Significant Difference In Anxiety Levels Research Articles

Exploring the Influence of Students' Anxiety on English Language Learning in Online Integrated Instruction

This research explores the influence of online integrated learning on students’ anxiety within the English Language Education Program at Muhammadiyah University of East Kalimantan (UMKT). The study investigates the impact of online integrated learning in the English General Course on students' anxiety levels. It examines significant differences in anxiety levels between students actively using online platforms and those who do not. The sample consisted of 117 freshmen, with data collected via questionnaires assessing comfort with technology, perceptions of its effectiveness, and its impact on anxiety levels. Statistical analyses, including descriptive statistics, the One-Sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test, ANOVA, and Bonferroni multiple comparisons, were employed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the findings. Key results indicate a mean anxiety score of 41.55 and a mean achievement score of 78.21, reflecting moderate anxiety and relatively high academic performance. The One-Sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test confirmed the normal distribution of the data (p > 0.05), justifying the use of parametric methods. ANOVA results showed significant differences in anxiety levels and English scores based on online integrated learning (F = 166.159, p < 0.001). Bonferroni multiple comparisons revealed that lower anxiety was associated with higher English scores, with significant mean differences observed between low, medium, and high anxiety groups (p < 0.001). These findings suggest that online integrated learning significantly impacts students' anxiety levels, which in turn affects their academic performance. The study provides valuable insights for educators and policymakers on the importance of creating supportive and anxiety-reducing learning environments in technology-enhanced settings

Efficiency of a Sensory-Adapted Dental Environment Versus Regular Dental Environment in Neurotypically Healthy Children: A Parallel-Arm Interventional Study.

Introduction The basic principle of a sensory adaptive dental environment is that an individual's sensory experiences have a significant impact on their emotional and psychological well-being. Taste, smell, touch, hearing, and sight are the five basic senses that affect our perception and responses to the environment. The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a Sensory-Adaptive Dental Environment (SADE) compared with a Regular Dental Environment (RDE) in reducing anxiety, improving behavior, and providinga smooth experience for children undergoing dental treatment. Materials and methods This parallel-arm pilot study was conducted at the outpatient Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Chennai,from January 2024 to March 2024. A total of 148 children who met the inclusion criteria were divided into two groups:Group I (intervention group) received SADE or MSE (Multi-Sensory Environment) intervention, while Group 2 (control group)underwent dental treatments in a Regular Dental Environment (RDE). Patient behavior was assessed using Frankl's behavior rating scale, and anxiety levels were measured using Ayesha's Oddbodd anxiety scale. Additionally, heart rate and oxygen saturation (SpO2) were evaluated using a pulse oximeter. Statistical analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 26.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY), with significance set at a p-value less than 0.05. Results Before the procedure, there were no notable differences in behavior or anxiety levels. However, after the procedure, children undergoing treatment under SADE resulted in markedly improved behavior and notably lower anxiety levels. Also, this correlated with reduced anxiety levels, indicated by lower heart rates and higher oxygen saturation levels. Conclusion The study concluded that there were notable differences in patient experiences between SADE and RDE.After their dental procedures, participants in the SADE group were found to behave better and feel less nervous. Still, in the conventional setting, only improved behavior was noted, with no significant difference in anxiety levels. Overall, our study suggests that dental offices can significantly enhance patient experiences by providing a sensory-friendly setting that helps children feel more at ease, improves patient outcomes, and less nervous during their visits.

Aggression Caused by Anxiety in Smokers and Non Smokers

Abnormally high or low anxiety levels are examples of general emotional regulation disturbances that are prone to contributing to excessive aggression and violence. This shows that the neurochemical mechanisms and brain circuits controlling anxiety and aggression may overlap. While numerous studies have linked smoking cigarettes to an increase in anxiety symptoms or disorders, early exposures may predispose a person to having stronger anxiety reactions in the future. This study hypothesizes that smokers will exhibit higher levels of aggression compared to non-smokers (Hypothesis 1). Additionally, it is predicted that smokers will experience higher levels of anxiety relative to non-smokers (Hypothesis 2). Furthermore, it is anticipated that a significant positive correlation will be observed between aggression and anxiety in both smokers and non-smokers (Hypothesis 3). These hypotheses are formulated based on existing literature suggesting a potential link between smoking, anxiety, and aggression, and aim to investigate the relationship between these variables in both smoking and non-smoking populations. The results of the study indicate significant differences in anxiety levels between smokers and non-smokers, with smokers exhibiting higher levels of anxiety. Additionally, there was no significant difference in the levels of aggression between smokers and non-smokers. However, the correlation analysis revealed significant and positive associations between aggression and anxiety in both groups, supporting the initial hypotheses and suggesting a link between anxiety and aggression irrespective of smoking status.

DIFFERENCES IN THE LEVEL OF ANXIETY OF PREGNANT WOMEN IN THE I, II, AND III TRIMESTER

Background: Pregnancy is a physiological period that requires various adjustments to the changes that occur and can induce anxiety. Anxiety during pregnancy can be experienced from the first trimester to the third trimester. This anxiety can have negative impacts on both the mother and the fetus. This research aimed to determine the differences in the anxiety levels of pregnant women in the first, second, and third trimesters in the working area of the Gading Surabaya Health Center. Method: This is a quantitative research with an observational analytic method and a cross-sectional design. The study population consists of pregnant women in the first, second, and third trimesters in the working area of Gading Surabaya Health Center. The study involved 100 samples of pregnant women in the first, second, and third trimesters selected using the simple random sampling method. The instrument used is a questionnaire, namely the Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale (PASS). The analysis method used is the Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: The statistical test results show a p-value (0.023) < α (0.05), indicating a significant difference in anxiety levels among pregnant women in the first, second, and third trimesters. Most pregnant women in the first trimester (56.7%) and second trimester (70.7%) did not experience anxiety symptoms, while pregnant women in the third trimester (51.7%) experienced mild to moderate anxiety. Conclusion: There is a significant difference in anxiety levels among pregnant women in the first, second, and third trimesters.

The effect of self-hypnosis on anxiety level and self-efficacy of pregnant women in dealing with childbirth during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has become a multidimensional disaster, affecting various countries, including Indonesia. Adaptation is crucial in addressing the physical and mental health challenges within communities, which includes the adaptation of pregnant women who are preparing for childbirth amidst the pandemic with the aim of reducing maternal mortality rates in Indonesia. This research aimed to assess the impact of self-hypnosis on the anxiety levels and self-efficacy of pregnant women preparing for childbirth during COVID-19. The study utilized a quasi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test measures. It involved 30 respondents in both the control and intervention groups, who were selected through consecutive sampling. Anxiety levels were measured using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS), while self-efficacy was assessed with the New General Self-Efficacy Scale. Data analysis employed paired t-tests and independent t-tests, with the significance level set at p<0.05. The results indicated a significant difference in anxiety levels and self-efficacy between the control and intervention groups, with a p-value of 0.000. Regular self-hypnosis practice positively influenced both anxiety levels and self-efficacy among pregnant women preparing for childbirth during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Relationship Between Anxiety and Maladaptive Daydreaming in Nursing Students: A Correlational Study

In this cross-sectional study conducted among nursing students in India, the research explores the intricate relationship between maladaptive daydreaming (MD) and anxiety, filling a gap in a context where limited prior research exists. Using self-administered questionnaires, including the Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale (MDS-16) and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), the study reveals a moderate positive correlation between MD and anxiety symptoms (r = 0.494, p < .001). Notably, MD was identified as a significant predictor of 24.2% of the variance in anxiety levels among nursing students. Moreover, the Kruskal-Wallis test demonstrated significant differences in anxiety levels across groups with varying degrees of MD tendencies. This research underscores the substantial impact of maladaptive daydreaming on anxiety among nursing students, emphasizing the imperative need for tailored interventions and support mechanisms. The study offers insights into these complex psychological phenomena within a unique cultural context, setting the stage for cross-cultural comparative research and targeted strategies for this student population's well-being.

Out-of-Class Speaking Anxiety among Indonesian EFL Students and Its Relationship with Self-Perceived Speaking Skills, Vocabulary Proficiency, and Gender

Speaking anxiety has always been an intriguing topic in the field foreign language education. While a plethora of studies have been conducted on this issue in the Indonesian context, most of them have focused on students’ English-speaking anxiety in the EFL classroom, with very few examining anxiety outside of the classroom. To bridge this gap, this study aimed to investigate levels of out-of-class speaking anxiety among Indonesian tertiary EFL students and examine the relationships between their self-perceived speaking skills, self-perceived vocabulary size, and anxiety. Additionally, the study sought to examine whether there was a significant difference in anxiety levels between genders. Using a quantitative approach, a survey was administered to 87 participants from three different institutions of higher education. The results showed that students experienced anxiety in various situations, with most being moderately anxious. A moderate negative correlation was observed between self-perceived speaking skills and anxiety, while a weak negative relationship was found between self-perceived vocabulary size and anxiety. The study also found that females exhibited higher anxiety levels than males. Practical implications for curriculum designers and teachers in the Indonesian context are put forward.

Effect of Betty Neuman's systemic model on the anxiety of patients undergoing endoscopy: A randomized control trial

The present study aims to determine the effect of Betty Neuman's systemic model on the anxiety of patients undergoing endoscopy. This randomized control trial investigation involved 44 participants recruited from the endoscopy center of Golestan Province Hospital in the 2022, specifically those prescribed for endoscopic procedures. The data collection instruments employed in this research encompassed a demographic characteristics questionnaire focusing on age, gender, education, and occupation, as well as Spielberger's state-trait anxiety questionnaire (form Y) (STAI-Y). The pre-intervention anxiety levels were 111.41 (SD=17.61) in the intervention group and 109.27 (SD=6.64) in the control group. The Mann-Whitney U test indicated no statistically significant difference in the anxiety levels between the two groups before the intervention (P=0.29). Following the intervention, the anxiety levels were 116.56 (SD=12.25) in the intervention group and 111.95 (SD=4.70) in the control group. The independent t-test revealed a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.01). Furthermore, the Wilcoxon test demonstrated no significant difference in anxiety levels within the control group before and after the intervention (P=0.36), whereas a significant difference was observed in the intervention group before and after the intervention (P<0.01). Moreover, the ANCOVA revealed a statistically significant difference between the two groups after accounting for the pre-test effects (Eta=0.58, P<0.01). This indicates that 58% of the variance in post-test changes can be attributed to the training provided based on the Betty Neuman's systemic model. In conclusion, the implementation of Betty Neuman's systemic model has proven to be effective in reducing anxiety levels among patients undergoing endoscopy. The demonstrated efficacy of Betty Neuman's model suggests that nursing models can serve as a cost-efficient, impactful, and secure treatment approach in patient care.

Anxiety levels of young people in Gazipur, Bangladesh, with different physical activity levels

Background: An occasional feeling of anxiousness is common in life. Concerns about one's health, finances, or family issues are common. However, anxiety disorders encompass more than just fleeting fear or worry. People who suffer from anxiety disorders often experience persistent anxiety that may worsen with time. The symptoms may make it difficult to carry out regular tasks including relationships, employment, work and schooling. It is crucial to comprehend the psychological well-being of the Bangladeshi population during this unpredictable global period. Less information is currently available about the patterns of anxiety among adult Bangladeshis across time. The people's mental health has been severely impacted by their fear of infection and confusion about the situation. The purpose of this study is to make it easier to counsel the young people on how to promote their psychological health and better lifestyle by boosting their physical activity. Method: Data was gathered using a well-structured questionnaire that included sections including one for demographics. Because of its thoughtful validity and practicability, we employed the generalized anxiety disorder scale to evaluate anxiety levels and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire scale to test various levels of physical activity. Subsequently, the two variables were compared to determine the relationship between anxiety levels and various degrees of physical activity. Results: Anxiety was determined to be 8.20 ± 3.67 on average in the sample and the prevalence of anxiety (GAD-8 score 10 or greater) was determined to be 31.2%. Using Pearson correlation analysis, it was discovered that growing older was a risk factor for anxiety. Anxiety and Physical Activity differed significantly, according to a one-way analysis of variance. There was a significant difference in anxiety levels between those who engaged in vigorous physical activity and those who did not, according to the post-hoc Tukey test.

A STUDY ON ASSESSMENT OF ANXIETY IN CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE PATIENTS

To assess anxiety levels in cardiovascular disease patients and examine the impact of demographic variables. To study the level of anxiety in cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients and examine the impact of demographic variables, a comparative study design was used. To compare the anxiety level among CVD patients and non-CVD participants, the sample size was 200 (100 CVD patients and 100 non-CVD participants), and a random sampling technique was used. To study the impact of demographic variables on CVD patients, 100 randomly selected CVD patients (50 male and 50 female) were registered. The Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-42) was used to assess the level of depression of the study participants. Cardiovascular disease patients recorded significantly higher anxiety levels than the control group (participants without CVD). The impact of demographic variables such as gender, age, education, and socio-economic status also revealed significant differences in anxiety levels among CVD patients. Female, less educated, elderly, and low socio-economic status CVD patients reported higher anxiety scores on DASS-42. The findings of the study revealed that anxiety is a psychological risk factor for CVD patients. Females, less educated, elderly, and with low socio-economic status CVD patients were more affected. Understanding the complex relationship between mental health issues like depression and cardiovascular disease and the impact of gender, education, age, and socio-economic status on anxiety level has not been researched extensively. Further studies are needed to understand the complexity of these interrelationships.

Does anxiety cause angina recurrence after percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with STEMI?

Statistics show that approximately 70% of patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) experience relief from chest pain symptoms within 48 h post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, over 30% of these patients still suffer from angina post-PCI during their hospital stay and after discharge. Although the interrelation between cardiovascular diseases and psychological states, notably anxiety and stress, has been extensively studied and acknowledged, the specific influence of anxiety disorders on post-PCI clinical outcomes for STEMI patients, especially the recurrence of angina, remains undefined. This study included a total of 324 STEMI patients who underwent PCI treatment due to chest pain in our hospital. Baseline and surgical data for all patients were collected. During their hospital stay, patients' emotional states were assessed using the Hamilton Anxiety Scale, while angina was evaluated using the Seattle Angina Questionnaire. All patients were followed up for 6 months post-discharge to gather clinical data and outcomes, analyzing whether anxiety disorders would affect the recurrence of angina post-PCI in STEMI patients. Out of the 324 patients, 82 experienced recurrent angina symptoms within 6 months post-PCI discharge. Compared to the non-recurrence group, the recurrence group showed statistically significant differences in anxiety levels. Other differing factors included the spouse's health status, cardiac Killip classification, severity of coronary lesions, and the state of the coronary microcirculation. After utilizing propensity score matching to eliminate inherent biases between the two groups at a 1:1 ratio, the COX regression analysis indicated that a patient's anxiety status is a risk factor for the occurrence of angina post-PCI in STEMI patients (HR = 2.094, 95% CI = 1.248-3.514, P = 0.005). Anxiety is a significant factor for short-term recurrence of angina post-PCI in STEMI patients. This further confirms the crucial impact of mental health on cardiovascular wellness.

A Comparison of the Resilience, Anxiety, and Life Satisfaction of Chinese Left-Behind Children and International Students

The present study compared the resilience level, anxiety level, and life satisfaction level of Chinese left-behind children (LBC) and international students (IS) between 11 and 15 years old and investigated the relationships between these three variables and physical activity (PA). Chinese LBC (n = 86) from Guiyang City, Guizhou Province, China and Chinese IS (n = 60) in Vancouver, Canada filled out a survey that measured their resilience level, anxiety level, life satisfaction level, the duration and frequency of PA of different types and intensities in various domains, PA Enjoyment, and participants’ attitudes toward PA. In addition, 10 participants were randomly chosen to participate in an interview after completing the survey. The survey results showed that IS possessed higher resilience level and life satisfaction level than LBC, and both groups had no significant difference in anxiety level; LBC engaged in more PA than IS. Besides, resilience level was positively related to the amount of light PA in household or yard work domain as well as PA enjoyment; anxiety level was negatively related to PA enjoyment as well as annual household income; life satisfaction was positively related to the total amount of PA across all domains as well as PA enjoyment. Participants also mentioned in the interviews the effectiveness of PA in distracting them from worries and other negative emotions, which in turn helped reduce their anxiety and improve their resilience and life satisfaction. Therefore, participating in more PA could be a promising way to improve resilience level and life satisfaction level or reduce anxiety level for the two groups.

New media communication mode with mental health education on public social anxiety disorder

BackgroundPublic social anxiety disorder is a common mental health problem that has a negative impact on an individual’s social life and mental health. Mental health education combined with new media communication methods is considered an effective way to cope with social anxiety.Subjects and MethodsThe study used a randomized controlled trial design, selected 200 individuals affected by public social anxiety disorder as experimental subjects, and randomly divided them into an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group received the intervention of new media communication mode with the theme of mental health education, while the control group received the intervention of traditional health education mode. Changes in anxiety levels before and after intervention were recorded on the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A) the Social Disease Questionnaire (SAQ) and Social Anxiety Self-Assessment Scale (SIAS).Results The experimental group’s social anxiety decreased significantly after the intervention, and their mental health and social skills improved significantly (P <0.05). However, there was no significant difference in anxiety levels in the control group (P> 0.05).ConclusionsThe new media communication mode combined with mental health education has a positive impact on the public social anxiety disorder. This suggests that new media communication methods can serve as an effective mental health education tool to help the public reduce social anxiety and promote positive mental health attitudes and behaviors.

"The war is here!" anxiety, trauma centrality, and the mediating role of daily stressors in Romanian and Ukrainian civilians.

The present study investigated the level of anxiety among Ukrainian and Romanian civilians brought about by the war that started in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, using a model for the impact of traumatic experiences. We aimed to test the mediating effect of daily stressors on the relationships between trauma centrality and anxiety. The research was conducted on a sample of 720 people (24.3% males and 75.7% females, Mage = 35.61, SD = 12.59). Participants were civilians who lived either in Ukraine or outside Ukraine but at a maximum distance of 100 km from the border when the conflict started. They filled out questionnaires that measure anxiety, trauma centrality-indicating how central an event is to an individual's identity and life story, and daily stressors-predisposing factor for negative mental health outcomes. The outcomes highlighted the direct relationship between trauma centrality and anxiety, but also the mediating effect of daily stressors on the aforementioned relationships (in the overall sample, Ukrainian sample, and Romanian sample). Our research also underlined that there are significant differences in anxiety levels between people who have children and those who do not (in the overall sample and the Ukrainian sample, but not among Romanian civilians). The present work contributes by enhancing knowledge about the relationships between trauma centrality, daily stressors, and anxiety within a war context, and the particularization of Carlson and Dalenberg's model (2000) in the context of the Russo-Ukrainian war. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Perception of Students on Online Exams and How Sequential Exams and the Lockdown Browser Affect Student Anxiety and Performance

Online education has become increasingly popular over the past few years, especially with the global pandemic forcing students to learn remotely. Although online education offers various benefits, including flexibility, accessibility, and convenience, it presents unique challenges, including the use of Lockdown Browser for sequential online exams that can increase students’ anxiety levels and decrease their performance. In this paper, an empirical study was undertaken to examine the students’ preferences for online exams and how the protracting exams impacting on students’ anxiety and performance taking into consideration factors such as gender, class standing, and the availability of a personal study space. The finding reveals that sequential exams, errors in questions, use of lockdown browser, writing exams in different time zone, and one question per page increase students’ stress and anxiety. The results also suggest that there was a significant difference in anxiety levels between students who received different letter grades, specifically, students who received lower grades reported higher levels of anxiety. However, the gender and delivery of the course did not appear to have a significant impact on anxiety levels.

Determination of Levels of Anxiety and its Association with Demographic Characteristics of Adolescent Girls in Secondary Schools of Lahore

Adolescence is a transition period between the time of childhood and adulthood as it is usually accompanied by sexual maturation and physical growth as well as psychological and cognitive changes necessary for coping with the tasks of later adult life. Objective: To identify levels of anxiety and its association with demographic characteristics of adolescent girls in secondary schools of Lahore Methods: Cross-sectional, analytical design was used in this study. The normality assumptions were tested by Kolmogorov-Smirnova and Shapiro-Wilk test. Results: Out of 140 participants, 116 participants were having anxiety. Among these participants, 73 (62.9%) were having mild anxiety, 38 (32.7%) were having moderate anxiety, and only 5 (4.31%) were having severe anxiety. Statistical analysis show that the data were not normally distributed as evident from the p-value 0.01 and 0.03 in Kolmogorov-Smirnova and Shapiro-Wilk tests, respectively. Analysis showed that there is a significant difference in anxiety levels in adolescent school girls as evident by p-value is less than 0.05. Conclusion: The prevalence of anxiety was 82.85% among adolescents’ girls. Majority of the adolescent students were facing mild and mild anxiety and this anxiety remain throughout the adolescent age but reduce with passage of age.

Of fear, burnout, and stress: Comparison of psychological distress levels among frontline medicine residents during different COVID-19 pandemic waves in Pakistan

Background: While studies have evaluated the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the mental health of healthcare workers (HCW), to our knowledge, there are no studies in Pakistan, which have compared psychological distress levels during the first and second waves of the pandemic. This study was done to assess anxiety levels of Internal Medicine residents and identify risk factors for psychological distress.
 Methodology: Cross-sectional study was conducted in the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi. A questionnaire comprising of demographic data and risk assessment tools, a seven-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7), and a nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) was used for data collection from Internal Medicine residents using nonprobability convenience sampling technique in May–June 2020 and April 2021.
 Results: A total of 88 responses were recorded. Response rate was 75.7 percent (56/74) and 43.2 percent (32/74) during the first and second waves, respectively. Mean age was 27.9 ± 3.2 years and mean clinical career in years was 3.2 ± 2.1. Majority, 51.8 percent (29/56) and 68.8 percent (22/32), were not satisfied with community prevention measures and 75 percent (42/56) and 65.6 percent (21/32) considered interventions necessary in case of psychological distress during pandemic, during the first and second waves, respectively. A higher number of HCW reported their family not supporting their frontline work during the first wave (16.1 percent vs 3.1 percent; p value 0.023). There was a statistically significant difference in psychological distress levels as median GAD-7 scores were 5(IQR 2–8) vs 9.5(IQR 3.25–13) (p value 0.009) and median PHQ-9 scores were 4(IQR 2–11) vs. 7(IQR 4–s17) (p value 0.056) during the first and second waves, respectively.
 Conclusion: There was a significant difference in anxiety levels during the first and second waves of COVID-19, and family support for frontline work was higher during the second wave. Further studies are required to assess these differences.

Age-Related Quality of Life and Psychosocial Impact of Chin Asymmetry in Adolescents and Young Adults Undergoing Orthodontic and Orthognathic Correction.

Craniofacial asymmetry can have significant psychosocial implications, affecting the quality of life in adolescents and young adults. This study aimed to assess the impact of age and complexity of craniofacial asymmetry on quality of life and psychosocial outcomes in patients undergoing orthodontic and orthognathic correction. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 149 patients aged 13-26 years with moderate or severe craniofacial asymmetry that had a gnathion deviation higher than 2 mm, according to the American Association of Orthodontists. Participants were divided into three groups: teenagers (n = 53), adults (n = 46), and a control group (n = 50) with relative craniofacial asymmetry. Quality of life and psychosocial impacts were evaluated using validated questionnaires that measure health-related quality of life (SF-36), body image satisfaction and self-acceptance (BIQLI), anxiety and depression levels (HADS), and perceived stress (PSS-10). These tools provided an encompassing appraisal of the psychological and social implications associated with craniofacial asymmetry before and six months after orthodontic and orthognathic correction. Before the intervention, adults had higher mental health scores compared to teenagers (p = 0.037). At the 6-month follow-up, no significant differences in mental health scores were observed between the two groups (p = 0.121). BIQLI results showed significant differences in satisfaction with appearance and self-acceptance between teenagers and adults, both before intervention (p = 0.045 and p = 0.051, respectively) and at six months (p = 0.062 and p = 0.031, respectively). HADS results showed significant differences in anxiety levels before intervention (p = 0.039) but not at six months (p = 0.133). PSS-10 results showed no significant differences in perceived stress between the groups. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that craniofacial asymmetry significantly impacts the quality of life and psychosocial well-being of adolescents and young adults. Specifically, teenagers, as compared to young adults, reported lower satisfaction with their appearance and lower self-acceptance before intervention, underscoring the profound psychosocial challenges that adolescents with craniofacial asymmetry may experience. These age-related differences underscore the importance of tailored interventions to address unique psychosocial needs at different developmental stages.

The effectiveness of acupressure and dhikr in reducing anxiety in pregnant women in the third trimester

Introduction: Anxiety can occur in pregnant women that can endanger the health of the mother and fetus if not treated. Non-pharmacological therapy to reduce anxiety includes acupressure and dhikr. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of acupressure and dhikr in reducing anxiety in third-trimester pregnant women at PMB Maulina Hasnida, M. Mkes. Methods: This study used a quasi-experimental design involving 30 third-trimester pregnant women who visited PMB Maulina Hasnida, M. Mkes in April - July 2022. In the intervention group, 15 pregnant women were given therapy acupressure and dhikr, while the control group 15 pregnant women were given standard care. Anxiety level was evaluated using the HARS questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS ver.20. Results: In the intervention group, the mean anxiety before the intervention was 3.53 and after the intervention was 2.73 (p= 0.277), while in the control group, it was 3.33 before and 3.40 after the intervention (p= 0.014). There was a significant difference in the anxiety levels before and after the intervention in the intervention group (p=0.001). There was no significant difference in the frequency of anxiety levels before and after the intervention in the control group (p= 0.655). Conclusion: There was a significant difference in anxiety levels in pregnant women in the third trimester, given a combination of acupressure with dhikr compared to standard care.

Psychological assistance to patients with thyroid cancer

Introduction. Thyroid cancer has a favorable prognosis but in long term patients are observed to be in psychological distress manifesting through elevated anxiety and depression which disrupt social adaptation. Studies have shown that 2–4 years after diagnosis and treatment of this malignant tumor, the majority of patients report dissatisfaction with family relationships and difficulties in performing everyday activities. These data demonstrate the necessity of rehabilitation aimed at patient adaptation to everyday life after therapy completion. Psychological help is an important aspect of rehabilitation.Aim. To evaluate the effectiveness of psychological help in patients with thyroid cancer.Materials and methods. The study included 42 women with thyroid cancer, stages I–III, Т1–3N0–1М0. Mean patient age was 44.5 ± 1.1 years. The patients were randomly divided into 2 groups matched by age, disease stage and type of surgical intervention: treatment and control groups. The treatment group (n = 24) included patients who underwent psychological training in the postoperative period, the control group (n = 18) included patients who did not receive psychological help. Mental state was evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The patients’ mental state was evaluated dynamically: 1st testing was performed after surgery, 2nd testing 12 months after surgery. Psychological training was performed in the postoperative period and included 5 individual classes teaching self-regulation skills.Results. After the surgery, HADS scale showed insignificant increase in anxiety in both groups. Analysis of repeat testing showed decreased anxiety levels in patients in the treatment group from 7.7 ± 0.2 to 6.3 ± 0.2, i. e. to normal level. In the control group, anxiety significantly increased from 7.8 ± 0.2 to 9.2 ± 0.2 (Student’s t-test = 5.17; p = 0.000168). Additionally, 12 months after surgical treatment statistically significant differences in anxiety levels between groups were observed: 6.3 ± 0.2 and 9.0 ± 0.2, respectively (Student’s t-test = 9.55; р <0.05). Primary examination showed subthreshold depression in patients of both groups: 7.9 ± 0.1 and 8.1 ± 0.2, respectively. No statistically significant differences between the groups were observed (Student’s t-test = 0.89; р >0.05). Repeat examination showed decreased depression level (in treatment group from 7.9 ± 0.1 to 7.4 ± 0.2, in the control group from 8.1 ± 0.2 to 7.7 ± 0.1), however it remained in the range of mean values. No statistically significant differences between the groups were observed (Student’s t-test = 1.34; р >0.05).Conclusion. Psychological training using self-regulation techniques performed in the early postoperative period normalizes anxiety level and prevents its elevation in long term in patients with thyroid cancer.