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CBE Life Sciences Education Mar 2021While student stress and anxiety are frequently cited as having negative effects on students' academic performance, the role that instructors can play in mitigating...
While student stress and anxiety are frequently cited as having negative effects on students' academic performance, the role that instructors can play in mitigating these challenges is often underappreciated. We provide summaries of different evidence-based strategies, ranging from changes in instructional strategies to specific classroom interventions, that instructors may employ to address and ameliorate student stress and anxiety. While we focus on students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, the strategies we delineate may be more broadly applicable. We begin by highlighting ways in which instructors can learn about and prepare to act to alleviate stress and anxiety. We then discuss how to better connect with students and build an inclusive, equitable, and empowering classroom environment. When coupled with strategies to change student evaluation and assessment, these approaches may collectively reduce student stress and anxiety, as well as improve student performance. We then discuss the roles that instructors may play in empowering students with skills that improve their time management, studying, and approach toward learning, with an eye toward ensuring their success across all their academic endeavors. We conclude by noting areas in which further research is needed to determine best practices for alleviating student stress and anxiety.
Topics: Anxiety; Engineering; Humans; Students; Technology; Universities
PubMed: 33635124
DOI: 10.1187/cbe.20-08-0189 -
Journal of Health Psychology Sep 2022Pandemic health threats can cause considerable anxiety, but not all individuals react similarly. To understand the sources of this variability, we applied a theoretical...
Pandemic health threats can cause considerable anxiety, but not all individuals react similarly. To understand the sources of this variability, we applied a theoretical model developed during the H1N1 pandemic of 2009 to quantify relationships among intolerance of uncertainty, stress appraisals, and coping style that predict anxiety about the COVID-19 pandemic. We surveyed 1579 U.S. Amazon Mechanical Turk workers in April 2020. Using structural equation modeling, we found that individuals who were more intolerant of uncertainty reported higher appraisals of threat, stress, and other-control, which predicted higher anxiety when emotion-focused coping was engaged, and lower anxiety when problem-focused coping was engaged. Political affiliation moderated these effects, such that conservatives relied more on self-control and other-control appraisals to mitigate anxiety than independents or liberals. These results show that how people appraise and cope with their stress interacts with political ideology to shape anxiety in the face of a global health threat.
Topics: Anxiety; Anxiety Disorders; COVID-19; Humans; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; Pandemics
PubMed: 34348495
DOI: 10.1177/13591053211030981 -
Aging & Mental Health May 2023Anxiety has been associated with childhood abuse/neglect, but this relationship and its mechanisms are poorly documented in older adults. This study examined the...
OBJECTIVES
Anxiety has been associated with childhood abuse/neglect, but this relationship and its mechanisms are poorly documented in older adults. This study examined the association between childhood abuse/neglect and late-life anxiety temporal patterns (i.e. absence, remission, incidence, persistence), testing for mediators.
METHODS
Data were derived for 724 French-speaking community-living older adults participating in the s - study with available information at baseline and 4-year follow-up. Past-month anxiety was based on a cutoff score ≥5 on a French translation of the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder at interviews. Questions on childhood abuse/neglect (e.g. psycho-emotional, physical, sexual) were administered. Adjusted multinomial regression analyses and mediation bootstrapping models were used. Tested mediators included traumatic events (excluding childhood abuse/neglect), daily hassles, psychological resilience, and cortisol activity.
RESULTS
The absence, remission, incidence and persistence of anxiety was found in 45.3%, 25.3%, 8.7% and 20.7% of the sample, respectively. Participants with incident and persistent late-life anxiety experienced more childhood abuse/neglect. Participants with persistent anxiety also reported lower psychological resilience. The association between childhood abuse/neglect with anxiety incidence was mediated by daily hassles, while its association with anxiety persistence was mediated by daily hassles and psychological resilience.
CONCLUSION
Past childhood abuse/neglect was associated with late-life anxiety incidence and persistence, with psychological resilience and daily hassles potentially explaining this relationship. Further research should focus on ascertaining the clinical applications of psychosocial and biological profiles in informing the prevention and personalized treatment of anxiety in older adults.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Child; Anxiety; Anxiety Disorders; Child Abuse
PubMed: 35612883
DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2022.2076204 -
The American Journal of Geriatric... Apr 2021Studies on the course of depression often ignore comorbid anxiety disorders or anxiety symptoms. We explored predictors of complete remission (no depression nor anxiety...
OBJECTIVE
Studies on the course of depression often ignore comorbid anxiety disorders or anxiety symptoms. We explored predictors of complete remission (no depression nor anxiety diagnoses at follow-up) and of the course of comorbid anxiety symptoms. We additionally tested the hypothesis that the course of anxiety disorders and symptoms in depressed patients is explained by negative life-events in the presence of high neuroticism or a low sense of mastery.
METHODS
An observational study of 270 patients (≥60 years) diagnosed with major depressive disorder and 2-year follow-up data, who participated in the Netherlands Study of Depression in Older persons (NESDO). Sociodemographic, somatic, psychiatric, and treatment variables were first explored as possible predictors. A multiple logistic regression analysis was used to examine their predictive value concerning complete remission. Subsequently, negative life-events, personality and their interaction were tested as potential predictors. Linear Mixed Models were used to assess whether the personality traits modified the effect of early and recent life-events, and time and their interactions on the course of the anxiety symptoms.
RESULTS
A total of 135 of 270 patients achieved complete remission. Depressed patients with a comorbid anxiety disorder at baseline less often achieved complete remission: 38 of 103 (37.0%) versus 97 of 167 (58.1%). The severity of depressive and anxiety symptomatology, the presence of a comorbid anxiety disorder, and a poorer physical health at baseline predicted nonremission. In line with our hypothesis, a less favorable course of self-reported anxiety symptoms was associated with more recent negative life-events, but only among patients with a high level of neuroticism or a low level of mastery.
CONCLUSION
Comorbid anxiety in depression as a negative impact on complete remission at 2-year follow-up. The course of anxiety severity seems dependent on the interaction of personality traits and life-events.
Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anxiety; Anxiety Disorders; Comorbidity; Depressive Disorder, Major; Female; Humans; Life Change Events; Male; Middle Aged; Netherlands; Neuroticism; Personality; Prognosis; Remission Induction; Self Report
PubMed: 33414001
DOI: 10.1016/j.jagp.2020.12.023 -
The Journal of Nervous and Mental... Mar 2022The present study focuses on exploring the prevalence and relationship of stigma, stress, anxiety, and depression among patients with epilepsy. This hospital-based study...
The present study focuses on exploring the prevalence and relationship of stigma, stress, anxiety, and depression among patients with epilepsy. This hospital-based study consisted of 200 patients diagnosed with epilepsy using a purposive sampling selected from the outpatient department of the Central Indian Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Dewada, Chhattisgarh, India. Patients were assessed through a sociodemographic datasheet, Stigma Scale of Epilepsy, and Depression Anxiety Stress Scales. The result of the study reveals that patient with epilepsy perceived 25% of high stigma 61.0% of stress, 55.0% of anxiety, and 47.5% of the extremely severe level depression. In regression analysis, overall perceived stigma strongly contributes 32.9% to the variance on stress, anxiety, and depression in epileptic patients. The present study helps mental health professionals to understand the problems faced by patients with epilepsy and to create awareness about the same in society so that patients diagnosed with epilepsy are not ostracized.
Topics: Anxiety; Anxiety Disorders; Depression; Epilepsy; Humans; Social Stigma
PubMed: 34690275
DOI: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000001431 -
International Journal of Psychiatry in... Jun 2021COVID-19 is associated with neuropsychiatric complications, the most frequent one being anxiety. Multiple biological and psychosocial factors contribute to anxiety in... (Review)
Review
COVID-19 is associated with neuropsychiatric complications, the most frequent one being anxiety. Multiple biological and psychosocial factors contribute to anxiety in COVID-19. Among the biological factors, stress, genetics, gender, immune system, resilience, anosmia, hypogeusia, and central nervous system infection with SARS-CoV-2 are key. Anxiety is a complication of COVID-19 that may exacerbate the infection course, and the infection may exacerbate anxiety. We present the mechanisms of anxiety in symptomatic or asymptomatic COVID-19. We discuss the presentation of anxiety in patients without or with prior psychiatric illness, and with co-morbidities. Timely diagnosis and management of anxiety in COVID-19 patients is important. Given the frequent complication of COVID-19 with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome and Intensive Care Unit stay, anxiety may be a long-term complication. We review the diagnostic tools for anxiety in COVID-19, and summarise pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatments. We provide recommendations for diagnosis, treatment, prevention and follow up of anxiety in COVID-19.Key pointsPatients with COVID-19 (symptomatic or asymptomatic) exhibit a high frequency of neuropsychiatric complications with highest percentage attributed to anxiety.Multiple biological and psychosocial risk factors for anxiety exist in COVID-19-ill individuals. Biological risk factors include stress, resilience, genetics, gender, age, immune system, direct infection of the central nervous system (CNS) with SARS-CoV-2, comorbid psychiatric and general medical illnesses, ARDS and ICU stay. Anosmia and hypogeusia are COVID-19-specific anxiety risk factors. Knowledge of the anxiety risk factors is essential to focus on timely interventions, because anxiety may be a complication of and exacerbate the COVID-19 course.An inverse correlation exists between resilience and anxiety because of COVID-19, and therefore efforts should be made to increase resilience in COVID-19 patients.In COVID-19, important anxiety mechanism is neuroinflammation resulting from activation of the immune system and an ensuing cytokine storm.The general approach to management of anxiety in COVID-19 should be compassionate, similar to that during trauma or disaster, with efforts focussed on instilling a sense of hope and resilience.In selecting pharmacological treatment of anxiety, the stress response and immune system effects should be key. Medications with cardio-respiratory adverse effects should be avoided in patients with respiratory problems.Anxiety is a disorder that will require for long-term follow up at least one month after COVID-19.
Topics: Acute Disease; Anxiety; Asymptomatic Infections; COVID-19; Humans
PubMed: 33635172
DOI: 10.1080/13651501.2021.1887264 -
Australian Journal of General Practice May 2023Australia has warmed by 1.4°C since pre-industrial times. This is greater than the global average and is predicted to exceed 1.5°C by 2030. This will have significant... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Australia has warmed by 1.4°C since pre-industrial times. This is greater than the global average and is predicted to exceed 1.5°C by 2030. This will have significant environmental effects that can threaten human wellbeing. Most Australians have direct experience of climate change-related events, with health, social, cultural and economic impacts already evident and wide-ranging implications for mental health.
OBJECTIVE
This article provides an overview of climate distress, which encompasses both 'climate anxiety' and other forms of distress related to climate change. It outlines the features and prevalence of climate distress, as well as approaches for assessment and management based on current evidence and theory.
DISCUSSION
Climate distress is common and can take many forms. These concerns may not be readily disclosed, but can be sensitively elicited, and patients may benefit from the opportunity for empathic, non-judgemental exploration of their experiences. Care must be taken not to pathologise rational distress while identifying maladaptive coping strategies and serious mental illness. Management should focus on adaptive coping strategies, use evidence‑based psychological interventions and draw upon emerging evidence about behavioural engagement, nature connection and group processes.
Topics: Humans; Adaptation, Psychological; Anxiety; Australia; Climate Change; Psychological Distress
PubMed: 37149764
DOI: 10.31128/AJGP-09-22-6556 -
Journal of Developmental and Behavioral... 2020To assess pediatric primary care providers' (PCPs) knowledge, perceived barriers, and needs related to child and adolescent anxiety in their practice.
OBJECTIVE
To assess pediatric primary care providers' (PCPs) knowledge, perceived barriers, and needs related to child and adolescent anxiety in their practice.
METHODS
Primary care providers licensed and practicing in the state of Colorado were invited to complete an online knowledge and needs assessment. The survey queried their knowledge of pediatric anxiety, experience in assessing and treating anxiety, perceived barriers in their practice setting to adequately addressing youth anxiety, and interest in additional training on this topic.
RESULTS
Survey completers included 115 PCPs (51 medical doctors and 64 nurses/nurse practitioners). PCPs had been practicing with their current medical license with pediatric patients for an average of 14 years (SD = 10.45), and 70% reported that they regularly discuss anxiety with patients and parents. Although PCPs had a basic knowledge of youth anxiety, there appeared to be significant gaps in PCP knowledge. Specifically, knowledge gaps included evidence-based assessment and treatment, how to differentiate between developmentally appropriate, transient episodes of anxiety versus anxiety disorders, and where and how to refer youth for specialty services. Nearly all (80%) PCPs indicated that they would be "extremely interested" in additional training in pediatric anxiety, particularly if it occurred in their organizational setting, at a nearby community setting, or online.
CONCLUSION
Primary care providers reported that a substantial proportion of the patients they see struggle with anxiety. PCPs also reported a growing need for training in how to assess, treat, and refer anxious youth. This needs assessment supports a need for the development of easily accessible training and resources for PCPs to better support their pediatric patients.
Topics: Adolescent; Anxiety; Anxiety Disorders; Child; Humans; Needs Assessment; Nurses; Pediatricians; Primary Health Care
PubMed: 32482969
DOI: 10.1097/DBP.0000000000000821 -
Anxiety, Stress, and Coping Jul 2022Depersonalization is common in anxiety disorders, but little is known about factors that influence co-occurring anxiety and depersonalization.
BACKGROUND OBJECTIVES
Depersonalization is common in anxiety disorders, but little is known about factors that influence co-occurring anxiety and depersonalization.
DESIGN
We investigated trait moderators of the relationships between state and trait anxiety and depersonalization to better understand their co-occurrence and to identify potential points of intervention.
METHODS
Adults recruited on Amazon Mechanical Turk ( = 303) completed two computer tasks designed to increase variability in state anxiety and depersonalization as well as several self-report questionnaires.
RESULTS
As hypothesized, anxiety positively predicted depersonalization at both a state level and trait level. Moreover, as hypothesized, the trait anxiety-trait depersonalization relationship was strengthened by greater anxiety sensitivity; distress intolerance; and negative interpretation bias for anxiety sensations, and for depersonalization sensations. None of these hypothesized trait moderators significantly strengthened the state anxiety-state depersonalization relationship.
CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that, on a trait level, anxiety and depersonalization more frequently co-occur when people catastrophically misinterpret their symptoms or have lower emotional distress tolerance.
Topics: Adult; Anxiety; Anxiety Disorders; Depersonalization; Emotions; Humans; Self Report
PubMed: 34524043
DOI: 10.1080/10615806.2021.1977797 -
Medical Anthropology 2022In this article, we analyze the public debate on fertility decline and abortion in Italy, focusing on demographic anxieties, fueled by conservative demographers and...
In this article, we analyze the public debate on fertility decline and abortion in Italy, focusing on demographic anxieties, fueled by conservative demographers and politicians, about the different reproductive behavior of native Italians and migrants. We argue that vitapolitics, a moral regime that defends "life" and condemns abortion, is one of the main mechanisms of reproductive governance in Italy. Drawing on two studies 1) on pro-life volunteers' activism and 2) gynecologists' attitudes to abortion and conscientious objection, we illustrate how vitapolitics shapes the demographic anxieties of these two social actors, who contribute to discipline reproduction on the ground.
Topics: Abortion, Induced; Anthropology, Medical; Anxiety; Demography; Female; Humans; Pregnancy; Volunteers
PubMed: 35771062
DOI: 10.1080/01459740.2022.2087181