Stress Coping Research Articles

Understanding the Impact of Childbirth: Postnatal Stress Symptoms in Psychologically Stable Mothers

We investigated the relationship between physical activity and perceived stress levels among pregnant women. A total of 28 pregnant women participated in the study. All participants completed psychological tests to assess stress levels and coping strategies. The physically active (PA) group consisted of 15 women aged 26-40, engaging in moderate physical activity for up to 120 minutes per week across two training sessions. The inactive (NA) group included 13 women aged 24-39 who did not exercise. Unpaired T-test analysis revealed no significant differences in stress-coping strategies between exercising and non-exercising women. However, two coping scales—problem-focused coping and emotion-focused coping—showed tendencies: physically active women leaned slightly more toward religious coping (p = 0.15), while non-physically active women favored restraint coping (p = 0.17). Overall, perceived stress levels did not differ significantly between the groups. The study highlights the importance of using specialized tests for pregnant women due to the unique context of pregnancy. Keywords: physical activity, pregnant women, stress, prenatal maternal stress

Uso de la medicina complementaria y alternativa y enfoques para hacer frente al estrés en las mujeres con cáncer de mama: un estudio transversal

ObjectiveThe study aimed to reveal the approaches to coping with stress of women with breast cancer and the factors predicting these approaches, to determine the prevalence and characteristics of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), and to examine the relationship between use of CAM and approaches to coping with stress. MethodsA descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted among 328 women with breast cancer at a training and research hospital in Türkiye. Data were collected with the Descriptive Information Form and the Stress Coping Styles Scale (SCSS). ResultsWomen's SCSS score was 47.26±6.39 (effective) and 37.76±6.33 (ineffective). The SCSS score were not significantly different between CAM users and non-CAM users (P>.05). The prevalence of CAM use was 36%, the most common types of CAM were herbal products (55.1%) and prayer (33.8%) and the reasons for using CAM were for relaxation (symptomatic) (43.2%). As a result of multivariate logistic regression analysis, level of income, working, number of living children, receiving chemotherapy, receiving surgery, having a family history of cancer, and the interest of their partner after the disease were associated with effective coping with stress (P<.05, adjusted R2=.08, .05, and .33 respectively). Working, receiving chemotherapy, receiving surgery, stage of cancer, and having a history of cancer in a social environment were associated with ineffective coping with stress (P<.05, adjusted R2=.14 and .11 respectively). ConclusionsOne-third of women were using CAM and had a good level of approaches to coping with stress. Healthcare providers, especially gynecology-oncology nurses, should provide counseling on CAMs and develop strategies for coping with stress for women with breast cancer.

The Relationship between COVID19 Stress, Stress Coping and College Adaptation among Nursing Students

The Relationship between COVID19 Stress, Stress Coping and College Adaptation among Nursing Students

The Influence of Nursing Students' Grit, Positive Psychological Capital, and Stress Coping on Adjustment to College Life

The Influence of Nursing Students' Grit, Positive Psychological Capital, and Stress Coping on Adjustment to College Life

Stress influencing and coping strategies model among people living with HIV/AIDS: a mixed-methods

Background: The influencing factor is stress, which has an impact on the low motivation of People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) to recover. By knowing these factors, interventions in controlling stress can be carried out well. A coping model is needed as a basis for developing stress control intervention plans for PLWHA using a family approach. As the closest environment to PLWHA, the family is very appropriate to control stress in PLWHA.Purpose: This research aims to determine the factors that influence stress and models of coping strategies for stress in PLWHA.Methods: This is a mixed-method study with an exploratory sequential approach. This research was conducted in Padang City at the quantitative research stage. The sample in this study was 38 PLWHA and nine respondents in a quantitative study (psychologists, counselors, HIV counselors, companions of PLWHA (husband/wife/children/parents), and PLWHA). Data collection was carried out through observation and deep interviews with the respondents.Results: The statistical analyses revealed that factors influencing stress are self-control and discrimination. The results of the interviews obtained information that PLWHA needs to increase their faith in God, PLWHA does not want their status to be known by many people, and there is a lack of knowledge of PLWHA and the environment regarding HIV/AIDS transmission. The appropriate coping strategy model for PLHIV is to increase the PLWHA's faith, prevent the family from disclosing the PLWHA's disease status to the environment, and increase the knowledge of PLWHA and the social environment.Conclusion: Self-control and discrimination influence stress. The stress control coping strategy model for PLWHA is formed from three pillars: faith/belief, health status, and knowledge.

Work-life balance mediating stress and quality of life in academics during COVID-19 in Malaysia.

Following the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, academicians from the universities in Malaysia needed to ensure that the quality-of-service delivery to the stakeholders is undisturbed by adopting new challenging norms. This compromises the work-life balance (WLB), causes more stress and potentially affects their quality of life (QoL). This study investigates how perceived stress (PS) impacts the QoL of Malaysian academicians during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the mediating role of WLB. Academics working in Malaysia during COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study, using a voluntary response sampling method, was conducted among 417 academicians from universities in Malaysia in September 2021. A self-reported online questionnaire, measuring PS, WLB and QoL, was distributed. The QoL scored a mean of 50 (standard deviation [s.d.] = 9.84), PS scored a mean of 24.26 (s.d. = 8.19) and WLB had a mean score of 51.12 (s.d. = 18.73). Work-life balance was a significant mediator of PS and QoL (β = -0.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -0.52 to -0.35, p = 0.0001). Perceived stress was a significant predictor of WLB (β = 1.62, p = 0.0001). Institutions should consider implementing flexible working arrangements, and providing workshops on crisis management, time management, and resilience. Stress coping methods are recommended for enhancing WLB among academicians. This study contributes to the pool of evidence to support intervention strategies and policy recommendations aimed to enhance well-being.

Glucocorticoid alleviates hypothalamic nerve injury via remodeling HPA axis homeostasis in stressed rats

Excessive stress can exceed the adjustment ability of body and cause injury and dysfunction, while elucidation of the mechanism and prevention measures of stress-related injury are still insufficient. The present study was to observe the effect of glucocorticoid (GC) on stress-induced hypothalamic nerve injury and elucidate the potential mechanism. The present study intended to establish a chronic restraint stress rat model for follow-up study. Open field test and elevated plus maze test were used to observe behavioral changes of stress rats; Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect changes in the levels of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis-related hormones and inflammatory factors in hypothalamus; toluidine blue staining was used to observe pathological changes of hypothalamus. The results showed that stress rats showed obvious anxiety-like behaviors, the levels of HPA axis-related hormones and inflammatory factors showed abnormal fluctuations, and morphological results showed significant nerve injury in hypothalamus. Low-dose GC treatment significantly improved behavioral changes, alleviated hypothalamic nerve injury, and restored hypothalamic levels of inflammatory factors, serum levels of GC, corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and GC level in adrenal cortex of stressed rats, while GC receptor (GR) inhibitor, CRH receptor inhibitor, and adrenalectomy reversed the ameliorative effects of low-dose GC. Our study clarified that low-dose GC can restore stress coping ability by reshaping the homeostasis of the HPA axis, thus alleviating behavioral abnormalities and hypothalamic nerve injury in stressed rats.

Can cultural capital, cognitive ability, and economic capacity help rural older adults bridge the digital divide? Evidence from an empirical study.

The digital divide is the difference between individuals who use the Internet and those who do not. Under the triple social environment of urban-rural dichotomy, population aging, and the digital era in China, the existence of digital divide among rural older adults has seriously affected their access to health information through the Internet, so it is urgent to bridge the digital divide problem they face. Based on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Theory and Stress Coping Theory, the impact of cultural capital on the digital divide among rural older adults was systematically analyzed using hierarchical regression and Chained Mediation Effect Tests using data from the Chinese Family Panel Studies (CFPS). Cultural capital has a significant positive effect on the digital divide among rural older adults (β = 0.178, p < 0.01). Cognitive ability and economic capacity both play independent intermediary effects between cultural capital and digital divide among rural older adults, and the intermediary chain formed by the two plays a chain intermediary effect. The increase in the cultural capital of rural older adults has led to an increase in their cognitive ability and economic capacity, which ultimately has a favorable effect on the bridging of the digital divide. Heterogeneity results suggest that cultural capital is more effective in bridging the digital divide among male rural older adults aged 60-69. Cultural capital is able to bridge the digital divide faced by rural older adults and is age and gender heterogeneous. At the same time, improved cognitive ability and economic capacity can also help rural older adults bridge the digital divide. Therefore, it is proposed that we increase the construction of public cultural service infrastructure in rural areas, liaise with community neighborhood committees and village committees to do a good job of publicity, improve training measures for key groups, and maintain the enthusiasm of rural older adults for learning, so as to provide references for the rural older adults in China and developing countries in general to bridge the digital divide.

Investigation of the relationship between the self-efficacy levels in clinical practice and coping behaviors with stress among international nursing students

BackgroundIn this era of rapid globalization, our knowledge regarding the clinical performance perceptions and stress coping behaviors of international students in nursing education is quite limited. The unexplored nature of this topic has the potential to manifest as future clinical challenges. ObjectiveTo examine the relationship between international nursing students' perceived self-efficacy in clinical applications and their coping behaviors with stress. MethodsOur cross-sectional and correlational study collected data from 117 international nursing students at a state university between June 2022 and July 2023. The data collection tools included the Participant Identification Form, Self-Efficacy in Clinical Performance Scale (SECP), and The Coping Behavior Inventory with Stress Scale for Nursing Students (CBIS-NS). t-test, ANOVA, correlation analysis, and Bonferroni test were used for data analysis. ResultsStudents, predominantly Azerbaijani (15.4 %) and 64.1 % female, engaged in practices, mainly in medical (34.2 %) and surgical units (33.3 %). Clinical self-efficacy was high, stress coping moderate. A significant positive link existed between coping behaviors and clinical self-efficacy (p < 0.05). Those in public health/mental health units (8.12 ± 1.46) had higher self-efficacy than surgical unit peers (6.94 ± 1.71) (p < 0.05). Satisfied students showed better stress coping (t = 2.645; p = 0.009). Weak positive links were found between transfer/avoidance coping behaviors and clinical self-efficacy (p < 0.05). ConclusionThis study demonstrated a statistically significant positive relationship between international nursing students' perceptions of clinical performance and coping behaviors with stress. Given the rapid globalization of education in the global era, especially in diverse educational and clinical environments with students from different ethnic backgrounds, it is recommended to develop new intervention strategies to enhance students' clinical performances and foster positive coping behaviors with stress.

Stress, Coping, and Mental Health Among Local Government Officials: A Longitudinal Study

This study investigated the mediating role of perceived stress in long-term development of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and emotional distress among local government officials over seven years after the Wenchuan earthquake in China. Moreover, how dysfunctional coping would impact the relationship between perceived stress and PTSS or emotional distress was examined. Data were collected one year (T1) and seven years (T2) after the earthquake. Trauma experience, PTSS, and emotional distress were measured at one year. PTSS and emotional distress were re-assessed at seven years together with perceived stress and dysfunctional coping (i.e., behavioral disengagement, denial, self-distraction, self-blame, substance use, and venting). Mediation analyses were conducted to examine the mediating role of perceived stress. Moderated mediation analyses were performed to test the moderation effect of dysfunctional coping. Perceived stress fully mediated the association of T1 emotional distress with its’ T2 scores (indirect effect: B = 0.10, SE = 0.04, β = 0.11, 95% CI [0.02, 0.18]), while did not mediate the association of T1 PTSS with T2 PTSS (indirect effect: B = 0.04, SE = 0.03, β = 0.04, 95% CI [−0.02, 0.10]). Compared to a low frequency use of dysfunctional coping strategies (ps = 0.148–0.326), the detrimental effects of perceived stress on PTSS and emotional distress were stronger at higher levels of dysfunctional coping strategies (ps < 0.001). This study highlights the importance of paying attention to the adverse impacts of perceived stress and dysfunctional coping on long-term mental health outcomes among local government officials after disasters.

Facing AI with knowledge: an investigative study on the utilisation of service robots and employee knowledge management behaviours

ABSTRACT Knowledge is the source of competitive advantage for employees in the labour market and for businesses in the services market. While academic research on knowledge management has made significant progress, the impact of robotic utilisation on the knowledge management behaviour of service employees remains limited, particularly with respect to the entry of artificial intelligence and robots into tourism and hospitality settings. Drawing on stress coping theory, this paper explores the mechanisms through which the utilisation of service robots influences employee knowledge management behaviour. Through a survey of 347 hotel employees, we conduct a multiple regression analysis on the data. The findings indicate that the utilisation of service robots positively influences employees’ knowledge management behaviours, with learning tensions partially mediating this relationship, and a paradox mindset negatively moderating the impact of learning tensions on knowledge management behaviour. The research findings theoretically enrich the body of knowledge in the areas of service robots, human-robot interaction, and knowledge management. Practically, the research conclusions provide insights for tourism and hospitality organisations adopting robots on how to embrace change, leverage the learning tensions and paradox mindset, and thereby fostering a more engaged and motivated workforce in the realm of knowledge management.

Examination of the Relationship Between Stress Coping and Problem Solving Skills of Physical Education Teachers

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between coping with stress and problem-solving abilities among physical education teachers. The research sample comprised 64 female and 89 male physical education teachers, totaling 153 individuals, employed in schools under the Ministry of National Education in Mardin. Data collection instruments included a personal information form developed by the researcher, the Coping with Stress Scale developed by Türküm (2002), and the Problem Solving Inventory developed by Heppner and Peterson (1982) and adapted into Turkish by Şahin, Şahin, and Heppner (1993). Statistical analyses involved testing for variance and homogeneity, employing independent t-tests for pairwise comparisons, One-Way ANOVA for multiple comparisons, and conducting Correlate analysis to determine relationships. Results revealed no significant differences in mean scores for coping with stress or problem-solving skills among physical education teachers based on gender, school type, or years of service in the profession. However, a positive low-level relationship was identified between the coping with stress scores and problem-solving scores of the physical education teachers. In summary, the study revealed notably high mean scores for both coping with stress and problem-solving skills among physical education teachers, suggesting their adeptness at managing stressors and addressing challenges effectively. Additionally, it is postulated that physical education teachers who exhibit effective stress coping mechanisms are also proficient in resolving encountered problems.

Examining stress and coping levels of patriarchal men with autistic children who receive special sports training in Türkiye

Our study aims to explore the factors affecting the stress levels and coping mechanisms of parents with children on the autism spectrum in patriarchal societies. The study group consisted of fathers (n = 183; x̅=44.6) of children diagnosed with autism between the ages of 18–55 living in Izmir province. As a data collection tool; ‘Personal Information Form’ prepared by the researcher to determine the socio-demographic characteristics of Turkish fathers; ‘Stress Self-Assessment Checklist (SSAC)’, ‘Ways of Coping Questionnaire (WCQ)’ was used. It is crucial for partners of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to support each other, a principle that holds true for fathers within patriarchal structures as well. Simply put, when parents of autistic individuals support each other, stress levels are reduced. Additionally, increased enrollment of the child in specialized education, especially those incorporating physical activities, serves as a stress-reducing factor. Another significant factor in reducing stress is the employment status of the mother. According to this finding, in patriarchal societies (such as ours), mothers are not obligated to stay at home and care for the child; they can pursue employment. Indeed, a noteworthy outcome of our study is the decrease in paternal stress when the mother is employed.

The Effect of Character on Stress Coping Responses Through Motivation to Lead

The Effect of Character on Stress Coping Responses Through Motivation to Lead

Vaccine Hesitancy in the Autism Spectrum Disorder Context: Parental Vaccine Decision-Making and Coping with Stress Strategies.

Despite no scientific evidence linking vaccines to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), vaccine hesitancy persists among parents of children with ASD. This study aims to compare vaccine hesitancy and behaviors among parents of children with ASD, other Neurodevelopmental Disorders (NDD), and without NDD, and to examine the relationship between stress coping mechanisms and vaccine hesitancy, including comparing coping mechanisms between diagnostic groups as well as their association with hesitancy. In this cross-sectional study, one parent of each child with ASD, non-ASD NDD, or without NDD was included. Data were collected using a researcher-created form, the Vaccine Hesitancy Scale in Turkish, and the Coping Style Scale Brief Form. Vaccine hesitancy, parents' COVID-19 vaccination status, and vaccination status of children's younger siblings were analyzed through univariate and multivariate analyses, with a focus on correlations between vaccine hesitancy and coping styles. The study included one parent from each of 299 children. Parents of children with ASD showed an adjusted odds ratio of 2.66 (95% CI 1.35-5.06) for high vaccine hesitancy, 2.57 (95% CI 1.17-5.65) for not receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, and 1.40 (95% CI 0.45-4.40) for younger siblings not receiving routine vaccines. A weak but significant correlation was observed between vaccine hesitancy and the use of restraint coping style among these parents (r = 0.280; p = 0.010). The study underscores the importance of targeted educational efforts and personalized communication to address vaccine hesitancy among parents of children with ASD. Enhancing vaccination coverage in this community requires further research to develop interventions tailored to their specific needs.

“Will they assume I’m racist?” How racial ingroup members’ stereotypical behavior impacts White Americans’ interracial interaction experiences

Three studies ( N = 1,427) examine White Americans’ threat and stress appraisals and coping strategies in imagined inter- and intraracial interactions when a nearby White person does something racist. White individuals report heightened concern about being stereotyped as racist (i.e., metastereotyping) following an ingroup member’s stereotype-confirming (vs. neutral) behavior (Studies 1–3). Moreover, across studies, these heightened metastereotypes predict greater anxiety, which in turn predicts anticipated coping strategies (e.g., increased motivation to disprove the stereotype). Additionally, relative to imagined interactions with a White partner, these consequences of witnessing a White person’s anti-Black bias are significantly stronger with a Black or Latinx (Studies 1 and 2) but not an Asian (Study 3, preregistered) interaction partner. This work highlights how an ingroup member’s racist behavior is a situational stressor for White people during intergroup encounters, engendering coping strategies to protect the self and manage the ensuing interaction.

What Determines Civil Servants’ Error Response? Evidence From a Conjoint Experiment

To err is human and learning from mistakes is essential for finding viable solutions to grand societal challenges through development and innovation. Yet, public organizations often exhibit a punitive zero-error culture, and public employees are stereotyped as error and risk-averse. Little is known about the underlying behavioral mechanisms that determine civil servants’ likelihood of handling errors positively, namely reporting and correcting them instead of ignoring and hiding them to avoid blame. Based on the transactional theory of stress coping, we argue that individuals’ error-handling strategies relate to both rational and emotional evaluations of error-specific and consequential contextual factors. Using a conjoint survey experiment conducted with N = 276 civil servants in Germany ( Obs. = 1,104), this study disentangles the effects of error-related, individual, and organization-cultural factors as decisive drivers of individuals’ error response. We find that error characteristics (type and harmfulness) determine error-handling behavior, which is revealed to be independent from organizational error culture and individual error orientation, providing important and novel insights for theory and practice.

Coping Stress Strategies to Reducing Work and Home Demands to Job Burnout Woman Nurses

Work and home demand increasing job burnout for woman nurses. The important coping stress strategies are to reduce job burnout. This study aimed to determine the relationship between work and home demand to job burnout, and the role of moderator coping stress strategies. The sample of the study was 157 women nurses recruited through simple random sampling. Data were collected using questionnaires and analyzed with partial least squares. The results indicated that work and home demand was positive and significantly related to job burnout. Coping stress strategies is negatively moderated the relationship between work demand to job burnout, but positive moderated the relationship between home demand to job burnout. The implication that coping stress strategies is successful to weaken job burnout caused by work demand, but strengthening job burnout caused by home demand.

Stress-Coping Patterns of Japanese School-Aged Children with Allergic Diseases: A Qualitative Study

Although school-aged children often suffer from multiple several allergic diseases concurrently, most studies on stress coping have examined allergic diseases separately. Herein, semi-structured interviews were conducted to evaluate stress-coping patterns associated with allergic diseases among ten children aged 9–12 years, and obtained data were subjected to qualitative thematic analysis. Characteristic word contents were grouped into categories to explore themes. After the analysis, e themes—objection, support, rescue, distraction, concealment, catharsis, conversion, and positive thoughts—and 13 categories were identified. Furthermore, a thematic map was used on the following three coping domains of coping: problem-focused and behavioral coping, emotion-focused and behavioral coping, and emotion-focused and cognitive coping. Behavioral coping could be easily implemented in children. This study revealed that it is critical for children with allergic diseases to have various coping methods and functional coping strategies should be implemented.

Student Stress, Coping, and APPE Readiness at Two Public Institutions before and during the Pandemic.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic significantly impacted pharmacy students' education and well-being. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the pandemic on students' perceived stress by comparing third- and fourth-year students from the pre-pandemic Class of 2019 with mid-pandemic Class of 2021 at two public institutions. Secondary aims were to evaluate the pandemic effects on students' academic and professional development skills and practice readiness. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (COPE) scale were used to measure student well-being. Students' self-rated problem-solving, time management, and study skills were used to measure their academic and professional development; practice readiness was measured using students' self-rated confidence levels. PSS scores were significantly higher in mid-pandemic than pre-pandemic students, and the Brief COPE avoidant coping subscale differed between pre-pandemic and mid-pandemic students. No differences were found in any academic and professional development skills between the pre- and mid-pandemic students, and there were significant improvements in student confidence levels for practice readiness among the mid-pandemic students. In conclusion, the pandemic appeared to affect students' stress and avoidant coping mechanism but had variable effects on academic and professional development and practice readiness.