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Whilst research has assessed the multidimensionality of organizational stressors, severity has been overlooked. This study aimed to develop and validate a severity response scale, before examining the relationship between organizational stressor severity, physical health, and well-being, and if severity mediated the relationship between stressor occurrence and outcomes. 403 sport performers (186 male; Mage = 21.43) completed a questionnaire assessing study variables and data were analysed using structural equation modelling. Organizational stressor severity had a significant, negative relationship with physical health (r = -.374, p < .001), but notwith hedonic or eudaimonic well-being (p = .624 and .203). Direct effects were found for neuroticism (ß = -0.632, p < .001) and stressor frequency (ß = -0.226, p = .016) on physical health; however, when adding severity as a mediator, stressor frequency positively predicted stressor severity (ß = 1.025, p < .001); however, the indirect effect of stressor frequency on physical health via stressor severity (ß = -0.018, p = .885) and the direct effect between stressor frequency and physical health (ß = -0.191, p = .204) were non-significant. These novel findings highlight that higher stressor severity is associated with higher physical health complaints, and that repeated exposure to stressors may heighten an vulnerability to future stressors.
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Nível de Saúde , Estresse Psicológico , Humanos , Masculino , Adulto Jovem , Feminino , Inquéritos e Questionários , Adulto , Atletas/psicologia , Neuroticismo , AdolescenteRESUMO
PROBLEM: UK midwives report high work-related stress, which can negatively impact their health and wellbeing, with many considering leaving the profession. BACKGROUND: An occupational stress audit guides the implementation of stress management intervention, by identifying which stressors have the most negative impact and why, and highlighting "at risk" groups. AIM: To conduct a concurrent mixed-methods stress audit with UK midwives in an NHS Trust. METHODS: Seventy-one midwives (Mage= 39 years, SD = 11) completed a survey assessing stressors (e.g., relationships), stress appraisals (i.e., challenge vs. threat), coping strategies (e.g., avoidance-focused), and outcomes (i.e., mental health, performance, and intention to leave). Ten midwives (Mage = 42 years, SD = 10) participated in semi-structured interviews. FINDINGS: Quantitative data revealed that more work-related demands, poorer peer support and relationships, and threat appraisals predicted worse mental health. Moreover, less control and more work-related demands predicted poorer performance, while less control, poorer manager support, more change-related demands, and threat appraisals predicted greater intention to leave. Qualitative data generated three themes: organisational pressures exacerbated by unexpected changes; individualised responses but largely debilitative emotions; and personal coping and power of social support. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: This study offered a comprehensive and novel insight into the stress experiences of UK midwives, highlighting targets for future stress management interventions, including key stressors (e.g., manager support), underlying mechanisms (e.g., stress appraisals), and "at-risk" groups (e.g., night shift workers). Practical recommendations are provided for stakeholders operating at multiple levels (e.g., midwife, trust, policy) to better support midwives with work-related stress.
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Adaptação Psicológica , Tocologia , Estresse Ocupacional , Humanos , Feminino , Reino Unido , Adulto , Estresse Ocupacional/psicologia , Inquéritos e Questionários , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Enfermeiros Obstétricos/psicologia , Pesquisa Qualitativa , Satisfação no Emprego , Estresse Psicológico/psicologia , Local de Trabalho/psicologia , Saúde Mental , Gravidez , Carga de Trabalho/psicologia , Apoio SocialRESUMO
Although greater lifetime stressor exposure has been associated with physical and mental health issues in the general population, relatively little is known about how lifetime stressors impact the physical and mental health of elite athletes or the factors moderating this association. Given that many elite athletes show signs of perfectionism, and that this trait has been linked with ill-health, it is possible that perfectionism may moderate the lifetime stressor-health relationship. To test this possibility, we examined how cumulative lifetime stressor exposure was associated with general mental and physical health complaints in elite athletes, and the extent to which these associations were moderated by perfectionism. Participants were 110 elite athletes (64 female; M age = 29.98 years, SD = 10.54) who completed assessments of lifetime stressor exposure, physical health, psychological distress, and perfectionism. As hypothesised, hierarchical regression analyses revealed that experiencing more severe lifetime stressors was related to poorer physical and mental health. Furthermore, self-oriented perfectionism moderated the association between lifetime stressor count and severity and physical health, but not mental health. Overall, these data demonstrate stressor-specific effects among elite athletes and highlight the potential importance of assessing lifetime stressor exposure and perfectionistic tendencies in order to improve athlete health and well-being.
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BACKGROUND: Work-related stress is high in midwifery with negative implications for midwives' health and performance. This systematic review therefore examined which stress management interventions (SMIs) are most effective at reducing occupational stress and improving midwives' health and well-being, performance, and job satisfaction. METHODS: A systematic review included studies if they were: investigating midwives or student midwives; examining an individual- or organisation-level intervention; reporting the intervention effects on at least one outcome (e.g., job performance); peer-reviewed; and published in English. Methodological quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. A narrative synthesis was conducted and data were presented by SMI level (i.e., individual vs. organisation) and modality type (e.g., mindfulness, care model). Sum codes were used to compare the effects of individual- and organisation-level SMIs on outcomes. FINDINGS: From 2605 studies identified, 30 were eligible (18 individual- and 12 organisation-level SMIs). Eight studies were deemed low quality. While individual- and organisation-level SMIs were equally effective in improving job satisfaction and performance, there was a trend for organisation-level SMIs more effectively reducing work stress and improving health and well-being. Specific individual- (i.e., mindfulness, simulation training) and organisation-level (i.e., reflective groups, midwifery care models) SMIs were most beneficial. CONCLUSION: It is recommended that health practitioners and policy makers implement interventions that target both individual- and organisation-levels to optimally support midwives' work stress, health, well-being, and performance. Notwithstanding these findings and implications, some studies had poor methodological quality; thus, future research should better follow intervention reporting guidelines.
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Satisfação no Emprego , Tocologia , Enfermeiros Obstétricos , Estresse Ocupacional , Humanos , Estresse Ocupacional/psicologia , Estresse Ocupacional/prevenção & controle , Feminino , Enfermeiros Obstétricos/psicologia , Atenção Plena/métodosRESUMO
The gut peptide cholecystokinin (CCK) is released during feeding and promotes satiation by increasing excitation of vagal afferent neurons that innervate the upper gastrointestinal tract. Vagal afferent neurons express CCK1 receptors (CCK1Rs) in the periphery and at central terminals in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS). While the effects of CCK have been studied for decades, CCK receptor signaling and coupling to membrane ion channels are not entirely understood. Previous findings have implicated L-type voltage-gated calcium channels as well as transient receptor potential (TRP) channels in mediating the effects of CCK, but the lack of selective pharmacology has made determining the contributions of these putative mediators difficult. The nonselective ion channel transient receptor potential vanilloid subtype 1 (TRPV1) is expressed throughout vagal afferent neurons and controls many forms of signaling, including spontaneous glutamate release onto NTS neurons. Here we tested the hypothesis that CCK1Rs couple directly to TRPV1 to mediate vagal signaling using fluorescent calcium imaging and brainstem electrophysiology. We found that CCK signaling at high concentrations (low-affinity binding) was potentiated in TRPV1-containing afferents and that TRPV1 itself mediated the enhanced CCK1R signaling. While competitive antagonism of TRPV1 failed to alter CCK1R signaling, TRPV1 pore blockade or genetic deletion (TRPV1 KO) significantly reduced the CCK response in cultured vagal afferents and eliminated its ability to increase spontaneous glutamate release in the NTS. Together, these results establish that TRPV1 mediates the low-affinity effects of CCK on vagal afferent activation and control of synaptic transmission in the brainstem.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Cholecystokinin (CCK) signaling via the vagus nerve reduces food intake and produces satiation, yet the signaling cascades mediating these effects remain unknown. Here we report that the capsaicin receptor transient receptor potential vanilloid subtype 1 (TRPV1) potentiates CCK signaling in the vagus and mediates the ability of CCK to control excitatory synaptic transmission in the nucleus of the solitary tract. These results may prove useful in the future development of CCK/TRPV1-based therapeutic interventions.
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Ácido Glutâmico , Canais de Potencial de Receptor Transitório , Ácido Glutâmico/metabolismo , Núcleo Solitário , Neurônios Aferentes/metabolismo , Nervo Vago , Colecistocinina/farmacologia , Canais de Potencial de Receptor Transitório/metabolismoRESUMO
PROBLEM: Knowing how to help staff thrive and remain in practice in maternity services. BACKGROUND: A chronic shortage of staff in maternity services in the United Kingdom and high levels of stress and burnout in midwifery and medical staff. PURPOSE: To understand how to support and enhance the wellbeing of staff in a small UK maternity service. METHODS: An appreciative inquiry using interviews with n = 39 maternity staff and n = 4 group discussions exploring meaningful experiences, values and factors that helped their wellbeing. RESULTS: Staff members were highly motivated, managing a complex melee of emotions and responsibilities including challenges to professional confidence, mental health, family situation, and conflict between work-life roles. Despite staff shortages, a demanding workload, professional and personal turmoil, and the pandemic participants still found meaning in their work and relationships. DISCUSSION: A 'whole person' approach provided insight into the multiple stressors and emotional demands staff faced. It also revealed staff resourcefulness in managing their professional and personal roles. They invested in relationships with women but were also aware of their limits - the need to be self-caring, employ strategies to switch-off, set boundaries or keep a protective distance. CONCLUSION: Staff wellbeing initiatives, and research into wellbeing, would benefit from adopting a holistic approach that incorporates home and family with work. Research on emotion regulation strategies could provide insights into managing roles, responsibilities, and the emotional demands of working in maternity services. Emotion regulation strategies could be included in midwifery and obstetric training.
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COVID-19 , Tocologia , Humanos , Gravidez , Feminino , Emoções , Reino UnidoRESUMO
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Recent research has shown that lifetime stressor exposure can negatively impact sport performers. However, this work has predominantly relied on quantitative methods, which has provided limited information regarding how stressors occurring over the life course affect health, well-being, and performance. This study aimed to explore how relatively high levels of lifetime (non-sport and sport-specific) stressor exposure influenced sport performers' health, well-being, and performance. METHODS AND DESIGN: To identify participants who had experienced high lifetime (non-sport and sport-specific) stressors, we used criterion-based purposeful sampling from a prior study. Subsequently, semi-structured interviews, complemented by timelining, were conducted with 22 sport performers (17 female; Mage = 25.89, SD = 10.20). RESULTS: We used reflexive thematic analysis to develop three overarching themes that illustrate how high lifetime (non-sport and sport-specific) stressor exposure influences sport performers' health, well-being, and performance. These were: psychological (e.g., maladaptive coping strategies), social (e.g., difficulties in building relationships), and behavioral (e.g., risky behaviors) factors. CONCLUSIONS: These findings can help practitioners identify sport performers at risk of developing stress-related health, well-being, and performance problems, and may aid the development of effective interventions.
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Esportes , Estresse Psicológico , Humanos , Feminino , Adulto , Esportes/psicologia , Assunção de Riscos , Capacidades de Enfrentamento , Acontecimentos que Mudam a VidaRESUMO
It has been argued that habitually appraising stressful events as more of a threat (i.e., situational demands exceed personal coping resources) may increase one's risk of ill-health (e.g., depression). However, while first theorized 15 years ago, little research has tested this assertion. Thus, this study offered a novel test of the associations between trait challenge and threat appraisals and health-related outcomes (i.e., mental health symptomology, psychological well-being, and physical health complaints). Three hundred and ninety-five participants (251 female, 144 male; Mage = 22.50 years, SD = 5.33) completed valid and reliable measures of trait challenge and threat appraisals, mental health (i.e., symptoms of depression and anxiety), well-being (e.g., subjective vitality), and physical health complaints (e.g., respiratory illnesses). Regression analyses revealed that trait challenge and threat appraisals accounted for a significant proportion of variance in all outcomes after controlling for age and gender, with a tendency to appraise stressful events as more of a threat associated with poorer mental health (i.e., greater depression symptomology), well-being (e.g., lower vitality), and physical health (e.g., more respiratory illnesses). Taken together, the findings highlight the importance of trait challenge and threat appraisals for health, although further research is needed using stronger designs (e.g., longitudinal) to enable a more causal understanding.
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Ansiedade , Depressão , Estresse Psicológico , Humanos , Feminino , Masculino , Adulto , Estresse Psicológico/psicologia , Adulto Jovem , Depressão/psicologia , Ansiedade/psicologia , Nível de Saúde , Adaptação Psicológica , Saúde Mental , Adolescente , Pessoa de Meia-IdadeRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Experiencing psychological stress may affect clinician performance in acute emergencies. While simulation is used extensively in healthcare education, it is unknown whether simulation effectively replicates the psychophysiological stress of real-world conditions. Thus, this study explored whether measurable differences exist in psychophysiological responses to acute stress in simulated compared with real-world clinical practice. METHODS: In this within-subjects observational study, stress appraisals, state anxiety and heart rate variability (HRV) were recorded during simulated and real-world emergencies in a 6-month training placement in neonatal medicine. Eleven postgraduate trainees and one advanced neonatal nurse practitioner participated. Mean (SD) participant age was 33 (8) years; and eight participants (67%) were female. Data were collected at rest and immediately before, during and 20 min after simulated and real-world neonatal emergencies. In situ simulation scenarios were modelled on those used in accredited neonatal basic life support training. Stress appraisals and state anxiety were assessed using Demand Resource Evaluation Scores and the short State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, respectively. High-frequency power, a component of HRV associated with parasympathetic tone, was derived from electrocardiogram recordings. RESULTS: Simulation was associated with greater likelihood of threat appraisal and higher state anxiety. High-frequency HRV reduced from baseline in simulated and real-world emergencies but recovered further towards baseline 20 min after simulated events. Possible explanations for the observed differences between conditions include participants' previous experiences and expectations of simulation and the effect of post-simulation debrief and feedback. DISCUSSION: This study identifies important differences in psychophysiological stress responses to simulated and real-world emergencies. Threat appraisals, state anxiety and parasympathetic withdrawal are educationally and clinically significant, given their known associations with performance, social functioning and health regulation. While simulation may facilitate interventions aimed at optimising clinicians' stress responses, it is vital to confirm that outcomes transfer to real-world clinical practice.
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Emergências , Estresse Psicológico , Recém-Nascido , Humanos , Feminino , Adulto , Masculino , Estresse Psicológico/psicologia , Ansiedade , Competência ClínicaRESUMO
We explored male professional rugby union players' experiences and perceptions of their mental and physical health and well-being across the northern hemisphere off-season. 34 professional male rugby union players participated in individual semistructured interviews (mean (SD) age=27.5 (4.3) years). Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. The off-season was characterised by three phases players undergo to preserve their mental and physical health and well-being to recover from the previous season and regenerate in preparation for the upcoming season. These included decompression from previous season, cognitive detachment from the rugby environment and preparation for preseason. Successful progression through all three phases was influenced by several variables (work and life demands, contextual factors, experience level). Recovery and regeneration strategies focused on physical distancing/getting away from the rugby environment to cognitively detach. Injured players appear an at-risk subgroup for threats to mental well-being (isolation, anxiety, reduced sense of achievement) as a result of reduced or minimal time away from the workplace due to treatment obligations. Younger professionals are a subgroup at risk of overtraining/injury due to inadequate rest, especially as this group are least likely to seek support/guidance. This study is the first investigation into male professional rugby union players' experiences and perceptions of their mental and physical health and well-being across the off-season period. It highlights the distinct phases players undertake to mentally recover and regenerate and the need to consider education and support for potential at risk subgroups.
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This study addressed whether lifetime stressor exposure was associated with psychophysiological reactivity and habituation to a novel laboratory-based stressor. Eighty-six participants (Mage = 23.31 years, SD = 4.94) reported their exposure to lifetime non-sport and sport-specific stressors before completing two consecutive trials of the Trier Social Stress Test, while cardiovascular (i.e., heart rate) and endocrine (i.e., salivary cortisol) data were recorded. Exposure to a moderate number of lifetime non-sport and sport-specific stressors was associated with adaptive cardiovascular reactivity, whereas very low or very high stressor exposure was related to maladaptive reactivity. Moreover, experiencing a very low number of lifetime non-sport (but not sport-specific) stressors was associated with poorer habituation. In contrast, lifetime stressor severity was unrelated to cardiovascular reactivity. Finally, greater lifetime non-sport and sport-specific stressor counts were associated with blunted cortisol reactivity and poorer habituation. These results suggest that lifetime stressor exposure may influence sport performers' acute stress responses.
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Habituação Psicofisiológica , Esportes , Humanos , Hidrocortisona , Frequência CardíacaRESUMO
Choosing the 'right' research method is always an important decision. It affects the type of study questions that can be answered. In addition, the research method will have an impact on the participants - how much of their time it takes, whether the questions seem important to them and whether there is any benefit in taking part. This is especially important when conducting research with staff in health services. This article is a reflection on the process of using Appreciative Inquiry (AI) in a study that explored staff wellbeing in a UK maternity unit. We share our key learnings to help others decide if AI will fit their research aims, as well as highlight issues in its design and conduct. We discuss our experience of using AI,the strengths and limitations of this approach, and conclude with points to consider if you are thinking about using AI. Although a study team was actively involved in decisions, this paper is largely based on reflections by the first author, the researcher conducting the field work in the maternity services.
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This study examined the effect of slow diaphragmatic breathing on psychophysiological stress responses and pressurized performance. Sixty-seven participants (40 female; Mage = 20.17 ± 2.77 years) were randomly assigned to either a diaphragmatic-breathing, paced-breathing, or control group. Participants completed a nonpressurized shooting task and then received instructions about a pressurized version. Next, the diaphragmatic group was told to breathe at 6 breaths/min, the paced group at 12 breaths/min, and the control group received no instructions. Following a 5-min intervention period, participants completed the pressurized task while performance was assessed. Psychophysiological stress responses (e.g., cognitive anxiety, heart rate) were recorded throughout. Results revealed that diaphragmatic breathing had mixed effects on stress responses, with some unaffected (e.g., heart rate) and others reduced (e.g., cognitive anxiety), and little effect on performance. Findings suggested that slow diaphragmatic breathing might not aid pressurized performance but could benefit psychological stress responses.
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Estresse Psicológico , Feminino , Frequência Cardíaca/fisiologia , HumanosRESUMO
It is not yet fully understood how alliance, cohesion, and climate differentially correlate with client outcome in group therapy, especially when assessed simultaneously. This study aims to elucidate these relationships through an archival analysis of continuous Group Questionnaire (GQ) and Outcome Questionnaire-45 (OQ-45) data from 412 group therapy clients at college counseling centers, which were originally collected by Burlingame, Whitcomb, et al. (2018). We predicted that alliance, cohesion, and climate would each correlate with improvements in outcome and, further, that they would have similar relationships with change in outcome. Results indicate that greater alliance, cohesion, and climate are individually associated with lower distress. This relationship was significant regarding session-to-session fluctuations on individual client scores (p < .01), as well as regarding differences between clients in their personal averages across sessions (p < .01). However, when linear growth trajectories were considered, only alliance was significantly associated with improvement (p < .05). In other words, alliance, climate, and cohesion all correlate with outcome when time is ignored; however, alliance alone significantly correlates with outcome when change over time is taken into account. This study highlights the importance of the client-therapist relationship, emphasizing how alliance is significantly related to change in group therapy. Thus, therapists should prioritize a strong bond with clients. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).
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Relações Profissional-Paciente , Psicoterapia de Grupo , Aconselhamento , Humanos , Inquéritos e Questionários , UniversidadesRESUMO
The macroevolutionary consequences of evolving in the deep-sea remain poorly understood and are compounded by the fact that convergent adaptations for living in this environment makes elucidating phylogenetic relationships difficult. Lophiiform anglerfishes exhibit extreme habitat and predatory specializations, including the use of a fin-spine system as a luring device and unique reproductive strategies where parasitic males attach and fuse to females. Despite their notoriety for these odd characteristics, evolutionary relationships among these fishes remain unclear. We sought to clarify the evolutionary history of Lophiiformes using data from 1000 ultraconserved elements and phylogenomic inference methods with particular interest paid to the Ceratioidei (deep-sea anglerfishes) and Antennarioidei (frogfishes and handfishes). At the suborder level, we recovered similar topologies in separate phylogenomic analyses: The Lophioidei (monkfishes) are the sister group to the rest of the Lophiiformes, Ogcocephaloidei (batfishes) and Antennarioidei (frogfishes) form a sister group, and Chaunacioidei (coffinfishes) and Ceratioidei (deep-sea anglerfishes) form a clade. The relationships we recover within the ceratioids disagree with most previous phylogenetic investigations, which used legacy phylogenetic markers or morphology. We recovered non-monophyletic relationships in the Antennarioidei and proposed three new families based on molecular and morphological evidence: Histiophrynidae, Rhycheridae, and Tathicarpidae. Antennariidae was re-evaluated to include what was known as Antennariinae, but not Histiophryninae. Non-bifurcating signal in splits network analysis indicated reticulations among and within suborders, supporting the complicated history of the Lophiiformes previously found with morphological data. Although we resolve relationships within Antennarioidei, Ceratioidei relationships remain somewhat unclear without better taxonomic sampling.
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Evolução Biológica , Peixes , Animais , Ecossistema , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Filogenia , Comportamento PredatórioRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: Work has emerged that suggests it is salient and feasible to include a chronological approach to the taxonomy of stress. The ability to make an explicit distinction between ancient stressors (AS) and modern stressors (MS) has been reported in young and older adults; AS have been associated with greater ability to cope and MS with poorer health outcomes. Whether these explicit distinctions exist at an implicit, unconscious level, has yet to be determined. DESIGN: A quantitative design employed a computer-based Implicit Association Test (IAT) to examine implicit associations between AS/MS and coping appraisal. METHODS: One hundred adults (75 females) aged 18-58 years (M = 28.27 years, SD = 10.02) completed the AS/MS IAT, to compare reaction time (RT) and accuracy between consistent pairs (AS/ability to cope; MS/inability to cope) and inconsistent pair responses (AS/inability to cope; MS/ability to cope); followed by an explicit self-report questionnaire. RESULTS: Repeated measures ANCOVAs, controlling for sex and age, revealed significant main effects of faster RT and higher accuracy in responses for consistent than inconsistent pairs. Adult participants made implicit associations indicating an unconscious AS and MS distinction. Using the D algorithm, a univariate ANCOVA and independent t-tests found that males, compared to females, showed a stronger implicit preference for consistent than inconsistent pairs. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest an implicit association between ancient and modern stressors and perceived coping ability. Utilizing a chronological taxonomy for understanding evolutionary origins that drive individual's responses to stress has implications for developing effective coping strategies to improve health outcomes.
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Adaptação Psicológica , Idoso , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Tempo de Reação , Autorrelato , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
The course-based research experience (CRE) with its documented educational benefits is increasingly being implemented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education. This article reports on a study that was done over a period of 3 years to explicate the instructional processes involved in teaching an undergraduate CRE. One hundred and two instructors from the established and large multi-institutional SEA-PHAGES program were surveyed for their understanding of the aims and practices of CRE teaching. This was followed by large-scale feedback sessions with the cohort of instructors at the annual SEA Faculty Meeting and subsequently with a small focus group of expert CRE instructors. Using a qualitative content analysis approach, the survey data were analyzed for the aims of inquiry instruction and pedagogical practices used to achieve these goals. The results characterize CRE inquiry teaching as involving three instructional models: 1) being a scientist and generating data; 2) teaching procedural knowledge; and 3) fostering project ownership. Each of these models is explicated and visualized in terms of the specific pedagogical practices and their relationships. The models present a complex picture of the ways in which CRE instruction is conducted on a daily basis and can inform instructors and institutions new to CRE teaching.
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Modelos Educacionais , Estudantes , Engenharia , Docentes , Humanos , Matemática , EnsinoRESUMO
PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE: The objective of this cross-sectional study was to assess how psychosocial variables predict U.K. military veterans' level of engagement in bespoke recovery pathways (Aim 1) and a sports-specific recovery pathway (Aim 2). A further purpose of this study was to test whether predictor variables indirectly predict outcome variables of physical health (Aim 3), mental health (Aim 4), and subjective vitality (Aim 5), when mediated through level of engagement with all recovery pathways and the sport recovery pathway. Research Method/Design: A cross-sectional battery of questionnaires were completed by 514 military veterans who had been enrolled in Help for Heroes recovery pathways (e.g., sports recovery pathway) from 3 months to 10 years. Data were analyzed by multinomial logistic and multiple linear regressions and mediation analyses using the PROCESS SPSS macro. RESULTS: Engagement in all recovery pathways (i.e., frequency and duration of attendance) was predicted by basic psychological needs frustration and perceived social support (Nagelkerke R² = .16). Sport-related social support (p < .05) and competence satisfaction (p < .001) were directly positively associated with mental health, and competence satisfaction with physical health (p < .001) and well-being (p < .001) on the sport recovery pathway. While perceived stress was directly negatively associated with mental health and well-being (p < .001). Mediation analyses revealed no significant, indirect effects of psychosocial variables on health and wellbeing through level of engagement. CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS: In sum, engagement in recovery pathways does not mediate the effects of psychosocial variables on veterans' health and well-being. Perceived social support, satisfaction of veterans' needs, and perceived stress were better predictors of health and well-being outcomes and should be an important focus of future research and recovery. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).
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Veteranos , Estudos Transversais , Humanos , Saúde Mental , Apoio Social , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
Research has found that greater lifetime stressor exposure increases the risk for mental and physical health problems. Despite this, few studies have examined how stressors occurring over the entire lifespan affect sport performers' health, well-being, and performance, partly due to the difficulty of assessing lifetime stressor exposure. To address this issue, we developed a sport-specific stress assessment module (Sport SAM) for the Stress and Adversity Inventory (STRAIN) and then analyzed the instrument's usability, acceptability, validity, and test-retest reliability. Furthermore, we examined whether trait-like tendencies to appraise stressful situations as a challenge or threat mediated the association between lifetime stressor exposure and health, well-being, and performance. Participants were 395 sport performers (Mage = 22.50 years, SD = 5.33) who completed an online survey. Results revealed that the Sport SAM demonstrated good usability and acceptability, good concurrent validity in relation to the Adult STRAIN (rs = 0.23 to 0.29), and very good test-retest reliability (r icc = 0.87 to 0.89). Furthermore, the Sport SAM was significantly associated with symptoms of depression (ß = 0.21 to 0.24, ps ≤ .001) and anxiety (ß = 0.13 to 0.19, ps ≤ .012), and general physical (ß = 0.24 to 0.27, ps = ≤ 0.001) and mental (ß = 0.23 to 0.32, p ≤ .001) health complaints. Finally, we found that associations between total lifetime non-sport and sport-specific stressor severity and health were mediated by trait stress appraisals. Consequently, these findings may help practitioners better identify sport performers who are at risk of developing stress-related health problems.
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A novel conceptualisation of stress includes a distinction between ancient (AS) and modern stressors (MS); the notion that established adaptive psychophysiological coping processes may enable individuals to better withstand AS than MS. Two consecutive mixed-methods studies assessed the feasibility of distinguishing between AS and MS in young and older adults, using questionnaires and interviews. MS were positively associated with cold symptoms in older adults; and five psychosocial characteristics were identified to profile AS and MS along a continuum. An evolutionary distinction between AS and MS provides an important psychological dimension in better understanding and assessing stress-health processes.