Psychosomatic Well-being Research Articles

Impact of Digital Media, School Problems, and Lifestyle Factors on Youth Psychosomatic Health: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Post-pandemic psychosomatic complaints in children and adolescents have been underreported. This study investigated psychosomatic complaints in children and adolescents in Northern Italy in 2023, with the aim of identifying changes in predictors and vulnerable subgroups. Cross-sectional data representative of scholars from a northern Italian province were analyzed using the Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC) checklist. The sum scores, count data, and dichotomized data were examined, and predictor effects were expressed using a linear regression model for the sum scores. Data from 4525 participants (aged 7-19 years, 50.5% girls) were analyzed. Psychosomatic symptoms remained unchanged after the pandemic. Significant gender differences were noted, especially in older age groups, with girls reporting more complaints. Factors such as children's health, digital media use, and school problems significantly influence psychosomatic outcomes. While migration background negatively affected girls' psychosomatic well-being, boys showed improvement through sports. The psychosomatic well-being of children and adolescents did not improve after the pandemic. These findings indicate the need for targeted interventions, improved health literacy, and ongoing monitoring to support the mental well-being of this vulnerable population. Reducing screen time remains a critical strategy for enhancing youth well-being.

Predictors of a child's psychosomatic well-being

The article discusses predictors of a child's psychosomatic well-being, such as readiness for motherhood and mother's attachment to the child. Their concepts and their influence on the child's life are revealed. Readiness for motherhood is an important aspect of every woman's life. It includes physical, psychological and emotional readiness, as well as the support of people around you. Not all women are ready for motherhood, which can lead to serious consequences for the child. Physical readiness is a woman's state of health that allows her to carry and give birth to a child. Psychological readiness is a woman's ability to adapt to a new role as a mother and be ready for changes in her life. Emotional readiness is a woman's ability to experience emotions related to motherhood. An important aspect of readiness for motherhood is also the support of people around you. The attachment of the mother to the child is a key factor for ensuring the psychosomatic well-being of the child. Mothers should strive to create a favorable atmosphere in the family and support close relationships with children. They should also learn to manage their emotions and seek help from specialists if there are problems in their relationships with children. Readiness for motherhood should begin long before pregnancy and include physical, psychological and emotional preparation, as well as the support of others.

Measuring Occupational Well-Being Indicators: Scale Construction and Validation.

The purpose of this study is to carry out the scale development of occupational well-being (OWB) (affective, professional, social, cognitive, psychological and psychosomatic well-being) in Laos. Using multiple sampling data, we developed a valid OWB scale with a large Laotian sample (n = 1745). The validity of the OWB-47 scale was analyzed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Cross-validity, the initial model, and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were performed using Stata 19 to assess the validity of the scale development. Consistent with the valid model, the CFA revealed a unidimensional structure in the OWB scale. The initial measurement of the OWB scale was significantly correlated with the measure of the six-dimensional model. Regarding the full model testing, the CFA model was developed to test the validity of the OWB-47 scale, suggesting the acceptability of the fit model.

Burnout, emotional distress and sleep quality among Chinese psychiatric healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a follow-up study.

Different from the very early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, burnout and chronic mental health problems among health care workers (HCWs) has become a challenge. Research is lacking on the relationship between burnout, stress, emotional distress and sleep quality. The Chinese center has been involved in the Cope-Corona project since the second survey (T2). Named after the project, a total of three cross-sectional surveys were distributed: T2 (February 16-20, 2021), T3 (May 10-14, 2022), and T4 (December 20-24, 2022). Burnout, depression, anxiety, sleep quality, workplace factors and individual resources were measured. Using the T4 data, we conducted structural equation model (SEM) to examine the mediating role of burnout in predicting emotional distress and sleep quality. 96, 124, and 270 HCWs were enrolled at T2, T3, and T4, respectively. In line with the epidemic trends, the level of perceived COVID-19 related risks was significantly higher at T4, while the feeling of health and safety decreased significantly. At T4, the percentages of participants with clinically significant levels of depression and anxiety symptoms were 18.9% (51/270) and 9.3% (25/270), respectively, while 30.4% (82/270) of them reported poor or very poor sleep quality. According to the SEM, individual resources and workplace factors mainly had an indirect effect in predicting depression and anxiety via burnout. However, neither burnout nor stress was a mediator or predictor of sleep quality. Instead, individual resources, positive workplace factors, and younger age had a direct effect in predicting good sleep quality. Measures designed to enhance workplace factors and individual resources should be implemented to improve psychosomatic wellbeing of HCWs.

Second victim syndrome in intensive care unit healthcare workers: A systematic review and meta-analysis on types, prevalence, risk factors, and recovery time.

Patient safety incidents, including medical errors and adverse events, frequently occur in intensive care units, leading to a significant psychological burden on healthcare workers. This burden results in second victim syndrome, which impacts the psychological and psychosomatic well-being of these workers. However, a systematic review focusing specifically on this condition among intensive care unit healthcare workers is lacking. Therefore, we aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the occurrence of second victim syndrome among intensive care unit healthcare workers, including the types, prevalence, risk factors, and recovery time associated with this condition. We conducted a comprehensive search of the MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Igaku Chuo Zasshi databases. The eligibility criteria encompassed retrospective, prospective, and cross-sectional studies and controlled trials, with no language restrictions. Data on the type, prevalence, risk factors, and recovery time of second victim syndrome were extracted and pooled. Prevalence estimates from the included studies were combined using a random-effects meta-analytic model. Of the 2,245 records retrieved, 16 potentially relevant studies were identified. Following full-text evaluation, five studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. The findings revealed that 58% of intensive care unit healthcare workers experienced second victim syndrome. Frequent symptoms included guilt (12-68%), anxiety (38-63%), anger at self (25-58%), and lower self-confidence (7-58%). However, specific risk factors exclusive to intensive care unit healthcare workers were not identified in the review. Furthermore, approximately 20% of individuals took more than a year to recover or did not recover at all from the second victim syndrome. Thus, this condition is prevalent among intensive care unit healthcare workers and may persist for extended periods, potentially exceeding a year. The risk factors for second victim syndrome in the intensive care unit setting are unclear and require further investigation.

The Role of Teachers in Moderating The Impact of Bullying on Academic Achievements Amongst Gen-z Through Psychosomatic Well-being

Purpose: Indian learning system is exceedingly modest since the inception of knowledge with a prominent thrust on academic performance. This article aimed to put some light on prevalent issues in the higher learning atmosphere across the University eco-system in Indian context. This study measured the impact of various bullying types (Verbal, Cyber, Relational and Physical) on psychosomatic well-being of Gen-Z which impacted to academic achievements along with teachers' role as moderating variable. Design/Methodology: A Cross-sectional research was conducted by using self-administered questionnaires. The participants considered were from Gen-Z from Maharashtra, India. The survey piloted in between the August, 2021 to December 2021 semesters. The SPSS-Amos 24.0 version was used for inferential analysis to check for significant results of the variables undertaken in the study. The sample of (n=305) was drawn with convenience sampling from the population. Results and Findings: The completed surveys were obtained from a targeted sample of 305 Gen-Z. The males accounted for 72.8 percent, while females for 27.2 percent. The bullying categories had a significant favorable influence on psychosomatic well-being. Further, results from this study demonstrate a positive and significant impact of psychosomatic well-being on academic achievements; however, the teacher's role as moderator also reveals positive impact on it. Directions to future research and Limitations: The study's most significant limitation was its sample size. It does, however, provide important and valuable insights into student teaching-learning mechanisms. The second limitation was cross-sectional research design impedes the analysis of directionality of association among psychosomatic well-being and academic achievements. The implications of this study could be such as-developing conducive learning environment, new counseling strategies identifications. Moreover, future researchers can study more dimensions likewise gender as a moderator and Bystander Intervention Model implementation for bullied victims. Originality/Value: Present study enhances the domain of existing literature by investigating the effect of a bullying on Gen-Z with respect to psychosomatic well-being and academic aspects. These dimensions were particular as Verbal Bullying (VB), Cyber Bullying (CB), Relational Bullying (RB), and Physical Bullying (PB) and psychosomatic well-being effectively explored; hence, the emphasis is on teachers' role in as effective medium to manage the motivation of depressed or bullied students with suggested measures such as career counseling and inculcation of ragging as a syllabus in curriculum in Indian settings.

РОЛЬ МАТЕРИНСКОГО ОТНОШЕНИЯ В ФОРМИРОВАНИИ САМОПОВРЕЖДАЮЩЕГО ПОВЕДЕНИЯ У РЕБЕНКА

The problem of the role of maternal attitude for the occurrence of psychosomatic disorders and the question about the nature and causes of emotional maladaptation in children are still under discussion, in terms of the importance of the issue of children psychosomatic health and the prevalence of psychosomatic diseases. The article discusses the features of the maternal attitude when a child shows self-harming behavior and allergies of unknown origin. Children with allergies of unknown origin and self-harming behavior were included in the comparison groups due to an attempt to find a common psychological pattern between the manifestation of symptoms of unconfirmed atopic dermatitis and acts of self-harm in children. According to the results of the study, the differentiated influence of the role of the maternal attitude on the psychosomatic well-being of the child is presented. The authors state that if a child has an allergy of unknown origin, the inconsistency of the mother's actions towards the child is observed, the manifestation of hyperprotection acts as a means of controlling the mother's own anxious state. When self-harming behavior is manifested, there is a tendency of the mother to ignore the needs of the child due to a low ability to understand the reasons for child’s behavior. By means of identifying the features of the maternal relationship, the significance of early contact in the mother-child dyad in groups of mothers, whose children suffer from allergies of unknown origin or demonstrate self-harming behavior, was confirmed. The tasks of clinical and psychological support of parents bringing up children with self-harming behavior are substantiated.

Internet use and cyberbullying: Impacts on psychosocial and psychosomatic wellbeing among Chinese adolescents

The use of the internet for entertainment has increased hugely over the last decade among Chinese adolescents, but the psychosocial impacts remain unclear. The aims of this study are to explore the associations between internet use, cyberbullying and psychosocial wellbeing among Chinese adolescents. Questionnaires were completed in the classroom setting by 3378 middle school students aged 11–16 years old (M = 13.58, SD = 0.87) in three provinces representing eastern, central and western China. Key findings included: 1) Internet use of over 3 h per day was associated with higher prevalence of anxiety [OR = 1.6, 95% CI (1.1, 2.2), p = 0.006], depression [OR = 2.1, 95% CI (1.7, 2.6), p < 0.001] and psychosomatic health problems, such as abdominal pain [OR = 2.4, 95% CI (1.8, 3.3), p < 0.001]. 2) Boys were much more likely to play online games. 3) Moderate time of gaming was overall beneficial to well-being. 4) Cyberbullying was common, with 37.5% admitting involvement. 5) Bully-victims were most vulnerable to mental and psychosomatic health problems, and only-bullies were the least vulnerable group. Our findings suggest moderate internet use for entertainment is not detrimental to mental health, but excessive use is. Schools should promote adolescents’ responsible use of the internet and incorporate anti-cyberbullying programs into the curriculum.

The Evaluation of a Family-Engagement Approach to Increase Physical Activity, Healthy Nutrition, and Well-Being in Children and Their Parents.

Prevention programs often are directed at either parents or children separately, thereby ignoring the intergenerational aspect of health and well-being. Engaging the family is likely to improve both the uptake and long-term impact of health behavior change. We integrated an intergenerational approach into a frequently used shared assessment tool for children's care needs. The current study's aim was 2-fold: to monitor this family-engagement tool's effects on both children and their parents' health behaviors and well-being, and to examine the different dynamics of health behavioral change within a family.Method: We followed 12 children ages 10–14 years and their parents for 12 weeks using an explanatory mixed-methods design comprising interviews, questionnaires, and an n-of-1 study. During home visits at the beginning and end of the study, we interviewed children and their parents about their expectations and experiences, and measured their height and weight. Furthermore, we collected secondary data, such as notes from phone and email conversations with parents, as well as evaluation forms from professionals. In the n-of-1 study, families were prompted three times a week to describe their day and report on their vegetable intake, minutes of exercise, health behavior goals, and psychosomatic well-being. The interviews, notes, and evaluation forms were analyzed using qualitative content analyses. For the n-of-1 study, we performed multi-level time-series analyses across all families to assess changes in outcomes after consulting the family-engagement tool. Using regression analyses with autocorrelation correction, we examined changes within individual families.Results: Five child-mother dyads and three child-mother-father triads provided sufficient pre- and post-data. The mean minutes of children's physical activity significantly increased, and mothers felt more energetic, but other outcomes did not change. In consultations related to overweight, the family-engagement tool often was used without setting specific or family goals.Conclusions: The family-engagement approach elicited positive effects on some families' health and well-being. For multifaceted health problems, such as obesity, family-engagement approaches should focus on setting specific goals and strategies in different life domains, and for different family members.

“It needs to be the right blend”: a qualitative exploration of remote e-workers’ experience and well-being at work

PurposeThis present qualitative study explores the impact of the remote e-working experience on employees’ well-being.Design/methodology/approachForty (23 male) remote e-workers working for a British IT company were interviewed about their work-related well-being. Semi-structured interviews were framed within an existing theoretical of work-related well-being; hence, questions targeted five distinct dimensions of affective, professional, social, cognitive and psychosomatic well-being. However, data collection was not constrained by this model, allowing the exploration of other aspects interviewees considered relevant to their work-related well-being. Interview data were analysed using thematic analysis, where key themes emerged.FindingsFindings support the relevance of a multidimensional approach to understanding remote e-workers’ well-being as it provides an in-depth understanding of the inter-connectedness between relevant dimensions. Further insight into the overlooked issues of detachment from work and health-related behaviours when e-working remotely is also provided.Practical implicationsThis study proposes practical implications related to the organisational, managerial and individual level; providing individuals tailored guidance on how to remote e-work effectively and raising the importance of cultural change to support remote e-workers to be open about their working preferences.Originality/valueAn original contribution to the field of remote e-working is provided, by adopting a holistic approach to explore well-being, disentangling the interconnections between different well-being dimensions and discussing pivotal contributing factors that seemed to be understudied within extant remote e-working literature.

The Impact of Quality of Interpersonal Relationships at Work on Self-Assessment of Psychosomatic Well-Being: Results from a Study of Employees in Poland

Purpose: The article's main objective is to determine how the quality of interpersonal relationships at work affects employees' self-assessment of psychosomatic well-being. Design/Methodology/Approach: The research objectives were met using a survey conducted in 2018 among 574 professionally active Poland people. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used in the analysis of the empirical data. Findings: The proposed theoretical model was designed to determine how particular categories of relationship quality affect employees' self-assessment of health and any health complaints they were experiencing. It was established that relationship quality positively influences self-assessment of health (the greater the quality, the more highly health was assessed), while it negatively influenced the experience of health complaints (the greater the quality, the fewer the complaints). Practical implications: Every organization should pay special attention to the quality of interpersonal relationships at work. Low quality can negatively affect employees' assessment of their own psychophysical well-being, resulting in lower productivity, increased absenteeism, or higher staff turnover. High-quality relationships can improve well-being, which will translate positively into the functioning of an organization. Therefore, the quality of relationships should be constantly monitored, and the organization should use some tools to build high-quality relationships at work. Originality/value: There is currently a gap in the literature about the impact of the quality of the relationships at work on employees' self-assessment of health. The article fulfills this gap and focuses not only on the cardiovascular system but also on immune and endocrine systems and the employees' psychological well-being.

Excessive Aesthetic Lower Limb Elongation Management

With the evolution of surgical techniques and increased availability of cosmetic orthopedic surgery, new complications manifest. Uncontrolled lower limb elongation without limitations can be achieved by disinformation and undergoing surgery in different countries. Patients receive excessive surgical intervention due to misinforming surgeons and clinics of their previous medical history. We present a previously undocumented case of excessive lower limb elongation in an adult male patient and a treatment method for this novel pathology. Lack of personal constraint and severe aesthetic discomfort led the patient to undergo 3 elongation procedures in 3 clinics in different countries. Correction of excessive elongation is a delicate procedure, which must account for previous medical history, the patient's psychological status, and strict adherence to anatomical standards. In this case, we managed to correct the complications from hyper-elongation by restoring the normal anatomical proportions of the lower limbs. The patient consented to publication of these findings and has undergone psychiatric evaluation in a specialized clinic after corrective surgery. It is important to properly educate patients of surgical risks and to evaluate all aspects of patient psychosomatic well-being before surgical intervention. Advances in aesthetic medicine underline the development of new iatrogenic pathologies. Excessive lower limb elongation can lead to significant musculoskeletal deformation, requiring precise surgical correction with account to normal anatomical proportions.

P470 The concept of illness identity in inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract Background Chronic diseases like inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) can pose challenges to the self-concept of a patient. Illness identity (IID) describes a patient′s way to integrate a chronic illness into the self-concept distinguishing the dimensions rejection, engulfment, acceptance and enrichment. Associations between IID and psychological and physiological functioning have been shown in other chronic diseases, but haven’t been investigated in IBD. In this study, we focus on associations between IID and (i) psychosomatic well-being and (ii) response to biological therapy in patients with IBD. Methods Eighty-four patients with active IBD answered questionnaires assessing IID, anxiety, depression, childhood trauma, quality of life (QOL), fatigue and visceral sensitivity (VS.) before the beginning of treatment with biologicals. Response to therapy (n = 73) and changes in the reported outcomes (n = 46) were assessed 3–6 months later. Associations between IID types and QOL, anxiety, depression, childhood trauma, fatigue and VS were examined using Pearson′s correlation. Response to therapy was defined as i) reduction of Harvey Bradshaw-Index (HBI) of &amp;gt;/ = 3 points/Partial Mayo-Score (PMS) of 0–1 points (if HBI &amp;gt;5/PMS &amp;gt;1 at baseline) OR ii) decline of faecal calprotectin or CRP of at least 50% OR iii) confirmation of a significant decline of inflammation in endoscopy/ sonography/MRI. Logistic regression was conducted to examine associations between IID and response to therapy. Results IID-rejection was positively associated with anxiety (r = 0.23, p &amp;lt; 0.05), depression (r = 0.28, p &amp;lt; 0.01) and VS. (r = 0.43, p &amp;lt; 0.01). IID-engulfment was associated with lower QOL (r = -0.61, p &amp;lt; 0.01) and more fatigue (r = 0.45, p &amp;lt; 0.01), anxiety (r = 0.66, p &amp;lt; 0.01), depression (r = 0.63, p &amp;lt; 0.01) and VS. (r = 0.74 p &amp;lt; 0.01). In contrast, IID-acceptance was associated with higher QOL (r = 0.34, p &amp;lt; 0.01) and lower levels of fatigue (r = -0.34, p &amp;lt; 0.01), anxiety (r = -0.45, p &amp;lt; 0.01), depression (r = -0.33, p &amp;lt; 0.01), childhood trauma (r = -0.31, p &amp;lt; 0.01) and VS. (r = -0.52, p &amp;lt; 0.01). IID-enrichment was negatively associated with depression (r = -0.3, p &amp;lt; 0.01). Logistic regression indicated no association between IID and response to therapy. Conclusion This study is the first to examine the concept of IID in IBD patients. It supports previous findings regarding its association to QOL and psychological well-being in patients with chronic disorders. Contrary to our expectation, IID was not shown to influence treatment response in this cohort, which might be owed to the modest sample size. However, given the strong association between IID and QOL, future studies should investigate the potential of IID as a targetable characteristic in personalised holistic therapy.

Acupuncture for Hormone Therapy-Related Side Effects in Breast Cancer Patients: A GRADE-Assessed Systematic Review and Updated Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: To determine the efficacy of acupuncture on the management of hormone therapy–related side effects in breast cancer patients. Methods: Randomized controlled trials of acupuncture versus a control or placebo in breast cancer patients that examined reductions in therapy-related side effects were retrieved from PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library through April 2020. Data on patient symptoms (hot flashes, fatigue, pain, stiffness, and gastrointestinal symptoms), physical capacity, cytokines, and general psychosomatic well-being were analyzed. We evaluated and analyzed the quality of all included studies with the 5.2 Cochrane Handbook standards using Stata software (version 10.0) and Revman software (version 5.2), respectively. We assessed the risk of bias using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool and evaluated the quality of evidence using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations) approach. Results: The pooled results suggested that acupuncture led to moderate improvements in hot flashes, fatigue, and stiffness. No significant differences were observed in pain, gastrointestinal symptoms, Kupperman index scores, Overall quality of life, tumor necrosis factor levels, and interleukin levels. Conclusions: Evidence for outcome indicators of symptom management were downgraded by the GRADE system for inconsistency, indirectness, and imprecision in the included RCTs. Nonetheless, acupuncture is a moderately appropriate alternative therapy for hormone therapy–related side effects in breast cancer patients. However, it still lacks large-sample, multicenter, prospective RCTs. Future research should focus on standardizing comparison groups and treatment methods, be at least single-blinded, assess biologic mechanisms, have adequate statistical power, and involve multiple acupuncturists.

HYGIENIC APPROACHES TO THE PREVENTION OF OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES AMONG HEALTHCARE WORKERS

Introduction. Healthcare workers are at a high risk of emotional burnout due to their professional activities associated with constant mental and intellectual stress. The importance of timely diagnosed psychoemotional burnout syndrome (PEBS) determines the need to develop measures for its prevention. Material and methods. We have studied the working conditions, health status of healthcare workers; the indices of relative risk and etiological component of the contribution of work environment and the work process factors to the development of the identified pathology were calculated; the probability of the development of PEBS based on diagnostics of the emotional burnout level according to the method suggested by V.V. Boiko. Results. During occupational activities healthcare workers are exposed to chemical, biological, physical work environment factors, the severity and intensity of the work process. Indices of the work process intensity are assigned to the leading hazardous occupational factor according to which the class of working conditions is determined as hazardous Class 1-3. PEBS, diseases of the musculoskeletal, circulatory, digestive and respiration systems are classified as work-related ones. An assessment of the possibility of the development of PEBS has shown 35% of the healthcare workers to consider working conditions to be related to PEBS. The dependence of the development of somatic diseases on the presence or absence of PEBS is revealed. Conclusion. The working conditions of healthcare workers are characterized by the impact of a complex of occupational factors, the leading of which is the work process intensity. Diseases of the musculoskeletal system, circulatory and respiration systems, psycho-emotional burnout syndrome are classified as work-related diseases with a high degree of conditionality. The criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of preventive measures are the reduction of general, work-related and occupational morbidity, the preservation of psychosomatic well-being, and the prevention of economic damage from temporary and permanent disability.

The association between occupational stress and psychosomatic wellbeing among Chinese nurses

Occupational stress impairs nurses’ psychosomatic wellbeing, which includes anxiety, depression, sleep quality, and somatic symptoms; however, few studies have focused on the associations between the subdimensions of occupational stress [workload and time pressure (WTP), professional and career issues (PC), patient care and interaction (PCI), interpersonal relationships and management problems (IRMP), resource and environment problem (REP)] and psychosomatic wellbeing among nurses in China. This study thus examined these associations using a cross-sectional survey in Sichuan, China. An online application was devised to collect data, with the scales of sociodemographic and occupational variables, Nurse Job Stressor Questionnaire, the 9- and 15-item Patient Health Questionnaires, the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Investigation was completed by 2889 nurses (96.7% women; mean age = 31.20 ± 6.72 years). Relationships were identified by correlation and multivariate regression analyses. Most (68.3%) nurses had high levels of occupational stress. The multivariate analyses revealed that WTP was correlated with anxiety (P = .003). PC was associated with depression (P = .033) and sleep quality (P = .078). PCI was correlated with anxiety (P = .031) and somatic symptoms (P = .005). IRMP was associated with anxiety (P = .018), depression (P = .001), and somatic symptoms (P = .025). Lastly, REPs had nonsignificant relationships with depression, anxiety, sleep quality, and somatic symptoms. In sum, nurses had high levels of occupational stress; therefore, a series of strategies should be implemented to help nurses cope with the above issues, which could promote nurses’ psychosomatic wellbeing, and have a buffering effect on nurses’ depression, anxiety, poor sleep quality, and somatic symptoms.

Being alone together: A longitudinal dyadic analysis on the impact of loneliness and relationship quality on well-being in couples coping with disability

Introduction Persons with physical disabilities and their caregiving partners are at an increased risk of experiencing reduced well-being. One potential explanation for this trend may be the potentially harmful effects of loneliness and poor relationship quality, which this population is frequently exposed to. Both loneliness and poor relationship quality have been found to elicit a stress response, which is detrimental for psychosomatic health and well-being. To date, little is known about how the perceptions of loneliness and relationship quality within couples coping with a disability affect well-being, furthermore the directionality of effect is not well understood. Methods In this study, we investigate the actor and partner effects, and the reciprocal effects of loneliness and relationship quality on well-being. The analyses are based on longitudinal dyadic data from the pro-WELL study (n = 246), a Swiss community survey of persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) and their partners. Data was collected over a 12-month period using telephone interviews and questionnaires. We employed mixed effects modelling to explore actor and partner effects and used cross-lagged path analysis to explore reciprocal effects. Both of these analyses were stratified by role, i.e. persons with SCI and caregiving partners. Results We found loneliness to be more prevalent in persons with SCI compared to their caregiving partners. In caregiving partners, we found significant actor effects of loneliness (β=−0.20; CI: −0.31, −0.10) and relationship quality (β=0.15; CI: 0.04, 0.26) on well-being, and significant partner effects of relationship quality on well-being (β=0.21; CI: 0.10, 0.32). In persons with SCI, only the actor effect of loneliness was significant (β=−0.30; CI: −0.41, −0.18). Over time, loneliness demonstrated reciprocal associations with well-being, as did relationship quality in caregiving partners, indicating a possible cycle of positive development between reducing loneliness, improving relationship quality and enhancing well-being. Conclusions The findings of our study highlight the high prevalence of loneliness in persons with SCI and the importance of reducing loneliness and strengthening relationship quality in order to improve well-being in partnerships of persons coping with disability. It may also inform the trial and evaluation of targeted interventions, which promote qualitative aspects of social relationships in order to enhance well-being.

Well-Being and Functioning at Work Following Thefts and Robberies: A Comparative Study.

Thefts and robberies may be traumatizing experiences for employees. The aim of this study is to explore to what extent experiencing robberies and/or thefts at work affect workers' mental health, coping-self-efficacy, social support seeking, workload and job satisfaction. Drawing on Conservation of Resources theory, this research contributes to our understanding of the psychological sequelae of robbery and theft for employees working in small businesses. The few studies on the effects of robberies and thefts in the past have predominantly focused on bank employees. A sample of Italian tobacconists and jewelers completed an anonymous self-report questionnaire examining the experience of robbery and/or theft, social support seeking (Coping Orientation to Problem Experienced scale, COPE-IV), psycho-somatic well-being (General Health Questionnaire, GHQ-12), job satisfaction (a single item). Victims of thefts and/or robberies reported their PTSD symptoms (Impact of Event- Revised 6, IES-R-6) and trauma-related coping self-efficacy (Coping Self-Efficacy scale, CSE-7), based on the last event (N = 319). Descriptive analyses, ANOVA, ANCOVA and multiple regressions analyses have been carried out. The results indicated that victims of thefts and robberies experienced greater workload, higher psycho-physical complaints and greater tendency to seek social support in comparison with their non-affected counterparts. They additionally experienced more post-traumatic symptomatology and perceived lower coping self-efficacy, when compared to those who experienced thefts “only.” Multiple regression analyses revealed that CSE was positively related to job satisfaction, although the presence of psycho-physical symptoms was the main predictor of job satisfaction among both non-affected and affected employees. PTSD was not an independent predictor of job satisfaction. In sum, robberies and/or thefts exposure undermines differently workers' well-being.

Zen and the Art of Living Mindfully: The Health-Enhancing Potential of Zen Aesthetics

Amidst the burgeoning enthusiasm for mindfulness in the West, there is a concern that the largely secular 'de-contextualized' way in which it is being harnessed is denuding it of its potential to improve health and well-being. As such, efforts are underway to 're-contextualize' mindfulness, explicitly drawing on the wider framework of Buddhist ideas and practices in which it was initially developed. This paper aims to contribute to this, doing so by focusing on Zen Buddhism, and in particular on Zen aesthetic principles. The article concentrates on the seven principles identified by Hisamatsu (1971) in his classic text Zen and the Fine Arts: kanso (simplicity); fukinsei (asymmetry); koko (austere sublimity); shizen (naturalness); daisuzoku (freedom from routine); sei-jaku (tranquillity); and yūgen (profound grace). The presence of these principles in works of art is seen as reflecting and communicating insights that are central to Buddhism, such as non-attachment. Moreover, these principles do not only apply to the creation and appreciation of art, but have clear applications for treating health-related issues, and improving quality of life more generally. This paper makes the case that embodying these principles in their lives can help people enhance their psychosomatic well-being, and come to a truer understanding of the essence of mindful living.

Impact of Women Circumcision on Mental Health

Female genital mutilation / cutting is a damaging traditional procedure, that affects the psychosomatic wellbeing of women and girls all over the world. It has short-term and long-term of psychological, sexual and physiological effects on women. The objective of current study was to measure the mental health of circumcised women and compare them with non-circumcised women in Kurdistan province of Iran. A total number of 208 married women (104 circumcised-women and 104 non-circumcised-women) those who referred to the healthcare centers for vaccination, midwifery, or family planning services in Kurdistan province of Iran, were selected as the population of study. General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) was administered among the participants for data gathering. Gathered Data was analyzed using the soft-ware package of SPSS version 23 by utilizing independent t-test. P-value of less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. The findings indicated that there was a major difference in the term of mental well-being between two groups of circumcised and non-circumcised women. The study concluded that circumcised women lose the pleasure of their life as a consequence of female genital mutilation/ cutting. Awareness about mental and psychical status of circumcised women could help them to be prevented from FGM/C procedures.