Stressor Index Research Articles

Improved thermal preferences and a stressor index derived from modeled stream temperatures and regional taxonomic standards for freshwater macroinvertebrates of the Pacific Northwest, USA

Benthic macroinvertebrate taxa vary in their sensitivities to water quality and habitat conditions, contributing to their extensive use as ecological indicators. As climate change and landscape alteration increasingly impact stream temperatures, interest is growing in expanding our knowledge of how macroinvertebrates are affected by current and future thermal conditions. Using samples from 3501 sites, we evaluated relationships between macroinvertebrate taxa and modeled stream temperatures across Oregon and Washington, in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. We used Maximum Weekly Maximum Temperature (MWMT) values from the NorWeST temperature dataset, which is the same metric used for numeric water temperature standards in Oregon and Washington. MWMT captures peak thermal stress, when cold-water adapted aquatic biota are closest to their upper physiological limits. For each macroinvertebrate taxon, we characterized relationships between MWMT and their distributions with three measures: 1) central thermal tendency, based on weighted average (WA) optima calculations and relative abundance data; 2) lower and upper thermal limits, based on the 10th and 90th percentiles of taxon occurrence, using presence data; and 3) thermal sensitivity curve shape, based on Generalized Additive Model (GAM) plots. We assigned 521 taxa, from species to phyla, to seven thermal preference categories, ranging from cold and warm stenotherms (narrow range) to eurythermal (wide range). Thermal sensitivity and variability within each taxonomic group were identified for establishing taxonomic targets for regional monitoring programs. We also developed the Macroinvertebrate Thermal Tolerance Index (MTTI) to represent the assemblage-level response to available thermal habitats, using WA optima and relative abundances for 324 taxa. The MTTI model had a strong relationship with modeled temperatures (R2 = 0.68) and a root-mean-square-error of 2.5 °C. Our work builds on previous regional and national efforts to identify thermal indicator taxa by using modeled stream network temperatures and a thermal metric that corresponds directly to regional water temperature standards. Both the taxa thermal preferences and the MTTI can be used to help identify causes of biological impairment, prioritize restoration and protection actions, and monitor assemblage-wide changes in thermal tolerance over time.

Preliminary evidence for the validity of the Brief Post-Secondary Student Stressors Index (Brief-PSSI): A cross-sectional psychometric assessment.

The brief version of the Post-Secondary Student Stressors Index (Brief-PSSI) was developed in order to improve the usability of the instrument as a method for evaluating the severity and frequency of stressors faced by post-secondary students. While the original 46-item instrument has been thoroughly psychometrically validated and successfully used among student populations, the length of the instrument limits its utility. Providing a valid, shortened version of the PSSI will enable institutions to include the tool on existing online surveys currently being deployed to surveil the mental health and wellbeing of their students. This study reports preliminary evidence in support of the validity and reliability of the Brief-PSSI using a cross-sectional pilot sample of students attending an Ontario university in 2022. A total of 349 participants (average age 25 (SD = 7.7), range 19-60) completed the first survey, while 149 completed the follow-up survey (average age of 26 (SD = 7.7), range 17-60). Evidence of internal structure, relations to other variables, and of test-retest reliability was assessed according to established index validation guidelines, including the specification of multiple-indicator, multiple-cause models, and Spearman's rho correlation coefficients. Results provide preliminary support for the validity and reliability of the tool, which demonstrated acceptable goodness-of-fit statistics, statistically significant relationships with like constructs in the hypothesized directions, and good test-retest reliability correlation coefficients. The Brief-PSSI is a useful tool for evaluating the sources of stress among post-secondary students, assessing both the severity of stress experienced and frequency with which each stressor occurred. Future research should explore the practical utility of adding the Brief-PSSI to existing survey assessments as well as pursue the continued collection of validation evidence for the tool among varied student populations.

Job stressors in relation to burnout and compromised sleep among academic physicians in India.

Burnout among physicians, especially in the academic setting, is an urgent concern, with adequate sleep one of the key focal points. To identify job stressors contributing to burnout and compromised sleep among academic physicians, using a comprehensive, theory-based instrument, the Occupational Stressor Index (OSI), whose specific form was created 'for physicians by physicians'. This parallel mixed-methods cross-sectional investigation was conducted among 109 physicians employed in a public teaching hospital, Jodhpur, India. Work conditions were evaluated by the physician-specific OSI (part I). The Copenhagen Burnout Index and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were the outcome instruments (part II). Seventy-six physicians completed parts I and II. The physicians were from wide-ranging specialties, and 82% of the cohort were residents. Mean total OSI scores were 87.4±8.1, with unit-change yielding adjusted odds-ratios (95% confidence-intervals) for personal (1.10 (1.02-1.18)) and work-related burnout (1.12 (1.04-1.22)), and PSQI (1.09 (1.01-1.17)). Significant multivariable associations with burnout and/or sleep indices included: working 7 days/week, lacking work-free vacation, insufficient rest breaks, interruptions, many patients in intensive-care, no separate time for non-clinical duties, pressure to publish, injury/suicide attempts of colleagues/staff, performing pointless tasks. The latter were described as administrative/clerical. Lacking genuine rest breaks was mainly patient-related, further compromised by emergency work and lacking separate time for non-clinical duties. Long workhours and exhausting schedule were cited as most difficult parts of work, while reducing workhours, improving work schedule, and hiring more staff most frequently recommended. Specific working conditions potentially contributory to burnout and compromised sleep among physicians working in academic medicine are identified using a methodologically-rigorous, in-depth approach. These findings inform evidence-based interventions aimed at preserving physician mental health and work capacity.

An estuary stress index based on nekton relationships with thematic watershed stressors

Estuaries provide essential ecosystem functions, including serving as nurseries for fish and aquatic invertebrates (i.e., nekton). Understanding how anthropogenic stressors affect the habitat quality of estuaries is a crucial component of fisheries conservation. A meaningful composite indicator for estuary stress on the nekton community at regional scales should encapsulate major anthropogenic effects over an assemblage of important species. This study introduces a composite stressor index, using meta-analysis to synthesize trawl and seine-based sampling data on 39 nekton species from 25 monitoring programs covering 38 Pacific Coast estuaries spanning four ecoregions. Candidate stressor variables include pollution sources, urban and agricultural land use, and stream impairments, considered at different spatial scales. For each of the 39 focal species, we screened these stressors using hierarchical statistical models that account for environmental variability (e.g., salinity) across sampling events and systematic biases due to monitoring program protocols and species-specific biogeographic ranges. Based on this screening, we identified a subset of stressors most strongly related to nekton presence/absence. Then we used principal component analysis (PCA) to identify major thematic axes of variation across these stressors and the 38 estuaries. Hierarchical nekton models fit to these axes (i.e., thematic stressors) indicate that urban development is negatively related to most nekton species, while agriculture is often positively related to species presence, though with smaller estimated effects. These models were also used to create the estuary-level composite index of anthropogenic stress. Urban development is the major contributor to the index scores of most estuaries, except in the Oregon-Washington Coast ecoregion, where agriculture is dominant. The composite index indicates that estuaries in the Southern California Bight ecoregion are the most impacted, along with South San Francisco Bay.

Job stressors and burnout among nurses and primary-care physicians working at a dedicated outpatient respiratory center for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.

High burnout is reported among health professionals providing in-patient care to patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Data are lacking on job stressors and burnout among health providers working in dedicated outpatient facilities for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. This cross-sectional study, using a parallel mixed-methods design, was carried out in 2021-2022 among 22 nurses and 22 primary-care physicians working at a COVID Outpatient Respiratory Center (CORC) (100% participation). Work conditions were assessed via the nurse-and physician-specific Occupational Stressor Index (OSI) and occupational records. Measures of the outcome included the Copenhagen Burnout Index and current tobacco use. Time working in CORC displayed significant multivariate associations with personal, work-and patient-related burnout among physicians and current tobacco use among nurses. Total OSI scores showed adjusted odds ratios for work-related (1.35 (1.01 ± 1.79))(1.31 (0.99 ± 1.75)) and patient-related burnout (1.35 (1.01 ± 1.81))(1.34 (1.01 ± 1.78)) among physicians and nurses, respectively. Numerous work stressors showed significant multivariate associations with burnout and smoking. Among the stressors were: being contacted outside work hours about patients, inadequate rest breaks, many patients/shifts, difficulty taking time off, insufficient pay, frequently listening to emotionally disturbing accounts, interruptions, increased workload, time pressure, and responsibility. Heavy patient burden/time pressure was most often cited as the hardest part of work in CORC. Increased employment of staff was the most frequently suggested workplace modification. Integrative assessment reveals that increased staff could ameliorate many work stressors associated with burnout and smoking in this cohort. Working in CORC is an extra burden. In crisis situations such as the COVID pandemic, more staff is needed. Lowering the total job stressor load is vital.

Effects of riparian buffer and stream channel widths on ecological indicators in the upper and lower Indus River basins in Pakistan

Riparian buffers and stream channel widths along river networks have extremely significant ecological influences on parameters and stressors associated with riparian health indicators (RHIs). It is imperative for countries that rely heavily on rivers for irrigation to protect RHIs such as habitat, plant cover, regeneration, exotics, and erosion. It is unclear which protection methods are most effective for RHIs in less developed countries, such as Pakistan. This study fills this gap by using a quick field-based technique that includes 273 transects and examines the response of RHIs in the upper and lower Indus River basins (IRB). In the lower Indus basin (LIB), riparian buffer and stream channel widths had the most considerable influence on RHIs using Pearson’s correlations, ranging from ̶ 0.47 < r < 0.71 and ̶ 0.41 < r < 0.32, respectively. There was a significant relationship between stressors and RHIs in the LIB when these widths were changed, and stressors had a significant influence on habitat ̶ 0.37 < r < 0.41, plant cover ̶ 0.32 < r < 0.38, regeneration ̶ 0.29 < r < 0.25, erosion ̶ 0.34 < r < 0.49, and exotics ̶ 0.39 < r < 0.24. In contrast, these stressors in the upper Indus basin (UIB) also adversely affected habitat ̶ 0.28 < r < 0.27, plant cover ̶ 0.34 < r < 0.26, regeneration ̶ 0.19 < r < 0.26, erosion ̶ 0.38 < r < 0.23, and exotics ̶ 0.31 < r < 0.30. It was found from the principal component analysis that the responses of RHIs and stressors varied considerably between the UIB and LIB. Additionally, the agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis of the RHIs and stressor indices revealed dissimilarities in the UIB and LIB. This study supports the need to examine riparian regions along long rivers, which are subject to the same administrative strategies. Large river ecosystems need revised standards to prevent further degradation based on ecological indicators.

Further evidence in support of the validity of the post-secondary student stressors index using a nationwide, cross-sectional sample of Canadian university students.

The Post-Secondary Student Stressors Index (PSSI) was created to facilitate improved evaluation of the sources of post-secondary student stress. This study reports evidence in support of the validity of the tool using a large, nationwide cross-sectional sample of students attending universities across Canada during the 2020-2021 academic year. We provide additional evidence for the construct validation of the PSSI, including internal structure evidence and relations to other variables by estimating multiple-indicator, multiple-cause models and investigating Spearman's rho correlation coefficients between the PSSI and like constructs. Based on index validation guidelines, results provide further support for the internal structure of the PSSI, demonstrating hypothesized relationships with like constructs and manifest variables, as well as acceptable goodness-of-fit statistics. Similarly, correlation coefficients were statistically significant and in line with directionality hypotheses. The results of this research provide further evidence for the validity of the PSSI among varied university student populations in Canada and addresses several of the limitations identified in earlier preliminary psychometric work on the instrument.

Trends in Post-Secondary Student Stress: A Pan-Canadian Study.

Previous research has evaluated the sources of post-secondary student stress, but has failed to explore whether stressors fluctuate over time. The purpose of this research was to use the Post-Secondary Student Stressors Index to examine whether stressors changed significantly and meaningfully over the course of an academic year. Due to the timing of data collection, results also provide context around students' experiences of stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cross-sectional data was collected at 3 time points via online surveys over the course of the 2020-2021 academic year from >10,000 students. Participants attended 15 post-secondary institutions across Canada, representing 9 provinces and 1 territory. Validated instruments were used to assess levels of stress, distress and the severity of student-specific stressors. Kruskal-Wallis ranked tests and multiple pairwise comparison analyses were conducted to assess whether the mean severity of stressors changed over time. Standard effect sizes were calculated using Cohen's d. Mean levels of stress and psychological distress were high at the start of the study and remained high across time points. A similarly high level of stress was observed on average for student-specific stressors. While significant differences in mean severity were observed over time for some stressors, standardized effect sizes were negligible, suggesting little meaningful change and consistent levels of chronic stress over the course of the academic year. This is the first paper to examine trends in student-specific stress using a nationwide sample of Canadian post-secondary students during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Patterns observed in student-specific stressors reflected changes likely to be indicative of the pandemic, including the most severe stress associated with academics, finances and concerns for the future. Implications for future research are discussed, in particular, the importance of examining stressors related to COVID-19 and their impact on student mental health.

Cross-Canada Release of the Post-Secondary Student Stressors Index (PSSI): Protocol for a Cross-sectional, Repeated Measures Study.

BackgroundThe prevalence of mental health–related problems, including stress, psychological distress, and symptoms of mental illnesses, continues to increase among Canadian postsecondary student populations. Excessive stress in this population has been linked to a number of negative academic and health outcomes. Despite attempts to improve mental health at postsecondary institutions, a persistent gap exists in the evaluation of the specific sources of stress for students within the postsecondary setting.ObjectiveThe purpose of this paper is to report the study protocol for a cross-Canada, multisite launch of the Post-Secondary Student Stressors Index (PSSI), which will engage postsecondary institutions across the country as partners and facilitate improved measurement of the sources of student stress, in addition to contributing toward improved tailoring of upstream mental health services and support.MethodsCreated in collaboration with students, the PSSI is a validated 46-item tool assessing stressors across five domains: academics, learning environment, campus culture, interpersonal, and personal stressors. The tool is designed to be applicable to students at all years, levels, and areas of study. Data will be collected longitudinally at multiple time points over the course of each academic year.ResultsWe recruited 15 postsecondary institutions across Canada for the first year, inviting students to participate in an online survey including questions concerning sociodemographic characteristics, stress, mental health, and resiliency. Analyses, including appropriate data visualization, will be conducted to determine the impact of specific stressors on mental health, linking responses over time to allow for the observation of changes in trends.ConclusionsThe PSSI is an intuitive and evidence-informed tool that can aid postsecondary institutions in evaluating the sources of student stress on their campuses. This multisite project will make a substantial contribution to the current literature regarding postsecondary student stress and allow institutions across the country to improve the tailoring of upstream mental health services in order to directly support the unique needs of their student body. Opportunities for knowledge translation and exchange are discussed.International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/27713

Longitudinal psychometric evaluation of the developmental disorder parenting stressor index with Japanese parents of children with autism.

Parents of children with autism experience high rates of parenting stress. Assessing parenting stress in them has crucial clinical implications because increased parental stress is associated with psychological disorders and personal distress, which can result in worse child-parent relationships. Theorists have proposed that a person's cognitive appraisal determines whether or not a situation or an encounter is personally stressful. However, prior scales merely measure the outcomes of parental stress as a stress response: little the scales were designed to assess events and cognitive appraisal-related parenting stressors of parents of children with autism. We investigated whether a new index for assessing parenting stressors-the Developmental Disorder Parenting Stressor Index is a valid measure to assess parenting stressors of parents of children with autism using longitudinal online surveys at three times. Participants were 212 Japanese parents of children with autism aged 2-18 years who completed the Developmental Disorder Parenting Stressor Index and measures of autism symptoms and stress response . Overall, the findings indicated that the Developmental Disorder Parenting Stressor Index can be reliably used to measure both experiences and cognitive appraisal of parenting stressors among parents of children with autism. Moreover, the Developmental Disorder Parenting Stressor Index has several advantages and is a valuable measurement tool to be able to evaluate parenting stressors in clinical settings; Developmental Disorder Parenting Stressor Index is shorter, easier to complete, and can evaluate both viewpoints of parenting stressors.

Physicians' Total Burden of Occupational Stressors: More than Threefold Increased Odds of Burnout.

To assess the relation between total job stressor burden and physician burnout, identifying potentially contributory modifiable stressors, using a comprehensive, theory-based instrument created for physicians by physicians. From 2018 to 2019, we conducted a cross-sectional study in a public teaching hospital in India. Of 305 clinically active physicians, 293 were reached and 42.7% participated. Job stressors were assessed via the physician-specific Occupational Stressor Index (OSI) and burnout by the Copenhagen Burnout Index (CBI). The 76 fully participating physicians were 68% male, 84% residents, and 70% age 30 or younger, from various specialties. Mean scores for total OSI: 87 ± 7.8; personal burnout: 46.6 ± 18.2; work-related burnout: 41.4 ± 20.7; and patient-related burnout: 31.7 ± 22.4. Total OSI scores were significantly associated with personal and work-related burnout, adjusting for working-years as physicians and sex. Total OSI scores >88 showed adjusted odds ratios (±95% confidence intervals): 3.99 (1.31, 12.1) and 6.50 (1.85, 22.8) for personal and work-related burnout, respectively. The high demands aspect of the OSI showed significant multivariate relations to personal, work-related, and patient-related burnout. Patient-related burnout was significantly more likely among male physicians in these multivariate analyses. Physicians outside preventive/diagnostic areas, with heavier burdens and more emergency cases were less likely to fully participate. The total burden of job stressors is powerfully associated with personal and work-related burnout. The clinically defined total OSI cutpoint >88 warranting urgent intervention is corroborated by >3-fold odds of personal and work-related burnout. Lowering total OSI scores is an immediate priority, starting with potentially modifiable stressors that are already maximum/near-maximum (inadequate rest breaks, nightshifts, work hours, insufficient work-free vacation time, and infection hazards). These issues affect patient care.

A Preliminary Investigation of Psychoneurological Symptoms in Low-Income Mothers.

Exposure to chronic stressors may contribute to the development of psychoneurological symptoms (i.e., fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, sleep disturbance, depressed mood, and pain) that can compromise maternal function. In two studies of low-income mothers, we investigated the presence of psychoneurological symptoms and explored associations between mothers' stressors and psychoneurological symptoms as well as between symptoms and function. We also considered the possible mediating role of the symptoms between stressors and function. We conducted secondary analyses of psychoneurological symptoms in two studies of low-income mothers of infants and toddlers in the United States. Study 1 sampled Latina women with limited English proficiency, whereas Study 2 was conducted with English-speaking women from diverse backgrounds. In both studies, symptoms were measured using items from the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale and the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form Health Survey. Maternal function was measured through self-report and researcher observation. In Study 2, stressors were measured using the Everyday Stressors Index. Multiple linear regressions were used to investigate associations while controlling for relevant covariates. In both studies, mothers endorsed a wide range of psychoneurological symptoms. In Study 1, psychoneurological symptoms had significant negative associations with role function, social function, and developmental stimulation. In Study 2, psychoneurological symptoms had significant negative associations with role function, social function, and physical function. Using Aroian test for mediation, we found that psychoneurological symptoms mediated all significant relationships between stressors and maternal functions in Study 2. In two samples of low-income mothers, psychoneurological symptoms were prevalent and associated with chronic stressors and with maternal function and may mediate the association between those two factors. These findings extend prior research on depressive symptoms in mothers by investigating pain as an additional key symptom. The studies advance symptom science by highlighting psychoneurological symptoms in a heterogeneous sample without known health conditions.

Evaluation of ecological, stressor and social factors for the prioritization and restoration of Trinity River Basin watershed

Public interest in the restoration of impaired water bodies is growing, and as such, it is critical to understand the causes of impairment and the likelihood of successful restoration. Restoration efforts often focus on a specific factor (stressors) of the impaired water body without including equally important but often overlooked societal and ecological factors. In this study, segment-specific indicators such as stressor exposure, ecological capacity, and societal traits were used to perform a screening analysis to evaluate the restoration potential of fifteen impaired segments in the Trinity River Basin. Data obtained for each impaired segment were normalized and compared using simple ranking, three-dimensional bubble plots, and mapping. Results indicate that when individual indices were rank-ordered, water segments that ranked low on the stressor index and high on the ecological and social indices had the best chance of restoration. While the three-dimensional bubble plot analysis of interrelated ecological, stressor, and social indices suggests that watershed segments with high ecological and low stressor indices may not necessarily be prime candidates for restoration. Their ranking on the social index score determines their priority for restoration. The results of the screening analysis show the utility of the recovery potential screening tool in prioritizing the restoration of impaired water bodies.

The Post-Secondary Student Stressors Index: Proof of concept and implications for use

Objective This study demonstrates the utility of the Post-Secondary Student Stressors Index (PSSI), an instrument designed to identify and evaluate the sources of student stress. The PSSI is comprised of 46 stressors, rated by severity and frequency, across five domains: academics, learning environment, campus culture, interpersonal, and personal. Participants: Pilot testing of the tool was conducted among n = 535 post-secondary students enrolled at an Ontario university. Methods: Mean severity and frequency ratings were calculated for each stressor on the instrument. Results were plotted, and stratified by sex. T-tests for differences in means across sexes were calculated for each stressor. Results: Female students in this sample consistently rated nearly all stressors on the instrument as more severe than their male counterparts. Females also reported higher frequency ratings on average, indicating that they worried about stressors more often than did males. Domain-specific stressors are discussed. Conclusions: The PSSI can provide post-secondary institutions with the ability to improve the targeting of their mental health promotion and mental illness prevention efforts.

ELECTRONIC USE AND SLEEP, SURPRISING BEDFELLOWS: RESTFULNESS EFFECTS OF ELECTRONICS USE PRIOR TO BEDTIME FOR THE 40-PLUS

Getting restful sleep is essential to well-being but stress and poor sleep habits may make sleeping through the night challenging. This research explored life event stressors and pre-sleep activities among 2,464 randomly selected Americans age 40 and older (using Ipsos’ KnowledgeNetwork panel) to determine their joint effects on mental well-being. Respondents reported how often they engaged in twelve individual behaviors within an hour of going to sleep. These behaviors (found to be inter-correlated) were combined using EFA into four factors representing levels of engagement in each of four classes of pre-sleep activities: pre-sleep electronics use (e.g. texting/e-mail before bed), deep relaxation activities, reliance on sleep-aids, and “nightowl” behaviors (i.e., snacking). Counter to expectations, only electronics use had significant conditional effects on the path between a life events stressor index (a count of current, potentially stressful life events) and scores on the positively-framed Warwick Edinburgh well-being scale (WEMWBS). How often one sleeps through the night also had unexpected effects in a conditional path analysis. A somewhat-involved relationship emerges between each of the theoretically-relevant measures. First, the negative impact of stress is moderated by sleeping through the night. Sleeping through the night is, counter to previous studies on electronics use and sleep, mediated by the use of electronics prior to sleep. We propose that mechanisms (such as the nature of backlighting used in electronics) that hamper restfulness may be offset by relaxation effects or by setting one’s ducks in a row by texting/emailing before going to sleep.

Reciprocal insights from global aquatic stressor maps and local reporting across the Ramsar wetland network

Abstract Aquatic ecosystems are exposed to a host of anthropogenic stressors whose combined effect can be synthesized with cumulative stress indices. The reliability of cumulative stress indices depends primarily on: 1) stressor incidence maps derived from remote sensing or modeling but rarely validated against on-the-ground observations, and 2) the weighting scheme used to combine multiple stressors into a cumulative index typically based on expert opinion. In this paper, we evaluate the exposure and weights for 13 aquatic stressor maps of the world’s rivers with a comparison against local stress reporting across 1018 inland and coastal sites from the Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance. We found that globally-mapped and locally-reported stressors are poorly aligned overall (AUC-ROC = 0.50–0.63), and that concordance did not improve when stratifying by ecosystem types or continents. Agreement varied across individual stressors, was highest for hydrological stressors and lowest for habitat disconnectivity stressors. We estimated stressor weights from the comparison and found them to be remarkably aligned well with expert-generated weights, suggesting there is convergence on a stressor hierarchy across local and global scales. Our comparison illustrates the value of integrating data across scales to inform the calculation of global stressor indices. Continued systematic stressor monitoring across environmental observation networks is central to benchmarking maps of ecosystem stress globally.

Psychometric assessment of the Post- Secondary Student Stressors Index (PSSI)

BackgroundPrevious research has linked excessive stress among post-secondary students to poor academic performance and poor mental health. Despite attempts to ameliorate mental health challenges at post-secondary institutions, there exists a gap in the evaluation of the specific sources of stress for students within the post-secondary setting.MethodsThe goal of this study was to develop a new instrument to better assess the sources of post-secondary student stress. Over the course of two years, the Post-Secondary Student Stressors Index (PSSI) was created in collaboration with post-secondary students as co-developers and subject matter experts. In this study, we used a combination of individual cognitive interviews (n = 11), an online consensus survey modeled after a traditional Delphi method (n = 65), and an online pre- (n = 535) and post-test (n = 350) survey to psychometrically evaluate the PSSI using samples of students from Ontario, Canada. We collected four types of evidence for validity, including: content evidence, response processes evidence, internal structure evidence, and relations to other variables. The test-retest reliability of the instrument was also evaluated.ResultsThe PSSI demonstrated strong psychometric properties. Content validation and response processes evidence was derived from active student involvement throughout the development and refinement of the tool. Exploratory factor analysis suggested that the structure of the PSSI reflects the internal structure of an index, rather than a scale, as expected. Test-retest reliability of the instrument was comparable to existing, established instruments. Finally, the PSSI demonstrated good relationships with like measures of stress, distress, and resilience, in the hypothesized directions.ConclusionsThe PSSI is a 46-item inventory that will allow post-secondary institutions to pinpoint the most severe and frequently occurring stressors on their campus. This knowledge will facilitate appropriate targeting of priority areas, and help institutions to better align their mental health promotion and mental illness prevention programming with the needs of their campus.

Development and evaluation of NatureServe’s multi-metric ecological integrity assessment method for wetland ecosystems

Abstract Many ecological monitoring and assessment programs include rapid assessment methods that employ indicators or metrics to track the degree of divergence of ecosystem condition from reference conditions. Although these rapid assessment methods use a combination of metrics to rate overall ecological condition, they rarely include tests of either the merits of the component metrics being assessed or the method of aggregating the metrics into an overall rating. We used a conceptual model of ecological integrity for wetlands and field data to select and test 15 rapid assessment indicators (using specific metrics) across a spectrum of major ecological factors or MEFs (landscape, buffer, vegetation, hydrology, soil). We applied these metrics to 220 wetland sites across six states (Colorado, Indiana, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Washington), using two assessment area (AA) approaches: 106 sites used 0.5 ha point-based AAs; 114 sites used variable-sized polygon-based AAs. We statistically tested metric ratings and factor scores for their discriminatory power (DP) in relation to a stressor index using the Kruskal-Wallis test, and for redundancy using Spearman rank correlation and scattergrams. Of the 15 metrics, 12 had good or strong DP and were not redundant. Across all metrics, only two pairs (vegetation pair and buffer pair) were strongly correlated. The soil metric had the lowest DP, but it was among the least redundant of any metric. The DP of buffer metrics was lower for point-based approaches than for polygon-based approaches because the buffer for point-based AAs often included additional wetland area. Aggregating individual metrics into MEF scores (e.g., vegetation, hydrology, soil), primary factors scores (Landscape Context, on-site Condition) and overall ecological integrity ratings, either maintained or improved the interpretability of the ratings. Our analyses support the use of 12 rapid field-based metrics, spanning Landscape Context and on-site Condition, to assess the ecological integrity of wetlands. Although tested here for wetlands, the models and metrics are also being applied to upland terrestrial ecosystems. Our findings confirm the merits of our rapid assessment method in providing an intermediate level of assessment that is efficient and ecologically meaningful, within states and across watersheds and regions.

Physician health challenges and return to work - insights from a research for physicians by physicians

Introduction. High rates of burnout, suicide and hypertension complications among physicians suggest an occupational etiology. Generic assessments of the work environment are insufficient. We examine how physicians? ?participatory action research? with appropriate theoretical underpinnings provides insights. Work Stressor Models with Instruments Created ?for Physicians by Physicians?. Specific instruments based on the Job Demands-Resources model were developed by radiologists and psychosocial oncologists, aimed at ameliorating burnout. Increasing perceived value of work, frank discussions and communication between senior and junior colleagues were key The physician-specific Occupational Stressor Index based on an additive burden model in-formed by cognitive ergonomics was also developed by physicians. Total occupational stressor burden was high among physicians with cardiovascular disease. Long workhours, speed-up and job loss threat were associated with case status. Anesthesiologists and surgeons had the highest stressor burden, with nightshift work targeted for lowering risk. Associations between job stressors and cardiovascular risk were strongest among female physicians. Return to Healthier Work. Intervention studies on return-to-work regarding burnout, cardiovascular disease or malignancy are sparse among physicians. Reduced workhours and paid ?protected? time to discuss shared experience may be helpful. Clinical experience suggests that the physician-specific Occupational Stressor Index facilitates return to healthier work. Conclusions. Occupation-specific instruments developed ?for physicians by physicians? based on work stressor models can improve physicians? work con?ditions and health. Finding the best strategies for return-to-work among physicians with stress-related disorders remains a challenge. Modified work conditions can yield positive results. Return to healthier work enhances physician empowerment and often im?proves general work climate.

Assessing land use, sedimentation, and water quality stressors as predictors of coral reef condition in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.

Coral reef condition on the south shore of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, was assessed at various distances from Charlotte Amalie, the most densely populated city on the island. Human influence in the area includes industrial activity, wastewater discharge, cruise ship docks, and impervious surfaces throughout the watershed. Anthropogenic activity was characterized using a landscape development intensity (LDI) index, sedimentation threat (ST) estimates, and water quality (WQ) impairments in the near-coastal zone. Total three-dimensional coral cover, reef rugosity, and coral diversity had significant negative coefficients for LDI index, as did densities of dominant species Orbicella annularis, Orbicella franksi, Montastraea cavernosa, Orbicella faveolata, and Porites porites. However, overall stony coral colony density was not significantly correlated with stressors. Positive relationships between reef rugosity and ST, between coral diversity and ST, and between coral diversity and WQ were unexpected because these stressors are generally thought to negatively influence coral growth and health. Sponge density was greater with higher disturbance indicators (ST and WQ), consistent with reports of greater resistance by sponges to degraded water quality compared to stony corals. The highest FoRAM (Foraminifera in Reef Assessment and Monitoring) indices indicating good water quality were found offshore from the main island and outside the harbor. Negative associations between stony coral metrics and LDI index have been reported elsewhere in the Caribbean and highlight LDI index potential as a spatial tool to characterize land-based anthropogenic stressor gradients relevant to coral reefs. Fewer relationships were found with an integrated stressor index but with similar trends in response direction.