Fear Reduction Research Articles

Which near-death experience features are associated with reduced fear of death?

ABSTRACT Death is a common existential concern, and fear of death is widespread at subclinical levels. Near-death experiences (NDEs) are profound mystical experiences that may occur close to death, and they are usually followed by dramatic reductions in fear of death. The content of these experiences varies in each case, but NDEs tend to have common features among individuals and across cultures. While many studies using different tools to measure fear of death and death anxiety have documented their reduction after NDEs, we do not know the influence of specific NDE features on this effect. This research presents statistical correlations between features of NDEs and post-experience death attitudes, both negative and positive. We found that encountering mystical beings and having a life review during one’s NDE are the strongest predictors of reduced fear of death. Contrary to theoretical predictions, a sense of disembodiment is not associated with change in death attitudes. These findings can be used to design interventions aimed at reducing fear of death in vulnerable populations, including people at end-of-life. We also discuss these findings in the context of Terror Management Theory regarding death awareness as a motivator of human behaviour.

The feasibility and acceptability of a single-session Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) intervention to support women self-reporting fear of childbirth in a first pregnancy

Objective To assess the feasibility and acceptability of a single-session Acceptance and Commitment Therapy intervention to help women manage fear of childbirth during a first pregnancy. Design A mixed-methods approach including qualitative feedback and pre/post-intervention self-report measures. Pregnant women (14-37 weeks gestation) were recruited via the UK National Health Service and attended a single-session (<3 hours) Acceptance and Commitment Therapy intervention alongside routine antenatal care. Data were analysed using content and statistical analyses. Main outcome measures Fear of childbirth, anxiety and wellbeing were the main outcome measures. Secondary to these, intolerance of uncertainty and valued life domains (e.g. relationships, recreation) as hypothesised mechanisms of change, were also assessed. Results 33 expressions of interest were received, 21 women signed up, 15 participated, and 11 completed follow-up measures (participation rate: 33%). Findings demonstrated clinical and statistical reductions in fear of childbirth and anxiety alongside positive feedback on the intervention. Intolerance of uncertainty and wellbeing were low at baseline and remained unchanged. Conclusion A single-session Acceptance and Commitment Therapy intervention to manage fear of childbirth is potentially feasible and acceptable. A pilot randomised controlled trial is warranted. Further research should explore efficacy and how Acceptance and Commitment Therapy may reduce perinatal distress.

Recording of Falls in Elderly Fallers in Northern Greece and Evaluation of Aging Health-Related Factors and Environmental Safety Associated with Falls: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Elderly falls constitute a global problem with huge social and economic aspects. Fall risk factors are both intrinsic (physical and psychological) and extrinsic (related with environmental safety). Aim To record both intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors and their correlation in elderly fallers in order to suggest specific guidelines for their medical care and environmental modification inside and outside the home. Method The study involved 150 elderly fallers (median age 70 (67-74)), who completed a record containing information on known risk factors related to their health status, as well as information on the conditions and causes that led to the fall. Each fall was considered an independent event, while measurements were performed regarding balance, strength, their functional ability, and the fear of a possible fall. Descriptive analysis and frequency analysis were used to record the health and activity status of the participants as well as the fall-related environmental factors. Severity of each fall event across a variety of locations was examined using the Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance. Multiple linear regression was applied to examine the effect of the mean values of functional tests and medical records on the number of fall events. Results In the span of 12 months, a total of 304 fall events were recorded. Regarding location, 77.6% occurred indoors; more frequent were the bedroom (28.6%) and the bathroom (28%). The interior stairs (10.5%), the kitchen (4.9%), and the living room (3.3%) were the less frequent locations. Concerning danger, falling on the interior stairs caused the longest hospitalization, followed by the kitchen and the bathroom. Extrinsic factors that led to both indoor and outdoor falls were the administration of psychotropic medication, poor space ergonomics, lack of basic safety standards, and poor lighting conditions. Vision problems and dizziness resulted in more falls than other intrinsic factors. Furthermore, reduced performance in the FICSIT-4 test and the 30-Second Chair Stand Test, as well as high scores in the CONFbal–GREEK questionnaire and the Short FES-I, shows a linear relationship with an increased number of falls. Conclusions Ergonomic interventions can help prevent indoor elderly falls. Poor construction and lack of adequate lighting mainly cause outdoor falls. Regular eye examinations, management of vertigo, improvement of the balance and strength of the lower limbs, and reduction of fear of impending falls are the intrinsic factors that help prevent falls the most.

Mother-infant contact after birth can reduce postpartum post-traumatic stress symptoms through a reduction in birth-related fear and guilt

ObjectivesDespite the well-documented negative effects of posttraumatic stress symptoms following childbirth (PTSS-FC), research on protective factors for PTSS-FC is still missing. Aiming to fill this gap, we proposed and examined a process model through which maternal-infant skin-to-skin contact after birth reduces PTSS-FC by decreasing negative emotions, especially for women who had operative births. MethodIn this longitudinal study, pregnant women (N = 1833) were recruited at community and hospital medical centres in the center of Israel and through internet forums. At Time 1, during pregnancy, they rated their prenatal depressive symptoms which served as an indicator for prenatal vulnerabilities. At Time 2, two-months postpartum (N = 1371, 75% of the sample), they reported their mode of birth, whether they had skin-to-skin contact with their newborn after birth, their emotions during birth, and rated their current PTSS-FC. A moderated mediation analysis was used to examine the proposed model. ResultsGuilt and fear during birth mediated the association between mode of birth (instrumental or cesarean versus vaginal) and PTSS-FC. Skin-to-skin contact was related to reduced feelings of guilt and fear during birth, especially for women who had a cesarean section. ConclusionsOur results recognize the specific emotions that contribute to the development of PTSS-FC following operative births and show how skin-to-skin contact can possibly reduce them. As such they emphasize the importance of the implementation of skin-to-skin contact following childbirth, and especially following a cesarean section as recommended by the Baby Friendly Health Initiative (World Health Organization & UNICEF, 2009).

Psychological behavior management techniques to alleviate dental fear and anxiety in 4–14-year-old children in pediatric dentistry: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Child's uncooperative behavior can impede the efficient delivery of dental care. Therefore, in spite of exceeding availability of behavior management techniques there is a need to search for a psychological behavior management technique that effectively reduces fear and anxiety during dental treatment and instill a change in child's attitude toward the treatment and is also acceptable by the parents. The aim of our systematic review is to determine the efficacy of various psychological behavior management techniques in managing a child's behavior in pediatric dentistry by assessing the fear and anxiety levels, ease of use by the clinician, application in various operative procedures, and parental acceptance. A systematic search was conducted by two reviewers in databases PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane for the studies published from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2020. Studies included were clinical studies which evaluated the efficacy of various psychological behavior management techniques by evaluating the fear and anxiety levels and the changes in behavior during dental treatment in children aged between 4 and 14 years. The studies selected were then assessed for quality with the help of predetermined criteria which categorized the studies into high, medium, and low. Through search strategy, 7147 articles were yielded. After screening through titles and abstracts, 60 nonduplicated articles were selected which were further screened for full text. At the end, 15 articles were included in systematic review and 3 articles for meta-analysis. It was concluded that all the psychological behavior management techniques aided in reduction of fear and anxiety. In noninvasive procedures, conventional psychological behavior management techniques can be effective but in invasive procedures other newer psychological behavior management techniques showed better results. The aspect of parental acceptance regarding various techniques was not discussed in any of the included studies.

Effect of Pain Education on Quality of Life of Chronic Low Back Pain Patients

Background: Chronic low back pain is a very common symptom in populations everywhere and is responsiblefor more years lived with disability world wide than any other condition. It is a main cause of activity limitationand work absence, moreover, reduced mobility can lead to significant alterations inquality of life in the longterm.Objective: To find out the effect of pain education on Quality of life of chronic low back pain patients.Methodology: Forth is study 40 subjects with chroniclow backpain who fulfill these lection criteria wererecruited. Subjects have been divided into 2 groups based on simple random sampling (Lottery Method).Group A (Experimental Group) received pain education along with conventional exercises. Group B (ControlGroup) received only conventional exercises.Both groups received intervention for about 4 weeks with eachsession 45 minutes.Result: Participantsin both groups experienced reduction in pain,fear, disability and improvement in Quality oflife.Conclusion: The results of this study concluded that there was no significant difference between pain educationgroup and conventional exercise group.

Evaluation of a digital programme for final year nursing students during COVID-19

AimThe aim of this study was to evaluate a digital programme aimed to address COVID-19 related anxiety of final year undergraduate nursing students on returning to the clinical practice during the pandemic in South Africa. BackgroundIn South Africa, concern about the physical and psychological safety of nursing students resulted in the planning of a psychological first aid program to facilitate nursing students return to clinical practice. DesignA survey was conducted in September 2020 following the August 2020 return of final year nursing students to clinical facilities. MethodsAll final year nursing students were invited to participate in the study (N = 196). An online survey was circulated via WhatsApp asking respondents to rate their anxiety and fear of COVID-19 before and after return to practice following an intervention (eCOVID). Related pair analysis was done on the main outcome measures of anxiety, COVID-19 fears and concerns using Related Samples Wilcoxon Signed Rank tests. ResultsAfter the programme, the respondents reported a significant reduction in anxiety (W = 2.92, p =.004) and COVID fear (W=0.3.1, p =.001), specifically related to infecting family, being exposed to COVID-19 at work, propagating infection at work and lacking access to COVID-19 information and communication. ConclusionThe implementation of a dedicated digital programme, underpinned by a sound theory base of psychological first aid, may have decreased anxiety and fear in nursing students during clinical practice in the pandemic.Contribution: The study contributes to evidence on psychological first aid support of nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aleitamento materno e desmame precoce: uma reflexão sob a perspectiva da enfermagem

The aim was to reflect on breastfeeding and early weaning from a nursing perspective. This is a reflection study using scientific studies published in SciELO and VHL sources between 2015 and 2020 and documents from the Ministry of Health based on the Theoretical Myra Estrin Levine. It emphasizes the importance of exclusive breastfeeding up to six months of life and how the different daily situations can make this process more difficult, especially if there is a lack of information. The Holistic Theory of Nursing appears on the scene to establish nursing as an intervention between patient and environment, providing reduction of fears, inflammation, stress and assistance in sensory response, that is, as a strategy to help mothers and babies through reception, guidance and interventions based on Science and in a holistic way. Breastfeeding does not need to be marked by difficulties and traumas, given adequate guidance and support throughout the pregnancy and postpartum process, it can and should be pleasurable and beneficial for the mother-baby binomial.

Mechanisms of Action Underlying Virtual Reality Exposure Treatment in Spider Phobia: Pivotal Role of Within-Session Fear Reduction

Mechanisms of Action Underlying Virtual Reality Exposure Treatment in Spider Phobia: Pivotal Role of Within-Session Fear Reduction

Consumer stockpiling under the impact of a global disaster: The evolution of affective and cognitive motives

Although consumer stockpiling is a prevalent phenomenon under the threat of a disaster, little is known about its underlying mechanisms. Leveraging consumer interviews, we build a theoretical framework that identifies two major motives for stockpiling: fear and expectations of a supply shortage. Using the COVID-19 pandemic as a viable context, through a global survey across 31 countries and search datasets from Google in the United States and 6 additional countries, we find that: (1) both fear and expectations of a supply shortage lead to stockpiling; (2) the relative prevalence of these motives evolves over the progression of the disaster, with the boost and subsequent reduction in fear being more pronounced than for expectations of a supply shortage; and (3) the impact of a disaster on fear is attenuated when consumers have high trust in the government. These findings can help retail managers and public policymakers to make more informed decisions.

Individuals progressive tension protocol in the application of elastic bandage in nonspecific chronic low back pain: a case study

Introduction: Low back pain is a disorder of musculoskeletal origin of multifactorial character, which can become chronic when it persists for more than 3 months. It is expected that 80% of the world's population will present with low back pain at some stage of life, characterizing it as a serious public health condition that requires specific interventions for treatment. Given the context, elastic banding arises, a resource that can be useful to these patients, however, its effectiveness requires that the bandage be of quality that the therapist has experience and that its application is standardized, the latter being scarce in the current literature. Thus, the present study sought to observe what would be the application of a progressive tension protocol with elastic bandage in an individual with nonspecific chronic low back pain. Methods: A 47-year-old female, caregiver of the elderly and diagnosed with nonspecific chronic low back pain participated in the study. The treatment protocol lasted 10 weeks, where the elastic bandage was applied to the participant and in the first and last session, in addition to the report of the level of pain obtained through the Numerical Pain Scale (END), the following questionnaires were used to evaluate: Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Survey of Pain Attitude (SOPA-B) and Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ). Conclusion: The findings suggest that the application of elastic bandage following the progressive tension protocol promoted a reduction in disability index, pain and fear of movement, such outcomes can be considered clinically relevant, given the constant search for therapeutic techniques that provide improvement in the quality of life of patients with chronic low back pain.&#x0D;

TECHNIQUES, STRATEGIES AND CRIME PREVENTION APPROCHES FOR CRIME REDUCTION IN NIGERIA

The primary role of the government is to provide safety and security of members of the society and must ensure that this particular constitutional mandate is achieved. Holistic measures are required to address crime and insecurity that is prominent in all communities in Nigeria. Crime prevention is a proactive activities and synergies between government, criminal justice system and the other role players. These activities are geared towards prevention and reduction of crime and fear of crime. It is crucial to identify root causes of crime and disorderly events, thereafter, develop crime prevention strategies and plans to address and reduce crime and its potential consequences. The paper focuses on the evaluation of strategies and approaches adopted by the criminal justice system and law enforcement in addressing crime in Nigeria communities. The study adopted qualitative methodology. Interview technique was used to collect data from carefully selected participants. Finding reveals that crime prevention includes all activities which reduce, deter, or prevent the occurrence of crime, cooperation with the community is mandated in the form of community policing, sector policing in addressing issues like poverty and unemployment through government’s redistributions strategy, criminal justice officials are not implementing crime prevention approaches effectively. Recommendation includes; specialized training for police and partners involved in crime prevention, educate role players and partners on the implementation of effective crime prevention approaches, techniques and strategies, crime problem must be addressed from the grass-root, need to recognize crime victims, the environment, the predisposing and precipitating factors that led to crime, when developing plans and intervention, need to adopt technology in the fight against crime and crime prevention.

The Antecedents of Price Consciousness and Value Purchase in Times of Crisis

The successive economic crises around the world have resulted in social uprisings and a negative impact on the psychological behavior of consumers. This research aims to study the antecedent's price perception in times of crisis and to test their impacts on the price sensitivity and consciousness value. This leads to a new valuation of the purchase experience for consumers. A quantitative study of 362 people is done. The main results of the study are the main history of price sensitivity in times of crisis: the concern for purchasing power, the reduction of financial well-being and financial fear. Moreover, the perceived value of the shopping experience is no longer valued by the hedonistic aspect but rather by an economic value linked to value for money and a spiritual value linked to the social aspect of consumption.

A dreaded delight: A longitudinal qualitative interview study of paternal childbirth fear during the transition to fatherhood.

INTRODUCTIONChildbirth is a life-changing event where fathers desire being involved. As fathers take a more active role, fear of childbirth can arise. The aim of this study was to explore fathers’ experiences of childbirth fear during pregnancy and after the birth of their baby.METHODSThis was a qualitative longitudinal prospective study that included 14 interviews with seven fathers, one during the prenatal period, and one follow-up interview after childbirth. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis according to Braun and Clark.RESULTSThe main theme ‘Being vulnerable during the transition to fatherhood’ was based on the perception of childbirth as risky with threats toward the woman’s and baby’s health, not being able to give and receive enough support, unable to handle the unknown process of birth, and not being a good father. Helpful strategies for coping with fear were to talk about fear, to learn more about childbirth and techniques on how to handle fear, and to avoid dealing with fear. Fathers’ fear of childbirth changed after the birth of their baby. Their thoughts of another childbirth did not evoke the same strong feelings of fear. Issues important for the reduction of childbirth fear were: receiving professional support, actively taking part in the childbirth process, and the partner having an uncomplicated birth.CONCLUSIONSFathers with childbirth fear regarded childbirth as risky, but they expressed helpful coping strategies. After the birth of their baby, they became less fearful. Quality of fear-reducing support to expectant fathers may influence how they cope with their transition into fatherhood.

The trajectory of fear of birth during and after pregnancy in women living in a rural area far from the hospital and its labour ward.

There is a growing interest in fear of childbirth. The prevalence, reasons and treatment have been investigated, but the development of fear of birth during and after pregnancy in a sample of women from a rural area is less studied. The aim of this study was to explore the trajectories of fear of birth and associated factors in a sample of women living in a rural area of Sweden. A longitudinal cohort study of women were recruited to a continuity-of-care project in mid-pregnancy and followed up 2 months after birth. Data were collected by two questionnaires. Fear of birth was assessed using the Fear of Birth Scale (FOBS) in mid-pregnancy, in retrospect after birth and looking forward to a possible future birth. The questionnaire was completed by 280 women in mid-pregnancy and by 236 women after giving birth. The mean FOBS fluctuated over time: it was highest in pregnancy, lower after birth and then increased once more when women were thinking about a future birth. Factors associated with developing fear after birth were mainly related to having had an emergency caesarean section, epidural, augmentation, or neonatal care that resulted in a less positive birth experience. Reduction of fear was associated with antenatal support. For some women, the levels of fear did not change, and these women were characterised with worse self-rated health but also more negative experiences of having given birth. Fear of birth seemed to change over time and was associated with women's emotional wellbeing, circumstances accompanying the actual birth and the whole birth experience. Support during pregnancy could change the trajectory of fear of birth. Women whose levels of fear were high rated their health lower and had a more negative birth experience. More research is needed into how best to help women overcome their fear of birth.

Preventing and reducing fear using positive modelling: A systematic review of experimental research with children

Fear of specific stimuli is thought to develop through associative learning mechanisms and research indicates that a form of observational (vicarious) learning known as positive modelling can counter these effects. This systematic review examined and synthesised the experimental positive modelling literature to establish its efficacy for reducing fear. Psych Info, Medline and the Psychology and Behavioural Science Collection databases were systematically searched until August 2021. Of the 1,677 papers identified, 18 experiments across 14 articles met the inclusion criteria. In the majority of these, positive modelling was found to lower fear levels in one or more of three procedures: fear prevention, fear reduction and fear reversal. Procedures inform prevention and treatment initiatives for specific phobias in several ways. The overall efficacy of positive modelling techniques and the ease in which they can be implemented highlight the importance of further research to evaluate their inclusion in prevention and treatment interventions. More research is required to establish the longevity and transferability of positive modelling.

Imaginal extinction and the vividness of mental imagery: Exploring the reduction of fear within the mind’s eye

Patients are encouraged to produce vivid mental imagery during imaginal exposure, as it is assumed to promote fear reduction. Nevertheless, the link between fear reduction and imagery vividness is unclear. We investigated the impact of vividness on fear responses using an experimental analogue of imaginal exposure - imaginal extinction - in which conditioned fear, measured with skin conductance, is reduced through exposure to mental imagery of the conditioned stimulus. We examined (1) if task-specific vividness (high vs low) of the conditioned stimulus during imaginal extinction moderated the reduction of fear responses, and (2) if task-specific vividness influenced remaining fear responses 24 h later. Findings suggest that high vividness may be advantageous for fear reduction during imaginal extinction, but it may not influence fear responses in the longer term. A possible clinical implication is that high imagery vividness during imaginal exposure may not be vital for overall treatment outcome. As high vividness is associated with increased levels of distress, a future direction would be to explore whether similar fear reduction can be obtained with less vivid imaginal exposure and thereby make treatment tolerable for more patients

"Developing Capabilities". Inclusive Extracurricular Enrichment Programs to Improve the Well-Being of Gifted Adolescents.

The educational inclusion of gifted students requires not only equity but also emotional accessibility and social participation. However, different studies indicate that gifted students constitute a vulnerable group (for example, the incidence of bullying is higher). Psychosocial variables are determinants for the development and expression of giftedness, particularly during adolescence. This study analyzes the impact of an inclusive extracurricular enrichment program for gifted secondary school students on the well-being of adolescents. The program was based on the enrichment model of Renzulli and Reis (2016). The objective was to develop a cluster to facilitate high-achieving learning in collaboration with teachers, administrators, and guidance counselors from their schools as well as university professors and students that would address their emotions and socialization across the board and benefit or involve their peers in their regular classrooms. The intervention took place over two years: eight sessions, one afternoon per week, for five months during each school year. The sample consisted of 47 students from the first and second years of compulsory secondary education (Educación Secundaria Obligatoria - ESO) (age, mean (M) = 12.57, standard deviation (SD) = 0.82) during the first year and 27 students from the first, second, and third years of ESO (age, M = 13.48, SD = 0.94) during the second year; 61.4% were girls. Participants completed a questionnaire before (T1) and (T3) and after (T2) and (T4) each intervention. The results show better outcomes for psychological and subjective well-being, more positive moods, and a significant reduction in school fears. The results from this study indicate the importance of educational screening and support for gifted students to promote their well-being through collaborative enrichment activities.

Casein kinase 1 epsilon and circadian misalignment impact affective behaviours in mice

Affective behaviours and mental health are profoundly affected by disturbances in circadian rhythms. Casein kinase 1 epsilon (CSNK1E) is a core component of the circadian clock. Mice with tau or null mutation of this gene have shortened and lengthened circadian period respectively. Here, we examined anxiety-like, fear, and despair behaviours in both male and female mice of these two different mutants. Compared with wild-type mice, we found reductions in fear and anxiety-like behaviours in both mutant lines and in both sexes, with the tau mutants exhibiting the greatest phenotypic changes. However, the behavioural despair had distinct phenotypic patterns, with markedly less behavioural despair in female null mutants, but not in tau mutants of either sex. To determine whether abnormal light entrainment of tau mutants to 24-h light-dark cycles contributes to these phenotypic differences, we also examined these behaviours in tau mutants on a 20-h light-dark cycle close to their endogenous circadian period. The normalized entrainment restored more wild-type-like behaviours for fear and anxiety, but it induced behavioural despair in tau mutant females. These data show that both mutations of Csnk1e broadly affect fear and anxiety-like behaviours, while the effects on behavioural despair vary with genetics, photoperiod, and sex, suggesting that the mechanisms by which Csnk1e affects fear and anxiety-like behaviours may be similar, but distinct from those affecting behavioural despair. Our study also provides experimental evidence in support of the hypothesis of beneficial outcomes from properly entrained circadian rhythms in terms of the anxiety-like and fear behaviours.

A group-based chronic pain intervention using the Unlearn Your Pain method: A retrospective one-arm cohort study

LAY SUMMARY Chronic pain is a frequent occurrence in military and Veteran populations. This study examined whether a group-based chronic pain treatment using the Unlearn Your Pain method was effective in reducing chronic pain in 21 military and Veteran participants. Participants completed measures of pain before and after engaging in the treatment, and results showed participants experienced large reductions in total pain and pain-related catastrophizing and moderate reductions in pain-related disability and pain-related fear of movement after completing the treatment. A smaller group of the participants completed the measures again eight weeks after completing treatment, and the size of their improvements was even greater. This study offers preliminary support for the use of the Unlearn Your Pain method as offered in a group format to military and Veteran populations. Further study is warranted.