Psychological Well-being Scores Research Articles

Effect of Immersive Virtual Reality Reminiscence versus Traditional Reminiscence Therapy on Cognitive Function and Psychological Well-being among Older Adults in Assisted Living Facilities: A randomized controlled trial

BackgroundVirtual reality (VR) reminiscence is an innovative strategy that integrates technology into the care of older adults. Limited research was conducted to compare the role of VR reminiscence and traditional RT in improving older adults' cognitive and psychological well-being. AimInvestigate the effect of virtual reality reminiscence versus traditional reminiscence therapy on cognitive function and psychological well-being among older adults in assisted living facilities. MethodsA randomized controlled trial research design was followed. Sixty older adults were recruited and randomly assigned to three equal groups (20 older adults for each group). ResultsPost interventions, a significant increase in the mean scores of cognitive function and psychological well-being was evident among the VR and RT groups with statistically significant differences (P <0.05) compared with pre-intervention and the control group. ConclusionApplication of VR reminiscence or traditional RT is efficacious in improving cognitive function and psychological well-being among institutionalized older adults.

OGBN O03 Quality of life of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease: findings from a systematic literature review

Abstract Background Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), affecting over a billion people worldwide, is associated with significant impairment and productivity loss. Understanding the quality of life among GERD patients may provide important clinical relevance to treatment management and highlight the patient perspective. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review of GERD and quality of life, including any potential effects on treatment management. Methods MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched for randomized controlled trials, case-control, and cohort studies published in English from 2013 to 2023. Eligible studies included adult GERD patients with quality of life data from a disease-specific or generic instrument. Data analysis contained a narrative synthesis of pre- and post-procedural total scores. Results Eight trials and 34 observational studies were included. The disease-specific instruments GERD Health-Related Quality of Life (GERD-HRQL) (n = 35) and Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI) (n = 4) had baseline mean scores ranging from 13.3 to 37.1 and 72.0 to 96.3, which changed to 1.3 to 31.6 and 94.8 to 119.8 post-treatment, respectively. Besides the Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) (n = 3), EQ-5D, Psychological General Well-Being (PGWB), SF-36, and GastroEsophageal Reflux Symptom Score (GERSS) were only used by single studies to evaluate the quality of life among GERD patients. In general, these results indicated an improvement post-treatment. Conclusions As a general finding, patients with GERD have poor quality of life and active treatment seems to influence and improve GERD patients’ quality of life, considering the pre-post results of GERD-HRQL and GIQLI scores. As expected, generic quality of life instruments are seldom used.

Internet gaming disorder and psychological well-being among university students in Egypt

BackgroundInternet gaming disorder (IGD) is a serious rising problem affecting people of all ages. Many researchers reported that students’ addictive gaming behavior resulted in the loss of function and the development of psychological problems. In this study, we aimed mainly to measure the prevalence of internet gaming disorder among Mansoura University students and find its relationship with psychological well-being.MethodsA cross-sectional observational study was carried out during the academic year (2021–2022) at the University of Mansoura. Students from four different faculties were included. Participants ages ranged from 18 to 25 years old. An online Google Form questionnaire gathering the tools (questionnaire of demographic and clinical data, Internet Gaming Disorder Short Form scale, Ryff’s scale of psychological well-being) was distributed among them.ResultsIn this study, 870 students were included. The age range was 18–25 years. They were divided into three groups: 315 normal gamers (36%), 500 risky gamers (58%), and 55 disordered gamers (6%), with no significant gender difference in each group (p-value = 0.138). A negative correlation was found between IGD and psychological well-being (r = -0.303).ConclusionsThe prevalence of IGD was 6% among Mansoura University students. Participants in the theoretical faculties who started playing internet gaming at a younger age and spent more than 2 h per week playing and more than 3 h per week thinking about playing internet games were more likely to develop IGD. Whenever IGD scores increased, psychological well-being scores were found to decrease (r = -0.303).

Does the Psychological Well-Being of Male and Female Tourism-Reliant Workers Differ During a Crisis Such as Covid-19? A Case of Fiji

Tourism was the major contributor to the GDP and employment in Fiji, which changed after COVID19. This study explores the psychological well-being of 82 tourism industry workers from tourism-dominant areas of Fiji who completed an online questionnaire assessing their past experiences, psychological well-being, and positive thinking attitude. A regression analysis was performed to analyze the results. The results showed that the psychological well-being and positive attitude scores were very high. An average score in positive feelings from past experiences and a below average negative attitude indicated that psychological well-being was slightly affected. Findings also reveal that the psychological well-being of males is positively linked to positive and negative experiences of the past. In contrast, for females, it is linked to positive past experiences. This indicates that studies should always account for male and female differences to better understand psychological wellbeing. These findings will enable the industry, government, and related stakeholders to respond to future crises. Practical implications are discussed.

Income loss and subsequent poor psychological well-being among the Chinese population during the early COVID-19 pandemic

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has had major ramifications for health and the economy at both the individual and collective levels. This study examined exogenous negative changes in household income and their implications on psychological well-being (PWB) among the Chinese population during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsData were drawn from the early China COVID-19 Survey, a cross-sectional anonymous online survey administered to the general population in China. Self-reported PWB was measured using a 5-point Likert scale with five questions related to the participants’ recent psychological state. Hierarchical multiple linear regression was employed to examine whether income loss during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with poor psychological health.ResultsThis study included 8,428 adults, of which 90% had suffered from a moderate or severe loss of household income due to the early COVID-19 pandemic. Those who had experienced moderate or severe loss of income scored significantly lower on psychological well-being than those who did not experience income loss (19.96 or 18.07 vs. 21.46; P < 0.001); after controlling for confounders, income loss was negatively associated with PWB scores (moderate income loss: B = − 0.603, P < 0.001; severe income loss: B = − 1.261, P < 0.001). An interaction effect existed between the degree of income loss and pre-pandemic income groups. Specifically, participants in the middle-income group who had suffered severe income loss scored the lowest on PWB (B = − 1.529, P < 0.001). There was also a main effect on income loss, such that participants with varying degrees of income loss differed across five dimensions, including anhedonia, sleep problems, irritability or anger, difficulty with concentration, and repeated disturbing dreams related to COVID-19.ConclusionsIncome loss during the pandemic has had detrimental consequences on psychological well-being, and the magnitude of the impact of income loss on psychological well-being varied according to previous income levels. Future policy efforts should be directed toward improving the psychological well-being of the economically vulnerable and helping them recover from lost income in the shortest time possible.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Psychological Well-Being of Caregivers of People with Dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on the psychological well-being of caregivers of people with dementia or mild cognitive impairment (PwD/MCI). Electronic databases were searched from inception to August 2022 for observational studies investigating the COVID-19 lockdown and psychological well-being of caregivers of PwD/MCI. Summary estimates of standardized mean differences (SMD) in psychological well-being scores pre- versus during COVID-19 were calculated using a random-effects model. Fifteen studies including 1702 caregivers (65.7% female, mean age 60.40 ± 12.9 years) with PwD/MCI were evaluated. Five studies found no change in psychological well-being parameters, including depression, anxiety, distress, caregiver burden, and quality of life. Ten studies found a worsening in at least one parameter: depression (six studies, n = 1368; SMD = 0.40; 95%CI: 0.09-0.71; p = 0.01, I2 = 86.8%), anxiety (seven studies, n = 1569; SMD = 1.35; 95%CI: 0.05-2.65; I2 = 99.2%), caregiver distress (six studies, n = 1320, SMD = 3.190; 95%CI: 1.42-4.95; p < 0.0001; I2 = 99.4%), and caregiver burden (four studies, n = 852, SMD = 0.34; 95%CI: 0.13-0.56; p = 0.001; I2 = 54.1%) (p < 0.05). There was an increase in depression, anxiety, caregiver burden, and distress in caregivers of PwD/MCI during the lockdown in the COVID pandemic. This could have longer term consequences, and it is essential that caregivers' psychological well-being is assessed and supported, to benefit both themselves and those for whom they care.

Vaccination after developing long COVID: Impact on clinical presentation, viral persistence, and immune responses

BackgroundVaccination protects against severe COVID-19 manifestations. For those with post-COVID-19 conditions (PCC) or long COVID, the impact of COVID-19 vaccination on the evolution of symptoms, immune responses, and viral persistence is unclear. MethodsIn this prospective observational cohort study, we evaluated the number of PCC symptoms, affected organ systems, and psychological well-being scores before and after patients with PCC received COVID-19 vaccination. We simultaneously evaluated biomarkers of systemic inflammation and levels of plasma cytokines/chemokines. We measured plasma and intracellular levels of SARS-CoV-2 antigens, and immunoreactivity to SARS-CoV-2 antigens in blood. ResultsCOVID-19 vaccination was associated with decreases in number of PCC symptoms (pre-vaccination: 6.56 ± 3.1 vs post-vaccination: 3.92 ± 4.02; P <0.001) and affected organ systems (pre-vaccination: 3.19 ± 1.04 vs post-vaccination: 1.89 ± 1.12; P <0.001), and increases in World Health Organization (WHO)-5 Well-Being Index Scores (pre-vaccination: 42.67 ± 22.76 vs post-vaccination: 56.15 ± 22.83; P <0.001). Patients with PCC also had significantly decreased levels of several pro-inflammatory plasma cytokines/chemokines after COVID-19 vaccination including sCD40L, GRO-⍺, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1⍺, interleukin (IL)-12p40, G-colony stimulating factor (CSF), M-CSF, IL-1β, and stem cell factor (SCF). PCC participants presented a certain level of immunoreactivity toward SARS-CoV-2, that was boosted with vaccination. SARS-CoV-2 S1 antigen persisted in the blood of PCC participants, mostly in non-classical monocytes, regardless of participants receiving vaccination. ConclusionsOur study shows higher pro-inflammatory responses associated with PCC symptoms and brings forward a possible role for vaccination in mitigating PCC symptoms by decreasing systemic inflammation. We also observed persistence of viral products independent of vaccination that could be involved in perpetuating inflammation through non-classical monocytes.

Longitudinal and transcultural assessment of the relationship between hallucinogens, well-being, and post-traumatic growth during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on the health and wellbeing of the global population. This paper presents the results of a longitudinal transcultural study that was begun at the peak of the pandemic (in April, 2020). An online survey was used to collect data from English-, Spanish-, and Portuguese-speaking participants. The survey collected information about sociodemographics, lifestyle activities, COVID-19-related circumstances, and drug use (with an emphasis on hallucinogenic drugs), as well as involving psychometric questionnaires. Users of hallucinogenic drugs had higher psychological well-being and lower scores on psychopathology scales, both at baseline and during follow-ups. This difference was larger when users were distinguished by frequency of use, as regular users scored higher on psychological well-being and lower on psychopathology scales. Subjects with more psychological distress had lower scores for all scales of post-traumatic growth, but if they were regular hallucinogens users, they had higher scores for post-traumatic growth. When comparing the results between cultural contexts, heterogeneous results were obtained. There were more English-speaking regular users of hallucinogenic drugs. Further research should analyse the potential role of hallucinogens in large-scale catastrophes, with a special focus on post-traumatic growth.

The Effect of Expressing Emotions on the Psychological Well-Being of Individuals Suffering From Chronic Musculoskeletal Diseases

Background and Objective: This study examines the effect of expressing emotions on the psychological well-being of individuals who have musculoskeletal disorders. Methods: This descriptive study was conducted with 111 individuals suffering from musculoskeletal diseases who were undergoing treatment in a university hospital in a metropolitan city in Turkey. Personal information forms, the Emotion Expression Scale, and Psychological Well-Being Scale were utilized in the research questionnaire. Results: A significant positive relationship was detected between expressing emotions and psychological well-being scores, and it was determined that expressing emotions positively influenced psychological well-being. Emotion expression accounted for 15.8 percent of psychological well-being (F=21.668, p&lt;0.001). It was also unearthed that there was a significant difference between the groups according to the variables of level of education, gender, marital status, family structure, personal history, and whether there was a history of illness in the family. The model explained 34.7% of the variance in psychological well-being (F=12.708, p&lt;0.001). In order of importance, expressing closeness (β=0.470; p&lt;0.001), a higher education level (β=0.249; p&lt;0.05), and expressing negative emotion (β=0.178, p&lt;0.05) variables positively predict psychological well-being. However, single marital status (β=-0.239, p&lt;0.05) predicts psychological well-being negatively. Conclusion: It has been observed that expressing emotions in musculoskeletal disorders contributes, albeit limited, to the level of psychological well-being. Accordingly, it is believed that encouraging individuals with musculoskeletal diseases to communicate their feelings with others or to express their feelings in various ways, providing supportive and reliable environments, and conducting therapeutic studies to increase their behaviors to express their feelings will contribute to patient care

Examination of the level of tolerance of uncertainty and psychological wellness of patients with epilepsy

AimThis study was conducted to examine the level of intolerance of uncertainty and the psychological well-being of patients with epilepsy (PWE). MethodsThis descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 201 patients in a university hospital in Van, which is a province in eastern Turkey. Personal information form, intolerance of uncertainty scale, and the psychological well-being scale were prepared by the researcher in line with the literature and used to collect data. An independent sample t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), post hoc (Tukey, LSD), correlation, and regression analyses were used to analyze the data. ResultsIn this study, the mean total score of PWE for the intolerance to uncertainty scale was found as 37.144 ± 9.202. Among the sub-dimensions, the mean prospective anxiety score was found as 21.821 ± 5.416 and the mean inhibitory anxiety score was 15.323 ± 4.695. The mean total score of the psychological well-being scale was found as 28.975 ± 6.622. It was determined that there was a significant relationship between the total score of the intolerance of uncertainty scale and the total score of the psychological well-being scale of the PWE who participated in the study (F = 14.314; p = 0.000 < 0.05). It was observed that the total score of intolerance of uncertainty was decreased as the total level of psychological well-being was increased (ß = −0.186). ConclusionIt was found that PWE had higher levels of intolerance of uncertainty and lower levels of psychological well-being. It was also determined that the total score of psychological well-being was decreased as the total score of intolerance of uncertainty was increased. RecommendationsFor preventing the negative consequences of intolerance of uncertainty in PWE, it is recommended to inform nurses to increase the level of psychological well-being as a result of raising awareness about their concerns by conducting studies to increase the level of intolerance to uncertainty. It is also recommended to carry out studies on intolerance of uncertainty and psychological well-being in advanced and larger sample groups.

The Effect of Distress Tolerance Training on Problematic Internet Use and Psychological Wellbeing Among Faculty Nursing Students: A Randomized Control Trial.

Distress tolerance skills have the potential to decrease problematic internet use and improve psychological wellbeing by cognitive reframing and goal-oriented problem-solving. To assess the impact of distress tolerance training on problematic internet use and psychological wellbeing among university nursing students. A randomized control trial used at the faculty of nursing using simple random sampling method. Tools: Distress Tolerance Scale, problematic internet use questionnaire, and Ryff psychological wellbeing scale. Data were collected from 60 nursing students over a period of 4 months. Distress tolerance level was increased among study group from 20.75±14.29 to 72.75±24.09 and sustained for 3 months to 62.44 ±20.77 with statistically significant (f=7.090, p=0.006) and large effect size 0.75. When compared to no change among the control group as mean scare start by 22.35±14.29 to 23.44±16.09 and after 3 months to 21.75± 17.44 with insignificant difference (f=0.454, p=0.574). The mean score of problematic internet use shows highly statistically significant decrement in the study group between three period of time (pretest= 62.93, immediately post= 52.13, and post 3 months=52.70) with large effect size 0.78 (f=95.029, p<0.001), in compared to control group that showed insignificant no changes (pretest= 64.0±14.54, immediately post= 63.13±12.87, and post 3 months=63.53±11.36) with (f=1.012, p=0.332). In addition, the total mean score of psychological well-being was increased immediately after therapy and later for three months of therapy (pretest= 128.47, immediately post=148.77, and post 3 months= 153.60) with highly statistically significant (f=41.197, p<0.001) with effect size 0.85, compared to no change among control group (pretest=125.97±32.58, immediately post= 126.23±30.86, and post 3 months=126.43±29.78) with (f=0.208, p=0.698). Efficacy of distress tolerance skills intervention had been proven in altering poor psychological wellbeing among students with problematic internet use. It helps students to learn new skills and use more adaptive strategies to overcome distress tolerance difficulties.

Enhanced recovery nursing and mental health education on postoperative recovery and mental health of laparoscopic liver resection.

Patients undergoing laparoscopic resection of liver metastases of colorectal cancer are prone to negative emotions and decrease of digestive function. Early nursing and psychological intervention are necessary. To observe the effect of enhanced recovery nursing combined with mental health education on postoperative recovery and mental health of patients undergoing laparoscopic resection of liver metastases of colorectal cancer. One hundred and twenty patients who underwent laparoscopic resection of liver metastases of colorectal cancer at our hospital between March 2021 and March 2023, were selected as participants. The patients admitted from March 1, 2021 to February 28, 2022 were set as the control group, and they were given routine nursing combined with mental health education intervention. While the patients admitted from March 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023 were set as the observation group, they were given accelerated rehabilitation surgical nursing combined with mental health education intervention. The differences in postoperative recovery-related indices, complications and pain degrees, and mental health-related scores were compared between groups. The T lymphocyte subset levels of the two groups were also compared. The postoperative exhaust, defecation, eating and drainage time of the observation group were shorter than those of the control group. The pain scores of the observation group were lower than those of the control group at 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h after surgery. The cumulative complication rate of the observation group was lower than that of the control group (P < 0.05). The CD4+/CD8+ in the observation group was higher than that in the control group 3 d after surgery (P < 0.05). After intervention, the self-rating depression scale, self-rating anxiety scale, avoidance dimension, and yielding dimension in Medical coping style (MCMQ) scores of the two groups were lower than those prior to intervention, and the scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The face dimension score in the MCMQ score was higher than that before intervention, and that of the observation group was higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05). After intervention, the total scores of the life function index scale (FLIC) and psychological well-being scores of cancer patients in the two groups, and the physical and social well-being scores in the observation group, were higher than those before intervention. The nursing satisfaction of the observation group was higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05). The physical, psychological, and social well-being, and the total FLIC scores of the observation group were higher than those in the control group after surgery (P < 0.05). Enhanced recovery nursing combined with mental health education can promote the recovery of gastrointestinal function, improve the mental health and quality of life of patients after laparoscopic resection of colorectal cancer liver metastases, and reduce the incidence of complications.

A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing the Psychological Impact of Traditional Cold Steel Adenoidectomy and Endoscopic-Assisted Cold Steel Adenoidectomy.

Traditional Cold Steel Adenoidectomy (TCSA) and Endoscopic-Assisted Cold Steel Adenoidectomy (EACSA) frequently employ surgical adenoid removal methods. While these techniques effectively treat adenoid- related conditions, their influence on patients' psychological well-being still needs to be more adequately explored. With the increasing focus on the significance of mental well-being in surgical results, this study sought to explore and differentiate the psychological impacts of TCSA and EACSA. The primary objective was to examine and compare anxiety levels between TCSA and EACSA groups. Secondary objectives included evaluating surgical apprehension, post- surgery psychological well-being, procedural satisfaction, postoperative pain, duration until return to daily activities, and occurrence of postoperative complications. In a prospective, randomized controlled trial, 100 patients undergoing adenoidectomy were randomly allocated to the TCSA or EACSA group. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was employed to evaluate anxiety levels at one week, one month, and three months following the surgery. Additional outcomes included surgical apprehension, post-surgery psychological well-being, procedural satisfaction, postoperative pain, time until return to daily activities, and postoperative complications. The EACSA group exhibited significantly lower HADS scores, surgical apprehension scores, and postoperative pain, alongside higher post-surgery psychological well-being scores and procedural satisfaction compared to the TCSA group (p < 0.05). Moreover, the EACSA group had a significantly shorter duration until the return to daily activities (p < 0.05). There were no significant variations found between the groups in terms of either the amount of bleeding during the procedure or the length of the operation. However, the EACSA group demonstrated a lower occurrence of postoperative complications, such as bleeding and infection. The results indicate that EACSA may provide benefits over TCSA in terms of reduced anxiety levels, surgical apprehension, postoperative pain, time until return to daily activities, and enhanced post-surgery psychological well-being and patient satisfaction. These findings could support clinicians in making informed decisions and offering patient counselling when choosing the most appropriate surgical technique based on patients' psychological health. Nevertheless, additional research is required to assess the enduring psychological consequences of these methods.

The Effect of Eight Weeks of Pilates Exercises on Anthropometric Indices and Subjective Well-being in Obese Middle-aged Women

Background: Exercise is one of the most effective means of enhancing subjective well-being, preventing obesity, and maintaining good health. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the impact of eight weeks of Pilates training on anthropometric indices and subjective well-being in obese middle-aged women. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 40 eligible obese middle-aged women of Khaf Fitness Plus Sports Club were voluntarily recruited and randomly assigned to Pilates and control groups. The Pilates group participated in eight weeks of Pilates exercises performed three times weekly. The subjective well-being survey and a checklist of anthropometric indices were completed for all individuals 24 hours before and 72 hours after the intervention. Data were analyzed in SPSS-15 statistical software using Kolmogorov-Smirnov, independent t-test, paired t-test, chi-square, and Fisher exact tests. The significance level was set at p &lt;0.05. Results: After the intervention, the experimental group had significantly lower mean weight, body mass index, and waist-to-hip ratio than the control group (p &lt;0.05). The mean scores of emotional, psychological, and social well-being in the experimental group increased significantly after the intervention compared to baseline (p &lt;0.01). Conclusion: The results reveal that eight weeks of Pilates exercises significantly reduce anthropometric indices and increase subjective well-being dimensions (emotional, psychological, and social well-being) in obese middle-aged women.

Evaluating the effect of upper-body morbidity on quality of life following primary breast cancer treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Improvements in breast cancer management continue to increase survival and life expectancy after treatment. Yet the adverse effects of treatment may persist long term, threatening physical, psychological, and social wellbeing, leading to impaired quality of life (QOL). Upper-body morbidity (UBM) such as pain, lymphoedema, restricted shoulder range of motion (ROM), and impaired function are widely reported after breast cancer treatment, but evidence demonstrating its impact on QOL is inconsistent. Therefore, the aim of the study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the effect of UBM on QOL following primary breast cancer treatment. The study was prospectively registered on PROSPERO (CRD42020203445). CINAHL, Embase, Emcare, PsycInfo, PubMed/Medline, and SPORTDiscus databases were searched for studies reporting QOL in individuals with and without UBM following primary breast cancer treatment. Primary analysis determined the standardised mean difference (SMD) in physical, psychological, and social wellbeing scores between UBM + /UBM - groups. Secondary analyses identified differences in QOL scores between groups, according to questionnaire. Fifty-eight studies were included, with 39 conducive to meta-analysis. Types of UBM included pain, lymphoedema, restricted shoulder ROM, impaired upper-body function, and upper-body symptoms. UBM + groups reported poorer physical (SMD = - 0.99; 95%CI = - 1.26, - 0.71; p < 0.00001), psychological (SMD = - 0.43; 95%CI = - 0.60, - 0.27; p < 0.00001), and social wellbeing (SMD = - 0.62; 95%CI = - 0.83, - 0.40; p < 0.00001) than UBM - groups. Secondary analyses according to questionnaire showed that UBM + groups rated their QOL poorer or at equal to, UBM - groups across all domains. Findings demonstrate the significant, negative impact of UBM on QOL, pervading physical, psychological, and social domains. Efforts to assess and minimise the multidimensional impact of UBM are warranted to mitigate impaired QOL after breast cancer.

Adding virtual plants leads to higher cognitive performance and psychological well-being in virtual reality

Previous research has shown the positive effects of exposure to real and virtual nature. To investigate how such benefits might generalize to ever-more-prevalent virtual workplaces, we examined the effects of the absence or presence of virtual plants in an office environment in Virtual Reality (VR) on users’ cognitive performance and psychological well-being. The results of our user study with 39 participants show that in the presence of virtual plants, participants performed significantly better in both short-term memory and creativity tasks. Furthermore, they reported higher psychological well-being scores, including positive affect and attentive coping, whilst reporting lower feelings of anger and aggression after exposure to virtual plants in VR. The virtual office with plants was also perceived as more restorative and induced a higher sense of presence. Overall, these results highlight how the presence of virtual plants in VR can have positive influences on users, and therefore, constitute important design considerations when developing future working and learning spaces.

Add-On Aripiprazole May Benefit Older Adults With Refractory Depression

Add-On Aripiprazole May Benefit Older Adults With Refractory Depression

Changes in Brain Activation Patterns During Working Memory Tasks in People With Post-COVID Condition and Persistent Neuropsychiatric Symptoms.

Post-COVID condition (PCC) is common and often involves neuropsychiatric symptoms. This study aimed to use blood oxygenation level-dependent fMRI (BOLD-fMRI) to assess whether participants with PCC had abnormal brain activation during working memory (WM) and whether the abnormal brain activation could predict cognitive performance, motor function, or psychiatric symptoms. The participants with PCC had documented coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) at least 6 weeks before enrollment. Healthy control participants had no prior history of COVID-19 and negative tests for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Participants were assessed using 3 NIH Toolbox (NIHTB) batteries for Cognition (NIHTB-CB), Emotion (NIHTB-EB), and Motor function (NIHTB-MB) and selected tests from the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS). Each had BOLD-fMRI at 3T, during WM (N-back) tasks with increasing attentional/WM load. One hundred sixty-nine participants were screened; 50 fulfilled the study criteria and had complete and usable data sets for this cross-sectional cohort study. Twenty-nine participants with PCC were diagnosed with COVID-19 242 ± 156 days earlier; they had similar ages (42 ± 12 vs 41 ± 12 years), gender proportion (65% vs 57%), racial/ethnic distribution, handedness, education, and socioeconomic status, as the 21 uninfected healthy controls. Despite the high prevalence of memory (79%) and concentration (93%) complaints, the PCC group had similar performance on the NIHTB-CB as the controls. However, participants with PCC had greater brain activation than the controls across the network (false discovery rate-corrected p = 0.003, Tmax = 4.17), with greater activation in the right superior frontal gyrus (p = 0.009, Cohen d = 0.81, 95% CI 0.15-1.46) but lesser deactivation in the default mode regions (p = 0.001, d = 1.03, 95% CI 0.61-1.99). Compared with controls, participants with PCC also had poorer dexterity and endurance on the NIHTB-MB, higher T scores for negative affect and perceived stress, but lower T scores for psychological well-being on the NIHTB-EB, as well as more pain symptoms and poorer mental and physical health on measures from the PROMIS. Greater brain activation predicted poorer scores on measures that were abnormal on the NIHTB-EB. Participants with PCC and neuropsychiatric symptoms demonstrated compensatory neural processes with greater usage of alternate brain regions, and reorganized networks, to maintain normal performance during WM tasks. BOLD-fMRI was sensitive for detecting brain abnormalities that correlated with various quantitative neuropsychiatric symptoms.

BEBAN DAN PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL BEING PADA KELUARGA PASIEN YANG MENJALANI HEMODIALISIS

The psychological needs of the family as caregivers are often ignored and not fulfilled by health workers, this is because caregivers are not fully planned in patient care management. This can have a negative impact on the treatment process for HD patients. There is still little information about the burden and phychological well-being of HD patients in Indonesia because some studies only focus on the burden on HD patients. Therefore this study focuses on assessing the burden and psychological well-being of caregivers of hemodialysis patients. This study aims to assess the burden and psychological well-being and its relationship with the demographic characteristics of hemodialysis patients. This study used a cross-sectional and analytic descriptive design involving 197 family caregivers of hemodialysis patients. Data collection was carried out at two hemodialysis centers in the city of Bekasi, from July to August 2022. A consecutive sampling technique was used to select research respondents. Data collection used a demographic characteristic questionnaire, Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) and Ryff's Psychological Well-Being Scale – 18 Items (RPWB-18). Demographic characteristics data is presented in the form of frequency, mean percentage and standard deviation. Spearman rank test is used to see the correlation of variables. The results showed that the average ZBI score was 47.87 ± 12.16 and the PWB score was 70.20 ± 10.37, the correlation coefficient was -0.756, the P-value was 0.0001, indicating that there is a significant negative correlation between family burden and psychological well-being, which means that the greater the score family burden, the lower the psychological well-being score. Based on the results of this study, the needs of the family as caregivers need to be one of the focuses of providing nursing care by nurses.

The Mediating Role of Positive Attitudes on the Relationship Between Esports Gaming Hours and Psychological Well-Being During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Electronic sports game (esports) gaming has seen a surge in popularity, especially during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, with more young people turning to it as an alternative to physical activities. However, the impact of esports gaming on mental health is a matter of concern. Previous studies have produced inconsistent findings on the relationship between gaming hours and mental health, and the moderating factors involved remain unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the moderating effect of participants' subjective attitudes toward esports gaming on the relationship between daily gaming hours and psychological well-being (PWB) among Chinese young adults during the COVID-19 lockdown. A nationwide online survey was conducted on 550 Chinese young adults using the Credamo platform. Ryff's Psychological Well-Being Scales (42-Item version) were used to assess PWB levels. The analysis included 453 participants. Gaming hours were negatively correlated with PWB scores. However, when considering the moderating effect of subjective attitudes, the association between gaming hours and PWB scores was largely positive. Our study suggests that subjective attitudes toward esports gaming outweigh gaming hours in promoting personal psychological well-being. We propose practical recommendations for healthy esports participation patterns that prioritize positive attitudes, especially in similar future scenarios like COVID-19. Our findings may inform future psychological intervention and research in the esports domain.