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Children (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024(1) Receiving an oncological diagnosis involves countless physical and mental challenges for those who become ill. In addition to this, developmental activities are put... (Review)
Review
(1) Receiving an oncological diagnosis involves countless physical and mental challenges for those who become ill. In addition to this, developmental activities are put on hold when a parent becomes ill, significantly impairing children's normal growth and development. The purpose of this review is to highlight the psychological impact of cancer on children, with particular attention to differences based on the age of the child and the stage of the parent's disease. (2) Articles published on PubMed up until October 2023 were searched. Qualitative and quantitative studies were included in this review after an evaluation of the full text. The study selection process was undertaken by two researchers, and articles for which there was unanimous agreement between researchers were included in the review. (3) Children's psycho-emotional responses differ based on their age and the disease stage. In general, good communication and a supportive family environment that understands everyone's needs seem to constitute important protective factors that favor the adaptation of the entire family to the disease. (4) The family, as an evolutionary system, finds itself facing phases typical of development. Knowing the variables that intervene in the process of adaptation to the disease will allow us to design specific and differentiated clinical interventions based on the needs of not only the patient but also the entire family.
PubMed: 38929266
DOI: 10.3390/children11060687 -
International Journal of Environmental... Jun 2024In contrast to conventional definitions, the contemporary conceptualization of adulthood emphasizes psychological characteristics over sociodemographic milestones. At...
BACKGROUND
In contrast to conventional definitions, the contemporary conceptualization of adulthood emphasizes psychological characteristics over sociodemographic milestones. At the same time, an increasing number of theorists propose that the way individuals view adulthood may have a significant impact on the mental health of both adolescents and adults. However, empirical examination of this hypothesis has been notably limited to date. The aim of this study is to explore the association between individuals' perceptions of adulthood and multiple dimensions of mental health.
METHOD
This study applied some adulthood markers and multiple mental health indexes (including well-being, optimism, Alexithymia, satisfaction with life, Goldberg's index of mental health, the dark triad, and dimensional personality disorders) to a community sample comprising 1772 individuals in Spain, spanning ages from 16 to 93 years.
RESULTS
The findings support the overarching hypothesis, as perceptions of adulthood display strong correlations with nearly every assessed index of mental health, particularly those that comprise a dimension of negative emotions. These associations persist even after accounting for age and socio-economic status, and in alignment with the psychological paradigm of adulthood, they show a notable consistency across various age groups.
CONCLUSIONS
This study establishes that such perceptions of adulthood represent a modifiable factor contributing to positive mental health. The implications of these findings for the formulation of public policies aimed at promoting mental health in the context of adulthood, as well as a number of future studies, are deliberated.
Topics: Humans; Adult; Mental Health; Adolescent; Middle Aged; Aged; Young Adult; Female; Male; Spain; Aged, 80 and over; Perception; Personal Satisfaction
PubMed: 38929019
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21060773 -
International Journal of Environmental... Jun 2024(1) Introduction: Cancer diagnosis has been related to depression, anxiety, and distress, as well as to post-traumatic growth (PTG). One of the mediating variables for...
(1) Introduction: Cancer diagnosis has been related to depression, anxiety, and distress, as well as to post-traumatic growth (PTG). One of the mediating variables for emotional response is thought style (rumination, cognitive avoidance, and cognitive engagement). (2) Aim: To identify the relationship between thought style and emotional responses to cancer. A secondary aim was to identify the relationship between emotional responses and inflammatory immunological biomarkers. (3) Method: A total of 115 patients with cancer were included in the study. Before initiating cancer treatment, patients were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), distress thermometer, and Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI). Patients provided their most recent blood biometry. (4) Results: Rumination correlated with anxiety, depression, and distress. Cognitive avoidance correlated with PTG (-0.240) and distress (-0.209). Cognitive engagement correlated with PTG (0.393). Regarding thought style and biomarkers, a negative correlation was observed for absolute neutrophils with cognitive avoidance (-0.271) and rumination (0.305). Regarding biomarkers and emotional responses, there was a negative correlation between PTG and absolute lymphocytes (-0.291). There was also a correlation between PTG and neutrophils (0.357) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (0.295). (5) Conclusions: Thought style is related to the emotional response to a cancer diagnosis; rumination is related to depression, distress, and anxiety; and cognitive engagement is related to PTG. PTG is related to inflammation and immunological biomarkers.
Topics: Humans; Neoplasms; Male; Female; Middle Aged; Biomarkers; Posttraumatic Growth, Psychological; Aged; Adult; Depression; Emotions; Anxiety; Rumination, Cognitive
PubMed: 38929009
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21060763 -
International Journal of Environmental... Jun 2024Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients often encounter psychological challenges due to chronic pain, fatigue, side effects of medications, and disability. This study...
BACKGROUND
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients often encounter psychological challenges due to chronic pain, fatigue, side effects of medications, and disability. This study examines the relationship between autobiographical narratives and recollection patterns in RA patients. We investigated how different recall strategies for positive life events affect the emotional processing of negative episodes. We hypothesized that vividly recalling positive life events provides psychological resources that support a more intense emotional elaboration of stressful memories, allowing individuals to delve deeper into negative life experiences. Additionally, we explored the impact of these perspectives on self-reported well-being and physical health, proposing that re-living positive events improves overall well-being.
METHODS
We collected and analyzed high-point and low-point life-story episodes from 60 RA patients (85% female; age mean 61 ± 11 years; range 37-79) using episodic narrative interviews and the Narrative Categorical Content Analysis algorithm (NarrCat). Participants were categorized into 2 clusters based on their temporal perspective during high-point episodes: 25 used a Retrospective viewpoint, while 35 employed a Re-experiencing strategy. Depression and anxiety were assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and functioning was measured using the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ).
RESULTS
The Re-experiencing group, which was more likely to articulate their high-point episode in vivid and real-time narrative, used more psychological perspectives (U(58) = 223, < 0.01) and showed heightened emotional frequency (U(58) = 280, < 0.05; positive: U(58) = 328, < 0.05; negative: U(58) = 278, < 0.05) in low-point episodes. No significant difference emerged between the two groups regarding psychological state (anxiety, depressive symptoms) and physical impairment.
CONCLUSIONS
Vividly recalling positive events may facilitate a deeper exploration of negative memories. The Re-experiencing group showed increased positive emotions during low points, suggesting better emotion regulation. However, no significant association was found between recalling strategies, psychological state, and physical impairment. This indicates that further research is needed to determine whether re-experiencing positive life events is adaptive or maladaptive.
Topics: Humans; Arthritis, Rheumatoid; Female; Middle Aged; Male; Aged; Adult; Mental Recall; Emotions; Life Change Events; Depression; Anxiety
PubMed: 38929005
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21060759 -
International Journal of Environmental... Jun 2024This prospective cohort study, conducted from pregnancy to six months postpartum and grounded in STROBE methodology, quantitatively explores the relationship between...
BACKGROUND
This prospective cohort study, conducted from pregnancy to six months postpartum and grounded in STROBE methodology, quantitatively explores the relationship between antenatal breastfeeding intentions and subsequent breastfeeding outcomes among high-risk pregnant women, compared to a low-risk pregnancy group.
METHODS
The study was conducted in one of the largest public hospitals in Attica that provides care to pregnant women, enrolling 380 participants divided into high-risk ( = 200) and low-risk ( = 180) cohorts. Data were collected over 20 months (starting from the end of May 2020 until January 2022), spanning from pregnancy to six months postpartum, via comprehensive questionnaires.
RESULTS
Statistical analysis revealed a pronounced correlation between prenatal breastfeeding intentions and actual breastfeeding behaviors across both groups. Specifically, 81.1% of women in the high-risk group and 82.5% in the low-risk group expressed intentions of exclusively breastfeeding during pregnancy. By six months postpartum, 54.9% of the high-risk and 64.3% of the low-risk pregnancy group managed to sustain breastfeeding. Extended antenatal hospitalization emerged as a statistically significant factor ( = 0.045) negatively impacting exclusive breastfeeding intentions among high-risk pregnancies.
CONCLUSION
The findings illuminate the critical influence of antenatal intentions on breastfeeding outcomes, particularly among high-risk pregnancies. Moreover, the study identifies the detrimental effect of prolonged hospital stays on breastfeeding aspirations. These insights underscore the necessity for nuanced, supportive interventions aimed at bolstering breastfeeding rates, thereby advancing maternal and neonatal health objectives aligned with World Health Organization recommendations.
Topics: Humans; Female; Breast Feeding; Pregnancy; Prospective Studies; Adult; Intention; Greece; Postpartum Period; Young Adult; Pregnant Women; Surveys and Questionnaires; Pregnancy, High-Risk
PubMed: 38929000
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21060755 -
International Journal of Environmental... Jun 2024Workplace bullying is characterized by negative, repetitive, and frequent behaviors towards a person, affecting his/her physical and mental health The present study...
Workplace bullying is characterized by negative, repetitive, and frequent behaviors towards a person, affecting his/her physical and mental health The present study aimed to assess the relationship between bullying, turnover intention, and psychological distress, considering the potential mediating effect of perceived supervisor support. A questionnaire was completed by 252 women and 172 men ( = 424) from 70 French companies and institutions. They were working in private (70%), public (28%), and parapublic (2%) sectors. Finally, 33 trades are represented in this study: commercial (21%), educational (12%), medical (8.3%), and industry (8.3%) were the most prominently represented. Regression analyses showed that bullying was significantly linked to turnover intention ( = 0.52, < 0.05) and psychological distress ( = 0.78, < 0.001). Moreover, supervisor support played a mediating role between workplace bullying and turnover intention, as well as between workplace bullying and psychological distress. The implications and perspectives of the present research were subsequently discussed.
Topics: Humans; Bullying; Female; Male; Personnel Turnover; Adult; Workplace; Psychological Distress; Middle Aged; Intention; Surveys and Questionnaires; Stress, Psychological; Young Adult; France
PubMed: 38928997
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21060751 -
International Journal of Environmental... Jun 2024The escalating awareness of heat-related risks and the associated imperative to enhance preparedness strategies at various levels has spurred a growing emphasis on...
The escalating awareness of heat-related risks and the associated imperative to enhance preparedness strategies at various levels has spurred a growing emphasis on disseminating knowledge about heat vulnerability. These efforts aim to equip diverse stakeholders with practical heat planning and forecasting tools. The success of these communication initiatives hinges on understanding the nuanced perceptions of risk and the priority assigned to addressing heat as a health risk. This paper delves explicitly into the unhoused population's risk perceptions and coping strategies. Acknowledged as one of the most underserved and vulnerable groups to extreme heat, unhoused individuals face prolonged exposure, a heightened frequency of mental and physical health issues, and limited coping resources during extreme heat events. Despite widespread acknowledgment of their vulnerability, little attention has been directed towards researching health behavior within this demographic about excessive heat. We developed a survey instrument using the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to bridge this gap. We collected quantitative survey data from unhoused populations in Columbia, South Carolina, an area of the United States that experiences extreme heat events and has a sizeable unhoused population. Using a series of hierarchical multiple regression models, our findings indicate that TPB variables predict the intention to avoid the heat while considering additional coping strategies common among unhoused individuals. These findings offer valuable insights for public health researchers, practitioners, and community officials engaged in direct interactions with unhoused populations, informing how this underserved group manages excessive heat exposure.
Topics: Humans; Adaptation, Psychological; Adult; Female; Male; Middle Aged; Young Adult; Hot Temperature; Aged; Adolescent; Surveys and Questionnaires; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Perception; Risk Assessment; Coping Skills
PubMed: 38928983
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21060737 -
International Journal of Environmental... Jun 2024Achieving high follow-up rates after smoking cessation interventions (SCIs) is a general challenge. The aim of this study was to identify preferences among patients and...
Achieving high follow-up rates after smoking cessation interventions (SCIs) is a general challenge. The aim of this study was to identify preferences among patients and therapists for improving follow-up rates and to assess smoking status at 6 months among patients lost to follow-up. From the Danish STOPbase for Tobacco and Nicotine, which collects data on SCI across health care, 20 representative patients lost to follow-up by routine procedures were identified together with 11 therapists. All participated in individual semi-structured phone interviews, which for patients also included 6-month smoking status. Deductive and inductive analyses were performed. Four themes emerged from the analyses with several subthemes, all regarding contacts. Both patients and therapists preferred to intensify the follow-up process by boosting it with additional attempts and using voice messages, e-mail and/or SMS, calling at specified times of the day and avoiding calls from unknown numbers. In addition, some patients mentioned that they were busy or were not carrying their mobile devices at the time of a call as a barrier. Some therapists mentioned that barriers could include an expectation of relapse, but also a poor mental state, the time of day and patient fear of public systems. Among the patients originally lost to follow-up, 35% (95% CI 16%-59%) experienced continuous smoking cessation for 6 months, and the overall national rate was 22% (21.6-23.3%). In conclusion, both patients and therapists preferred intensified follow-up. The 6-month smoking status for patients lost to follow-up seemed to be similar to that of the routinely followed-up patients. These findings will be examined experimentally in a larger study.
Topics: Humans; Smoking Cessation; Male; Female; Middle Aged; Adult; Denmark; Lost to Follow-Up; Aged; Follow-Up Studies; Patient Preference; Interviews as Topic; Smoking
PubMed: 38928972
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21060726 -
International Journal of Environmental... May 2024This study aims to examine how the activation of the role of nursee and professional identification as a nurse can influence moral judgments in terms of deontological...
This study aims to examine how the activation of the role of nursee and professional identification as a nurse can influence moral judgments in terms of deontological and utilitarian inclinations. In Study 1, a priming technique was used to assess the impact of activating the nursing concept on moral reasoning. Participants were randomly assigned to either a nursing prime or neutral prime condition. By using a scrambled-sentence task, participants were prompted to think about nursing-related or neutral thoughts. Following the priming task, participants were asked to respond to 20 moral dilemmas. The process dissociation approach was employed to measure the degree of deontological and utilitarian tendencies in their moral reasoning. In Study 2, participants completed the nursing profession identification scale and the moral orientation scale before engaging in moral judgments similar to those in Study 1. The findings revealed that priming the concept of being a nursee resulted in an increase in deontological clinical inclinations while having no significant effect on utilitarian inclinations. Additionally, a positive correlation was observed between identification with the nursing profession and deontological clinical inclinations, whereas a negative correlation was found with utilitarian inclinations. Deliberation orientation acted as a complete mediator in the relationship between nursing professional identification and deontological tendencies and as a partial mediator for utilitarian tendencies.
Topics: Humans; Female; Male; Adult; Young Adult; Morals; Nurses; Judgment
PubMed: 38928958
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21060712 -
International Journal of Environmental... May 2024Falls and fall-related injuries in community-dwelling older adults are a growing global health concern. Despite effective exercise-based fall prevention programs (FPPs),... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
INTRODUCTION
Falls and fall-related injuries in community-dwelling older adults are a growing global health concern. Despite effective exercise-based fall prevention programs (FPPs), low enrollment rates persist due to negative connotations associated with falls and aging. This study aimed to investigate whether positive framing in communication leads to a higher intention to participate in an FPP among community-dwelling older adults.
METHODS
We conducted a two-sequence randomized crossover study. We designed two flyers, a standard flyer containing standard terminology regarding FPPs for older adults, and a reframed flyer highlighting fitness and activity by reframing 'fall prevention' as an 'exercise program' and 'old' as 'over 65 years'. With a Mann-Whitney U test, we investigated group differences regarding the intention to participate between the flyers. A sensitivity analysis and subgroup analyses were performed. We conducted qualitative thematic analysis on open-ended answers to gain a deeper understanding of participants' intention to participate.
RESULTS
In total, we included 133 participants. Findings indicated a significantly higher intention to participate in the reframed flyer (median = 4; interquartile range = 1-6) compared to the standard flyer (median = 2; interquartile range = 1-4) ( = 0.038). Participants favored more general terms such as 'over 65 years' over 'older adults'. Older adults who were female, not at high fall risk, perceived themselves as not at fall risk, and maintained a positive attitude to aging showed greater receptivity to positively-framed communications in the reframed flyer. Additionally, already being engaged in physical activities and a lack of practical information about the FPP appeared to discourage participation intentions.
DISCUSSION
The results in favor of the reframed flyer provide practical insights for designing and implementing effective (mass-)media campaigns on both (inter)national and local levels, as well as for interacting with this population on an individual basis. Aging-related terminology in promotional materials hinders engagement, underscoring the need for more positive messaging and leaving out terms such as 'older'. Tailored positively framed messages and involving diverse older adults in message development are essential for promoting participation in FPPs across various population subgroups to promote participation in FPPs among community-dwelling older adults.
Topics: Accidental Falls; Humans; Aged; Female; Male; Cross-Over Studies; Intention; Aged, 80 and over; Communication; Independent Living; Exercise
PubMed: 38928950
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21060704