December 2018, we conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with a sample of key and individual informants. Our sample included 20 primary healthcare professionals, 20 schoolteachers, 20 Syrian parents, and 20 adolescents aged 12-17 years. All interviews were transcribed verbatim, and we utilized thematic analysis to group, categorize, and analyze the original Arabic language transcripts. To ensure thorough analysis, we adopted a bottom-up inductive approach that covered the six-phase iterative process proposed by Braun and Clarke. The main psychosocial problems encountered by Syrian adolescents included stress, depression, loneliness, lack of a sense of security, isolation, aggressiveness, fear of war, and family disintegration. Almost all schoolteachers reported that they observed that Jordanian adolescents are more settled, self-confident, and financially stable relative to their Syrian peers. The Jordanian government and community were praised for their support, including education, recreational centers, health services, and awareness campaigns. Going to school, praying and reading the Holy Quran, listening to music, and talking to friends and engaging with them were reported as the main coping mechanisms. The majority of respondents said that more services are still needed for adolescents, including more places for entertainment, psychosocial support and psychological counseling, medical care, job creation, and providing health insurance. Syrian refugees are aware of the psychological aspects of their situation, but they are not always able to access clinic-based humanitarian assistance for mental health and psychosocial support. Stakeholders must interact with refugees to learn about their needs and develop services that are appropriate for their culture.

Work-related psychosocial challenges and coping strategies among nursing workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review

BackgroundNurses and midwives have been stretched by the COVID-19 pandemic amidst the heroic roles they have played during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nurses stood tall among their peers in the healthcare industry saving lives. The pandemic has had a toll on nurses physically, psychologically, and socio-economically. The numerous deaths have traumatized nurses coupled with the fear of possible infection. Nurses have seen their colleagues and loved ones lose their lives to the pandemic, nevertheless, they still render care to patients no matter the circumstances. Due to that, it is imperative to ascertain the extent to which nurses who are much needed in healthcare delivery have been affected by this pandemic. This scoping review used Arksey and O’Malley’s review methodology to investigate the nature of work-related psychosocial challenges nurses encountered during the peak of the pandemic, noting the major contributors to the challenges and the coping strategies used to address them.MethodsWe performed a scoping review and searched for articles from five databases including PUBMED, CINAHL, SCOPUS, Google Scholar, and Grey literature from December 2019 to December 2021. A total of 7,334 articles were retrieved for the study but 45 met the inclusion criteria.ResultsWork-related psychosocial challenges identified included stress, burnout (emotional exhaustion and depersonalization), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression, sleeplessness, and anxiety. Factors that accounted for the challenges were inadequate personal protective equipment (PPEs), discomfort using the PPEs, extreme workload, and fatigue. Nurses experienced job insecurity, business closure, and separation from family and loved ones, and these contributed to their challenges. Strategies used to deal with the challenges centred on emotion-focused and problem-focused coping.ConclusionsThe study recommends regular counselling and support for all nurses working at the frontline to help them better cope with the devastating effects of the pandemic so that they could build resilience towards future pandemics.

Psychosocial resources underlying disaster survivors’ posttraumatic stress symptom trajectories: insight from in-depth interviews with mothers who survived Hurricane Katrina

ABSTRACT Background: Weather-related disasters, including hurricanes, are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change. Vulnerable populations, such as people with low income and racial and ethnic minorities, are particularly prone to increased levels of physical harm and psychiatric adversity from weather-related events. Objectives: We aimed to explore psychosocial resources and coping of survivors with three different posttraumatic stress symptom (PTSS) trajectories (High-Decreasing, Moderate-Decreasing, and High-Stable), after Hurricane Katrina across two different time points: F1 (1-year post-disaster) and F3 (12 years post-disaster). Method: Participants in this multi-method study were part of a larger cohort of the Resilience in Survivors of Katrina (RISK) project. Transcripts of interviews completed at the two time points were analysed using two qualitative methods, combining thematic analysis and narrative analysis, and providing both breadth of perspectives with the depth of specific case studies. Results: Sixteen survivors completed interviews at both F1 and F3. From our in-depth analysis of the data, we derived five inductive themes: ‘Hope,’ ‘Adaptive vs maladaptive avoidance,’ ‘Emotional delay,’ ‘Acceptance, Finding Meaning and Being in the Moment,’ and ‘Coping strategies.’ Survivors with High-Decreasing and Moderate-Decreasing PTSS trajectories experienced hope for future, accepted the hurricane and its results, and found efficient ways to cope with their situation. Survivors with High-Stable PTSS trajectories tended to express a lack of hope for future and struggled to be mindful and accept the hurricane and its harm. Unlike survivors with High-Decreasing and Moderate-Decreasing PTSS trajectories, survivors with High-Stable PTSS trajectories also reported less social and family support and faced more discrimination and racism. Conclusion: There are factors beyond individual-level psychosocial resources that may shape post-disaster resilience. When supporting survivors after a weather-related disaster, it is essential to provide ongoing psychological, financial, and physical assistance to bolster these resources.

Discussing the possibility of fertility treatment being unsuccessful as part of routine care offered at clinics: patients' experiences, willingness, and preferences.

Discussing the possibility of fertility treatment being unsuccessful as part of routine care offered at clinics: patients' experiences, willingness, and preferences.

A meta-ethnography on the experience and psychosocial implications of providing abortion care

RationaleChallenges unique to abortion care have negative implications for access to safe abortion and the psychosocial well-being of healthcare providers. A deeper understanding of the experience of providing abortion care can inform responsive interventions toward supporting abortion providers and strengthening health systems. ObjectiveA meta-ethnography was conducted to describe the experiences of providing abortion care and offer broad conceptual implications of abortion providers’ experiences on their psychosocial coping and well-being. MethodsInternational grey and published research reported in English between 2000 and 2020 was identified via Web of Science Core Collection, PsycInfo, PubMed, Science Direct and Africa-Wide. Studies conducted in contexts where elective abortion is legally permitted were included. Study samples included nurses, physicians, counsellors, administrative staff and other healthcare providers involved in abortion care. Qualitative studies and qualitative data from mixed designs were included. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme tool was used for appraisal and data was analysed using a meta-ethnographic approach. FindingsThe review included 47 articles. Five themes arose from the data including the emotional challenges of providing clinical and psychological care, organisational and structural challenges, experiences characterised by stigma, pro-choice narratives, and coping with challenges. Outcomes ranged from moral and emotional alignment, resistance to abortion stigma, and job satisfaction to moral distress, emotional suppression, internalised stigma, selective participation and discontinuation of abortion care. Outcomes were dependent on the nature of interpersonal relationships, working conditions, the internalization of positive or negative messages about abortion, personal history and individual coping styles. ConclusionsDespite facing significant challenges in their work, the presence of positive outcomes among abortion providers and the moderating role of external and individual-level factors on well-being have encouraging implications for supporting psychosocial wellness among abortion providers.

The Experiences of Families Raising an Autistic Child: A Rapid Review

Background: Autism is becoming more prominent in South Africa and in the rest of the world. A family raising an autistic child plays a key role in the treatment and lifelong management. This responsibility goes with demanding challenges, which are unique to every child and situation. A deeper understanding of the psychosocial experiences and impact of autism and its symptoms on the involved families is ultimately essential in the development of relevant and scientifically based interventions and support programmes. Objectives: The aim of this review was to conduct a rapid review to explore, synthesise, and integrate existing scientific literature on the pre- and post-diagnostic psychosocial experiences of families that raise an autistic child. Methods: A comprehensive and systematic keywords search were conducted, and 142 relevant studies were found. These studies were then screened for relevance with regard to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Nine articles, published between 2008 and 2018, were identified for final inclusion in the study. Data were analysed using a thematic synthesis approach. Results: The thematic synthesis revealed three main themes and ten sub-themes that were anchored on families’ psychosocial experiences of raising an autistic child, both pre- and post-diagnosis. The themes include psychological experiences (emotions experienced, grieving process, parenting, and family dynamics), social experiences (lack of support services, and social awareness), and psychosocial coping strategies (isolation, information seeking, meaning-making, and support system). Conclusion: The analyses and synthesis of the identified articles indicated that the identified psychosocial experiences of families raising an autistic child were multidimensional and fit well within a contextual and systemic perspective. The family quality of life (FQOL) framework provides a positive approach that seeks to improve and optimise the quality of life of families that raise a child with a disability. It is recommended that families need to be informed of services available for autism and psychosocially supported so that they feel empowered to deal with the challenges at hand.

Psychosocial Care Needs, Personality Styles, and Coping Strategies of Mourners in a Rural Municipality in Spain: An Observational Study.

Grieving is a natural, self-limiting process of adaptation to a new reality following a significant loss, either real or perceived, with a wide range of manifestations that have an impact on the health of the grieving individual. This study aims to analyse the relationships between interpersonal styles, coping strategies, and psychosocial care needs in a sample of mourners in a rural municipality. Initial hypothesis: there are associations between types of grief and psychosocial needs, as well as between types of grief and interpersonal styles or coping strategies. An observational, descriptive, analytical, cross-sectional study was carried out with a sample of 123 people. Female participants represented 64.2% of all participants. The mean age was 42.7 (±13.2) years, and 86.2% of participants reported continuing to suffer from the loss, with a 10.5% prevalence of maladaptive grieving. Regarding the associations identified between coping strategies and the interpersonal characteristics of the mourners, we found that those with the best coping scores described themselves as self-confident, boastful, jovial, forceful, gentle-hearted, self-assured, outgoing, and/or neighbourly. By contrast, mourners who obtained poorer coping scores self-identified as shy, unsparkling, timid, unsociable, unbold, and/or bashful. This provides a clinical profile linked to maladaptive grieving in which emotional, self-perception, and social problems are prevalent.

Psychosocial Needs and Coping Strategies of Stroke Survivors with Upper-Extremity Motor Deficits in the First Two Years (P6-5.005)

<h3>Objective:</h3> To identify psychosocial needs, understand coping strategies, and highlight gaps in care experienced by stroke survivors with upper extremity (UE) motor deficits in the first two years after stroke. <h3>Background:</h3> Post-stroke rehabilitation for stroke survivors with UE motor deficits aims to optimize outcomes by addressing physical and cognitive impairments. Psychosocial needs and care experiences for this subpopulation are often overlooked. We aimed to identify psychological- and social-related challenges in stroke survivors in the first two years after stroke and highlight gaps in care. <h3>Design/Methods:</h3> Semi-structured interviews were conducted with stroke survivors with UE motor deficits enrolled in an observational stroke motor recovery trial. Open-ended questions related to psychosocial experiences and challenges. Mixed deductive-inductive qualitative analysis identified major themes in four categories: psychosocial challenges, coping strategies, healthcare experiences, and unanswered questions. Sub-themes were organized by category and counted by frequency. Frequencies were listed to illustrate which themes were most commonly reported. <h3>Results:</h3> 32 participants were interviewed (age 58±17 years; 47% male). 97% of participants experienced psychosocial challenges after stroke. The average number of challenges was 3.3±1.8 (range 1–7), with the most common being loss of independence, driving and transportation barriers, and inability to work. A majority endorsed using self-initiated coping strategies, including improved personal health management, seeking support, and being resilient. Over half (65%) reported negative experiences in the post-acute healthcare system. Three-quarters endorsed having unanswered questions related to their stroke. <h3>Conclusions:</h3> Stroke survivors with UE motor deficits experience psychosocial challenges in the first two years that extend beyond physical and cognitive limitations related to stroke. While some survivors employ self-initiated coping strategies, many report a lack of resources, negative healthcare experiences, and unanswered questions. An earlier and greater focus on the under-recognized psychosocial consequences of stroke during rehabilitation and in follow-up is needed to help connect stroke survivors with resources to address unmet needs. <b>Disclosure:</b> Dr. Gheihman has nothing to disclose. Ms. DiCarlo has nothing to disclose. Ms. Lam has nothing to disclose. Ms. Cloutier has nothing to disclose. Dr. Erler has nothing to disclose. Dr. Lin has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Neurotrauma Sciences. Dr. Lin has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Encompass Health.

Why Psychosocial Care Matters: Parent Preparedness and Understanding Predict Psychosocial Function When Children Return to School After Cancer.

Introduction: Psychosocial impacts of cancer are well-recognized for pediatric patients but few studies examine challenges specific to schooling after diagnosis and caregiver-related factors that may influence coping. This study describes caregiver experiences of school-related psychosocial functioning and how caregiver preparedness and understanding of these challenges influence coping. Methods: Caregivers of 175 childhood cancer survivors completed a nationally disseminated survey related to caregiver preparedness, clinician-provided education, and school-related experiences. Caregiver-reported preparedness and understanding were evaluated as predictors of psychosocial coping; factor analysis was performed to identify compound scales of preparedness and understanding. Results: Caregivers reported that the cancer treatment experience resulted in their children being more stressed and anxious about returning to school (60.2% and 70.2%, respectively) and more sensitive to peers (73.4%). It also made it harder for them to socialize and fit in with peers (58.2% and 49.7%, respectively). Caregiver preparedness and understanding predicted improved psychosocial coping with regard to child stress regarding socialization, fitting in, and anxiety but not sensitivity to peers. Teacher supportiveness and caregiver perception of clinician understanding also correlated with function. Discussion: Findings highlight the importance of caregiver education and preparedness as these reliably predict child psychosocial function and coping as they return to school after a cancer diagnosis and that all children are at risk for psychosocial challenges following a cancer diagnosis. Opportunities exist for clinicians to provide more education and anticipatory guidance to families as a potential means to reduce poor coping when a child returns to school following cancer.

Psychosocial model of burnout among humanitarian aid workers in Bangladesh: role of workplace stressors and emotion coping

BackgroundWhile trauma exposure is an established predictor of poor mental health among humanitarian aid workers (HAWs), less is known about the role of psychosocial work-related factors. This study aims to establish a psychosocial model for burnout and psychological distress in HAWs that tests and compares the effects of adversity exposure and workplace stressors in combination, and explores the potential mediating role of individual coping styles.MethodsPath analysis and model comparison using cross-sectional online survey data were collected from full-time international and local HAWs in Bangladesh between December 2020 and February 2021. HAWs self-reported on exposure to adversities, workplace psychosocial stressors (Third Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire), coping styles (Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations), burnout (Maslach Burnout Inventory—Human Services Survey), and psychological distress (Kessler-6).ResultsAmong N = 111 HAWs, 30.6%, 16.4%, 12.7%, and 8.2% screened positive for moderate psychological distress (8 ≤ Kessler-6 ≤ 12), emotional exhaustion (EE ≥ 27), depersonalization (DP ≥ 13), and severe psychological distress (K-6 ≥ 13), respectively. 28.8% reported a history of mental disorder. The preferred model showed distinct pathways from adversity exposure and workplace stressors to burnout, with negative emotion-focused coping and psychological distress as significant intervening variables. While greater exposure to both types of stressors were associated with higher levels of burnout and distress, workplace stressors had a stronger association with psychological outcomes than adversity exposure did (β = .52, p ≤ .001 vs. β = .20, p = .032). Workplace stressors, but not adversities, directly influenced psychological distress (β = .45, p ≤ .001 vs. β = −.01, p = .927). Demographic variables, task-focused and avoidance-focused coping were not significantly associated with psychological outcomes.ConclusionsCompared to exposure to adversities, workplace stressors primarily influenced occupational stress syndromes. Reducing workplace stressors and enhancing adaptive coping may improve psychological outcomes in humanitarian staff.

Effect of psychosocial stress and coping strategies on non-surgical periodontal therapy in patients with generalized stage III/IV periodontitis: a longitudinal intervention study

ObjectivesThe aim of this longitudinal intervention study was to assess the impact of psychosocial stress and coping response strategies on the clinical outcomes in periodontitis patients treated with non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT).Materials and methodsAfter the administration of psychological questionnaires, patients diagnosed with generalized stage III–IV periodontitis were categorized into different groups depending on their stress levels (10-item perceived stress level (PSS-10)) and coping response strategies (coping responses inventory (CRI)). Clinical data were collected 1 week before and 3 months after the completion of NSPT.ResultsOf the 90 patients included at baseline, 27 presented major and 63 minor stress levels, while 40 had avoidance and 50 approach coping behavior. All clinical parameters were similar at the baseline across different categories. At re-evaluation, full-mouth bleeding score (FMBS), mean probing pocket depth (PPD), and number of residual pathological pockets were significantly superior in groups with higher stress levels (p <0.001, p =0.001, and p =0.020, respectively), while higher full-mouth plaque scores (FMPS) and FMBS were found in patients with avoidance coping strategies (p =0.009 and p <0.001, respectively). When jointly evaluated, an added detrimental effect of coping styles on allostatic load was observed. Multivariate analysis confirmed a significant effect of stress levels and coping strategies on final FMBS, but not of coping on mean PPD.ConclusionPsychosocial stress and avoidance coping strategy seem to negatively influence the clinical outcomes of NSPT at short term (NCT04739475; 9/1/2017).Practical implicationsBased on these findings, patients reflecting these psychological profiles should be considered at greater risk for poor NSPT response and may benefit from complementary stress management strategies.

Associations of self‐isolation, social support and coping strategies with depression and suicidal ideation in U.S. young adults during the COVID‐19 pandemic

There have been concerns about the psychological impact of COVID-19-related stressors on young adults. However, there remains limited information regarding how psychosocial factors and coping strategies correlate with suicidal ideation in young adults during the pandemic. We studied a cross-sectional, observational online survey using a probability-based, nationally representative sample of U.S. young adults aged 18 to 29 (N=1077). We performed weighted logistic regression to evaluate how self-isolation, social support and coping strategies (exposures) were associated with depression and suicidal ideation (outcomes), adjusting for age, gender, race, educational level and sexual orientation. The method of multiple imputations for addressing missing data was executed through chained equations. A total of 296 participants had depression, while 323 had suicidal ideation. Individuals who consistently self-isolated exhibited nearly threefold higher odds of depression compared to those without self-isolation. Social support was consistently protective against depression and suicidal ideation. Coping through positive reframing was protective against depression and suicidal ideation, whereas substance use, self-blame and behavioural disengagement had the opposite impact. Providing social support may help prevent suicidal ideation among young adults during the pandemic. Interventions that focus on developing young adults' coping strategies, such as through positive reframing, are recommended to develop positive and healthy relationships. Healthcare providers should advise against substance use, self-blame and behavioural disengagement.

Determinants of Life Satisfaction and Quality of Life Among American Indian Women Cancer Survivors: The Role of Psychosocial Resources

ABSTRACT Purpose This study assessed the relationship of spirituality, social support, and sense of mastery to life satisfaction and quality of life to identify viable psychosocial coping resources among American Indian (AI) women cancer survivors. Method We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 73 AI women cancer survivors residing in South Dakota. A series of multivariate hierarchical regression analyses was conducted. Results Findings indicated that lower self-rated physical health was consistently associated with lower levels of life satisfaction and quality of life. Spirituality was found to be the most influential predictor for life satisfaction, while social support and sense of mastery were two significant predictors for quality of life. Discussion Our data underscored the importance of spirituality, social support, and sense of mastery to the well-being of AI women cancer survivors and as effective coping strategies to mitigate life stressors. Implications of this evidence for the design of cancer preventions and interventions are discussed.

Mental health of Scandinavians during the first lockdown in the COVID-19 pandemic: Psychosocial resources and coping strategies as protective or risk factors for anxiety and depression.

The COVID-19 pandemic was a global health and economic crisis. In the early phase of the pandemic, studies found that populations were reporting lower levels of mental well-being and high levels of distress and worry. This study investigated potential protective and risk factors such as sociodemographics and psychological factors such as adaptation/coping. Two convenience samples from Norway and Denmark were recruited during the early phase of the first lockdown in May 2020 using snowball sampling primarily by social media. Measures included the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4) for screening anxiety and depression, COVID-19 distress, and coping strategies applied during the lockdown. Descriptive analyses were applied as well as bivariate correlations for associations between coping and mental health measures. Levels of anxiety and depression were not alarmingly high, but being young, single, and female constituted a higher risk for poorer mental health. Applying positive reframing strategies was negatively associated with poor mental health and high COVID-19 stress, whereas distraction coping strategies were positively correlated with poor mental health and high COVID-19 stress. Applying positive reframing as a coping strategy may constitute a protective factor for mental health in the early phase of a crisis such as a pandemic. This knowledge may inform public health agencies on how to promote mental health in similar situations in the future. However, longitudinal and qualitative studies are needed to investigate the long-term effects of the different coping strategies applied.