Unpleasant Emotional Experiences Research Articles

Chinese heritage language learners' motivation and intention to continue learning Mandarin

AbstractThis study explored Chinese heritage language learners' prior Mandarin experiences and their current Mandarin‐learning experiences to reveal factors that influence their motivation and intention to continue or discontinue their Mandarin coursework. Using a Grounded Theory approach, we conducted demographic surveys and semi‐structured interviews with eight participants taking beginner‐level Mandarin courses. Following open, axial, and selective coding procedures, we developed a model portraying factors that influenced HLLs' decision to continue their enrollment in Mandarin classes. The model revealed that their decisions were fueled by ongoing appraisals via their motivational orientations, course expectations, and emotional experiences that drove their approach or avoidance focus. In particular, Mandarin high dropout rates may result from 1) HLLs' unmet course expectations, 2) lack of specific future‐oriented instrumental values, and 3) unpleasant emotional experiences within the class. The study concluded with four pedagogical implications (e.g., adopting task‐based language teaching) to sustain HLLs' motivation in college HL courses.

The Depression Anxiety Stress Scales for Youth (DASS-Y): evidence of validity and cross-national and gender measurement invariance.

The Depression Anxiety Stress Scales for Youth (DASS-Y) is a recently developed measure of unpleasant emotional experiences for children and adolescents; however, the evidence for its validity is still limited. The present study evaluated the evidence for the structural, convergent, and incremental validity of the DASS-Y on a sample of Serbian adolescents aged 15-19 years (N = 421; 48% female, mean age = 16.86). Measurement invariance across gender and two countries (Serbia and Australia) was also tested. The findings supported the bifactor exploratory structural equation modeling (bifactor-ESEM) representation of the DASS-Y, which includes the General factor of negative affect/emotional distress, and three specific factors of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress. The DASS-Y factors showed evidence of incremental validity in predicting global externalizing symptoms and demonstrated convergent validity in relation to measures of global internalizing and externalizing symptoms as well as subjective well-being. The bifactor-ESEM model of the DASS-Y was found to be invariant across gender and two countries. The present study findings highlight the importance of distinguishing between general and specific components of unpleasant emotional states.

S1P/S1PR1 signaling is involved in the development of nociceptive pain.

Pain is a complex perception involving unpleasant somatosensory and emotional experiences. However, the underlying mechanisms that mediate its different components remain unclear. Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), a metabolite of sphingomyelin and a potent lipid mediator, initiates signaling via G protein-coupled receptors (S1PRs) on cell surfaces. It serves as a second messenger in cellular processes such as proliferation and apoptosis. Nevertheless, the neuropharmacology of sphingolipid signaling in pain conditions within the central nervous system remains largely unexplored and controversial. Chronic nociceptive pain models were induced in vivo by intraplantar injection of 20μL complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) into the left hind paws. We assessed S1P and S1PR1 expression in the spinal cords of CFA model mice. Functional antagonists of S1PR1 or S1PR1-specific siRNA were administered daily following CFA model establishment. Paw withdrawal response frequency (PWF) and paw withdrawal latency (PWL) were measured to evaluate mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia, respectively. RT-PCR assessed interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels. Western blotting and immunofluorescence were used to analyze glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule (Iba1), STAT3, ERK, and p38 MAPK protein expression. In the chronic nociceptive pain model induced by CFA, S1P and S1PR1 expression levels were significantly elevated, leading to activation of spinal cord glial cells. S1PR1 activation also promoted MMP2-mediated cleavage of mature IL-1β. Additionally, S1PR1 activation upregulated phosphorylation of STAT3, ERK, and p38 MAPK in glial cells, profoundly impacting downstream signaling pathways and contributing to chronic nociceptive pain. The S1P/S1PR1 axis plays a pivotal role in the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying nociceptive pain. This signaling pathway modulates glial cell activation and the expression of pain-related genes (STAT3, ERK, p38 MAPK) and inflammatory factors in the spinal dorsal horn. These findings underscore the potential of targeting the S1P system for developing novel analgesic therapies.

Attentional Foci and Coping Strategies During Matches of Young Fencers in a Training Center: A Naturalistic Video-Assisted Study

The purpose of this study was twofold: (a) identify attentional foci (AF) and coping strategies used by young fencers during matches and (b) explore the links between these variables using a grounded-theory approach. Using a naturalistic qualitative video-assisted approach, analyses revealed the emergence of five categories of AF (movements and techniques, strategies and tactics, situation evaluation, states, and extraneous attention) and six categories of coping strategies (mastery coping, internal regulation, goal-withdrawal strategies, behavioral regulation, no regulation, and automatic regulation). The grounded theory highlighted that pleasant emotional experiences tended to be related to mastery coping, which in turn favored the orientation of the attention toward AF that appeared to be most effective in winning points (i.e., opponent, distance, plan). Conversely, unpleasant emotional experiences were consistently associated with goal-withdrawal strategies (or no regulation), which generally led to a lack of AF and lower performance. Intervention suggestions are made in relation to the results of the proposed grounded theory.

Multilevel Laser-Induced Pain Measurement with Wasserstein Generative Adversarial Network- Gradient Penalty Model.

Pain is an experience of unpleasant sensations and emotions associated with actual or potential tissue damage. In the global context, billions of people are affected by pain disorders. There are particular challenges in the measurement and assessment of pain, and the commonly used pain measuring tools include traditional subjective scoring methods and biomarker-based measures. The main tools for biomarker-based analysis are electroencephalography (EEG), electrocardiography and functional magnetic resonance. The EEG-based quantitative pain measurements are of immense value in clinical pain management and can provide objective assessments of pain intensity. The assessment of pain is now primarily limited to the identification of the presence or absence of pain, with less research on multilevel pain. High power laser stimulation pain experimental paradigm and five pain level classification methods based on EEG data augmentation are presented. First, the EEG features are extracted using modified S-transform, and the time-frequency information of the features is retained. Based on the pain recognition effect, the 20-40[Formula: see text]Hz frequency band features are optimized. Afterwards the Wasserstein generative adversarial network with gradient penalty is used for feature data augmentation. It can be inferred from the good classification performance of features in the parietal region of the brain that the sensory function of the parietal lobe region is effectively activated during the occurrence of pain. By comparing the latest data augmentation methods and classification algorithms, the proposed method has significant advantages for the five-level pain dataset. This research provides new ways of thinking and research methods related to pain recognition, which is essential for the study of neural mechanisms and regulatory mechanisms of pain.

Practice of non-pharmacological post-operative pain management and associated factors among nurses working in public referral hospitals of Amhara regional state, Ethiopia, 2019

BackgroundPostoperative pain is a combined effect of several unpleasant sensory, emotional and mental experiences. Patient’s previous experiences, nature and duration of surgery, site and size of the incision and the extent of surgical trauma are some of the factors affecting the degree of post-operative pain. ObjectivesTo assess practice of non-pharmacological post-operative pain management and associated factors among nurses working in public referral hospitals of Amhara regional state, Ethiopia. MethodInstitutional based cross-sectional study was conducted among nurses working in public referral hospitals of Amhara regional state, Ethiopia from March to April 2019. Census method was employed to select study participants. Data were entered into Epi info version 7.2.0.1 and exported to SPSS window version 20 for analysis. Binary and multivariable logistic regression was used to see the association between dependent and independent variables. The odds ratio with a 95 % confidence interval was computed. P-value < 0.05 was used to declare association. ResultsThree hundred nurses working in post-operative units of selected referral hospitals of Amhara regional state were involved in the study. The respondents’ ages (Mean ± SD.) were (29.8 ± 7.3) years and their experience (Mean ± SD) post-operative unit was (3.8 ± 3.3) years. Majority (59.7 %) of the respondents were females. This study revealed that about 50.2 % of nurses were not applied non-pharmacological post-operative pain management techniques for their patients. Nurse’s educational status, attendance of training, attitude of nurses, willingness of patients, experience in nursing, marital status and working unit were associated with practice of non-pharmacological post-operative pain management with p-value of < 0.05. ConclusionIn this study, nearly half of nurses didn’t apply non-pharmacologic pain management techniques for patients when they had pain. In-service training and educational development are recommended for nurses about non-pharmacologic pain management.

Features of interpersonal relationships in adolescents with internet addiction

The article is focused on the study of interpersonal relations in adolescents with Internet addiction. The purpose of the article is to identify the characteristics of interpersonal relationships and their relationship with Internet addiction in adolescents. To achieve the research goal, the following psychological tools were used: the «Internet Addiction Scale», the «Dialogic Interpersonal Relationships Scale», and the «Diagnosis of emotional barriers in interpersonal communication». The Kolmogorov-Smirnov criterion and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient were used for statistical processing of the results, which allow for further qualitative analysis of the data. According to the results of the study, the relationship between emotional obstacles in interpersonal communication and Internet addiction in Internet addicts and Internet independent adolescents was established. The obtained results indicate that with the growing feeling of inability to overcome the desire to access the Internet; a sense of discomfort if you have to stop using the Internet for a certain period of time, inability to control the duration of time spent for the Internet, the inability to control emotional reactions, the ability to restrain or dose the manifestations of unpleasant emotional experiences, increases internal tension, the tendency to inadequate expression of emotions is actualized; emotional reactions are more often inappropriate. As a conclusion, it can be argued that in the group of adolescents with Internet addictive behavior, with the increase in the severity of emotional barriers in interpersonal communication, a number of Internet addiction symptoms such as "inability to control emotions", "compulsive symptoms", "withdrawal symptoms", "inadequate expression of emotions", "dominance of negative emotions" and "unwillingness to get closer to people on an emotional basis" are exacerbated. The results obtained can be used to improve programmes for the prevention and correction of Internet addiction in adolescents.

What works in peer support for breast cancer survivors: A qualitative systematic review and meta-ethnography.

Breast cancer is associated with adverse physical and psychological consequences. Although research has identified the various benefits linked to psychosocial interventions, mixed results have been found in relation to peer support. The aim of the present systematic review and meta-ethnography is to explore the qualitative evidence on the experience of breast cancer survivors in peer support. A systematic search of the literature was conducted until June 2023, and a meta-ethnographic approach was used to synthesize the included papers. Eleven articles were included, collecting the experience of 345 participants. The following four core areas involved in peer support implementation were identified from the synthesis: Peer support can create understanding and a mutual therapeutic and emotional connection; peer support can facilitate an educational and supportive patient-centered journey; peer support should monitor group members for unpleasant emotional experiences; peer support should have professional supervision of recruitment and training to prioritize quality. These results can be used as patient-centered insights by healthcare professionals to provide evidence-informed peer support programs and address current limitations in the field.

Systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials assessing mindfulness-based programs for mental health promotion

Mindfulness-based programs (MBPs) are widely used to prevent mental ill health. Evidence suggests beneficial average effects but wide variability. We aimed to confirm the effect of MBPs and to understand whether and how baseline distress, gender, age, education, and dispositional mindfulness modify the effect of MBPs on distress among adults in non-clinical settings. We conducted a systematic review and individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis (PROSPERO CRD42020200117). Databases were searched in December 2020 for randomized controlled trials satisfying a quality threshold and comparing in-person, expert-defined MBPs with passive-control groups. Two researchers independently selected, extracted and appraised trials using the revised Cochrane Risk-of-Bias tool. IPD of eligible trials were sought from authors. The primary outcome was psychological distress (unpleasant mental or emotional experiences including anxiety and depression) at 1 to 6 months after program completion. Data were checked and imputed if missing. Pairwise, random-effects, two-stage IPD meta-analyses were conducted. Effect modification analyses followed a within-studies approach. Stakeholders were involved throughout this study. Fifteen trials were eligible; 13 trialists shared IPD (2,371 participants representing 8 countries. In comparison with passive-control groups, MBPs reduced average distress between 1 and 6 months post-intervention with a small to moderate effect size (standardized mean difference, −0.32; 95% confidence interval, −0.41 to −0.24; P < 0.001; no heterogeneity). Results were robust to sensitivity analyses and similar for the other timepoint ranges. Confidence in the primary outcome result is high. We found no clear indication that this effect is modified by the pre-specified candidates. Group-based teacher-led MBPs generally reduce psychological distress among volunteering community adults. More research is needed to identify sources of variability in outcomes at an individual level.

The role of pain modulation pathway and related brain regions in pain.

Pain is a multifaceted process that encompasses unpleasant sensory and emotional experiences. The essence of the pain process is aversion, or perceived negative emotion. Central sensitization plays a significant role in initiating and perpetuating of chronic pain. Melzack proposed the concept of the "pain matrix", in which brain regions associated with pain form an interconnected network, rather than being controlled by a singular brain region. This review aims to investigate distinct brain regions involved in pain and their interconnections. In addition, it also sheds light on the reciprocal connectivity between the ascending and descending pathways that participate in pain modulation. We review the involvement of various brain areas during pain and focus on understanding the connections among them, which can contribute to a better understanding of pain mechanisms and provide opportunities for further research on therapies for improved pain management.

Transcrocetin Meglumine Salt Inhibits Spinal Glial Cell-Mediated Proinflammatory Cytokines and Attenuates Complete Freund’s Adjuvant-Induced Inflammatory Pain

Introduction: Inflammatory pain is a significant global clinical challenge that involves both unpleasant sensory and emotional experiences. The treatment of pain is imminent, and we are committed to seeking new analgesics for pain relief. Transcrocetin meglumine salt (TCMS), a saffron metabolite derived from the crocin apocarotenoids, has exhibited the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and exert neuroprotective effects. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether TCMS could ameliorate complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA)-induced inflammatory pain in mice and elucidate its underlying mechanisms. Methods: Here, we established an inflammatory pain model in mice by injecting CFA into the left hind paw. Three days later, we administered intraperitoneal injections of TCMS (10 mg/kg) or saline to the animals. We examined mechanical allodynia, thermal hypersensitivity, and anxiety behavior. Furthermore, the activation of glial cells and proinflammatory cytokines in the spinal cord were detected. Results: Our results showed that TCMS significantly reversed the mechanical allodynia and thermal hypersensitivity in the CFA-injected mice. Furthermore, TCMS administration effectively inhibited the activation of microglia and astrocytes in the spinal cord induced by CFA. Additionally, TCMS suppressed the production and release of spinal proinflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, in CFA-injected mice. Conclusion: Taken together, our findings demonstrate that TCMS holds promise as an innovative analgesic due to its ability to ameliorate inflammatory reactions.

Inactivation of the Lateral Hypothalamus Attenuates Methamphetamine-Induced Conditioned Place Preference through Regulation of Kcnq3 Expression.

Repeated administration of methylamphetamine (MA) induces MA addiction, which is featured by awfully unpleasant physical and emotional experiences after drug use is terminated. Neurophysiological studies show that the lateral hypothalamus (LH) is involved in reward development and addictive behaviors. Here, we show that repeated administration of MA activates the expression of c-Fos in LH neurons responding to conditioned place preference (CPP). Chemogenetic inhibition of the LH can disrupt the addiction behavior, demonstrating that the LH plays an important role in MA-induced reward processing. Critically, MA remodels the neurons of LH synaptic plasticity, increases intracellular calcium level, and enhances spontaneous current and evoked potentials of neurons compared to the saline group. Furthermore, overexpression of the potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily Q member 3 (Kcnq3) expression can reverse the CPP score and alleviate the occurrence of addictive behaviors. Together, these results unravel a new neurobiological mechanism underlying the MA-induced addiction in the lateral hypothalamus, which could pave the way toward new and effective interventions for this addiction disease.

Do psychological attachment styles influence dental anxiety and dental attendance?

Objectives Attachment style has been shown to influence patient engagement in medical settings but has been little explored in dentistry. The aim of our study was to identify whether there was a link between patients with insecure attachment styles and dental attendance and anxiety.Methods A survey was circulated and completed by 317 participants on social media. Respondents completed the revised Adult Attachment Scale and questions about the timing of their last dental visit, anxiety levels and the perceived reasons for these.Results Participants classed as having a secure attachment were most likely to have attended a dental appointment in the last two years (87%) and least likely to report dental anxiety (25%). Participants in the fearful attachment group had the highest levels of dental anxiety (75%) and lowest rates of attendance (63%). Both anxious attachment traits (M2.68, 2.09, z = 4.09; p <0.001) and avoidant attachment traits (M2.81, 2.51, z = -2.94; p <0.01) were associated with reduced dental attendance in the past two years. Common themes surrounding visiting the dentist included: unpleasant emotional experiences, previous psychological trauma and inaccurate beliefs about dentistry, resulting in mistrust.Conclusion Attachment styles are related to dental anxiety and attendance. Understanding the role of attachment in service planning and education of dentists could improve the care of patients.

A Study to assess the Effectiveness of Distraction on level of pain perception among infants receiving DPT immunization in selected hospital, Chennai

A pain measure in infants is one of the most significant health challenges in the developing world. Pain can be defined as unpleasant sensory and emotional experiences associated with actual or potential tissue damage or described in terms of skin damage. Fear of injection is most common in children even for minor painful procedure. Many children receive no intervention to reduce pain during injection The health professional must use effective pain management to reduce pain in children. Distraction helps in the reduction of pain and focuses the activity in the environment. Distraction is useful for children of all ages undergoing procedural pain. The objective of the study was to assess the effectiveness of distraction on level of pain perception among infants receiving DPT immunization. The design employed for the study was a quasi- experimental post-test only control group design. The study was conducted in Southern Railway hospital, Perambur, Chennai. 60 infants, fulfilling the inclusion criteria were selected by non-probability purposive sampling technique. During DPT immunization, distraction was given by sound producing rattle for 1 minute then post assessment was done by Modified neonatal infant pain assessment scale. The comparison of post assessment level of pain perception revealed the mean difference 5.87 and the unpaired ‘t’ value of 15.561 which was highly significant at p&lt;0.001level. It reveals that the infant’s pain perception level was reduced after distraction in experimental group. Therefore, distraction can be used as a safe and effective pain reducing measures during immunization which gives comfort to the infants. It is an easy practical nursing intervention which helps the infants cope up with the common painful procedures like injection, blood collection, IV fluid placement etc.

Adjustment Processes After the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Grounded Theory Study Based on Clinical Psychologists' Experience.

BackgroundAnxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress have been reported among the general population during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the adjustment after the emergency phase remains under-investigated. This study aims to understand the adjustment processes of the population after the emergency phase of the pandemic.MethodsWe conducted a grounded theory based on the experience of 24 clinical psychologists who provided extensive support to the population during the pandemic in different Italian regions. Three online focus groups were conducted. The transcripts of the focus groups were analyzed through a process of open, axial, and selective coding. Data collection terminated once thematic saturation was reached.ResultsRepositioning emerged as the evolutionary task people were confronted with in the face of a New Reality. Repositioning meant dealing with and integrating unpleasant Emotional Experiences deriving from the lockdown and reopening (i.e., unsafety, emotional exhaustion, loneliness, uncertainty, loss, and disconnection) through different Coping Strategies. Repositioning was facilitated or hindered by contextual and individual Intervening Conditions and led to two Adjustment Outcomes: growth or block.ConclusionResults suggest that repositioning was the core task people had to face after the emergency phase of COVID-19. Proactive psychological interventions may support the population in repositioning in order to prevent maladjustment and encourage post-traumatic growth.

Using meditation in a control vs. acceptance context: A preliminary evaluation of relations with anxiety, depression, and indices of well-being.

Meditation practices have been marketed broadly to ameliorate human suffering. As such, individuals may seek out and use meditation to control or manage unpleasant thoughts and emotions. Emotion and thought control research suggest that meditation used in this way may potentiate unpleasant private experiences and contribute to negative outcomes. We aimed to evaluate the function or purpose guiding meditation and its relations with anxiety, depression, and other indices of well-being. In a cross-sectional design, undergraduate meditators (N = 98) reported intentions guiding their meditation practice (i.e., experiential/emotional control or acceptance/openness) and completed an assessment battery. Most participants (58.2%) indicated using meditation to manage, control, or avoid difficult experiences. Participants using meditation with control-based intentions reported greater worry, anxiety, depression, negative affect, and lower mindfulness relative to their acceptance-guided counterparts. After controlling for level of anxiety, viewing anxiety as a problem increased the likelihood of using meditation with control-based intentions. Similar relations were observed between viewing stress as a problem and the likelihood of using meditation for experiential control. Findings suggest that (a) how people meditate is significantly related to psychological distress and (b) highlight the importance of evaluating intentions guiding meditative practices, particularly in individuals struggling with unpleasant emotional or psychological experiences.

Satisfaction with the work of people employed in professional support services and their sense of stress

In contemporary social life, the role and importance of the professional support services is increasing. This is due to the growing threats related to poverty, destitution, social exclusion, aggression and violence, and blocking of the development opportunities of both individuals and various social groups. Therefore, expectations and requirements for social service professionals are increasing. Their job satisfaction is related to the feeling of mental strain they experience in solving difficult human life problems, and sometimes with powerlessness in the face of inexorable fate or bureaucratic barriers. Consequently, this situation is a source of strong stress for them, unpleasant emotional experiences and, as a result, professional dissatisfaction. This article is devoted to the diagnosis of job satisfaction of people operating in social assistance. This issue is considered in the context of their sense of stress. Thus, it allows to verify the relationships between these variables.

Pain in Gynecological Cancer

The International Association for the Study of Pain defines pain as “unpleasant sensory and emotional experiences associated with actual or potential tissue damage.” Pain is common among patients with cancer, with the prevalence of pain being 66.4% in advanced metastatic disease or terminal, 55% during anticancer treatment, 39.3% after curative treatment, and moderate to severe pain were reported in 38.0% of all patients. Pain is one of the most common and dreaded symptoms in cancer sufferers, but the exact number of cancer patients who experience pain is difficult to determine. There are a wide variety of studies in defining pain and the tools they use to measure the complexity of this symptom. Good or complete pain control can be achieved in 80-90% of cancer patients. Nevertheless, despite major advances in pain control, cancer-related pain continues to be a major public health problem globally.

Pain in Gynecological Cancer

The International Association for the Study of Pain defines pain as “unpleasant sensory and emotional experiences associated with actual or potential tissue damage.” Pain is common among patients with cancer, with the prevalence of pain being 66.4% in advanced metastatic disease or terminal, 55% during anticancer treatment, 39.3% after curative treatment, and moderate to severe pain were reported in 38.0% of all patients. Pain is one of the most common and dreaded symptoms in cancer sufferers, but the exact number of cancer patients who experience pain is difficult to determine. There are a wide variety of studies in defining pain and the tools they use to measure the complexity of this symptom. Good or complete pain control can be achieved in 80-90% of cancer patients. Nevertheless, despite major advances in pain control, cancer-related pain continues to be a major public health problem globally.

Pleasant Emotions Widen Thought-Action Repertoires, Develop Long-Term Resources, and Improve Reaction Time Performance: A Multistudy Examination of the Broaden-and-Build Theory Among Athletes.

The authors investigated relationships between emotions, coping, and resilience across two studies. In Study 1a, 319 athletes completed dispositional questionnaires relating to the aforementioned constructs. In Study 1b, 126 athletes from Study 1a repeated the same questionnaires 6months later. In Study 2, 21 athletes were randomly allocated to an emotional (e.g.,pleasant or unpleasant emotions) or control group and undertook a laboratory-based reaction-time task across three time points. Questionnaires and salivary cortisol samples were collected before and after each performance with imagery-based emotional manipulations engendered during the second testing session. Partial longitudinal evidence of the broaden-and-build effects of pleasant emotions was found. Pleasant emotions may undo lingering cognitive resource losses incurred from previous unpleasant emotional experiences. In Study 2, pleasant and unpleasant emotions had an immediate and sustained psychophysiological and performance impact. Taken together, this research supports the application of broaden-and-build theory in framing emotional interventions for athletes.