State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Test Research Articles

The Effects of Ubiquinol Intake and Sociophysical Training on the Activation of Psychological and Infrared Camera-Measured Body Temperature Physiology and Blood Molecular Markers: A Pilot Study among Healthy Female Older Adults

A combination of existing treatments with sensing technology may be the most appropriate approach for incurable neuropsychiatric disorders. Dietary antioxidant supplementation, exercise, and cognitive training are individually well-established treatments for neurodegeneration, Alzheimer’s disease, and other dementias. Therefore, in a double-blind randomized controlled trial, we evaluated the response of normal healthy older female subjects to coenzyme Q10 supplementation and simultaneous sociophysical training that was undertaken in a non-contact environment using infrared cameras. The current pilot study reports the results from a multivariate analysis of blood biomarkers, body surface temperature measured with infrared thermal cameras, and psychological questionnaire scores from this trial, in which 100 mg/day of supplemental ubiquinol (the reduced form of coenzyme Q10) was administered daily for one month. We found a significant positive correlation between ubiquinol supplementation and positive mood scores in the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory test (STAI-positive) and a weak inverse correlation between ubiquinol supplementation and serum interleukin 4 (IL-4), a systemic inflammatory marker. We also found a significant positive correlation between the standard deviation of body surface temperatures, detected with non-contact infrared image sensors, and both STAI-positive and serum antidiuretic hormone (ADH). The results from this small pilot study indicate the potential synergistic effects of oral ubiquinol intake and sociophysical training on neuropsychiatric health in healthy female older adults.

Explore the effects of forest travel activities on university students' stress affection.

This study aims to explore the effects of forest travel activities on university students' stress affection. Forty volunteer university students participated in this study. All participants were asked to complete physiological (Heart Rate Variability) and psychological (Brief Profile of Mood State and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) tests before and after the travel activities. The results reported that students' heart rates were significantly lower after the forest travel activities than before. All domains of negative mood and anxiety decreased from the pre-test to the post-test. This study found that university students could feel less stressed if they went on forest travel activities.

Nutrient intake, alcohol consumption, emotional eating and anxiety in women nursing students

ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to analyze dietary habits, alcohol habits, emotional eating and anxiety in a sample of Spanish nursing students. These students appear to be essential to the field of public health and to teaching their future patients about their own good practices. MethodsA cross-sectional investigation was conducted. Participants completed the Emotional Eater Questionnaire, the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) test to evaluate alcohol intake, the State-Trait anxiety Inventory (STAI) test to measure levels of anxiety as a state and anxiety as a trait, and self-reported sociodemographic data. Following classroom instruction, three-day food records were used to gauge food intake. ResultsThe calorie intake for the macronutrients Ca, Mg, K, and Fe were below the Recommended Dietary Intakes (DRI) and imbalanced. The percentage E of proteins was 132.7 % more than recommended, while the percentage of carbohydrates is below the recommended level. Dietary energy consumption barely equaled 78 % of the total energy consumed by this sex and age group. With respect to emotional eating, nursing women students were low emotional eater (44 %) > emotional eater (30 %) > non-emotional eater (22.7 %). The students' emotional eating is substantially connected with fast food and sweets, or less healthy food intake behaviors. According to the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT), 82.7 % of female students used alcohol on a regular basis in a low-risk manner. ConclusionThe findings demonstrated a link between anxiety and dietary fat intake. Trait anxiety was negatively connected with emotional eating (EE), whereas state anxiety was positively correlated with meat consumption. It is crucial to consider these findings when creating prevention/intervention plans and profiles of harmful eating behaviors.

Experiment on The Cooperative Practice of Biomimicry in The Architectural Studio

Life in the architectural design studio is about the acquisition of experienceduring the cooperative architectural practice Scholars have observed thatcooperation between students is the most effective tool in architectural learning. Inthis scope, the study aims to compare the cooperative spirit of teamwork practicewith the solo practice in a biomimetic project-based workshop to measure theinfluence of cooperation on students` productivity and anxiety state, consideringgender, locality, and the state of siblings as influencing factors. The methodologyintends to employ a qualitative comparative analysis to indicate the transformationof students` productivity in a biomimetic design workshop after switching from asolo practice to a cooperative peer learning application as well as an embracementfor the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) test during both practices during twoworkshops for architectural students from different academic levels emphasizingbiomimetic design principles and Nature thinking. The results outlined the positiveimpact of cooperative biomimetic practice on students` accomplishments andanxiety state.

Features of the psychoemotional sphere and quality of life of patients with vestibular migraine

To study the state of the psycho-emotional sphere and the quality of life in patients with vestibular migraine. The study included 56 patients (10 men and 46 women), aged 18 to 50 years, with vestibular migraine and a control group (patients with migraine without au-ra). The study of neurological status, features of the psychoemotional sphere, accentuations of character and temperament of the individual, quality of life was carried out. The Beck Depres-sion Inventory, the Spielberger-Khanin State-Trait Anxiety Inventory test, the K. Leonhard - H. Schmischek Inventory test and the Vestibular Rehabilitation Benefit Questionnaire were admin-istered. The following features between two groups were revealed: absence of significant differences in trait anxiety, statistically significant differences in state anxiety and the severity of depressive symptoms, as well as significant variations in the spectrum of personality accentuations and a lack of quality of life. The results are relevant and important in the field of management of patients with vestibular migraine and allow us to focus due attention on psychoemotional distinctiveness and lack of quality of life in this debilitating pathology, for the possibility of presenting the nec-essary individual strategy to overcome the disease.

Current trends in the organization of rehabilitation care for patients after total hip replacement

The pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus infection COVID-19 dramatically increased the burden on healthcare, which led to the repurposing and limitation of the bed stock in rehabilitation centers. That served as the basis for the search for new approaches to the treatment and routing of patients, including using remote-controlled rehabilitation. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of motor rehabilitation in patients after hip replacement with the use of telerehabilitation technologies. Materials and methods: In a retrospective study, 32 patients aged 40 to 75 years who underwent rehabilitation after hip replacement using telemedicine technologies were examined. After discharge from the surgical hospital, all patients were offered a link to receive a program of motor rehabilitation, including exercise therapy complexes and a video clip on the technique of performing these exercises. In addition, online classes with a physical therapy instructor were conducted for patients with technical capabilities. The rehabilitation program started from the first day after surgery and lasted 90 days. To assess the effectiveness of rehabilitation, all patients underwent testing, including questionnaires and mobility tests, which were conducted on the second day and 3 months after surgery. Results: Rehabilitation with the use of telemedicine for patients after hip replacement demonstrates a positive clinical effect, assessed by mobility tests (TUG and the 6‑minute walk test), the EQ-5D quality of life scale, the SF-36 questionnaire and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory test. Conclusion: The criteria for patient inclusion developed by us, special physical therapy programs, and a routing model with remote rehabilitation treatment can become an effective alternative to the full-time rehabilitation, in case of paramedical difficulties for its implementation.

Consumption of fermented dairy products is associated with lower anxiety levels in Azorean university students.

A growing number of studies have found that the gut microbiota is involved in a variety of psychological processes and neuropsychiatric disorders, which include mood and anxiety disorders. Consumption of dairy products may contain bioactive compounds and probiotic bacteria with various therapeutic benefits. The aim of the study was to investigate possible associations between the frequency of consumption of different types of dairy products and the state of anxiety in university students. The subjects were 311 Azorean university students, 231 women and 80 men, with an average age of 20.5 years. Subjects completed a quantitative questionnaire on the frequency of dairy product consumption and a short version of the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) test. Among dairy products, semi-skimmed milk was the most commonly consumed, followed by cheese (ripened), drinking yogurt, skim milk, and set yogurt, while fresh cheese, whole milk, and dairy ice cream were the least common. Discriminant analysis showed that consumption of fermented products (yogurt and cheese) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the group with low anxiety level (score <40 in STAI test) than in the group with higher anxiety level (score ≥ 40). In this analysis, 62.4% of the initially grouped cases were correctly classified according to the frequency of fermented products consumption. No correlations were found between anxiety and unfermented dairy products. The results indicate that the consumption of fermented dairy products has a positive effect on reducing anxiety in young Azorean university students.

Survey on Anxiety and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Intensive Care Personnel during the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Medically Under-Resourced Country.

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the need for intensive care personnel. Romania has a low number of physicians per inhabitant. The stress of pandemics upon an already weak medical health system triggered some psychological effects upon burnt-out personnel. The main objective is to provide an insight into the psychological status of Romanian ICU personnel by evaluating their level of anxiety. The secondary objectives aim to identify the level of post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety in different groups and to identify the personnel most affected psychologically. This study enrolled adult responders from the ICU of Târgu Mureș Emergency Clinical County Hospital, Romania, participating voluntarily. The evaluation tests were the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Post-Traumatic Stress Test. Out of the 126 eligible participants, 87 adult employees were enrolled—with a 69% response rate. The study comprised three groups: doctors, nurses, and auxiliary personnel. All three groups scored for moderate anxiety symptoms. COVID-19-related anxiety was strongly correlated with age and number of working years in all groups. Increased PTSD scores were observed in doctors and nurses. All ICU personnel who dealt with COVID-19 patients presented with moderate anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms. The years of ICU experience had a positive impact on anxiety symptoms.

A Comparison of Preoperative and Postoperative Anxiety Levels Affecting Preoperative and Postoperative Processes of Orthopedics Patients

Objective: Different anxiety levels come up, and many of the patients become worried before operations. If there was anxiety, the patients should be relieved by diagnosing, and the negative anxiety should be turned into a positive form. It will cause positive reactions of the patients and make the treatment gains increase. We aimed to compare the anxiety levels of the patients about the orthopedic operations according to the sex, age, and education levels of the patients. Materials and Methods: 122 patients who underwent knee arthroscopy under spinal anesthesia in the Orthopedics and Traumatology operating room were included in the study. Patients aged between 18-55 years, included in ASA I and II classes, literate, not having any psychiatric and neurological problems, not using psychiatric drugs, and not using chronic alcohol, were included in the study. The patients’ anxiety levels were checked before and after surgery using the “State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Test (STAI TX-1 Anxiety Skala)”. Results: It was found that there was no significant difference between the patients’ pre and post-test state anxiety levels; however, the post-tests put forward that the patients’ state anxiety levels after the operation were a little higher than their pre-tests’ state anxiety levels before the operations. Conclusion: The patients should be informed about the problems, limitations, advantages, and disadvantages of the operation before and after the procedure. The patients should also be given psychological support to decrease their anxieties about the surgical procedure.

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction: etiology, clinical features, diagnosis

Introduction. The present study analyzed the possibility of using neuropsychological tests to assess postoperative cognitive dysfunction. New data were obtained: in the postoperative period, hippocampal memory impairments predominate in patients, which makes it expedient to use methods for diagnosing primary modal-nonspecific memory disorders in patients who are to undergo neurosurgical intervention on the spinal cord.The aim of the study to evaluate the influence of surgery with anesthesia on the cognitive functions of middle-age patients.Materials and methods. The study included 20 middle-aged patients. All patients had to undergo spinal surgery. Patients received total intravenous anesthesia with propofol induction (4–12 mg/kg/hr). Cognitive functions before and after the operation were made with the use of the MoCA, TMT A and B, FCSRT, state-trait anxiety inventory test (STAI).Results. The development of POCD was noted in 15% of cases. The patients showed a decrease in the FCSRT prompt index (1st day = 87 ± 9.0; 2nd day = 83 ± 15; p = 0,0005), while the overall severity of cognitive impairments (total score of MoCA) did not change significantly (standard deviation according to MoCA: 24.25 ± 2.86 on day 1 and 24 ± 3.24 on the second day, p = 0.61). The RT level decreased by day 2: 44.65 ± 7.4 versus 41.1 ± 8.2 (p = 0.001). Correlation analysis did not show the relationship between the age of patients, education level, comorbidity and development of POCD; however, the duration of anesthesia was associated with a decrease in MoCA scores (Pearson’s correlation coefficient r = –0.44; p = 0.050).Conclusion. Thus, our study shows that the study of hippocampal memory impairments is important in patients with POCD. These data differ from the data of researchers presented earlier, where the most important clinical manifestations of POCD are considered to be a decrease in attention and speed of mental processes. Of course, the small sample size dictates the need for additional research.

Preoperative and Postoperative Endogenous Melatonin and Anxiety Levels and Their Correlation in Living Liver Donors.

High anxiety levels may lead to mental and physical changes that may affect quality of life. Melatonin has anxiolytic properties. It has been reported that administration of melatonin reduces anxiety. In this study, we examined the preoperative and postoperative anxiety levels of living liver donors and the correlation between anxiety levels and endogenous melatonin levels. This prospective clinical study included 56 living liver donors who underwent right hepatectomy (39 women, 17 men; average age of 29 ± 7 years). The anxiety levels were evaluated by using the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Test with a form for this test used to measure the current state of anxiety score and another form used to measure the underlying anxiety score of the patient. These forms were applied preoperatively and postoperatively. Blood samples were taken simultaneously for melatonin levels. Melatonin levels were measured using high-pressure liquid chromatography. Our primary outcomes were to determine the preoperative and postoperative endogenous melatonin and anxiety levels of living liver donors and to investigate their correlations. A statistically significant difference was observed between preoperative and postoperative state of anxiety scores. The preoperative and postoperative underlying anxiety scores were similar. A statistically significant difference was found between the preoperative endogenous melatonin level and postoperative endogenous melatonin level. A significant correlation was not observed between the preoperative and postoperative current and underlying anxiety levels or endogenous melatonin levels. Living liver donors had high anxiety levels during the preoperative and postoperative periods. A significant decrease was identified in the postoperative hour 24 endogenous melatonin level. These results may lay the foundation for interventions that can identify emotional changes as well as control and improve the mental health of living liver donors.

The effect of music on state anxiety in patients undergoing extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy

Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy is a commonly used method to break down kidney stones in urology clinics. This study aims to investigate whether or not listening to music is effective against state anxiety in patients undergoing kidney stone treatment with this method. A total of 80 patients (50 males, 30 females) undergoing extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy for the first time at our clinic were included in the study. The first group (24 patients) listened to instrumental classical music through headphones 20minutes before the procedure, while the second group (28 patients) listened to instrumental classical music during the procedure. The third group (28 patients) was the control group and consisted of patients who did not listen to music before or during the procedure. Patients were administered a state-trait anxiety inventory test to measure state anxiety after the process, and their results were compared. While there was a significant difference in state-trait anxiety inventory scores between patients who listened to music before/during the procedure and the control group, there was no significant difference between patients who listened to music before and those who listened to music during the procedure. Assessment of randomisation showed groups achieved homogeneity. Among the groups homogeneously distributed according to age and gender, significantly lower anxiety scores of groups that listened to music compared with the control group have provided supporting data to be open-minded and exploratory about increasing patient tolerability and comfort during these potentially pain-inducing procedures.

Psychological changes in young people with anorexia nervosa during an inpatient treatment: exploration of optimal length of stay predictors.

The current study aimed to monitor psychological changes in young people (YP) with anorexia nervosa (AN) during aspecialist inpatient treatment in order to explore possible predictors of an optimal length of stay. Outcome measures were analysed to determine if significant changes occur earlier or later on during the treatment. Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q), Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Compulsive Exercise Test (CET) measures administered to YP (n = 42) at three time points-admission, 85% ideal body weight (IBW) and discharge-were analysed using linear mixed effects model and regression analysis to determine change between the time points and possible predictors in length of stay. Significant improvements occurred between admission and the mid time point of 85% IBW in the eating disorder (ED) symptomology outcome measures of EDE‑Q (mean difference [MD] = 1.066 ± 0.259) and CET (MD = 1.743 ± 0.627). Asignificant improvement occurred in the CDI (MD = 7.714 ± 2.343), and STAI (MD = 5.292 ± 2.121) measures between admission and discharge. Psychological changes occur at different stages of treatment. Although it was difficult to determine what factors may predict the length of stay from the variables explored, it was observed that alower weight at admission impacted negatively on the improvement of ED and anxiety symptoms, which may lead to stay in treatment for longer. Also, higher levels of compulsive exercise and depression were associated to worse outcomes. Evidence obtained from multiple time series with or without the intervention, such as case studies. Dramatic results in uncontrolled trials might also be regarded as this type of evidence.

Does Premedıcatıon wıth Mıdazolam Reduce Preoperatıve Anxıety Through Menstrular Cycle Phases?

Aim: In this study, it was aimed to investigate and compare the effects of menstrual cycle phases on preoperative anxiety and postoperative pain scores in patients given midazolam for premedication before anesthesia. Methods: Septorhinoplasty, goiter surgery and laparoscopic cholecystectomy 126 female patients, aged 21-45, with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score I-II and with regular menstrual cycles, were included. Of the cases; The phase of the menstrual cycle was recorded according to the last menstrual period (SAT) and accordingly the patients were divided into 3 groups as Follicular phase, the Ovulatory phase, and the Luteal phase. Anxiety assessment was performed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI FORM TX-1) test. Anxiety scores were evaluated by performing a preoperative test 3 minutes before and 1 hour after intravenous (IV) administration of 0.02 mg/kg midazolam. Visual analog scale (VAS) was used for postoperative pain assessment. Results: Midazolam was found to decrease STAI FORM TX-1 scores the most during the ovulatory phase of the menstrual cycle, but there was no significant difference between the groups in terms of VAS scores. Conclusion: It has been observed that premedication with midazolam reduces preoperative anxiety in all phases of the menstrual cycle in women of reproductive age, but is most effective in the ovulatory phase. The effect of premedication with midazolam on postoperative pain does not change according to the phases of the menstrual cycle.

Prediction of state anxiety by machine learning applied to photoplethysmography data.

BackgroundAs the human behavior is influenced by both cognition and emotion, affective computing plays a central role in human-machine interaction. Algorithms for emotions recognition are usually based on behavioral analysis or on physiological measurements (e.g., heart rate, blood pressure). Among these physiological signals, pulse wave propagation in the circulatory tree can be assessed through photoplethysmography (PPG), a non-invasive optical technique. Since pulse wave characteristics are influenced by the cardiovascular status, which is affected by the autonomic nervous activity and hence by the psychophysiological state, PPG might encode information about emotional conditions. The capability of a multivariate data-driven approach to estimate state anxiety (SA) of healthy participants from PPG features acquired on the brachial and radial artery was investigated.MethodsThe machine learning method was based on General Linear Model and supervised learning. PPG was measured employing a custom-made system and SA of the participants was assessed through the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-Y) test.ResultsA leave-one-out cross-validation framework showed a good correlation between STAI-Y score and the SA predicted by the machine learning algorithm (r = 0.81; p = 1.87∙10−9). The preliminary results suggested that PPG can be a promising tool for emotions recognition, convenient for human-machine interaction applications.

The Effects of Childhood Sexual Abuse: The Role of Anxiety and Alcohol Use among Haitian Women Living with HIV

ABSTRACT Childhood abuse has been linked to problematic drinking in adulthood. It is also documented that people living with HIV have higher rates of alcohol use than the general population. In Haiti, a total of 25% of women living with HIV have experienced childhood sexual abuse (CSA), which puts them at an increased risk for alcohol abuse. CSA has also been associated with anxiety disorders in adulthood. Therefore, it is critical to understand the relationship between CSA, anxiety, and alcohol use among women living with HIV. A total of 244 women living with HIV participated in this study, with 35% reporting CSA. Alcohol abuse was measured with the AUDIT, anxiety with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory test, and sexual abuse with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Compared to participants who did not experience childhood sexual abuse, participants who experienced childhood sexual abuse reported greater levels of alcohol use [(17.0, SD = 9.1) (11.9, SD = 8.6) p =.001] and anxiety [(55.8, SD = 9.8) (48.9 SD = 8.3) p =.001] respectively. The indirect effect of anxiety on the association between CSA and alcohol use was significant [(ß =.19 p =.05) 95% bootstrap CI.019 –.13] Thus, women who reported being sexually abused as children reported anxiety, which in turn, was associated with an increased risk for alcohol abuse. Results demonstrate that alcohol may be used as a negative coping mechanism to alleviate anxiety symptoms triggered by CSA. These findings elucidate the need for further research examining the impact that sexual trauma has on mental health.

Investigation of the levels of different salivary stress markers in chronic periodontitis patients

Background and aimIn this study, we aimed to determine the salivary levels of cortisol, α-amylase, β-endorphin, and chromogranin (CgA) in saliva and to investigate their relationship with periodontitis. MethodsThirty-seven female and 43 male periodontitis patients who presented to the Periodontology Department of the XXX University Faculty of Dentistry participated in the study. The individuals were divided into three groups: mild, moderate, or severe chronic periodontitis. Plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), clinical attachment loss (CAL), and probing depth (PD) measurements were recorded for all the participants. All participants underwent the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory test (STAI 1 and 2). Between 09:00 and 11:00 a.m., saliva samples from the participants were collected into tubes within an average of five minutes. ResultsHigher cortisol measurements were detected in the saliva samples of participants with severe chronic periodontitis than in those who had mild chronic periodontitis (P < 0.05). There were statistically significant age differences among patients with mild–moderate, moderate–severe, and mild chronic periodontitis, the severity of the disease increasing with age (P < 0.05). There was also a positive correlation between STAI 1 stress scores and cortisol levels. Similarly, there was a positive correlation between CAL and cortisol levels (P < 0.05). However, a significant difference was found among groups only in terms of salivary cortisol levels (P < 0.05). ConclusionWithin the limitations of this study, there was found to be a relationship between saliva cortisol levels and periodontitis and between salivary cortisol levels and stress.

Towards an anxiety and stress recognition system for academic environments based on physiological features

Background and ObjectiveTraditional methods to determine stress and anxiety in academic environments consist of the application of questionnaires, but the main disadvantage is that the results depend on the students’ self-perception. Being able to detect anxiety-related stress levels in a simple and objective way contributes greatly to dealing with low performance and school drop-out by students. MethodsThe main contribution of this study is to identify the physiological features that could be used as predictors of stressful activities and states of anxiety in academic environments using an Arduino board and low-cost sensors. A test with 21 students was conducted, and a stress-inducing protocol was proposed and 21 physiological features of five signals were analyzed. In addition, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was used to assess the level of anxiety for each student. Four classifiers were compared to find the physiological feature subset that provides the best accuracy to identify states of stress and anxiety. ResultsThe stress due to activities performed by students can be identified with an accuracy greater than 90% (Kappa = 0.84) using the k-Nearest Neighbors classifier, using data from heart rate, skin temperature and oximetry signals and four physiological features. Meanwhile, the identification of anxiety was achieved with an accuracy greater than 95% (Kappa = 0.90) using the SVM classifier with data from the galvanic skin response (GSR) signal and three physiological features. ConclusionsThe results provide a clue that anxiety detection in academic environments could be done using the analysis of physiological signals instead of STAI test scores. Besides, the results suggest that physiological features could be used to develop stress recognition systems to help teachers to identify the stressful tasks in an academic environment or to develop anxiety recognition systems to help students to control their level of anxiety when they are performing either academic tasks or exams.

Horticultural Activity: Its Contribution to Stress Recovery and Wellbeing for Children.

In recent years, children’s use of mobile phones has grown rapidly, which might lead to an increase in mental stress and negatively affect their health. Despite increasing evidence that horticultural activity can provide significant health benefits, few scientific evidence-based studies are currently available regarding these benefits to children’s health and wellbeing in schools. Therefore, this study aims to determine the potential benefits of horticultural activity for children from both psychological and physiological perspectives. Twenty-six elementary school students (mean age, 8.12 ± 0.21 years) were asked to perform a plant-related task and a mobile game task for 5 min. During both tasks, physiological sensors were used to measure the participants’ heart rate variability, skin conductance, and skin temperature. Additionally, the participants’ emotional responses were assessed using semantic differential and State–Trait Anxiety Inventory tests immediately after each task. Results revealed that, compared with the mobile game task, participants’ health statuses were positively correlated with the horticultural task, including a considerable decrease in skin conductance and sympathetic nervous activity, together with a marginal increase in parasympathetic nervous activity. Such responses suggested that horticultural activity increased relaxation and decreased feelings of stress. Furthermore, the horticultural activity was associated with a substantial increment in comfort, naturalness, relaxation, and cheerfulness feelings, as well as a significant reduction in depression and a reduction in total anxiety levels. Given these positive benefits, horticultural activity may provide a great contribution to children’s healthy life at school, prompt psychological relaxation and minimize mental stress relative to smartphone games.

¿Cambian, previa y posteriormente al juego, los niveles de ansiedad y memoria visual en jugadores de ajedrez?

Introduction: Chess is an educational sport of the mind that involves different types of items and rules but is based on creative intelligence. Improvement of cognitive function can lead to improvement of performance and quality. Goals: The aim of this study was to investigate state-trait anxiety levels and visual memory scores before and after chess games, whether there was any change in those scores, and if that change was related to gender. Material and methods: Twenty elite chess athletes (10 males, 10 females) who were participating in the Turkish Chess Championship, aged between 18 and 30, enrolled in the study voluntarily. Demographic data were recorded. The athletes were tested randomly 30 minutes before a game and 60 minutes after the game. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Benton Visual Retention Test F form were administered. Results: Athletes’ ages were 24±8.1 years, heights were 173.2±9.1 cm, body weights were 66.6±22.7 kg, and they had been playing chess for 12.6±4.1 years. There was no demographical difference found between groups when groups were divided according to gender (p˃0.05). There was no statistically significant difference found between pre-game and post-game scores (p˃0.05). When gender factors were evaluated, it was found that female athletes had higher pre-game and post-game Benton Visual Retention Test and anxiety scores. Conclusions: However, those results were not statistically significant between female and male groups (p˃0.05). Male and female athletes’ pre- and post-game results showed no statistically significant differences (p˃0.05). To a certain extent, anxiety levels have beneficial effects for athletes, but it is important to determine the anxiety levels at which athletes start to perform badly. This level should be determined individually and must be controlled via behavior therapy, or medically, if needed. We think that training sessions performed for various anxious situations or different types of programs will improve athletes’ performances.