Mediating Role of Resilience and its Impact on Psychological Well-Being, and Mental Distress among Mental health Nurses.

Introduction: Mental health nurses (MHNs) are categorized as demanding specialists with high levels of stress, and their career is recognized as a high-risk career. Objective: The study aims to assess the relationships between psychological well-being (PWB), mental distress, and resilience among MHNs. Also, it aims to identify the significant predictors of the psychologic well-being of MHNs. Methods: The study utilized a cross-sectional survey design with a random sample of 250 MHNs who were requested to complete DASS 21, Ryff's scale of PWB and Connor Davidson's resilience scale. Results: The results revealed that two-thirds of nurses reported either a severe or extreme level of stress (n = 166, 66%), and more than half experienced a severe to extreme level of anxiety (n = 140, 56%). Approximately 25% of MHNs reported a severe to extreme level of depression (n = 62, 25%). The results also indicated that there is a statistically significant negative relationship between PWB subscales and DASS 21. The results indicate that the depression subscale is significantly varied based on the demographic characteristics of nurses. Similarly, this is the case for the anxiety and stress subscales. Conclusion: The study showed that MHNs' resilience intervenes with perceived mental distress. Enhancing MHNs resilience would improve PWB and mental health. The study results conclude that MHNs with a high level of resilience reported lower mental distress and a better working environment. Thus, MHNs should be introduced to crisis intervention in order to improve resilience levels.

Evaluation of Mental Health and Well-Being Among Kansas Pharmacists Post-COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background COVID-19 has profoundly affected pharmacists, causing burnout from heavier workloads, personal stressors, and disrupted healthcare delivery. Research on pharmacists' mental health during the pandemic, especially in rural areas like Kansas, remains limited. Objectives This study aimed to understand perceptions, experiences, and impacts on the mental, emotional, and psychological well-being of active Kansas pharmacists during the COVID-19 pandemic, including evaluating workplace modifications on mental health. Methods Kansas licensed pharmacists were recruited via email distributions through five Kansas pharmacy organizations and informal referrals among colleagues. After consenting, respondents completed a 15-minute, 28-question survey via Qualtrics. The survey included 11 questions concerning demographics and employment characteristics, along with 17 questions designed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on mental health, structured according to existing literature. Participation was uncompensated, and incomplete surveys were omitted from the analysis. Results One hundred and seven respondents (83.59% completion) represented 3.25% of Kansas's 3,290 pharmacists. They were aged 26-66 (M=38.7), the majority female (72.57%) and white (84.84%), with 14.24 years average practice duration (SD=10.94). Data covered 12 rural and 11 urban counties, with 50.91% staff pharmacists and 22.73% pharmacy managers. Many worked over 40 hours weekly in 13 settings. Findings showed increased workload (24.68%), medication shortages (24.03%), and burnout (24.32%) affecting job considerations. Workplace changes impacted personal mental health, with the main stressors being work-related factors (19.21%), social distancing (18.95%), and health concerns (12.63%). Conclusion This study underscores the pandemic's profound toll on Kansas pharmacists' mental, emotional, and physical health, leading to burnout, job dissatisfaction, and decreased effectiveness. It emphasizes the urgency of organizational interventions.

Psychological well-being modulates neural synchrony during naturalistic fMRI.

Psychological well-being (PWB) is a combination of feeling good and functioning efficiently and has a significant relationship with physical and mental health. Previous research has shown that PWB is associated with improvements in selective attention, mindfulness, semantic self-images, and adaptive decision making, however, it is unclear how these differences manifest in the brain. Naturalistic stimuli better encapsulate everyday experiences and can elicit more "true-to-life" neural responses. The current study seeks to identify how differing levels of PWB modulate neural synchrony in response to an audiovisual film. With consideration of the inherent variability of the literature, we aim to ascertain the validity of the regions previously mentioned and their association with PWB. We identified that higher levels of PWB were associated with heightened stimulus driven neural synchrony in the bilateral superior parietal lobule, right planum temporale, and left superior temporal gyrus, and that lower levels of PWB were associated with heightened neural synchrony in the bilateral lateral occipital cortex and precuneus. Taken together, this research suggests that there is an association between differing levels of PWB and differential neural synchrony during movie-watching. PWB may therefore have an effect on complex, multimodal processing.

A qualitative study of a Sporting Memories program in South Australia: belonging, participation, and social connection.

Background: Older people can experience health and social challenges such as loneliness, depression, and lack of social connectedness. There is need for programs and approaches that address the growing incidence of social isolation and loneliness for older people. One initiative that aims to address these challenges is the Sporting Memories program. This program was developed in the United Kingdom and licensed to South Australia in 2019. The program is currently delivered across six community locations. Methods: The aim of this study was to explore participants perspectives of the Sporting Memories program in South Australia. Underpinned by qualitative research, three focus groups were conducted, led by an experienced interviewer. Focus groups occurred at three of the six locations, including a day respite center, assisted living center and a government community center. The data were analyzed thematically by the research team. Results: There were 16 participants over 65 years old, including four women and 12 men. Three key themes were developed: "free to talk about anything," "not feeling left out" and "a chance to share and learn." Collectively, participants reflected on how they built social connections, felt safe and included and learnt more about each other. Conclusion: The Sporting Memories program provides a group program for older people to come together and develop new friendships. The use of sports as a means of reminiscence was considered relatable for the participants who reported social benefits and plans to keep attending. They valued learning through the program which was enhanced by having a facilitator who was knowledgeable about sport.

The impact of surgical intervention on religious coping, psychological well-being, and pain levels in older adult patients: A quasi-experimental study.

AIM: This study aimed to determine the impact of surgical intervention on religious coping, psychological well-being, and pain levels in older adult patients. METHOD: The data of the study, which used a one-group pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design without a control group, was collected between July 1, 2023, - January 30, 2024. Data collection involved the use of a Personal Information Form, the Religious Coping Scale, the Psychological Well-Being Scale, and the Visual Analog Scale. RESULTS: The results revealed a significant increase in psychological well-being and positive religious coping after surgical intervention compared to presurgical levels (p < 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that male gender, younger age, enhanced psychological well-being, and positive religious coping were identified as factors contributing to a reduction in postsurgical pain levels. CONCLUSION: The study's results indicate that surgical intervention serves as a significant variable influencing psychological well-being and religious coping among older adult patients.

Body fat and muscularity dissatisfaction are not prospectively associated with psychological wellbeing among sexual minority men: A case for separating within- and between-person variation in examinations of body image phenomena and their outcomes.

Extensive cross-sectional research reports that body fat and muscularity dissatisfaction contribute to negative psychological outcomes among sexual minority men; however, longitudinal models are necessary for accurately quantifying the strength and direction of these relationships. We investigated the bidirectional longitudinal relationships of body fat and muscularity dissatisfaction with psychological quality of life among 2953 sexual minority men using random intercept cross-lagged panel models. Consistent with existing literature, we found that higher average muscularity and body fat dissatisfaction were associated with higher average psychological quality of life impairment between-persons. Unexpectedly, these constructs were not significantly associated within-persons/longitudinally. These findings conflict existing literature's conclusions that muscularity and body fat dissatisfaction consistently contribute to poorer psychological wellbeing in this population. A significant between-person relationship in the absence of within-person relationships suggests that intermediary constructs (e.g., body ideal internalization) may account for the between-person effects of muscularity and body fat dissatisfaction on psychological wellbeing. Future research can accurately estimate these effects and identify reliable intervention targets by ensuring that within- and between-person relationships are examined separately, rather than being conflated.

Developing an Automated Virtual Reality Therapy for Improving Positive Self-Beliefs and Psychological Well-Being (Phoenix VR Self-Confidence Therapy): Tutorial.

Unlabelled: Virtual reality (VR) is an immersive technology in which delivery of psychological therapy techniques can be automated. Techniques can be implemented similarly to real-world delivery or in ways that are not possible in the real world to enhance efficacy. The potential is for greater access for patients to effective therapy. Despite an increase in the use of VR for mental health, there are few descriptions of how to build and design automated VR therapies. We describe the development of Phoenix VR Self-Confidence Therapy, designed to increase positive self-beliefs in young patients diagnosed with psychosis in order to improve psychological well-being. A double-diamond, user-centered design process conducted over the course of 18 months was used, involving stakeholders from multiple areas: individuals with lived experience of psychosis, clinical psychologists, treatment designers, and VR software developers. Thirteen meetings were held with young patients diagnosed with psychosis to increase the understanding and improve the assessment of positive self-beliefs, help design the scenarios for implementing therapeutic techniques, and conduct user testing. The resulting Phoenix therapy is a class I United Kingdom Conformity Assessed (UKCA)-certified medical device designed to be used on the standalone Meta Quest 2 (Meta Platforms) headset. Phoenix aims to build up 3 types of positive self-beliefs that are connected to psychological well-being. In a community farm area, tasks are designed to increase a sense of mastery and achievement ("I can make a difference"); in a TV studio, users complete an activity with graded levels of difficulty to promote success in the face of a challenge ("I can do this"); and in a forest by a lake, activities are designed to encourage feelings of pleasure and enjoyment ("I can enjoy things"). Phoenix is delivered over the course of approximately 6 weekly sessions supported by a mental health provider. Patients can take the headsets home to use in between sessions. Usability testing with individuals with lived experience of psychosis, as well as patients in the National Health Service (aged 16-26 years), demonstrated that Phoenix is engaging, easy to use, and has high levels of satisfaction.

The moderating effect of perceived hope in the relationship between anxiety and posttraumatic growth during the Russian-Ukrainian war.

Introduction: This study examines the relationships between perceived hope, posttraumatic growth, well-being, anxiety, and perceived threat of the Russian-Ukrainian War (RUW) in the Czech adult population. Drawing on the evidence of posttraumatic growth (PTG) amidst crisis, we hypothesized that perceived hope moderates the effects of perceived threat of war and anxiety on PTG. Methods: Data were obtained from 1,000 Czech respondents via an online questionnaire ten months post-invasion. The form included measures of posttraumatic growth, perceived hope, well-being, anxiety and depression, and perceived threat of war. Results: Our findings reveal that perceived hope acted as a moderator enhancing the positive effects of perceived threat and anxiety on PTG. However, perceived hope did not significantly moderate the direct effects of perceived threats and anxiety on well-being. Discussion: This study highlights the significant role of hope amidst adversity and underscores its potential as a target for interventions aiming to foster PTG in populations who navigate traumatic experiences. Furthermore, it advocates for continued exploration of the factors interacting to enhance well-being and facilitate PTG in affected communities.

Bibliometric analysis of quality of life in implant-based breast reconstruction.

Background: Implant-based breast reconstruction (IBR), following mastectomy, significantly impacts patients' quality of life (QoL), necessitating accurate measurement through psychometrically robust patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) tools. This bibliometric analysis aims to discern trends, identify gaps, and evaluate the use of such tools in the IBR literature. Methods: The 100 most cited publications regarding QoL in implant-based reconstruction were identified on Web of Science, across all available journal years (from 1977 to 2024) on 10 March 2024. Study details, including the citation count, main content focus, outcome measures, and usage of psychological questionnaires, were extracted and tabulated from each publication. The Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (OCEBM) levels of evidence (LOE) of each study were assessed. Results: The 100 most cited publications on QoL in implant-based reconstruction were identified, encompassing 64,192 patients and 28,114 reconstructed breasts. Citations per publication ranged from 62 to 457 (mean, 124.95 ± 73.05), with the highest-cited study being authored by Al-Ghazal (n = 457). The vast majority of publications were LOE II (n = 52), representative of prospective cohort studies, systematic reviews of non-randomised studies, and systematic review and meta-analysis. The number of publications for LOE V, IV, III, and I was 0, 7, 41, and 0, respectively. The main content focus was "quality of life" in 83 publications, with significant utilisation of the BREAST-Q questionnaire. A total of 80 publications used validated questionnaires with psychometric development. Conclusions: This analysis demonstrates that the research methodologies within IBR mostly consist of moderate-quality publications; however, notably, there was a lack of LOE I studies, underscoring a gap in high-quality research within the field. Moreover, only 62/100 used validated PROM tools. Future IBR research studies should be focussed on most robust methodologies, incorporating validated PROM tools, to optimise shared-decision making and informed consent.

Focusing with colorectal cancer patients: a pilot study of a brief online group intervention.

Introduction: Focusing-Oriented Psychotherapy has had a long history and influence on the field of psychotherapy. By "clearing a space" and "focusing," individuals can enhance their emotional awareness and improve their ability to self-regulate. These tasks are particularly relevant in the context of Psycho-Oncology, although the research on their potential benefits for cancer patients is limited. Furthermore, the application of these tasks in a group or online setting has not been thoroughly explored. Methods: This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a two-session online intervention based on Focusing for cancer-diagnosed participants and its impact on their mental health and wellbeing. The study involved three participants with a diagnosis of colorectal cancer who were undergoing palliative treatment. We used both qualitative and quantitative methods. PFC-2 was used to assess participants' accomplishment of the task; FMS was used to assess the change in the focusing attitude, while CORE-OM, and PWBS-RV were used as mental health distress and psychological wellbeing measures; participant feedback was collected through questionnaires and a semi-structured interview. Results: The results suggest that the tasks led to greater self-awareness, heightened self-reflection, and a sense of relief for the participants. Discussion: These findings suggest that the group intervention protocol based on online Focusing sessions is potentially useful for broader applications.

Investigating adolescent psychological wellbeing in an educational context using PISA 2018 Canadian data.

Introduction: Adolescent psychological wellbeing has been identified as an important public health priority and one of the major challenges facing young people. However, few studies have examined the wellbeing of Canadian adolescents nationwide in the past decade, and even fewer have focused specifically on immigrant adolescents. This study aims to investigate Canadian adolescent psychological wellbeing (PWB) via nationally representative data from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2018. We explored what social and educational factors were critical in predicting Canadian adolescents' PWB, how adolescents from immigrant families differed from their non-immigrant peers in their wellbeing, and how adolescents' PWB was related to their academic performance. Methods: A total of 22,651 Grade 8 Canadian students who participated PISA 2018 were included in this study (mean age of 15; 49.9% female; 26% immigrant students). Mixed effects modeling was adopted for data analysis. Results: Our results showed that various social and educational factors were associated with adolescent PWB, but these relationships varied depending on which aspect of PWB was examined. Immigrant adolescents were shown to have higher levels of PWB when student attitudes toward immigrants were more positive. Additionally, most aspects of PWB were important for achievement performance. Discussion: It is important to develop healthy and supportive school and disciplinary climates that foster students' sense of belonging. To further support the PWB of immigrant adolescents, educators can implement activities and integrate learning materials on cultural diversity into curricula, encouraging students to develop positive attitudes toward immigrants. Our findings on the PWB of Canadian adolescents could provide valuable insights for other countries with diverse populations, particularly those with significant immigrant communities.

Teachers and Counselors Talk: The Psychological Impact of COVID-19 School Closures on Secondary School Students.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted students' education, mental health, and social well-being. Our research explores the experiences and perceptions of teachers and counselors of the psychological impact of COVID-19 school closures on secondary school students after returning to school. METHODS: In this qualitative study, 21 teachers and counselors in Iran were purposefully involved and interviewed in-depth using a semi-structured format. The data was analyzed using Van Manen's 6-step phenomenological method, and Lincoln and Guba's criteria were implemented to maintain accuracy and trustworthiness. RESULTS: We have identified 15 categories and 6 themes. These themes encompass issues such as low self-esteem due to emotional or psychological damage, instability within schools, challenges faced by students with family problems, lack of motivation and patience among students, frustration experienced by students, and emotional detachment. IMPLICATIONS FOR SCHOOL HEALTH POLICY, PRACTICE, AND EQUITY: To effectively guide and educate students, teachers and counselors must prioritize the psychological well-being of students absent from school due to illness or pandemics. They must also take adequate measures to address any arising psychological complications. CONCLUSION: Teachers and counselors must recognize and consider the psychological consequences of students absent; this will help develop effective measures to address and alleviate psychological complications.

Longitudinal changes in coping strategies across midlife and older adulthood: findings from the midlife in the United States study.

OBJECTIVES: Most studies examining age differences in coping across adulthood come from cross-sectional studies and focus on the broader categories of problem- and emotion-focused coping. We aimed to establish a factor structure for coping items used in a national, longitudinal study of aging (MIDUS) and examine age patterns in coping strategies over 10 years. METHOD: We performed exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, and factorial invariance testing. Next we conducted a series of multilevel models for each coping factor with participants from waves II and III of the MIDUS study (N = 2,661, Mage = 55, 58% women, 84% White). RESULTS: We found a four-factor solution: instrumental action; denial/disengagement; positive reappraisal; focus and venting of emotions. Invariance was established across time and age. At baseline, age was positively associated with the use of three strategies, though younger adults used more focus and venting of emotions. There was an overall decrease over 10 years in use of all strategies, which was moderated by age. Positive reappraisal declined more steeply among midlife participants, whereas the remaining strategies declined more for older participants. CONCLUSION: Results highlight the multi-dimensionality of MIDUS coping items and underscores the import of age in understanding changes in coping across midlife and older adulthood.

Mitigating the effect of COVID-19 in a postemergency phase: The role of sense of community and individual resilience.

To identify and confirm patterns of relationships connecting sense of community (SOC) and individual resilience with psychological well-being, via the mediation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) impacts on life domains. An online survey was conducted with a sample of adults (n = 650) 1 year after the COVID-19 outbreak in Italy and the United States (April-December 2021). Utilizing a Structural Equation Model, we tested a mediation model (n = 563) to identify the associations between SOC and individual resilience and the perceived impacts of the emergency situation and psychological well-being. Results revealed that during the crisis, SOC had an influence on psychological well-being, but only by mediating the effects of COVID-19 impacts on life domains. Independently, individual resilience had a direct influence on psychological well-being. The findings support the importance of the interaction of individual and collective variables that played different roles at different phases of the pandemic. The findings suggest for possible interventions to enhance well-being during crises.

Enhancing Job Performance: The Critical Roles of Well-Being, Satisfaction, and Trust in Supervisor.

This empirical study investigated the associations between psychological well-being, job satisfaction, trust in supervisor, and job performance. Data were collected from 277 company employees in Bahrain through online questionnaires and analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). The purpose of the study is to examine the relationships between psychological well-being, job satisfaction, trust in supervisor, and job performance through the use of a theoretical framework that synthesizes prominent models in the field of organizational psychology. The research findings indicate a positive influence of psychological well-being on both job satisfaction and job performance. Notably, job satisfaction plays a mediating role in the relationship between psychological well-being and job performance. The study contributes to the existing body of knowledge by offering an integrated approach to examining the intricate connections between psychological well-being, job satisfaction, trust in supervisor, and job performance, which all are crucial for creating a sustainable workplace environment and outcomes. Practical implications highlight the need for organizations to prioritize employee psychological well-being through initiatives such as wellness programs and supportive work environments, as these initiatives directly influence job satisfaction and performance. Job satisfaction acts as a significant mediator, emphasizing the importance of fair compensation, recognition, and professional development in enhancing job satisfaction.

Physical Activity and Subjective Vitality in Female University Students: The Mediating Role of Decisional Balance and Enjoyment of the Activity.

Regular physical activity (PA) improves the psychological well-being of those who practice it. However, female university students are a risk group due to their low level of PA. Based on the transtheoretical model of behavioural change, the main aim of this study was to examine whether the relationship between PA and subjective vitality was mediated by cognitive-emotional variables such as decisional balance (perceived benefits and barriers) and enjoyment associated with PA in a group of female university students. Participants were asked to complete self-administered questionnaires, which were available for one month via a Google Form. The results showed the existence of a statistically significant, relative, and indirect effect between the stage of change and subjective vitality via both mediating variables. Compared to females in the pre-contemplation stage, those in the action and maintenance stages achieved higher subjective vitality scores as a result of the effect of being in a more advanced stage on decisional balance and enjoyment of PA. It is concluded that female university students who reported regular PA found the activity to be more revitalising, stimulating, and exciting; all positive feelings and cognitions that translated into a more energetic and vital perception of themselves.

Strengthening psychological well-being of Indonesian females with breast cancer through the religious-based caring program: A quasi-experimental study among Muslim population.

Background: Breast cancer presents significant psychological challenges along with physical health concerns, particularly in settings where cultural and spiritual values play a critical role in patient care. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of a religious caring program on the psychological well-being of Indonesian females with breast cancer. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest and posttest control group design, conducted from January to July 2019 at a chemotherapy unit in Bandung, Indonesia. The patients with breast cancer were assigned to the experimental group (n = 55) and the control group (n = 57). Data were collected using the Psychological Well-Being Scale before and three weeks after the intervention. The data were analyzed using independent t-test and ANCOVA (Analysis of Covariance). Results: There was a significant improvement in the mean psychological well-being score in the experimental group following the intervention compared to the control group, with the experimental group showing a significantly higher mean score (Cohen's d = 1.4548, p <0.001). None of the covariates significantly affected psychological well-being among the experimental group (p >0.05). Conclusion: These results indicate that a religion-based caring program enhances psychological well-being. Thus, the program was effective and particularly well-suited for clinical nurses, suggesting that it should be recommended for Indonesian females with breast cancer to promote their recovery.

Quality of Life and Exercise Capacity in Early Stage and Subclinical Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A Secondary Analysis of the VANISH Trial.

BACKGROUND: The health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) performance of individuals with subclinical and early stage hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) have not been systematically studied. Improved understanding will inform the natural history of HCM and factors influencing well-being. METHODS: VANISH trial (Valsartan for Attenuating Disease Evolution in Early Sarcomeric HCM) participants with early stage sarcomeric HCM (primary analysis cohort) and subclinical HCM (sarcomere variant without left ventricular hypertrophy comprising the exploratory cohort) who completed baseline and year 2 HRQOL assessment via the pediatric quality of life inventory and CPET were studied. Metrics correlating with baseline HRQOL and CPET performance were identified. The impact of valsartan treatment on these measures was analyzed in the early stage cohort. RESULTS: Two hundred participants were included: 166 with early stage HCM (mean age, 23±10 years; 40% female; 97% White; and 92% New York Heart Association class I) and 34 subclinical sarcomere variant carriers (mean age, 16±5 years; 50% female; and 100% White). Baseline HRQOL was good in both cohorts, although slightly better in subclinical HCM (composite pediatric quality of life score 84.6±10.6 versus 90.2±9.8; P=0.005). Both cohorts demonstrated mildly reduced functional status (mean percent predicted peak oxygen uptake 73±16 versus 78±12 mL/kg per minute; P=0.18). Percent predicted peak oxygen uptake and peak oxygen pulse correlated with HRQOL. Valsartan improved physical HRQOL in early stage HCM (adjusted mean change in pediatric quality of life score +4.1 versus placebo; P=0.01) but did not significantly impact CPET performance. CONCLUSIONS: Functional capacity can be impaired in young, healthy people with early stage HCM, despite New York Heart Association class I status and good HRQOL. Peak oxygen uptake was similarly decreased in subclinical HCM despite normal left ventricular wall thickness and excellent HRQOL. Valsartan improved physical pediatric quality of life scores but did not significantly impact CPET performance. Further studies are needed for validation and to understand how to improve patient experience. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT01912534.

Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress and Mental Health in a Sample of University Students: The Mediating Role of Resilience and Psychological Well-Being.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been one of the most stressful events in recent times across the world. The long-term effect of these experiences raises several concerns, including the development of post-traumatic stress symptomatology. However, little is known about the psychological processes that mediate this association. The aim of this study was to explore the association of emotional exhaustion and anxiety in post-traumatic stress symptomatology, and the mediating role of resilience and psychological well-being in university students. A total of 526 university students of both sexes participated in this study, and they were aged between 17 and 62 years old. Symptoms of anxiety and emotional exhaustion were significantly higher in females, in contrast, males showed on average more resilience and psychological well-being. Additionally, participants with COVID-19 infection had higher levels of emotional exhaustion, anxiety, and PTSD. The results indicated that the variables were correlated with each other (p < 0.001). A conceptual model was confirmed that describes anxiety and emotional exhaustion as predictors, post-traumatic stress symptomatology as an outcome variable, and resilience and psychological well-being as mediators. Resilience and psychological well-being can be important protective factors for adaptive responses in stressful situations. The findings obtained in this study will provide a theoretical basis for designing targeted interventions to improve psychological health, whether for crisis intervention, the process of adapting to higher education, or for recovery plans from psychological trauma.

Psychological wellbeing of Italian students and clinical assessment tools at university counseling services during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic brought about unprecedented problems for contemporary society. Among the numerous challenges faced following the spread of the virus, the need to provide assessment tools and remote psychological assistance certainly deserves particular attention. Indeed, this profound paradigm shift in psychological assessment and care occurred during a period of fragility for people already suffering from the restrictions imposed to stem the spread of the virus. One population particularly affected by the pandemic was students, including university students. The latter faced the pandemic in a particularly critical formative period. Methods: For these reasons, our systematic review has two main objectives: (i) identify the assessment tools and psychological dimensions most used/investigated during the pandemic in Italian university students; (ii) systematize and deepen our knowledge about the impact of the pandemic on the psychological wellbeing of Italian university students. Our search used PRISMA 2020 guidelines on Web of Science, Pubmed, Scopus, and EBSCOHost. Results: The results indicated that the psychological dimensions most investigated in university students during the pandemic were anxiety and depression. At the same time, the most used assessment instruments were the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-Y) and the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). Furthermore, it is clear from the results that the pandemic has harmed the psychological wellbeing of university students. Finally, we dedicated a section to discuss the interventions implemented by university counseling services during the pandemic. Discussion: This review could improve the work of university counseling services in this post-pandemic period and contribute to developing specific screening and assessment programs for future emergencies.