Stressful Events Research Articles

Building resilience among undergraduate health professions students: identifying influencing factors

BackgroundResilience contributes to mental well-being, hence expediting recovery from stressful events. Health professions students, in particular, often experience heightened levels of stress and anxiety due to academic demands and other stressors. This study aimed to explore the factors contributing to resilience and identify support systems that universities can implement to help undergraduate health professions students build resilience and manage their mental well-being.MethodsA total of 28 students from the fields of Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, and Dietetics and Nutrition participated in semi-structured interviews. All interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. The interviews were stopped when data saturation was achieved. The data were analysed using thematic analysis.ResultsThematic analysis of the interviews identified five key themes contributing to resilience: life experience, socioeconomic factors, personal attributes, support resources, and role modelling. Universities play a crucial role in fostering resilience among health professions students through soft skills training, workplace-oriented training, mentoring, and extracurricular activities. These opportunities enable students to develop and strengthen resilience in both formal and informal settings. Such initiatives not only equip students to manage future career challenges but also support their overall personal and professional development.ConclusionsThis study provided a comprehensive understanding of the contributing factors to health professions students’ resilience. The availability of support resources together with a nurturing environment provided by university are crucial. By fostering resilience, students are better prepared to navigate the challenges of the demanding professions and develop the emotional fortitude necessary for long-term success in healthcare.

Context and Underlying Factors Influencing the Adaptation Process of Older Adults Facing Spousal Deaths: A Qualitative Study.

The death of a spouse, as the most stressful event in old age, can put the older adult at risk of death if they do not adapt again. Since the process of adapting to bereavement occurs in the context of social interactions and is experienced in different ways in different societies, this research was conducted with the aim of explaining the background and factors affecting the adaptation of the older adult to the death of their spouse. The experiences of 21 participants were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed with Lundman and Granheim's conventional content analysis approach, which led to the creation of three main categories1: how one perceives loss; 2:quality of life after the deceased; and 3: the quality of marital life. The findings indicate the importance and impact of background factors in how the adaptation process occurs. Identifying these factors can provide practical solutions to experts, caregivers and bereaved older adult.

Long-Term Antithyroid Drug Therapy in Smoldering or Fluctuating-Type Graves' Hyperthyroidism with Potassium Iodide.

Graves' hyperthyroidism is characterized by stimulation of the thyroid gland by thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor antibodies (TRAbs). Antithyroid drug (ATD) continuation is recommended as long as the thyroid gland is stimulated. Goiter size, thyroidal 123I uptake, serum thyroglobulin level, and TRAb positivity are reliable markers of thyroid stimulation. Attention must also be paid to the responsiveness of the thyroid gland due to the high prevalence of painless thyroiditis and spontaneous hypothyroidism during treatment. TRAbs disappeared at <5 years entering remission in 36.6% of patients (smooth-type), while re-elevation of TRAb activity occurred in 37.7% (fluctuating-type) and remained positive for >5 years in 21.1% (smoldering-type). Seven percent of patients remained positive for TRAbs for >30 years, requiring life-long ATD treatment. Remission occurred after median 6.8 years (interquartile range, 4.0 to 10.9) of ATD treatment in 55% of patients. However, late relapse may occur after stressful events (dormant type). In apparently intractable Graves' disease (GD) with a large goiter (>40 g), 131I therapy should be considered. For initial and long-term ATD treatment, we must choose effective, safe, and economical drugs such as 100 mg potassium iodide (KI), although KI sensitivity varies in patients with GD. Thionamide, which has notorious side effects, is added only during the KI-resistant period.

Psychological barriers to adherence to pharmacological treatment of cardiovascular risk conditions in healthcare workers.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death globally. This burden of disease is particularly high among healthcare workers (HCW). However, adherence to treatment of well-known cardiovascular risk conditions (CRC) still represents a challenge, even among healthcare workers (HCW). Since the identification of modifiable related factors is a prerequisite for developing effective public health interventions, the purpose of this study was to develop a predictive model for adherence to pharmacological treatment (APT) for CRC in HCW, using psychological variables related to CVD mortality, such as the type A behavior pattern, perceived stress, depression, anxiety and attitudes toward treatment adherence. An anonymous online survey was completed by a non-probabilistic sample of 1,377 Mexican HCW from tertiary public hospitals, with a diagnosis of only one of the following CRC: ischemic heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure or dyslipidemia. Sociodemographic questionnaires and self-reported measures were used to collect data: PSS-14 for perceived stress, Type A Behavior Pattern Withdrawal Scale, HADS for anxiety and depression symptoms, the Attitudes toward Medication Scale and the Therapeutics Adherence Scale for Patients with Chronic Diseases. Anxiety and depression symptoms were higher in the group with risk for non-adherence, while perceived stress and positive attitudes toward medication were higher in the group with likelihood of adherence (p ≤ 0.05). The Type A behavior pattern and sociodemographic variables did not differ between groups. In a regression model, positive attitudes toward medication and perceived stress doubled APT (OR = 2.04, CI95% = 1.39-2.97; OR = 2.02, CI95% = 1.71-2,39, respectively) whereas depression decreased its likelihood (OR = 0.61, CI95% = 0.58-0.73). In conclusion, psychoeducation for patients with CRC should include information on the advantages of medication for treating their condition, even if they are HCW. Promoting adaptative coping skills to handle daily stressful events, including their CRC, could reduce the level of stress that could increase their APT but also their cardiovascular risk. Moreover, our data provide evidence regarding the importance of identifying and treating depressive symptoms as part of the standard care of this population.

The Nitty Gritty of Stress and Mental Health: The Role of Grit in Moderating the Relationship Between Stress, Anxiety, and Depression

ABSTRACT College students in the United States contend with unprecedented mental health difficulties. College-specific challenges and stressors associated with emerging adulthood exacerbate these mental health struggles. In the ABC-X model of stress, cognitive appraisal or perception mediates the relationship between stressful events and degraded mental health. In this model, a resource, such as grit, may strengthen student resilience. Using data collected from 844 US college students, the path analysis results identified the mediation effect of the perception of stress on the association between college life challenges and mental health difficulties (depression and anxiety). These mediation effects were not significantly affected by the level of grit. However, the relationships between the perception of stress and both anxiety and depression were weaker at higher levels of grit. The implications of these findings, relative to grit interventions and attrition, are considered.

Evaluation of the Environmental Risk Factors and Comorbidities in Patients with Lichen Planopilaris: A Case-Control Study

Introduction: Lichen planopilaris (LPP) is an uncommon cicatricial alopecia clinically characterized by follicular hyperkeratosis, perifollicular erythema, and permanent hair loss. The association of LPP with certain underlying diseases and environmental factors has been evaluated but there are limited data about this association. This study was designated to evaluate the environmental risk factors and comorbidities in LPP patients. Method: This case-control study was performed on LPP patients referred to two dermatology referral centers from 2019 to 2022. A group of non-LPP healthy individuals referring for cosmetic concerns was recruited as control group. Data collection was performed using two questionnaires: a general questionnaire, including demographic information, comorbidities, environmental risk factors, and disease-related information, and the lichen planopilaris activity index (LPPAI) questionnaire. Results: One hundred LPP patients as case group were compared with 100 healthy people without LPP as control group. Unemployment, history of major stressful events, thyroid disorder, history of hair dyeing, using face soaps, taking supplements, postmenopausal status, and family history of LPP or other types of alopecia had significant relationship with LPP (all p values <0.05). Conclusion: LPP has associations with environmental and non-environmental risk factors and, also, genetic component.

Stress-mediated Activation of Ferroptosis, Pyroptosis, and Apoptosis Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Exacerbates Neurological Dysfunctions.

Nearly half of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) patients continue to experience residual neurological dysfunction, which may be attributed to exposure to stress. Ferroptosis, a newly discovered form of cell death, is increasingly recognized for its involvement in the pathophysiology of TBI. Understanding the mechanisms by which stress influences mTBI, particularly through ferroptosis, is crucial for the effective treatment and prevention of mTBI patients who are sensitive to stressful events. In our study, a mouse mTBI model was established. An acute restraint stress (RS) and a chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model then were applied to make acute and chronic stress, respectively. We found acute RS significantly delayed the recovery of reduced body weight and short-term motor dysfunctions and exacerbated cell insults and blood-brain barrier leakage caused by mTBI. Further studies revealed that acute RS exacerbates neuronal ferroptosis, pyroptosis, and apoptosis by promoting iron overloading in the neocortex following mTBI. Interestingly, the inhibition of ferroptosis with iron chelators, including deferoxamine and ciclopirox, reversed pyroptosis and apoptosis. Moreover, CUMS aggravated neurological dysfunctions (motor function, cognitive function, and anxiety-like behavior) and exacerbated brain lesion volume. CUMS also exacerbates ferroptosis, pyroptosis, and apoptosis by intensifying iron deposition, along with decreasing the expression of neuronal brain-derived neurotrophic factor and glucocorticoid receptor in the neocortex post mTBI. These effects were also mitigated by iron chelators. Our findings suggest that alleviating ferroptosis induced by iron deposition may represent a promising therapeutic approach for mTBI patients who have experienced stressful events.

Prevalence of Anxiety and Depression among Parents of Children with Cancer-A Preliminary Study.

A child's cancer is a highly stressful experience for the entire family. Childhood cancer disrupts family functioning and is one of the most stressful and challenging events parents face, often beyond their control. Parents play a crucial role in providing emotional support to children throughout their illness, and their ability to cope can help reduce the child's negative emotions. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of anxiety and depression among parents of children with cancer. This cross-sectional study followed the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines and included parents of children undergoing cancer treatment. Convenience sampling was used. The Beck Depression Inventory and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were utilized to assess the parents. This study included 270 participants (73% women, 27% men) with children at an average age of 8.75 ± 4.82 years. Diagnoses included leukemia (53%), lymphoma (29%), and other cancers. On the Beck Depression Inventory, 33% of parents were mildly depressed, 12% moderately depressed, and 32% severely depressed, with an average score of 20.63 ± 12.39 points. The HADS-M scale indicated anxiety at 48.43 ± 20.78%, depression at 45.01 ± 22.8%, and aggression at 54.72 ± 28.71%. Most parents of children with cancer have symptoms of depression and anxiety, which are influenced by the duration of the child's illness. A strong correlation was observed between the level of anxiety and the tendency for depression.

Cellular resiliency and survival of Neuro-2a cells under extreme stress

Stressors such as hypoxia, hypothermia, and acute toxicity often result in widespread cell death. This study investigated the outcomes of Neuro-2a (N2a; mouse neuroblastoma) cells following a cryogenic storage failure that exposed them to a combination of these stressors over a period of approximately 24-30 hours. Remarkably, a small fraction of the cells survived the event, underwent a period of dormancy, and eventually recovered to a healthy state. To understand the underlying resilience mechanisms, we created a model to replicate the dewar failure event and examined changes in phenotype, transcriptomics, proteomics, and mitochondrial activity of the surviving cells during recovery. We found that the surviving cells initially displayed a stressed morphology with irregular membranes and a clustered apperance. They showed an increased expression of proteins related to DNA repair and chromatin modification pathways as well as heightened mitochondrial function shortly after the stress event. As recovery progressed, the stress-responsive pathways, mitochondrial activity, and growth rates normalized toward that of healthy controls, indicating a return to a stable baseline state. These findings suggest that an initial robust energetic state supports key stress-responsive and repair pathways at the early stages of recovery, facilitating cell survival and resiliency after extreme stress. This work provides valuable insights into cellular resilience mechanisms with potential implications for improving cell preservation and recovery in biomedical applications and developing therapeutic strategies for conditions involving cell damage and stress.

Resilience, emotions, and suicidal ideation in Mexican adolescents during COVID-19 pandemic: risk factors and protective mechanisms

IntroductionSuicide is the second leading cause of death among adolescents worldwide. Suicidal ideation (SI) in adolescents may be influenced by factors such as resilience, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. The COVID-19 pandemic served as a significant stressor with documented impacts, yet further research is needed to clarify its effects. While stressful events are known to be associated with increased SI, direct evidence linking COVID-19 specifically to elevated SI remains limited.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to identify the risk and protective factors associated with SI in Mexican adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodA cross-sectional, correlational descriptive study was conducted between May and June 2022 with a sample of 2,194 high school students, with a mean age of 16.6 years (SD = 1.2). Among the participants, 58.9% were female and 41.1% were male. They completed inventories to assess stress, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and resilience.ResultsOf 2194 adolescents, 15.5% presented SI, with females showing a higher prevalence of SI, anxiety, and depressive symptoms compared to males. In contrast, resilience was lower in females. Furthermore, depressive symptoms were identified as a risk factor for SI (OR 1.212; 95% CI 1.186, 1.240), whereas social competence was highlighted as a protective factor (OR 1.046 95% CI 1.044, 1.078).ConclusionsThe findings underscore the importance of preventing SI in adolescents by addressing anxiety and depressive symptoms, which were identified as risk factors, and by promoting social competence as a protective factor. Therefore, an integrated approach that addresses both individual mental health and the social context must be considered for preventing SI in adolescents.

Prediction of adolescent depression from prenatal and childhood data from ALSPAC using machine learning

Depression is a major cause of disability and mortality for young people worldwide and is typically first diagnosed during adolescence. In this work, we present a machine learning framework to predict adolescent depression occurring between ages 12 and 18 years using environmental, biological, and lifestyle features of the child, mother, and partner from the child’s prenatal period to age 10 years using data from 8467 participants enrolled in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). We trained and compared several cross-sectional and longitudinal machine learning techniques and found the resulting models predicted adolescent depression with recall (0.59 ± 0.20), specificity (0.61 ± 0.17), and accuracy (0.64 ± 0.13), using on average 39 out of the 885 total features (4.4%) included in the models. The leading informative features in our predictive models of adolescent depression were female sex, parental depression and anxiety, and exposure to stressful events or environments. This work demonstrates how using a broad array of evidence-driven predictors from early in life can inform the development of preventative decision support tools to assist in the early detection of risk for mental illness.

Developmental Pathways and Adjustment of Adult Women Who Experienced Early Pubertal Development: A Mixed-Method Approach

Early maturation among girls is a major stressful event that might affect their development and wellbeing during the adolescent years. However, the research literature is inconsistent as to whether the impact of early maturation among girls continues into their adult life. Taking a narrative approach, 45 adult women were interviewed and asked to describe their developmental life history following early maturation. Further, they reported on their wellbeing and body image. Analysis of the interviews yielded three developmental pathways: women for whom early maturation still impacts their daily life; women who were able to cope with the premature puberty and function well, but are still bothered by issues of body image; and women for whom early maturation served as an incentive for personal growth, who reported a high level of wellbeing, and comfort with their body. Findings underscore the importance of considering individual differences and different pathways of development among individuals.

The Relation between Parameters of Physical Performance and Depression in Consecutive Hospitalized Geriatric Patients with Heart Failure.

In the geriatric population, the risk of cardiometabolic diseases is strongly influenced by comorbidities. The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of depression among hospitalized patients with heart failure (HF) and to assess the relation between physical performance and depression in this population. We included consecutive hospitalized patients with HF aged >65 years. The depression symptoms were evaluated using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), the physical performance was assessed using the grip strength measurements, the Back Scratch Test, the Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT), the Five Times Sit to Stand Test (5 × SST), and the 6 min walk test. We included 206 patients (134 females and 72 males, median age 82 years (77-86) years). Altogether, 33% of participants had signs of depression. The association was found between depression severity and economic status (p = 0.001), stressful events (p = 0.005), self-reported general health status (p = 0.001), and heart failure severity assessed by the New York Heart Association class (NYHA), p = 0.003. The Back Scratch Test, the TUGT, and the 5xSST were associated with depression severity in a univariable regression analysis (β coefficient 0.04 [95% CI 0.00-0.08], 0.20 [95% CI 0.12-0.27], 0.18 [95% CI 0.07-0.27], respectively); however, when adjusted for co-factors, the TUGT and the 5xSST (0.17 [95% CI 0.08-0.26] and 0.14 [95% CI 0.02-0.26], respectively) were significantly related to the GDS score. Grip strength and the 6 min walk test were not related to the GDS score in the univariable nor multivariable analysis. These findings were confirmed in the logistic analyses. Our study indicated a high incidence of depression among elderly hospitalized patients with heart failure. Depression severity in older patients with HF is related to physical performance decline as assessed by the Timed Up and Go Test and the Five Times Sit to Stand Test. Grip strength and the 6 min walk test are not related to the GDS score in this population.

Development and psychometric assessment of the test “Predictive style”

BACKGROUND: Prognostic processes are an important link in adaptation to stressful events and resilience. The role of the features of prognostic abilities in various mental disorders is shown. We introduce and substantiate a new psychological construct, the “Predictive style”, reflecting the subjective importance of the forecasting process and the tendency to assess the favorability of predicted events. AIM: To develop and conduct a psychometric assessment of the “Predictive style” test. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A “Predictive style” test was developed, including 21 statements divided into 4 scales: excessive optimism, excessive pessimism, excessive forecasting and indifference to forecasts. The development of the test included the study of the external and internal validity, as well as the reliability of the methodology. RESULTS: The measures of compliance with the test model were at a sufficient level: CFI=0.927; TLI=0.917; SRMR=0.0538; RMSEA=0.0497 (95% CI 0.0403–0.0589) and were performed on a new sample. All items correlated with their scales at a sufficient level. The reliability of the scales was in an acceptable range: Kronbach α=0.851–0.630. Retest reliability was confirmed after 2 months. Convergent validity was demonstrated by correlations with levels of optimism, pessimism, anticipation, predictive ability and coping strategies. Statistically significant differences were found between the groups of patients with neurotic mental disorders and those without psychopathology. Multiple linear regression demonstrated that the test scales were statistically significant predictors of anxiety and depression symptoms in the study participants. The results obtained confirm the criteria validity of the test under development. CONCLUSION: The developed test has sufficient psychometric indicators and can be used in subsequent studies.

Examining the impact of sleep deprivation on medical reasoning’s performance among anaesthesiology residents and doctors: a prospective study

BackgroundWorking long consecutive hours’ is common for anaesthesia and critical care physicians. It is associated with impaired medical reasoning’s performance of anaesthesiology and serious medical errors. However, no study has yet investigated the impact of working long consecutive hours’ on medical reasoning.ObjectiveThe present study evaluated the impact of working long consecutive hours’ on the medical reasoning’s performance of anaesthesiology and intensive care physicians (residents and seniors).MethodsThis multicentric, prospective, cross-over study was conducted in 5 public hospitals of Normandy region. Two groups of anaesthesia and critical care physicians were formed. One was in a rest group, RG (after a 48-hours weekend without hospital work) and the other in Sleep Deprivation Group (SDG) after a 24 h-consecutives-shift. Changes in medical reasoning’s performance were measured by 69-items script concordance tests (SCT) through to the two tests. Group A completed the first part of the assessment (Set A) after a weekend without work and the second part (Set B) after a 24 h-shift; group B did the same in reverse order. The primary outcome was medical reasoning’s performance as measured by SCT in RG and SDG. The secondary outcomes included association between the performance with the demographic data, variation of the KSS (Karolinska sleepiness scale) daytime alertness score, the number of 24 h-shift during the previous 30 days, the vacations during the previous 30 days, the presence of more or less than 4 h consecutives hours slept, the management of a stressful event during the shift, the different resident years, the place where the shift took place (University hospital or general hospitals) and the type of shift (anaesthesia or intensive care).Results84 physicians (26 physicians and 58 residents) were included. RG exhibited significantly higher performance scores than SDG (68 ± 8 vs. 65 ± 9, respectively; p = 0.008). We found a negative correlation between the number of 24 h-shifts performed during the previous month and the variation of medical reasoning’s performance and no significant variation between professionals who slept 4 h or less and those who slept more than 4 h consecutively during the shift (-4 ± 11 vs. -2 ± 11; p = 0.42).ConclusionOur study suggests that medical reasoning’ performance of anaesthesiologists, measured by the SCT, is reduced after 24 h-shift than after rest period. Working long consecutive hours’ and many shifts should be avoided to prevent the occurrence of medical errors.

Unpleasant emotions and task-unrelated thoughts and their associations with amygdala activity during emotional distraction: A functional magnetic resonance imaging study

Previous emotion regulation studies revealed that emotional distraction decreases unpleasant emotions. This study examined whether distraction tasks decrease unpleasant task-unrelated thoughts (TUTs) and unpleasant emotions when recalling stressful daily interpersonal events. Amygdala activity was examined to assess implicit emotional changes using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The behavioral data of 20 university students (mean age: 20.35 ± 1.42 years; range: 18–24 years) and fMRI data of 18 students were examined. As an emotion induction procedure, participants initially freely recalled memories of daily stressful interpersonal events and then responded to a series of questions about their recalled memories presented on a monitor. In the distraction experiment, the questions were re-represented as an emotional stimulation; a distraction task (nonconstant or constant finger tapping) or rest condition was then performed, and ratings were given for attentional state, thought types conceived during the tasks, and emotional state. Decreases in unpleasant emotions and TUTs were defined as distraction effects. We found that unpleasant TUTs decreased in the nonconstant relative to rest condition (p < .05). Furthermore, increased right amygdala activation positively correlated with unpleasant emotions, and bilateral amygdala activation correlated with unpleasant TUTs only in the rest condition, indicating the existence of amygdala activation associated with unpleasant emotions and thoughts. However, such associations were not under nonconstant or constant conditions, indicating distraction effects. Notably, this study showed that emotional distraction can decrease the degree of unpleasant emotions and the occurrence of unpleasant thoughts regarding common daily emotions.

Medial prefrontal cortex acetylcholine signaling mediates the ability to learn an active avoidance response following learned helplessness training.

Increased brain levels of acetylcholine (ACh) have been observed in patients with depression, and increasing ACh levels pharmacologically can precipitate stress-related behaviors in humans and animals. Conversely, optimal ACh levels are required for cognition and memory. We hypothesize that excessive ACh signaling results in strengthening of negative encoding in which memory formation is aberrantly strengthened for stressful events. The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is critical for both top-down control of stress-related circuits, and for encoding of sensory experiences. We therefore evaluated the role of ACh signaling in the mPFC in a learned helplessness task in which mice were exposed to repeated inescapable stressors followed by an active avoidance task. Using fiber photometry with a genetically-encoded ACh sensor, we found that ACh levels in the mPFC during exposure to inescapable stressors were positively correlated with later escape deficits in an active avoidance test in males, but not females. Consistent with these measurements, we found that both pharmacologically- and chemogenetically-induced increases in mPFC ACh levels resulted in escape deficits in both male and female mice, whereas chemogenetic inhibition of ACh neurons projecting to the mPFC improved escape performance in males, but impaired escape performance in females. These results highlight the adaptive role of ACh release in stress response, but also support the idea that sustained elevation of ACh contributes to maladaptive behaviors. Furthermore, mPFC ACh signaling may contribute to stress-based learning differentially in males and females.

Stepping back or stepping in: A qualitative investigation of self-distanced versus self-immersed stressor reflections with competitive swimmers.

High performance sport consists of stressor events which can disrupt an athletes' functioning and negatively influence performance. The way in which one reflects upon stressor events and develops insights regarding how they coped is essential to overcoming similar experiences in the future. We conducted a pilot randomised controlled trial with a qualitative analysis to explore the coping insights among 48 highly trained/national level swimmers in the lead up to major swimming competitions, who reflected on stressor events from self-distanced or self-immersed perspectives over a 3-week period. Using the self-reflection and coping insight framework as a guideline, we captured diverscoping insights across both groups. Irrespective of the group to which they were assigned, athletes showed positive signs towards re-interpreting their stressor experience and embracing the stressor event, whereas consideration of individual values and adoption of a future-focus viewpoint were areas lacking. The emotionality described by athletes in their written reflections varied across both groups and influenced the development of coping insights. Our findings indicate a necessity to examine the emotionality associated with unique stressor events and consider integrating reflection strategies, while also enhancing the operational definitions within conceptual models of stress reflection protocols.

Amplified psychological reaction to civil unrest among Holocaust survivor descendants.

The evidence regarding the intergenerational effects of the Holocaust points to a heightened sensitivity to traumatic and stressful events, as well as to threats. These effects were found across at least three generations: the survivors themselves, their children, and their grandchildren. More specifically, this sensitivity is manifested in increased psychological reactions to adverse circumstances, especially when such situations trigger associations with the Holocaust. During 2023 Israel has experienced unprecedented civil unrest and protests following the government's plan to promote a judicial overhaul. Many expressed fears for Israeli democracy and the integrity of the social fabric in Israel. The current study examined how Holocaust descendants (i.e., children and grandchildren of Holocaust survivors) experienced this prolonged social unrest. A web-based random sample of 706 Israeli Jews born after World War II completed questionnaires several months before the unrest began (Wave 1, 2022) and seven months into the unrest (Wave 2, 2023). Supporting most of our hypotheses, Holocaust descendants reported higher civil unrest salience (i.e., more preoccupation with the political and social upheaval) relative to comparison descendants (i.e., children and grandchildren of those not directly exposed to the Holocaust). Relative to comparison descendants, Holocaust descendants were also at a greater risk of reporting exacerbation in anxiety since the judicial overhaul was introduced, but not in depression or somatisation symptoms. Results remained significant after controlling Wave 1 distress level, background characteristics, level of engagement in civil unrest, and participants' viewpoint on the judicial overhaul. The findings further corroborate unique reactions to stress among Holocaust descendants, this time by highlighting increased preoccupation and increased exacerbation in anxiety during a period of prolonged political and social turmoil.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on school-going adolescents studying in government schools – A psychosocial perspective

ABSTRACT Background: Childhood is the most essential phase in a person’s life as the foundations laid at this stage decide the future. Children are one of the vulnerable groups during any disaster. It is a stressful event that is not easily understood. It is emotionally confusing and frightening and results in children needing significant instrumental and emotional support from adults. Aim: To understand the psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on school-going adolescents. Methods: This study adopted a cross-sectional research design in which sociodemographic characteristics and the CRIES-13 were administered to all the 312 children studying in 9th and 10th grade from the five selected schools. Statistical Analysis: Descriptive statistics such as frequencies, mean, and percentages were employed to analyse participants’ demographic characteristics. Chi-square, independent t-test, and ANOVA were used for comparison of the data. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 15 years (SD 0.98). It was found that most of the children (90.4%) had disturbances in their education, with 10th grade children having more disturbance than 9th grade ones (P value &lt; 0.05). Further, intrusion and arousal were found to be significantly higher among male children than female children (P value &lt; 0.05). Also, intrusion and arousal are significantly higher among 9th grade students, whereas avoidance is higher among 10th grade students (P value &lt; 0.05). Conclusion: The study identified that COVID-19 has a profound psychosocial impact on school going-adolescents. This finding highlights the importance of understanding the pandemic’s impact on children from a psychosocial perspective and designing appropriate interventions for them.