Social Representations and Symbolic Coping: A Cross-Cultural Discourse Analysis of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Newspapers.

This study used a framework grounded in social representations theory to investigate cross-cultural variation and consistency in the discursive construction of the COVID-19 pandemic by the mass media, in the week following WHO's declaration of a global pandemic in March 2020. News reports from media outlets in the United Kingdom and China were sourced, with articles from the most popular media sources selected for analysis. Four discourses were identified to be the most prominent representations present throughout these accounts: war; other illnesses; a general emergency; an unknown situation. The findings demonstrated consistency with past research, highlighting how the sociogenesis of social representations in the case of the COVID-19 pandemic followed a similar pattern to other novel infectious disease outbreaks. Consistency between UK and Chinese media accounts was identifiable throughout the construction of these discourses; however, variation was detectable regarding use of culturally relevant anchors for existing illness representations, along with Chinese media accounts constructing images of a comparatively optimistic local situation, whilst depicting the rest of the world as in the midst of a global emergency. Future research has the potential to build on these findings by going beyond media representations to explore actual lay population beliefs, attitudes, and opinions, considering how they compare to the representations portrayed in mass-mediated news reports.

Well-being, self-esteem and body satisfaction in new mothers.

BACKGROUND: How mother's recall their experience of childbirth, their concerns about body image, their sense of competence in parenting, and their combined sense of self-esteem are all factors with the potential to impact on mental well-being. METHOD: A total of 234 women, who had given birth within the past 3 years, completed a survey comprised of the Birth Memories and Recall Questionnaire, the Parenting Sense of Competence Scale, the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Questionnaire and the Body Shape Questionnaire. RESULTS: Mothers who have higher body dissatisfaction show significantly lower well-being, self-esteem and perceived parenting competence. Mothers who experienced higher levels of mental well-being were found to have higher levels of perceived parenting competence and self-esteem, and those who experienced higher levels of self-esteem were also found to have higher levels of perceived parenting competence. CONCLUSION: Memories of the birth experience, perceived postpartum body image, parenting sense of competence and self-esteem have a combined and complex relationship with mental well-being. Health care professionals should inform mothers about the body changes which may occur throughout the postpartum period, to encourage mothers not to be deceived by media images and to stress the importance of realistic expectations following giving birth.

Effects of maternal folic acid supplementation during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy on neurocognitive development in the child: an 11-year follow-up from a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Maternal folic acid (FA) supplementation before and in early pregnancy prevents neural tube defects (NTD), but it is uncertain whether continuing FA after the first trimester has benefits on offspring health. We aimed to evaluate the effect of FA supplementation throughout pregnancy on cognitive performance and brain function in the child. METHODS: Follow-up investigation of 11-year-old children, residing in Northern Ireland, whose mothers had participated in a randomised trial of Folic Acid Supplementation in the Second and Third Trimesters (FASSTT) in pregnancy and received 400 µg/day FA or placebo from the 14th gestational week. Cognitive performance (Full Scale Intelligence Quotient, Verbal Comprehension, Working Memory, Perceptual Reasoning, and Processing Speed) was assessed using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children. Neuronal function was assessed using magnetoencephalographic (MEG) brain imaging. RESULTS: Of 119 mother-child pairs in the FASSTT trial, 68 children were assessed for neurocognitive performance at 11-year follow-up (Dec 2017 to Nov 2018). Children of mothers randomised to FA compared with placebo scored significantly higher in two Processing Speed tests, i.e. symbol search (mean difference 2.9 points, 95% CI 0.3 to 5.5, p = 0.03) and cancellation (11.3 points, 2.5 to 20.1, p = 0.04), whereas the positive effect on Verbal Comprehension was significant in girls only (6.5 points, 1.2 to 11.8, p = 0.03). MEG assessment of neuronal responses to a language task showed increased power at the Beta (13-30 Hz, p = 0.01) and High Gamma (49-70 Hz, p = 0.04) bands in children from FA-supplemented mothers, suggesting more efficient semantic processing of language. CONCLUSIONS: Continued FA supplementation in pregnancy beyond the early period currently recommended to prevent NTD can benefit neurocognitive development of the child. MEG provides a non-invasive tool in paediatric research to objectively assess functional brain activity in response to nutrition and other interventions. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN ISRCTN19917787 . Registered on 15 May 2013.

Effect of continued folic acid supplementation beyond the first trimester of pregnancy on cognitive performance in the child: a follow-up study from a randomized controlled trial (FASSTT Offspring Trial).

BACKGROUND: Periconceptional folic acid prevents neural tube defects (NTDs), but it is uncertain whether there are benefits for offspring neurodevelopment arising from continued maternal folic acid supplementation beyond the first trimester. We investigated the effect of folic acid supplementation during trimesters 2 and 3 of pregnancy on cognitive performance in the child. METHODS: We followed up the children of mothers who had participated in a randomized controlled trial in 2006/2007 of Folic Acid Supplementation during the Second and Third Trimesters (FASSTT) and received 400 µg/d folic acid or placebo from the 14th gestational week until the end of pregnancy. Cognitive performance of children at 7 years was evaluated using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI-III) and at 3 years using the Bayley's Scale of Infant and Toddler Development (BSITD-III). RESULTS: From a total of 119 potential mother-child pairs, 70 children completed the assessment at age 7 years, and 39 at age 3 years. At 7 years, the children of folic acid treated mothers scored significantly higher than the placebo group in word reasoning: mean 13.3 (95% CI 12.4-14.2) versus 11.9 (95% CI 11.0-12.8); p = 0.027; at 3 years, they scored significantly higher in cognition: 10.3 (95% CI 9.3-11.3) versus 9.5 (95% CI 8.8-10.2); p = 0.040. At both time points, greater proportions of children from folic acid treated mothers compared with placebo had cognitive scores above the median values of 10 (girls and boys) for the BSITD-III, and 24.5 (girls) and 21.5 (boys) for the WPPSI-III tests. When compared with a nationally representative sample of British children at 7 years, WPPSI-III test scores were higher in children from folic acid treated mothers for verbal IQ (p < 0.001), performance IQ (p = 0.035), general language (p = 0.002), and full scale IQ (p = 0.001), whereas comparison of the placebo group with British children showed smaller differences in scores for verbal IQ (p = 0.034) and full scale IQ (p = 0.017) and no differences for performance IQ or general language. CONCLUSIONS: Continued folic acid supplementation in pregnancy beyond the early period recommended to prevent NTD may have beneficial effects on child cognitive development. Further randomized trials in pregnancy with follow-up in childhood are warranted. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN ISRCTN19917787 . Registered 15 May 2013.

Psychosocial predictors of IVF success after one year: a follow-up study.

Objectives: There is growing evidence that psychosocial factors play an important role in the success of in-vitro fertilisation (IVF). The current study explored the impact of coping style, social support, self-compassion, parenthood motivation and relationship attachment as predictors of IVF success. Design: A follow-up survey of 305 women undergoing IVF who had initially been assessed one year earlier. Methods: Participants were assessed on measures of coping style, social support, self-compassion, parenthood motivation, relationship attachment and psychological distress and reassessed one year later in terms of the outcome of IVF. Results: Of these, 156 reported successful births while 149 had been unsuccessful. Of the 149 who had been unsuccessful, 66 were undertaking another cycle of IVF and 83 were not, although whether they had completely given up is not known. The significant positive predictors were problem-focused coping, mindfulness, nurturance motivation, secure attachment, support from friends and self-kindness. In addition, social pressure motivation, and avoidance coping were negative predictors. Conclusions: The findings point to potential psychological interventions in terms of stress management, couple counselling and mindfulness therapy in increasing the likelihood of success from IVF.

Folic Acid Supplementation throughout pregnancy: psychological developmental benefits for children.

AIM: To test the effect of folic acid supplements taken throughout pregnancy on children's psychosocial development. METHOD: A randomised controlled trial of folic acid supplementation in pregnancy, with parental rating using the Resiliency Attitudes and Skills Profile (RASP), the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire Child Short Form (TEIQue-CSF). Children aged 6-7 whose mothers received folic acid throughout pregnancy (n = 22) were compared to those whose mothers only received it during the first trimester (n = 17). RESULTS: Children whose mothers received the full-term supplement scored significantly higher on emotional intelligence and resilience. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis identified folate level at 36th gestational week as an important predictor of emotional intelligence (EI) and resilience. CONCLUSION: Although conclusions must be drawn with caution, this research presents a number of potential implications, the main one being a proposed policy recommendation for women to take folic acid for the duration of pregnancy rather than stopping at the end of the first trimester. The second is the potential for future research to explore the possible psychological and social development benefits and in line with this to try and identify the explanatory mechanism involved.

Prospective evaluation of the pyramid plus psychosocial intervention for shy withdrawn children: an assessment of efficacy in 7- to 8-year-old school children in Northern Ireland.

BACKGROUND: Social withdrawal is known to precede and contribute to the development of internalization problems in shy children. This study examined the efficacy of a selective primary school-based psychosocial intervention for withdrawn children. METHOD: The sample comprised 82 Primary 4 children aged between 7 and 8 years from 7 schools across Northern Ireland. There were 31 children in the comparison group (50.6% male) and 57 children received the intervention (41.7% male). A 2 × 2 mixed-model design was used: group (intervention group vs. comparison group) × 3 time points (pre- vs. 10 postintervention vs. 12-week follow-up) with repeated measures on the time factor. Teachers completed the SDQ at the three time points to assess participants' socio-emotional health status. RESULTS: Pyramid participants showed greater reductions than the comparison group on the Emotional Symptom and Peer Problem factors following the intervention and their scores did not return to baseline levels at follow-up. Pyramid attendance accounted for approximately 12% and 9% of the variance in the Emotional Symptom and Peer Problems decreases respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Pyramid Plus helped to alleviate internalization problems in participants and initially had a positive impact on social re-integration. The incorporation of cognitive restructuring techniques may be a necessary intervention modification to affect participants' emotion regulation strategies.

Self-Compassion, Mindful Eating, Eating Attitudes and Wellbeing Among Emerging Adults.

Mindful eating behavior and self-compassion have been individually shown to contribute to healthy eating. Evidence suggests that they may interact and that interaction may increase our understanding of eating behavior. The aim of the current study was to explore the relationship between mindful eating behavior, self-compassion, healthy/unhealthy weight, eating disorder and wellbeing in a sample of university students. An online survey using questionnaire data collection in a sample of 349 students (105 males and 244 females). Variables measured included body mass index (BMI), mindful eating behavior, eating attitudes, self-compassion and mental wellbeing. Regression and path analysis show mindful eating behavior and self-compassion to individually and interaction predict eating attitudes and wellbeing. BMI was shown to have a curvilinear relationship with mindful eating behavior, self-compassion and wellbeing with both the underweight and obese reporting lower self-compassion, less Mindful eating behavior, lower wellbeing and more likely to exhibit disordered eating. These results indicate that self-compassion and mindful eating behavior might be usefully targeted in interventions to prevent both obesity and eating disorder.

Folic acid intervention during pregnancy alters DNA methylation, affecting neural target genes through two distinct mechanisms.

BACKGROUND: We previously showed that continued folic acid (FA) supplementation beyond the first trimester of pregnancy appears to have beneficial effects on neurocognitive performance in children followed for up to 11 years, but the biological mechanism for this effect has remained unclear. Using samples from our randomized controlled trial of folic acid supplementation in second and third trimester (FASSTT), where significant improvements in cognitive and psychosocial performance were demonstrated in children from mothers supplemented in pregnancy with 400 µg/day FA compared with placebo, we examined methylation patterns from cord blood (CB) using the EPIC array which covers approximately 850,000 cytosine-guanine (CG) sites across the genome. Genes showing significant differences were verified using pyrosequencing and mechanistic approaches used in vitro to determine effects on transcription. RESULTS: FA supplementation resulted in significant differences in methylation, particularly at brain-related genes. Further analysis showed these genes split into two groups. In one group, which included the CES1 gene, methylation changes at the promoters were important for regulating transcription. We also identified a second group which had a characteristic bimodal profile, with low promoter and high gene body (GB) methylation. In the latter, loss of methylation in the GB is linked to decreases in transcription: this group included the PRKAR1B/HEATR2 genes and the dopamine receptor regulator PDE4C. Overall, methylation in CB also showed good correlation with methylation profiles seen in a published data set of late gestation foetal brain samples. CONCLUSION: We show here clear alterations in DNA methylation at specific classes of neurodevelopmental genes in the same cohort of children, born to FA-supplemented mothers, who previously showed improved cognitive and psychosocial performance. Our results show measurable differences at neural genes which are important for transcriptional regulation and add to the supporting evidence for continued FA supplementation throughout later gestation. This trial was registered on 15 May 2013 at www.isrctn.com as ISRCTN19917787.

Dealing With Death in Custody: Psychosocial Consequences for Correctional Staff.

This study investigated experiences of trauma and psychosocial mediators in correctional staff who had dealt with a death in custody within the previous year. A total of 211 participants completed the Trauma Symptom Index as well as measures of self-efficacy, optimism, problem-solving style, social support, and growth. The data showed that around 32% of participants were exhibiting symptoms at a clinical level. Prior experience with suicide and level of involvement in the incident were direct predictors of symptom level. Support, optimism, self-efficacy, and confidence in problem-solving seemed to be potential protective factors and were also predictive of trauma-related growth. Although the study was cross sectional, the data suggest that it may be possible to predict factors that are protective and therefore offer some hope in terms of developing preventive strategies.

A randomized controlled trial of folic acid intervention in pregnancy highlights a putative methylation-regulated control element at ZFP57.

BACKGROUND: Maternal blood folate concentrations during pregnancy have been previously linked with DNA methylation patterns, but this has been done predominantly through observational studies. We showed recently in an epigenetic analysis of the first randomized controlled trial (RCT) of folic acid supplementation specifically in the second and third trimesters (the EpiFASSTT trial) that methylation at some imprinted genes was altered in cord blood samples in response to treatment. Here, we report on epigenome-wide screening using the Illumina EPIC array (~ 850,000 sites) in these same samples (n = 86). RESULTS: The top-ranked differentially methylated promoter region (DMR) showed a gain in methylation with folic acid (FA) and was located upstream of the imprint regulator ZFP57. Differences in methylation in cord blood between placebo and folic acid treatment groups at this DMR were verified using pyrosequencing. The DMR also gains methylation in maternal blood in response to FA supplementation. We also found evidence of differential methylation at this region in an independent RCT cohort, the AFAST trial. By altering methylation at this region in two model systems in vitro, we further demonstrated that it was associated with ZFP57 transcription levels. CONCLUSIONS: These results strengthen the link between folic acid supplementation during later pregnancy and epigenetic changes and identify a novel mechanism for regulation of ZFP57. This trial was registered 15 May 2013 at www.isrctn.com as ISRCTN19917787.

The Pyramid Club Primary School-Based Intervention: Evaluating the Impact on Children's Social-Emotional Health.

BACKGROUND: Children with poor social-emotional health are at risk of failing to reach their potential. METHOD: The impact of the Pyramid Club year 3 preventive intervention on children's social-emotional health was investigated. Children were allocated to an intervention or non-problem comparison group. RESULTS: Post-intervention both groups had improved Total Difficulty scores (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire) with the Pyramid group showing a significantly stronger effect size (r = .71) than the non-problem comparison group (r = .44). CONCLUSIONS: The Pyramid Club intervention improves the social-emotional health of vulnerable children. The need to evaluate such interventions and to extend research are discussed.

Benefit finding and well-being in older adults: The utility of the General Benefit Finding Scale.

The research aim was to test the General Benefit Finding Scale (GBFS) in a cross-sectional survey of adults aged 55 years and older and to assess to what extent it relates to mental well-being, perceived social support, health and personality. Participants (n=341) completed a questionnaire which included demographic questions, the GBFS, and measures of mental well-being, perceived social support, activity levels, and personality. Benefit finding was higher in older adults and correlated positively with mental well-being and perceived support. The impact of the psychosocial factors investigated on benefit finding levels was small (9.2%) with mental well-being, sex and agreeableness being significant predictors. The study provides additional support for the use of the GBFS and suggests that perceived social support, particularly from friends, is especially important for older adults.

El objetivo fue evaluar la Escala General de Beneficios (GBFS) en un estudio transversal de una muestra de adultos mayores de 55 años, y determinar en qué medida se relaciona con bienestar mental, apoyo social percibido, salud y personalidad. Los participantes (n = 341) completaron un cuestionario que incluía preguntas demográficas, GBFS y medidas de bienestar mental, apoyo social percibido, niveles de actividad y personalidad. La búsqueda de beneficios fue mayor en los adultos mayores que en los más jovenes, se correlacionó positivamente con bienestar mental y apoyo social percibido. Sin embargo, aunque significativo, el impacto de los factores psicosociales investigados en los niveles de beneficio de la búsqueda fue pequeño (9.2%) con bienestar mental, sexo y amabilidad son predictores significativos. El estudio proporciona apoyo adicional para el uso de la GBFS y sugiere que el apoyo social percibido, particularmente de los amigos, es especialmente importante para los adultos mayores.

The interplay between DNA methylation, folate and neurocognitive development.

DNA methylation provides an attractive possible means for propagating the effects of environmental inputs during fetal life and impacting subsequent adult mental health, which is leading to increasing collaboration between molecular biologists, nutritionists and psychiatrists. An area of interest is the potential role of folate, not just in neural tube closure in early pregnancy, but in later major neurodevelopmental events, with consequences for later sociocognitive maturation. Here, we set the scene for recent discoveries by reviewing the major events of neural development during fetal life, with an emphasis on tissues and structures where dynamic methylation changes are known to occur. Following this, we give an indication of some of the major classes of genes targeted by methylation and important for neurological and behavioral development. Finally, we highlight some cognitive disorders where methylation changes are implicated as playing an important role.

Benefit finding and resilience in child caregivers.

OBJECTIVES: A substantial number of children are involved in informal caregiving and make a significant contribution to health care delivery. While this places high levels of demand on their coping resources, there is some evidence that these children find benefit in their caring role. DESIGN: A survey design using questionnaire data collection was used with a sample of 442 children (174 boys and 268 girls) between the ages of 12 and 16. METHODS: The role of benefit finding and resilience was explored within a stress and coping model of the impact of caregiving. RESULTS: Hierarchical multiple regression analysis (HMRA) identified resilience and benefit finding as accounting for significant amounts of variance in positive health and mediating the impact of caregiving. In regard to negative health, only benefit finding played a significant role. CONCLUSIONS: Young caregivers do experience benefit finding and exhibit resilience although the relationship with caregiving burden was inverse. Benefit finding seems to be related to social recognition of the caregiving role and to family support. STATEMENT OF CONTRIBUTION: What is already known on this subject? There is some emerging evidence that child caregivers experience some positive effects or benefits from their caring in spite of the demands of the role. However, the main focus has been on reducing negative outcomes rather than on building resilience. What this study adds? This study provides evidence that young caregivers do experience benefit finding in situations where the role demand is not overly excessive and where the role is socially recognized.

Benefit finding in response to general life stress: measurement and correlates.

Benefit finding herein defined as "the process of deriving positive growth from adversity" has become a key construct in the evolution of positive psychology, and research suggests that it may provide the basis for a resource model of stress and coping. However, measures of benefit finding have tended to be domain specific. The current study focused on developing a more generic multidimensional measure of benefit finding. A measure of benefit finding was developed and tested in 855 students (574 females and 281 males) aged between 18 and 40 years. A 28-item scale with six dimensions was produced and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) confirmed the scale structure. The model proposed that psychological and social resources would mediate the relationship between experienced stressors and benefit finding. Structural equation modelling with Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS) shows that the model is a good fit for the data and psychological and social resources partially mediated the relationship. It is argued that psychological and social resources enable benefit finding in relation to life stress and provide a focus for the development of preventive interventions to improve positive health.

Benefit finding through caring: the cancer caregiver experience.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to explore benefit finding in cancer carers taking account of timeline and care recipient, in relation to burden of care, perceived stress, optimism, resilience, self efficacy, perceived support and psychological distress. METHODS: A cohort sequential survey was conducted with a group of 842 female cancer carers who were caring for a spouse, a parent or a child. A stress-coping model of benefit finding was proposed and tested. RESULTS: Analysis supported the stress-coping model for global benefit finding and also the multidimensional model of benefit finding and identified important differences on outcome measures depending on care recipient and timeline. CONCLUSIONS: This study concludes that a focus on benefit finding interventions may be useful in the area, but that a developmental approach taking into account the relationship between carer and the carer recipient is required.

Further exploration of the Young Carers Perceived Stress Scale: identifying a benefit-finding dimension.

OBJECTIVES: A substantial number of children are involved in informal caregiving and make a significant contribution to health care delivery. While this places high levels of demand on their coping resources, there is some evidence that these children find benefit in their caring role. The Young Carers Perceived Stress Scale (YCPSS) (Early et al., 2006, J. Child Fam. Stud., 15, 169) identified a positive dimension of caring, which appears to have potential in terms of measuring benefit finding in this group. The current study aimed to further explore YCPSS to clarify this dimension. DESIGN: A survey design using questionnaire data collection was used with a sample of 329 children between the ages of 12 and 16. METHODS: A pool of 52 items based on the YCPSS was administered along with measures of support, coping, and psychological distress to 329 young carers attending organized support groups. RESULTS: Factor analysis with maximum likelihood extraction identified six factors including one 8-item dimension labelled benefit finding, which had good internal reliability and produced a pattern of correlations with support, coping, and psychological distress indicating initial evidence of validity. CONCLUSIONS: The study produced initial evidence for reliability and validity of an 8-item benefit-finding measure, as well as a clearer set of dimensions for the original YCPSS. The resulting measures should prove useful in further explorations of benefit finding and resilience in young carers.