Stressful Situations Research Articles

Does it need an app? – Differences between app-guided breathing and natural relaxation in adolescents after acute stress

A key component of stress management and biofeedback training is the use of relaxation exercises, such as slow/deep breathing (6 breaths/minute) in heart coherence exercises (HCEs). Breathing exercises are also increasingly being integrated into smartphones as part of health apps, though their effectiveness in adolescents after acute stress has rarely been validated scientifically. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effectiveness of an app-guided HCE (n = 36) after an acute stress situation (Trier Social Stress Test) compared with natural relaxation (n = 37), among healthy adolescents (aged 11–17 years). Endocrine, autonomic, and psychological stress parameters (cortisol, alpha-amylase, heart rate, heart rate variability, mood) were examined in 73 adolescents (46 female, 27 male; Mage = 13.86, SDage = 1.87). Significant group differences were found in heart rate variability, with higher values in the low frequency band and low-to-high frequency ratio for the HCE condition, possibly indicating improved physiological functions through the stimulation of vagal tone and baroreflex. The use of a general breathing technique (natural and app-guided) also resulted in stronger relaxation reactions in cortisol when controlling for the previous stronger stress reactivity. On the other hand, app-guided slow breathing without a long training may be experienced as more uncomfortable during relaxation. The integration of breathing exercises in health apps for adolescents appears to be useful, offering a helpful and low-threshold coping/relaxation strategy during acute stress situations. Further studies should examine the benefits of app-guided breathing exercises in both psychiatric samples and the general population across a wide age range.

Comparison of Quality of Life and Coping Strategies among Firefighters and Emergency Medical Services Personnel in Saveh, Iran.

Emergency medical service (EMS) personnel and firefighters (FFs) are first responders in dangerous and stressful situations. They experience high stress due to the nature of their jobs, which can affect their quality of life and various health dimensions. This study aimed to compare quality of life, job stress, and coping strategies in a sample of EMS personnel and FF employees in Iran. This cross-sectional study included 186 FFs and EMS, who were selected using a census sampling method. Our results showed that FFs had a better quality of life, lower perceived stress, and better coping skills than EMS. Individuals living in rural areas, government officials, and staff with regular work shifts also reported less perceived stress. Furthermore, our results indicated a negative and significant correlation between perceived stress and quality of life and a positive and significant correlation between stress management and quality of life in both groups. Given the inevitability of stress in EMS and FF jobs, policymakers need to take interventional measures to reduce anxiety and enhance the quality of life and work for these personnel. Occupational health policies in Iran generally follow the International Labor Organizational recommended standards, however, more attention to managerial interventions that reduce job demands and job stress combined with health promotion programs to improve coping are advised.

Bespoke strategies of Paxillus involutus to extract potassium from diverse phyllosilicates

Phyllosilicates provide a primary source of minerals used by microorganisms and plants, particularly clay minerals, i.e., phyllosilicates of very small particle size. Fungi can actively break down (or “weather”) minerals to extract nutrients, but whether they use identical mechanisms when accessing different clay minerals is unclear. In addition, it is yet to be understood whether starvation stresses due to the limited availability of a mineral-nutrient would result in different weathering behaviours of microbes.Here, we performed a microcosm experiment to address these questions. We used the ectomycorrhizal basidiomycete Paxillus involutus and the phyllosilicates K-vermiculite, muscovite and phlogopite. These silicates have different degrees of recalcitrance to the removal of K cations from the mineral, and each was provided in the microscosm experiment as the sole potassium (K) source. The type of potassium "extraction-assimilation" was tested against a potassium-availability gradient, with a situation of maximum starvation stress (no potassium availability) and one of maximum availability (potassium provided as a solute in the culture medium). Our study revealed that different phyllosilicate minerals stimulated different patterns of fungal gene expression, which indicated bespoke weathering mechanisms for different phyllosilicates. The potassium uptake capacity of the fungus was highest with K-vermiculite compared to phlogopite and muscovite. Interestingly, the assimilation of phosphorus by the fungus was reduced in K-depleted conditions.Moreover, the potassium deprivation condition prompted the fungus to assimilate sodium instead. Also, in the presence of the minerals, the fungus showed significant differences in gene expression compared with the negative and positive control conditions, suggesting that the mineral environment modulates the starvation stress levels. The nutrients assimilated by the mycelium from both the minerals and the culture medium also varied according to the type of silicate added and the K starvation level to which the fungus was subjected. Based on what has been observed here, many geochemical processes could depend on fungi's genetic and functional plasticity, which would have considerable environmental consequences with a direct link between the evolution of fungi and that of the Earth's crust.

Live agent training as an important process safety measure to strengthen resilience in hazardous (CBRN) work situations.

Various occupational groups as well as emergency responders are important human factors in combating incidents and emergencies in a broad range. Negative deviations from a process-safe condition should be detected and transformed into a safer condition to prevent negative consequences. Therefore, training and education of personnel is an important measure in this case as well as a major influencing factor on the vulnerability to errors during operations and their resilience. From lack of training to incorrect execution due to excessive stress, fear, or unfamiliar situations, it is important to counteract this with targeted training under conditions that are as close to reality as reasonably achievable. Realistic training situations involving live agents allow to recognize mistakes or inadequacies not only in personnel but also in material or in mission planning and to create a more effective working environment. Many violations of work guidelines are due to well-intentioned deviations from nonexecutable standard operation procedures that have never been tested. Repeated, progressive training under real hazardous conditions can help to strengthen mission readiness and resilience of teams. It better prepares them for their dangerous activities.

Euthymia, Psychological Well-Being, and Professional Quality of Life in Health Care Workers.

Euthymia is a transdiagnostic construct characterized by the presence of positive mood states, psychological flexibility and resilience. These components contribute to psychological wellbeing and support mental functioning. Exposure to suffering and high levels of stress can lead to the onset of burnout and secondary traumatic stress, but also lack of compassion satisfaction. The study aimed to test the existing relationships between euthymia, psychological well-being, and factors associated with quality of life of healthy participants involved in medical settings. The sample was composed of 177 healthy participants involved in medical settings, 118 women (66.7%) and 59 men (33.3%) aged between 19 and 69 years old (mean = 27.16; SD = 8.47). Standardized psychodiagnostics instruments were used to assess euthymia (Euthymia Scale-ES), psychological well-being (The Well-Being Index scale-WHO-5) and the quality of life of the involved participants (Professional Quality of Life Measure-ProQOL-5). The results showed that gender, well-being and psychological well-being were predictors of compassion satisfaction and secondary traumatic stress. Specifically, female gender predicted higher levels of compassion satisfaction. Well-being and psychological flexibility predicted higher levels of compassion satisfaction and lower secondary traumatic stress. Psychological well-being predicted higher levels of compassion satisfaction. Promoting euthymia and well-being helps individuals to preserve psychological well-being and increase tolerance to stressful life situations. Results highlighted the need for promoting health care professionals' euthymia and well-being. In line with evidence, encouraging interventions based on evidence appears relevant.

A study to assess the psychosocial needs of patient family members in the intensive care unit in India.

Admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) is considered a mental crisis for patients and their families as they are unprepared for such a stressful and difficult situation. Hence, the objectives of this study are to assess the psychosocial needs of patient family members in the ICU in various dimensions such as assurance, proximity, information, support, and comfort; and to associate their psychosocial needs with their socio-demographic variables and clinical variables of the patient. This was a cross-sectional analytical study conducted between December 2021 and January 2022 among 188 family members of patients admitted to the ICU using a convenience sampling technique in a tertiary hospital in Puducherry, India. The modified Critical Care Family Needs Inventory (CCFNI) questionnaire was administered to all consenting family members to determine their needs. The overall most important need among the five dimensions of modified CCFNI scores identified by the family members is the need for assurance (2.71±0.38). Using analysis of variance, statistical significances were found as follows. Education and comfort (F-statistic and P-value): 2.76 (0.029); relationship with the patient and assurance: 2.61 (0.036); relationship with the patient and support: 2.44 (0.048); level of consciousness and comfort: 4.63 (0.010); ICU visit restriction and assurance: 3.28 (0.022); ICU visit restriction and comfort: 8.08 (<0.001). Since family members are essential members of the treatment teams, nurses should concentrate on reassuring them, assisting them in emerging from crises through appropriate communication, offering support, and attending to their needs.

Prevalence of Academic Burnout Among Nursing Students: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Nursing students are prone to academic burnout (AB) as the result of frequent exposure to stressful situations. AB is associated with physical and mental health problems; thus, identifying the burden of AB is crucial for prevention. This review sought to estimate the global prevalence of AB among nursing students. PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO, SciELO, CUIDEN, LILACS, and BASE databases were searched. The prevalence of AB was estimated using random effects meta-analysis. A total of 34 studies (n = 9,554 students) were included. The pooled prevalence of AB was 35% (95% CI [24%, 47%]; n = 23 studies), with the highest prevalence (58%) observed in Asia. The pooled prevalence of high emotional exhaustion, high depersonalization, and low personal accomplishment was 40%, 23%, and 30%, respectively. AB is more common than previously estimated among nursing students. Academic institutions should consider AB in their core curriculum. [J Nurs Educ. 2024;63(8):533-539.].

Depression, anxiety, coping, and resilience among amputees: A cross-sectional tertiary care hospital-based study.

Amputation significantly impacts an individual's physical and psychological well-being. It is essential to understand these implications of amputation as well as the coping and resilience of amputees as part of comprehensive patient care. To study depression, anxiety, coping, and resilience among tertiary care amputee cases. Consecutive 100 amputees seeking treatment in a tertiary care hospital were included in the study with their consent after ethics committee approval. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Brief Resilience Scale (BRS-6), and Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS-21) scale were administered. The data were analyzed using the SPSS software with the Chi-square test and Spearman's correlation. Depression affected a significant majority (67%) of patients, while anxiety was present in one-third (33%) of individuals. Certain sociodemographic factors and clinical parameters such as age group, residence, socioeconomic status, side of amputation, and duration of amputation showed statistically significant correlations with depression, anxiety, and low resilience. Emotional coping was positively correlated to anxiety (P < 0.001) and depression (P < 0.001) while task coping was negatively correlated to anxiety (P < 0.001) and depression (P < 0.001). Resilience was negatively correlated to anxiety (P < 0.001) and depression (P < 0.001). There exists a significant burden of depression and anxiety in amputees. Those with positive coping and high resilience were better at adjusting to amputation than those with emotion-based coping and low resilience.

Exploration of Mental Health and Well-Being of Healthcare Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

In response to curbing the spread of SARS-CoV-2, healthcare professionals (HCPs) encounter a multitude of mental stresses. The primary intent was to explore the mental health and well-being experienced by HCPs in Ekiti State, Nigeria, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were analyzed using inductive qualitative methodology. The study was undertaken among HCPs in two teaching hospitals in Ekiti State during the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak. Convenience sampling techniques were employed to select participants for this study. A comprehensive interview ranging from 30 to 50 minutes per participant was administered to a sample of 14 HCPs (doctors and nurses) representing various departments within the hospital. The interviews were conducted between March 2020 and May 2020. COVID-19 stressful situations, the physiological consequences of stress, personality, disposition, stress management techniques, and coping mechanisms were evaluated. The study outcomes indicate that a significant proportion of HCPs currently face mental well-being. The primary sources of stress identified in this study included heavy workloads and pressure from social media platforms and government agencies. The outbreak crisis significantly influenced on their lives and work, with the fear of catching diseases and their anxiety about spreading infections to their loved ones. HCPs require a secure working environment during the current circumstances, along with an enhanced support system to alleviate stressors. This study contributes to a significant proportion of HCPs currently facing stress.

PSYCHOLOGİCAL FEATURES OF SELF-REGULATİON MECHANİSMS İN STRESSFUL SİTUATİONS

The article is devoted to the study of the psychological characteristics of self-regulation mechanisms in students in stressful situations. In the article, the theoretical analysis and generalization of works related to the problem, a set of psychodiagnostic methods were used. The research base was the requirements of Odlar Yurdu University and various faculties of Baku State University. 135 second and third year students aged 18-23 participated in the study. A systematic approach was applied to the description and study of the research object for the reliability and validity of the research results. Mathematical methods were used for empirical data processing. Thus, according to the results of the correlation analysis, a relationship between stress resistance and self-regulation was found among the respondents. We see a negative relationship (r≤0.01) between stress resistance and self-regulation and one of its styles. This shows that there is a correlation between stress resistance, self-esteem and emotional stability and self-regulation. As self-regulation increases, the impact of stressful situations decreases. We believe that the present analysis can contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying successful and unsuccessful stress regulation. It should be taken into account that this will help prevent mental disorders and improve treatment.

Associations between Dietary Intake and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in American Career Firefighters: An Observational Study.

Firefighters have demanding jobs, requiring high levels of fitness in stressful situations for operational readiness, yet many firefighters are at an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). Diet is an important factor contributing to the development of CVD. The purpose of this study was to describe the dietary intake of firefighters and examine the associations between dietary intake and the CVD risk. Forty-six male career firefighters (age = 41.2 ± 11.2 years; BMI = 29.2 ± 4.1 kg/m2; body fat = 21.7 ± 6.1%) enrolled in a fitness-focused wellness program completed a health survey and a fitness assessment. The survey responses and fitness assessment were used to calculate the Framingham CVD Risk Score. Data were analyzed using R, the residual assumptions were verified, and the alpha level was set at 0.05. The results revealed that firefighters consume a standard American diet, with the overconsumption of meat and underconsumption of fruits and vegetables. The average CVD risk approached the upper limit of low risk. The results also indicate that meat servings and preparation fat affect the CVD risk (R2 = 0.21, p = 0.006). The outcomes of this study can inform investigations aimed at improving operational readiness and reducing the CVD risk in firefighters by implementing a holistic approach combining dietary interventions with physical training.

Do Psoriasis and Atopic Dermatitis Affect Memory, Attention, Stress and Emotions?

Psoriasis and atopic dermatitis are chronic skin diseases found all over the world that cause a lot of suffering to patients. The aim of this study was to answer the following questions: whether people suffering from psoriasis and AD have greater problems with recognizing emotions, the effectiveness of attention and memory processes, and whether they use different strategies of coping with stress than healthy people. This study involved 90 patients, including 30 patients with psoriasis, 30 patients with AD and 30 healthy patients, aged 21 to 63 years, including 54 women and 36 men. This study used a battery of the CANTAB Cognitive Tests, Mini-COPE Questionnaire Inventory, Toronto Alexithymia Scale TAS Questionnaire, Psoriasis Area and Severity Index, and Eczema Area and Severity Index. People with psoriasis and AD had higher total scores on the alexithymia scale and had greater difficulty in identifying and verbalizing emotions. People with psoriasis and AD are less likely to choose the correct stimulus and achieve a shorter length of the sequence that should be remembered. Psoriasis patients with more severe symptoms are less likely to use the strategy of a sense of humor in stressful situations. AD patients with more severe symptoms are less likely to use strategies of operative thinking, denial and self-blame, and the strategy of seeking instrumental support is used more often. Patients with psoriasis and AD require a holistic approach; in addition to dermatological treatment, psychological support, psychotherapeutic support and possible psychiatric treatment are recommended.

Did the First COVID-19 National Lockdown Lead to an Increase in Domestic Abuse in the U.K.'s Capital City of London?

On March 23, 2020, the United Kingdom went into national lockdown to stop the spread of COVID-19. In this paper, we examine whether a policy aimed at minimizing the health consequences of the pandemic had unintended negative consequences for domestic abuse. Using data from the Metropolitan Police in England we estimate the impact of lockdown on domestic abuse in the 32 boroughs that make up the London metropolitan area. Using a before and after approach, and controlling for other factors, we show an increase in the probability of being a victim of domestic abuse during lockdown similar in magnitude to the increase experienced over the Christmas holidays. However, the overall picture masks inequalities across groups: with women, younger and older people, and people of Asian, Arab, and Middle Eastern ethnicity subject to the highest increases, reflecting vulnerabilities and existing inequalities. Of the domestic abuse-related crimes, it is the most violent crimes that saw the greatest increases during lockdown. Once lockdown restrictions are eased, rates decline but remain slightly higher than prior to lockdown up to 3 months later. The results present a clear message for policy makers: a policy adopted to alleviate one problem, even in times of crisis, must factor in the impact this may have in other areas. Failure to do so in this situation, despite existing evidence linking domestic abuse to stress, confinement, and crisis situations prior to lockdown, has resulted in an increase in domestic violence in the U.K.'s capital city, during lockdown and beyond.

The effect of dispositional resilience on the relationship between professional quality of life and psychological distress factors of nurses during the pandemic: A three-wave longitudinal study.

COVID-19 overwhelmed all healthcare workers, especially nurses, who worked tirelessly in patient care in extremely stressful situations. Italy, with its hospital overcrowding and staff shortages, exacerbated these negative consequences. A three-wave prospective longitudinal-design was adopted to use validated scales to examine the trend of stress, anxiety, depression and resilience on the professional quality of life of nurses who worked during the pandemic. During an 8-month period, a sample of 411 individuals was recruited and surveyed three times. Resilience showed an increasing positive trend from the first to the third wave, increasing its effects on the outcomes and demonstrating its important protective role. The compassion fatigue showed progressively higher scores in the three waves, indicating greater workload perception and greater difficulty in managing the patients' perceived stress. Burnout increased in the first compared to second waves but decreased significantly in the third wave, due to the effect of resilience on burnout that was significantly stronger in the third wave. Our findings align with the literature about the role of resilience and emphasize the importance of investing in strategies aimed at developing resilience in healthcare workers and providing prevention and assistance to them in terms of job demands and unsustainable stressors.

Hepatoprotective potential of lamivudine through activation of gamma-glutamyltransferase and down-regulation of p53 in HepG2 cells

The liver is a crucial metabolic organ that aids in detoxification, produces energy, synthesizes essential proteins, and is essential for maintaining good health. Since hepatocytes are the main type of cell found in liver tissue, maintaining their safety is essential for the general health of livers. The hepato-protective qualities of lamivudine shield the liver from stressful situations. The current study aimed to assess lamivudine's protective effects on HepG2 cells subjected to ethanol damage. Lamivudine was given to HepG2 cells after they were cultivated and subjected to ethanol-induced damage. Cell viability was assessed using the MTT, Crystal Violet, and Trypan Blue tests. The results of the MTT experiment demonstrated that lamivudine administration improved the rate of cell viability in a dose-dependent manner at 25, 50, and 100 μg/mL (0.570±0.0205; 0.73 ±0.02; 0.897±0.0206, respectively). According to the Crystal Violet test, lamivμdine-treated cells had higher cell viability than untreated cells; the rates were around 0.38 ± 0.01, 0.516 ± 0.0305, and 0.656 ± 0.041 in a dose dependant manner. The Trypan Blue assay results also confirmed that treatment with lamivudine at 25 μg/mL, 50 μg/mL, and 100 μg/mL led to a increase in the viability of cells compared to the injury group (183.66±5.50; 151±3.61; 115±5, respectively). Pretreatment of HepG2 cells with lamivudine during 100 µg/mL concentration exposure resulted in near-normalization of p53 expression levels (24.73±0.60), GSH levels (28.83±1.16), and in hepatic activity levels of GGT (21.23±1.12) compared to control. In immunofluorescence microscopy, the 100 µg/mL lamivudine group showed the most significant reduction in fluorescence intensity. Lamivudine provided convenient features in protecting HepG2 cells against ethanol-triggered liver damage by enhancing cell survival and antioxidant enzyme activities.

Long-term and ongoing food safety issues: Theorising consumers’ long-term coping strategies

This study aims to conceptualise and empirically explore consumers’ long-term coping strategies and to achieve an in-depth understanding of the factors that may predict and influence consumer coping behaviours in the context of a long-term and ongoing food safety situation. 848 consumer questionnaires were collected in China and analysed using structural equation modelling. The results suggest that the interplay of stress and cognitive appraisal, and stress and personality traits, relate to different consumer long-term coping strategies. This study contributes to the study of food safety and consumer coping by conceptualising a multidimensional consumer long-term coping framework, providing a sound theoretical foundation for how consumers deal with chronic stressful consumption situations. This study also contributes to coping theory by theorizing and incorporating cognitive appraisals and dispositional personality traits into the examination of the relationships between stress and consumers’ long-term coping, underscoring the importance of inquiry into the complex and nuanced coping process.

The effect of the feedback method on the obstetrics-gynecology residents’ learning in the management of early postpartum hemorrhage

Background: Simulation training, a novel learning method, provides medical students with opportunities to practice managing stressful situations as if they were experiencing them in reality. Recently, there has been increased recognition of the value of simulation-based education. This study aimed to evaluate the most effective approach for providing feedback during a simulation program. Methods: In this interventional study, a total of 43 obstetrics and gynecology residents were recruited and stratified into three groups based on their residency stage. These residents participated in a simulation-based program focused on the management of post-partum hemorrhage (PPH). The program involved handling a PPH scenario, during which they received feedback either during the task (in-task; IT) or after completing the task (end-task; ET). Following the simulation, a post-test was administered, and the results were compared between the IT and ET feedback groups. Results: Demographic variables did not differ significantly between the ET and IT groups. Generally, there were no significant differences in secondary knowledge (P=0.232) or secondary performance (P=0.196) following the simulation program between the two groups. However, Among second-year residents, the change in primary and secondary performance was not significant in either the ET (P=0.76) or IT (P=0.74) group, while the IT group showed a significant improvement in knowledge (P=0.04). For third-year residents, the point change in primary and secondary knowledge and performance was not statistically significant in either the ET or IT groups. Conclusion: The final knowledge and performance following simulation programs do not significantly differ between the IT and ET groups. However, second-year residents experienced an improvement in knowledge.

Technostress in Nuclear Medicine: A Qualitative Study of Causes, Mitigators, and Resolution Levels

BackgroundIn contemporary healthcare, information and communication technology enables specialized treatment and efficient information sharing. However, it also causes stress and frustration, so-called technostress, among healthcare staff. PurposeTo investigate the day-to-day occurrence of technostress, we ask the research question: What causes the stressful situations with technology, how are they mitigated, and to what extent are they resolved? MethodWe interviewed 15 healthcare providers in the department of nuclear medicine at a Danish hospital about their experiences with technology-induced stress in their daily work. ResultsThe interviewees described 185 stressful situations with technology, mostly technology indispensable to their work. The two most frequent causes of stressful situations are system performance (46%) and technology-related organizational procedures (18%). To mitigate the situations, the most frequent strategies are accommodating (51%), consulting others for help (18%), and repeating previous task steps (13%). The mitigation strategies indicate that the stressful situations involve adapting work practices to the technology to a much larger extent than succeeding in adapting the technology to the work. Regarding the level of resolution, as much as 66% of the stressful situations are merely solved for now, that is, the concrete situation is resolved but the underlying issue remains unsolved. The underlying issue is resolved in only 10% of the situations, thereby indicating that the vast majority of the stressful situations are likely to recur later. ConclusionThe staff at the studied hospital department repeatedly experience stressful situations with the technology they rely on in their work. This technostress is an extra stressor on top of those induced by the staff’s responsibility for providing quality patient treatment. At the individual level, technostress leads to frustration and possibly burnout; at the organizational level, it calls for preventive action.

BODY-FOCUSED REPETITIVE BEHAVIORS DURING COVID-19: A MANAGEMENT GUIDE.

Body-focused repetitive behaviour refers to nonfunctional, destructive and problematic body directed behaviours that emerge to cope with stressful situations like COVID-19. The damages of body-focused repetitive behaviour are devastating and perilous for the physical and mental health of people. No comprehensive study has been carried out to investigate the global level prevalence rate of BFBRs during COVID-19. However, the incidence of BFBRs is reported to be prevalent in a few countries of the world. Furthermore, the management modalities to reduce or overcome the BFBRs are limited in the literature. The current study aimed at highlighting the prevalence, aetiology and management modalities of BFBRs within pre and post pandemic stage. The findings of the study have been discussed in terms of counseling.

Perceived social support and stress-coping strategies among cardiac patients

Abstract Social support is one of the most important factors influencing human health. It is particularly important for patients after myocardial infarction, as it helps them reduce feelings of anxiety, uncertainty and isolation. Objectives The aim of this study was to determine the influence of sociodemographic variables and social support on the choice of stress coping styles among patients hospitalized for myocardial infarction. Methods This survey-based study involved 120 patients after myocardial infarction, hospitalized in the Department of Cardiology with the Intensive Cardiac Care Unit of the Independent Public Clinical Hospital No. 2, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin. The research instruments used in this study were: the author’s questionnaire and The Inventory of Socially Supportive Behaviors (ISSB), The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), and The Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS). Results Based on the collected data, it was observed that the vast majority of respondents experienced high levels of stress. Women had significantly higher levels of stress than men (0 = 0.039), and were more likely to choose an emotion-oriented coping style (p = 0.011). It was also observed that avoidance-oriented coping was significantly more often used by retirees and pensioners than by employees (0.008). The study showed that information support statistically significantly correlated with avoidance-oriented coping (AOC) (r = -0.235, p = 0.01), including social diversion (seeking social contact) (r = -0.222, p = 0.015). Emotional support statistically significantly correlated with task-oriented coping (r = -0.224, p = 0.014), and avoidance-oriented coping (r = -0.24, p = 0.008), including social diversion (r = -0.284, p = 0.002). Instrumental support statistically significantly correlated with social diversion (r = -0.259, p = 0.004). Furthermore, valuation support statistically significantly correlated with task-oriented coping (r = -0.341, p &amp;lt; 0.001) and emotion-oriented coping (r = 0.195, p = 0.033). Conclusion The vast majority of patients hospitalized for heart attack experience high levels of stress and receive instrumental and information support. Women have usually higher levels of stress than men, and are more likely to utilize emotion-oriented coping strategies. There is a statistically significant negative correlation between receiving information support and adopting stress-coping styles focused on avoidance and seeking social contacts.