Scale Short Form Research Articles

Sexual desire and erotic fantasies questionnaire: development and validation of the sexual desire scale (SDEF1).

The evolution in conceptualization of sexual desire has stimulated many attempts to measure it. However measures able to assess multiple expressions of desire in all sexual identities are still lacking. The main aim of the present study was to test the psychometric properties of the Sexual Desire and Erotic Fantasies questionnaire - Part 1 Sexual Desire (SDEF1), developed as a sex-positive measure of different sexual desire expressions. The SDEF1 was assessed in 1773 participants from the Italian general population (1105 women, 645 men, and 23 other genders; ranged between 18-78 years old, mean age 29.31 ± 10.35) on an online survey, together with the Sexual Desire Inventory - 2, the International Index of Erectile Function, the Female Sexual Function Index, and the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale-Short Form. Results support a factorial structure of six dimensions, including 28 items and accounting for 58.11% of the total variance: sexual desire, negative feelings to sexual desire, autoerotic desire, regular partner desire, attractive person desire, and responsive desire. The confirmatory factorial analysis showed satisfactory indexes (RMSEA = 0.042 [90% CI = 0.039-0.045]; GFI = 0.97; NFI = .96; and CFI = 0.97). Regression coefficients ranged from 0.39 to 0.94 and were all statistically significant (p < 0.001). The SDEF1 showed good psychometric properties such as internal reliability, construct, and discriminant validity, and to differentiate women and men with and without sexual difficulties. Men reported significantly higher levels of desire than women in all areas except for desire for a regular partner, were no gender difference was detected. Desire for autoerotic activity was the factor accounting for more variance explained among genders (11.7%). The SDEF1 could be a useful measure to assess different areas of sexual desire and its use could be recommended for clinical and research purposes.

The effects of the Mindfulness, Acceptance and Self-Compassion in Sport (MASCS) program on the sport anxiety and self-compassion of elite tennis players

This study examined the effect of a twelve-session Mindfulness, Acceptance and Self-Compassion in Sport (MASCS) program on self-compassion and somatic anxiety, worry and concentration disruption sub-dimensions of sport anxiety in elite tennis players. A randomized control group pretest and post-test experimental design was used in this study. The study involved sixteen elite tennis players attending a tennis club. Their ages ranged between 12 and 18 years, with a mean age of 14.25. The Sport Anxiety Scale-2 and the Self-Compassion Scale–Short Form were used as data collection instruments before and after the program. Elite tennis players in the experimental group participated in the MASCS program once a week for twelve weeks. The results showed that after the MASCS program, there was an increase in self-compassion and a decrease in somatic anxiety, worry, and concentration disruption sub-dimensions of sport anxiety in the experimental group. There were also significant differences between self-compassion and the somatic anxiety and concentration disruption sub-dimensions of sport anxiety post-test scores of the experimental and control groups in favor of the experimental group. These findings suggest that elite athletes can improve their ability to cope with anxiety in sports by practicing mindfulness and self-compassion exercises.

The association of back pain with physical inactivity and hypothyroidism in pregnant women.

During pregnancy, structural and functional changes usually occur in the body, which has various consequences, including lower back pain (LBP) and hypothyroidism. One of the risk factors for these problems is physical inactivity. This study aimed to investigate the association of back pain and physical inactivity, weight gain, and hypothyroidism in pregnant women. In this cohort study, 420 pregnant women (26.333 ± 5.820 years old) were included. At first, participants answered this question: "Do you have any plans for pregnancy in the next month?" If the answer was yes, further evaluations were performed. The physical activity and pain intensity were measured by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-S) and Visual Analogue Scale. Serum TSH was measured by automated chemiluminescence and commercial kits. Measurements were conducted before, the first, second, and third trimester of pregnancy. Women reporting LBP were less engaged in physical activities and weight gained in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy was significantly higher than pregnant women without LBP (p< 0.05). TSH level and weight gained in pregnant women with low physical activity level was significantly higher than pregnant women with moderate and high physical activity (p< 0.05) (without significant difference in TSH and BMI). The physical inactivity (before: OR: 1.11 95% CI: 0.89 to 1.22; first trimester: OR: 1.09 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.59; second trimester: OR: 0.92 95% CI: 0.87 to 1.31; third trimester: OR: 1.12 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.39), TSH (OR: 0.85 95% CI: 0.57 to 1.29), and weight gain (second trimester: OR: 0.87 95% CI: 0.92 to 1.59; third trimester: OR: 1.44 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.98; p< 0.05) did predict increased pain intensity. Using health-oriented approaches to increase physical activity and normalize thyroid function and weight gain during pregnancy can have beneficial effects on LBP.

When does disruption of meaning in bereavement become debilitating? Screening for deleterious outcomes with the ISLES-SF

Meaning reconstruction is a central process in bereavement adaptation. However, clinical measures or means for identifying individuals whose struggles with meaning making have become dysfunctional have yet to be developed for clinicians to readily use in practice. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic effectiveness of the Integration of Stressful Life Experiences Scale-Short Form (ISLES-SF) for measuring clinically significant struggles with meaning making of loss. The results of this study of 118 bereaved adults support the diagnostic use of the ISLES-SF (sensitivity of 83% and specificity of 73%), as well as an identified cut-score (≥ 14) that researchers and clinicians can employ to accurately and efficiently identify those whose difficulties with making meaning of loss have become debilitating. The results also showed that those who scored in the clinical range of the ISLES-SF displayed higher levels of anxiety, depression and prolonged grief than those not struggling with meaning making.

Mothers' Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy after a High-Risk or Normal Pregnancy: A Greek Longitudinal Cohort Study.

the objective of this longitudinal study (from pregnancy to the end of the sixth month postpartum) is to elucidate the association between maternal self-efficacy, defined as a mother's confidence in her ability to breastfeed, and breastfeeding outcomes. This prospective cohort study was conducted among high-risk pregnant women (including those with conditions such as gestational diabetes, hypertension, pre-eclampsia, and other pathological medical conditions) and normal-risk pregnant women in Greece. The high-risk group included 164 women, while the normal-risk group comprised 154 women. Data were collected using validated psychometric scales, including the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Maternal Antenatal Attachment Scale, and Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale. Higher maternal self-efficacy was significantly associated with a longer duration and greater exclusivity of breastfeeding. A statistically significant relationship between the type of breastfeeding and the degree of breastfeeding self-efficacy was observed at multiple postpartum milestones: in the first and third 24 h postpartum, and at the end of the sixth week, third month, and sixth month postpartum. The findings underscore the critical role of maternal self-efficacy in breastfeeding success, influenced by individual psychological factors and broader socio-cultural contexts. Strengthening maternal self-efficacy is essential for improving breastfeeding outcomes.

Can a global score be derived from the Integration of Stressful Life Experiences Scale-Short Form (ISLES-SF)? Empirical support for a bi-factor model

The Integration of Stressful Life Experiences Scale-Short Form (ISLES-SF) is a popular, two-factor measure of meaning-making. Although researchers have used this instrument to calculate a global index of meaning-making, there has been little evidence to support this practice. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the validity of this approach by analyzing data from 2,380 American adults during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. A series of confirmatory factor analyses, reliability analyses, and concurrent validity analyses support a bi-factor model of meaning-making. These results affirm the practice of not only using the ISLES-SF to measure meaning-making at a global level, but also to interpret its two specific dimensions (Comprehensibility and Footing in the World) as well.

Caregiver Predictions of Their 3- to 6-Year-Old Child Who Stutters' Communication Attitude.

Caregivers share critical insight during their child's stuttering evaluation; yet, there have been no empirical studies evaluating whether caregivers provide similar accounts of their 3- to 6-year-old child's communication attitude compared to their child's self-report. This study examined caregiver- and child-reported communication attitude and assessed potential moderators of more comparable caregiver and child ratings (i.e., caregiver confidence, caregiver-child conflict, observer-rated stuttering severity). One hundred thirteen children who stutter ages 3 through 6 years and a primary caregiver were recruited from clinical settings across the United States. Children completed the Communication Attitude Test for Preschool and Kindergarten Children Who Stutter (KiddyCAT) and three speaking samples, which were recorded to assess observer-rated stuttering severity using the Stuttering Severity Instrument-Fourth Edition. Caregivers predicted their child's communication attitude (C-KiddyCAT) and provided a confidence rating for their prediction. Caregivers also rated caregiver-child conflict using the Child-Parent Relationship Scale-Short Form (CPRS-SF). Multiple regression was used to (a) evaluate whether caregiver C-KiddyCAT scores predicted child KiddyCAT scores and (b) assess potential moderators of the relationship between C-KiddyCAT and KiddyCAT scores. Caregiver ratings of their child's communication attitude (C-KiddyCAT) predicted child communication attitude ratings (KiddyCAT). A significant interaction between caregiver-child conflict (CPRS-SF) and caregiver ratings of their child's communication attitude (C-KiddyCAT) suggested caregiver-child conflict changed the underlying relationship between C-KiddyCAT and KiddyCAT scores, such that low conflict resulted in more similar C-KiddyCAT and KiddyCAT scores. Neither caregiver confidence nor observer-rated stuttering severity influenced the relationship between C-KiddyCAT and KiddyCAT scores. Although many caregivers predicted communication attitude ratings that closely aligned with their child's report, some caregiver-child dyads provided divergent ratings. Clinicians should interpret caregiver predictions of their child's communication attitude within the context of their full evaluation and the caregiver-child relationship. Assessing both self-reported communication attitude and caregiver predictions of their child's communication attitude provides a meaningful starting point to counseling caregivers about cognitive components of stuttering for preschool- and kindergarten-age children who stutter.

The relationship between basic psychological needs satisfaction, career adaptability and career construction in nursing students: A career construction theory perspective

AimTo determine (i) the relationship between basic psychological needs satisfaction (competence, relatedness and autonomy), career adaptability and career construction, (ii) the role of career adaptability in this relationship and (iii) the variables that predict career construction in nursing students. BackgroundCareer Construction Theory, which predicts that appropriate career behaviour, facilitated by individual characteristics, promotes a person's career outcomes, has not yet been tested in nursing students. DesignCross-sectional and correlational design. MethodsA total of 536 students who were reached through a snowball sampling method among nursing students in the 2022–2023 academic year in Türkiye constituted the sample of the study. Data were collected online using the Student Information Form, the Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction Scale, Career Adapt-Abilities Scale–Short Form and the Student Career Construction Inventory. Data analysis was performed using Model 4 in Hayes' PROCESS Macro and hierarchical linear regression. ResultsAutonomy, competence and relatedness were found to have a direct significant effect on career adaptability and overall career construction score (p<.001). Career adaptability was found to have a partial mediating role in the effect of autonomy, competence and relatedness on overall career construction score (p<.001). When examining the predictor variables for the career construction score, it was found that some variables, such as not having willingly chosen the nursing profession, had a negative effect, while a positive effect was found in the need for competence from the basic psychological needs satisfaction subscales and concern and confidence from the career adaptability subscales (p<.05). ConclusionsNursing educators should ensure that nursing students receive career counseling during their education according to Career Construction Theory to make effective career decisions by allowing them to self-identify and self-discover. Accordingly, career guidance, career education and career counseling initiatives can be implemented in accordance with students' needs.

Breastfeeding Efficacy among Primiparous Mothers: A Survey from Lahore

Background: Breastfeeding is the natural process of infant feeding on milk produced by mothers. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and continued breastfeeding until at least 24 months to support optimal growth. A mother’s belief in her ability to breastfeed, known as breastfeeding self-efficacy, significantly impacts her breastfeeding experience and success. Objective: To determine the level of breastfeeding self-efficacy among primiparous mothers in Lahore. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted over six months, from June 2023 to December 2023, in various hospital settings. Data were collected from 150 primiparous mothers selected through nonprobability convenient sampling. Inclusion criteria were primiparous mothers aged 20 to 35 years who had been breastfeeding for at least three months. Exclusion criteria included mothers with a history of cancer or hepatitis and those unable to provide informed consent. The Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (BSES-SF) was used to collect data, which was then entered and analyzed using SPSS version 25. BSES-SF is a 14-item self-administered questionnaire with a 5-point rating scale, where a score of 1 indicates “no confidence at all” and a score of 5 represents “very confident.” Total scores range from 14 to 70, with higher scores reflecting higher self-efficacy. Scores were categorized into low (14-33), medium (33-53), and high (53-70) self-efficacy. Results: Out of 150 primiparous mothers, 4 (2.7%) had low breastfeeding self-efficacy, 93 (62.0%) had medium self-efficacy, and 53 (35.3%) had high self-efficacy. The age of participants ranged from 20 to 34 years, with a mean age of 25.02 years (SD = 3.18). Education levels were 42.2% intermediate, 32.7% undergraduate, and 24.7% postgraduate. Employment status showed 27.0% employed and 73.0% unemployed. Conclusion: The majority of primiparous mothers reported a moderate level of breastfeeding self-efficacy. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to enhance breastfeeding confidence among new mothers.

The Feasibility and Efficacy of a Virtual Reality Tandem Cycling Program for Persons with Parkinson's Disease and Their Care Partners.

Persons with Parkinson's disease (PwPD) suffer from motor and non-motor symptoms which significantly affect their quality of life (QoL), and the QoL of their care partners (CP). Tandem cycling reduces PwPD motor symptoms; however, no studies have examined other benefits or included PwPD CP. We conducted an 8-week community virtual reality (VR) tandem cycling intervention to assess the feasibility and efficacy for PwPD and their CP (i.e., PD dyads). We hypothesized that dyadic tandem cycling would improve (1) PwPD motor and non-motor symptoms and (2) dimensions of PD dyads' QoL and physiologic health. Ten PD dyads were recruited to complete 8weeks of progressive intensity, bi-weekly tandem cycling. At pre- and post-testing, PwPD were assessed using the Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale-III (MDS-UPDRS-III), functional gait assessment (FGA), and 10-m gait speed test. PD dyads also completed emotional and cognitive status questionnaires [e.g., Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form (GDS-SF)], and wore BodyGuard 2 heart rate (HR) monitors for 48h to assess surrogate measures of heart rate variability. Statistical analyses were conducted using Student's t tests with significance set at p ≤ 0.05. Eight PD dyads and one PwPD completed the intervention. Retention of PwPD (90%) and CP (80%) was adequate, and PD dyad adherence ranged from 91.67 to 97.91%. PwPD demonstrated significant clinical improvements in MDS-UPDRS-III scores (-7.38, p<0.01), FGA scores (+3.50, p<0.01), and 10-m gait speed times (+0.27m/s, p<0.01), in addition to significant self-reported improvements in mobility (-13.61, p=0.02), fatigue (-5.99, p=0.02), and social participation (+4.69, p<0.01). CP depressive symptoms significantly decreased (-0.88, p=0.02), and PD dyads shared a significant increase in root mean square of the successive differences (RMSSD; p=0.04). Our pilot study demonstrated feasibility and multiple areas of efficacy supporting further investigation of community VR tandem cycling as a therapeutic intervention for PD dyads.

The Mediator Role of Resilience and Rumination in the Relationship between Forgiveness and Marital Adjustment

In the current study, the mediator role of resilience and rumination in the relationship between forgiveness and marital adjustment was examined. The participants of the study are 494 married individuals and 357 (72.3%) of them are female and 137 (27.7%) are male. Their ages are between 18 and 65 (M = 40.49±7.96). The Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale, The Resilience Scale-Short Form, the Ruminative Response Scale-Short Form and the Heartland Forgiveness Scale were used as the data collection tools in the study. In the analysis of the collected data, Pearson correlation analysis and structural equation model were used. As a result of the study, it was seen that resilience and rumination had a full mediator role in the relationship between forgiveness and marital adjustment. The obtained findings were discussed in reference to the literature.

Factor Structure and Psychometric Properties of the Chinese Version of the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (Short Form) for Children: A Validation among 5672 Chinese Adolescents

Factor Structure and Psychometric Properties of the Chinese Version of the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (Short Form) for Children: A Validation among 5672 Chinese Adolescents

Effects of the "AI-TA" Mobile App With Intelligent Design on Psychological and Related Symptoms of Young Survivors of Breast Cancer: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Young women often face substantial psychological challenges in the initial years following cancer diagnosis, leading to a comparatively lower quality of life than older survivors. While mobile apps have emerged as potential interventions, their effectiveness remains inconclusive due to the diversity in intervention types and variation in follow-up periods. Furthermore, there is a particular dearth of evidence regarding the efficacy of these apps' intelligent features in addressing psychological distress with these apps. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a mobile app with intelligent design called "AI-TA" on cancer-related psychological health and ongoing symptoms with a randomized controlled design. Women aged 18 to 45 years diagnosed with breast cancer were randomly assigned to the intervention or control group. The intervention was AI-TA, which included 2-way web-based follow-up every 2 weeks. Both intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analyses employed repeated measurement analysis of variance. The participants' background features, primary outcomes (psychological distress and frequency, self-efficacy, and social support), and secondary outcomes (quality of life) were measured using multiple instruments at 3 time points (baseline, 1-month intervention, and 3-month intervention). A total of 124 participants were randomly allocated to the control group (n=62, 50%) or intervention group (n=62, 50%). In total, 92.7% (115/124) of the participants completed the intervention. Significant improvements in psychological symptoms (Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale-Short Form) were observed in the ITT group from baseline to 1-month intervention relative to the control group (ITT vs control: 1.17 vs 1.23; P<.001), which persisted at 3-month follow-up (ITT vs control: 0.68 vs 0.91; P<.001). Both the ITT and PP groups exhibited greater improvements in self-efficacy (Cancer Behavior Inventory-Brief Version) than the control group at 1-month (ITT vs PP vs control: 82.83 vs 77.12 vs 65.35; P<.001) and 3-month intervention (ITT vs PP vs control: 92.83 vs 89.30 vs 85.65; P<.001). However, the change in social support (Social Support Rating Scale) did not increase significantly until 3-month intervention (ITT vs control: 50.09 vs 45.10; P=.002) (PP vs control: 49.78 vs 45.10; P<.001). All groups also experienced beneficial effects on quality of life (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast), which persisted at 3-month follow-up (P<.001). The intelligent mobile app AI-TA incorporating intelligent design shows promise for reducing psychological and cancer-related symptoms among young survivors of breast cancer. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2200058823; https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=151195.

The Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (BSES-SF): German Translation and Psychometric Assessment.

German-speaking mothers have breastfeeding rates below the international breastfeeding recommendations. Previous research has found that breastfeeding self-efficacy is an important and modifiable predictor of breastfeeding outcomes, thus improving breastfeeding rates. The Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (BSES-SF) is used in many countries to assess maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy. This instrument has not been available in German. To translate the BSES-SF into German and assess its psychometric properties among breastfeeding mothers up to 12 weeks postpartum. This cross-sectional study was conducted online with 355 breastfeeding mothers recruited from breastfeeding groups through Facebook. The BSES-SF was translated into German using forward and back-translation. To test reliability, item-total characteristics, including Cronbach's alpha, were examined. We used principal component analysis, as well as known-groups comparisons for evaluating construct validity, and examined the relationship between breastfeeding self-efficacy and demographic variables. The mean age of participants was 32.4 years (SD = 4.32). The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was .88 and corrected item-total correlations ranged between .37 and .73. Principal components analysis yielded one component with factor loadings >.40 and an eigenvalue of 5.62, which explained 40% of the total variance. In addition, known group comparisons provided further evidence for construct validity. There was no significant difference in BSES-SF scores in terms of demographic and obstetrics characteristics. Our results provide evidence that the German version of the BSES-SF is a reliable and valid tool for measuring breastfeeding self-efficacy among mothers in German-speaking countries.

The Usefulness of a Revised Version of the Material Values Scale-Short Form in Italian Adolescents: Psychometric Evidence from Two Studies.

Background: Materialism is an attitude that considers material goods to be central in life. Nowadays, adolescents appear to have a high level of materialism, which is related to risky behaviors. Nevertheless, there is a lack of measurement tools with adequate psychometric properties to assess materialism in this age group. For this reason, two studies were conducted to investigate the psychometric properties of the original and short Material Values Scale (MVS) in adolescents. Methods: In Study 1, participants were randomly split into two subsamples to compare psychometric properties of the original version of MVS with those of the short one. The first subsample consisted of 1054 adolescents (58% male; Mage = 16.34; SD = 1.15), and the second one of 1058 adolescents (57% male; Mage = 16.26; SD = 1.04). In Study 2, the psychometric properties of a revised version of the short MVS (without item 8) were investigated to confirm its adequacy with a new sample composed of 1896 adolescents (60% male; Mage = 16.40; SD = 2.76). Results: Results of Study 1 showed that the short version appeared to be a better measuring tool with respect to the long form to investigate materialism in adolescents. Nevertheless, problems with item 8 emerged. Results of Study 2 attested to the adequacy of the psychometric properties of the revised version of the short MVS (by excluding item 8) in this age group, in terms of dimensionality, reliability, and validity. Conclusions: Findings show that the revised short version of the MVS could be a valid and reliable tool for measuring the multidimensional construct of materialism in Italian adolescents.

Efektifitas Edukasi Berbasis Family Centered Maternity Care terhadap Dukungan Keluarga dan Self Efficacy pada Ibu Postpartum dalam Pemberian Asi

This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of family centered maternity care-based education on family support and self-efficacy for postpartum mothers in breastfeeding. The method used is quantitative research with a quasi-experimental design with a pretest and posttest design with a control group. The sample in this study consisted of 52 respondents. The research instrument used a family support questionnaire modified from Nasution's family support questionnaire (2007) and a self-efficacy instrument using the Breastfeeding Self-efficacy Scale-Short Form (BSES-SF). Data analysis used the Paired T-Test and Independent T-Test. The results of research on the effectiveness of interventions on family support, P-Value 0.000 and self-efficacy 0.004. The conclusion is that education based on Family Centered Maternity Care is effective in increasing family support and self-efficacy for postpartum mothers in breastfeeding. Keywords: Education, Family Support, Family Centered Maternity Care, Self efficacy

Web-based interpretation bias training to reduce anxiety: A sequential, multiple-assignment randomized trial.

Web-based cognitive bias modification for interpretation (CBM-I) can improve interpretation biases and anxiety symptoms but faces high rates of dropout. This study tested the effectiveness of web-based CBM-I relative to an active psychoeducation condition and the addition of low-intensity telecoaching for a subset of CBM-I participants. 1,234 anxious community adults (Mage = 35.09 years, 81.2% female, 72.1% white, 82.6% not Hispanic) were randomly assigned at Stage 1 of a sequential, multiple-assignment randomized trial to complete five weekly sessions of CBM-I or psychoeducation on our team's public research website. After the first session, for Stage 2, an algorithm attempted to classify CBM-I participants as higher (vs. lower) risk for dropping out; those classified as higher risk were then randomly assigned to complete four brief weekly telecoaching check-ins (vs. no coaching). As hypothesized (https://doi.org/j2xr; Daniel, Eberle, & Teachman, 2020), CBM-I significantly outperformed psychoeducation at improving positive and negative interpretation biases (Recognition Ratings, Brief Body Sensations Interpretation Questionnaire) and anxiety symptoms (Overall Anxiety Severity and Impairment Scale, Anxiety Scale from Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-Short Form), with smaller treatment gains remaining significant at 2-month follow-up. Unexpectedly, CBM-I had significantly worse treatment dropout outcomes than psychoeducation, and adding coaching (vs. no coaching) did not significantly improve efficacy or dropout outcomes (notably, many participants chose not to interact with their coach). Web-based CBM-I appears effective, but supplemental coaching may not mitigate the challenge of dropout. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Increasing positive attitudes towards organ donation and improving the competence of coping with death through organ transplant nursing course: A two-group quasi-experimental study

AimThe aim of the study was to determine the effect of an organ transplant nursing course offered to nursing students on increasing positive attitudes towards organ donation and developing competence in coping with death. BackgroundIncorporating organ donation education into undergraduate nursing curricula and promoting of coping mechanisms for coping with death, has been emphasized as a critical foundation for the preparating of the next generation of nurses. DesignTwo-groups pre- and post-intervention evaluation quasi-experimental design study. MethodsThis study was conducted between February and July 2023 with a total of 237 nursing students studying at two different universities, 116 of whom took the organ transplant course and 121 of whom did not take the course. Sociodemographic Characteristics Form, Coping with Death Scale-Short Form and Organ Donation Attitudes Scale were used for data collection. Mann-Whitney U test, Chi-Square, t-test, Pearson correlation and linear regression were used to analyze the data. ResultsThere was a statistically significant difference between the students who took organ transplant nursing courses and those who did not in terms of the mean scores of coping with death competence and positive and negative attitudes toward organ donation (p<0.05). It was found that taking an organ transplant nursing course affected nursing students' coping with death competence and their positive and negative attitudes toward organ donation (p <0.01). ConclusionTaking the organ transplant nursing course was associated with improved competence in coping with death a increased positive and decreased negative attitudes.

Depression, quality of life, and cognitive abilities among older adults

The world’s population is aging at an increasing rate. According to the World Health Organization, the global population over 60 is expected to double between 2015 and 2050. Mental health is crucial at every stage of life, encompassing emotional, psychological, and social well-being. This study aimed to explore the relationship between cognitive abilities, depression, and quality of life among older adults as well as to investigate the impact of depression on cognitive abilities and quality of life. Convenience sampling was used to collect data from 107 older adults (61 females and 46 males) living in residential homes with the family or old age homes. Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-III, the Geriatric Depression Scale short form, and The World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version were used for administration. Non-parametric approaches using Mann Whitney U test, Spearman correlation, and linear regression were employed for data analysis. A significant difference in the levels of depression between older adults living at home with their families and older adults living in old age homes was found. Depression and cognitive abilities and depression and quality of life were found to be significantly negatively correlated. A significant regression equation was present depicting depression has a notable impact on both cognitive abilities and quality of life. The results of this study can contribute to raising awareness and acknowledging the presence of depression and its related effects among older adults, regardless of their living circumstances.

Differential Anxiety Responses in Acute Myocardial Infarction vs. COVID-19 Pneumonia Patients.

Background and Objectives: Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, concerns about the psychological impact of disease-related anxiety on public health have risen. This study aims to compare general and death anxiety levels between acute coronary artery syndrome and COVID-19 pneumonia patients. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study of 132 individuals, including acute myocardial infarction (MI), COVID-19 pneumonia patients, and healthy volunteers from Trakya University Hospital (Turkey), was analyzed. Validated scales like the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Coronavirus Anxiety Scale Short Form, and Thorson-Powell Death Anxiety Scale (TPDAS) were employed. Demographic data such as age, gender, income levels, employment status, presence of a close relative with COVID-19, and whether participants followed COVID-19-related news were collected and compared across groups with significance level of 0.05 set for all analyses. Results: Among 41 COVID-19, 41 MI, and 50 healthy subjects, the pneumonia group showed highest COVID-19 anxiety (p = 0.01) and BAI scores (p = 0.008). Both COVID-19 and MI patients had significantly higher BAI and TPDAS scores compared to healthy controls (p < 0.001). Factors like female gender (p = 0.004), low education (p = 0.003), current employment (p = 0.008), and low income (p = 0.002) correlated with higher BAI scores. Low income (p = 0.001) and COVID-19 news exposure (p = 0.002) correlated with higher TPDAS scores. Males and married patients had lower anxiety scores (p = 0.008). High income, education, and employment reduced anxiety levels (p = 0.008). TPDAS scores decreased with higher income (p = 0.001), but increased in the MI group (p = 0.002) with COVID-19 news exposure. The multivariate linear regression analysis found that MI and COVID-19 pneumonia were associated with TPDAS; female gender, university education, and COVID-19 pneumonia with the Beck scale; and COVID-19 pneumonia with anxiety scores on the COVID-19 Anxiety scale. Conclusions: This research showcases differing anxiety patterns between illnesses such as MI and COVID-19 pneumonia amidst the pandemic, emphasizing the amplifying influence of media coverage on death-related anxieties. It underscores the imperative of targeted interventions and socioeconomic considerations in managing psychological consequences and formulating responsive public health strategies.