Demoralization and well-being among self-employed individuals with cardiac disease: the role of intolerance of uncertainty.

Background: Individuals with cardiac disease (CD) who are self-employed may experience ability limitations and especially intensive challenges and uncertainties. These challenges may cause demoralization and impaired well-being. Objectives: To examine: (a) whether work ability limitations are related to demoralization and well-being among self-employed people with CD; (b) rates of demoralization; and (c) how demoralization and intolerance of uncertainty (IU) are associated with well-being. Methods: The study involved 120 self-employed individuals with CD. The PROCESS macro was used to analyze mediation and moderation processes. Results: The prevalence of demoralization syndrome was 37.4%. Work ability-limitations were associated with higher demoralization levels. Demoralization was associated with well-being only among participants with high IU. Further, demoralization mediated the relationship between work ability limitations and well-being only for individuals with high IU. Conclusion: Encountering limitations among self-employed was associated with demoralization and lower levels of well-being, especially among those with high IU. In addition, demoralization syndrome is prevalent among individuals with CD in general. Early recognition and treatment of demoralization as a treatable psychological syndrome are essential for preventing its degeneration into more complex forms. In addition to uncertainty related to health, it is important to pay special attention to other sources of uncertainty.

Self-employed people with chronic health conditions: Business maintenance and well-being.

Chronic health conditions (CHCs) involve physical, psychological, and social challenges and can have a significant negative impact on work ability, which can then affect performance and job satisfaction. However, the various effects of CHCs on business operations and maintenance among self-employed workers are understudied. This study examined four common CHCs that are characterised by persistent symptoms and can prompt major life changes: respiratory disease, heart conditions, inflammatory bowel disease, and cancer survivorship. Groups were compared regarding the CHC's impact on business maintenance (declining in income and activity, and slowing business growth), and well-being. A sample of 294 self-employed workers with these CHCs completed questionnaires about how their conditions affect their businesses, physical symptoms, and well-being. The four CHCs had substantial negative effects on business maintenance. Differences were found in reported changes in income, activity, and growth between individuals with inflammatory bowel disease and cancer. No differences in well-being occurred among self-employed people with different CHCs. In the overall sample, work absences and slowing business growth were negatively associated with well-being. Although the groups differed in the severity of symptoms, threat to life, and treatment regimen, the CHCs had similar effects on most business maintenance factors and well-being. Moreover, the results indicate that the inability to maintain a business can negatively affect well-being.

Acute Stress Symptoms, Intolerance of Uncertainty and Coping Strategies in Reaction to the October 7 War.

BACKGROUND: On 7 October 2023, hundreds of armed Hamas fighters breached the security border fence and entered Israel from the Gaza Strip. More than 1400 Israeli citizens were murdered, and 239 individuals were kidnapped. Many Israeli citizens experienced these occurrences as psychologically traumatic events that caused stress and uncertainty. OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to examine the relationship between exposure to war (in more distant circles), intolerance of uncertainty (IU) and disengaged coping on acute stress symptoms (ASS). First, we examined whether exposure to war and IU were directly associated with ASS. Second, we tested the mediating role of disengaged coping in the relationship among war exposure, IU and ASS. METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved 393 Israeli citizens. Participants answered questionnaires on exposure to war, IU, coping strategies and ASS. RESULTS: The study results indicate that higher exposure and higher levels of IU were directly associated with more intensive ASS, and this association was partially mediated by higher use of disengaged coping strategies. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals during wartime are at risk of experiencing high levels of ASS and developing ASD. However, degree of exposure to war alone was not associated with ASS, but it was related to personal resources and coping strategies.

Rights or Obligations: The Extent to Which Sexual Desire and Gender Roles Determine Sexual Intimacy in Romantic Relationships.

The present study aims to investigate the relationship between traditional gender roles and the frequency of sexual intimacy within romantic relationships, considering sexual desire and societal norms and expectations. The study was conducted among a convenience sample of men and women in Israel. The survey included measures of sociodemographic information, traditional gender roles, sexual desire, perceived partner's sexual desire, and frequency of engaging in sex. Findings suggest that men who embraced less traditional gender roles exhibit a greater synchronization between their own sexual desire and their perceived partner's sexual desire, whereas women who embraced more traditional gender roles tend to rely more on their partners' sexual desire in their frequency of sex. These results imply that men's sexual desire plays a significant role in determining the frequency of sexual activity in romantic relationships, especially in relationships where traditional gender roles are more strongly embraced. Findings from the current study underscore the idea that the decision to engage in intimate acts may not solely hinge on individual sexual desire; rather, it operates within a broader context influenced by societal and cultural expectations. It is important to challenge societal norms to promote more balanced and equitable sexual dynamics in committed relationships.

On their own: Business profitability and job satisfaction among self-employed with chronic health conditions.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined (a) characteristics of maintenance of business activity among self-employed individuals with chronic health conditions (CHCs) and (b) the relationships of coping strategies with maintenance of business activity. METHOD: This cross-sectional study involved 294 self-employed participants aged 26-77 who were at most 2 years since their diagnosis and had one of the following CHCs: cancer (23.4%), cardiac disease (21.7%), respiratory disease (36.2%), or inflammatory bowel disease (18.6%). Participants answered questionnaires on workability limitations, business maintenance, sense of mastery, and coping strategies. RESULTS: Participants reported a substantial decrease in business profitability since their CHC diagnosis but high job satisfaction. The structural equation model had good fit indicators and revealed that the association between workability limitations and lower maintenance of business profitability was partially mediated by lower use of disengaged coping strategies. The association between sense of mastery and job satisfaction was partially mediated by engaged and disengaged coping strategies. CONCLUSIONS: Self-employed individuals with CHCs are at risk of declining of business profitability; however, degree of workability limitations alone did not explain business profitability maintenance or job satisfaction, but it was related to coping resources and strategies. Interventions that strengthen personal resources and promote engaged coping strategies should be provided with direct support to business maintenance. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Objective and Subjective Stress among Grandparents Providing Assistive Regular Grandchild Care.

Research on stress and coping has differentiated the effects of objective stress and subjective perceptions of stress on psychological and physical health, including in old age. This study examined the moderating role of social support in the relationship between objective and subjective stress with depressive and somatic symptoms in the context of Israeli grandparents. This cross-sectional study involved 243 grandparents who provided at least 5 hours a week of assistive regular care to their grandchildren, divided into lower and higher support groups. The results show that the levels of depressive and somatic symptoms were higher in the lower support group. Social support moderated the association between the intensity of care and perceived stress. Social support moderated the association between subjective stress and somatic symptoms. To conclude, the combination of high subjective stress and lower social support constitutes a risk factor for impaired psychological and physical health.

Chronic stressors, coping strategies, and depressive symptoms: A comparison across older age groups.

Late-life depression is a prevalent mental health problem among older adults. Variations may exist in the intensity of chronic stressors experienced by people in different older age groups and their effects on depressive symptoms. To examine differences among older adults by age group in the experienced intensity of chronic stressors in relation to coping strategies and depressive symptoms. Participants were 114 older adults. The sample was divided into three age groups: 65-72, 73-81, and 82-91. The participants completed questionnaires on coping strategies, depressive symptoms, and chronic stressors. Moderation analyses were conducted. The lowest levels of depressive symptoms were in the young-old age group and the highest levels were in the oldest-old age group. The young-old age group used more engaged and less disengaged coping strategies than the two other groups. The association between intensity of chronic stressors and depressive symptoms was stronger in the two older age groups compared to the youngest (moderating effect of age groups). Differences exist in the relationships among chronic stressors, coping strategies, and depressive symptoms by age groups in the older adult population. Professionals should be aware of the possible differences between age groups in depressive symptoms and the impact of stressors on depressive symptoms in different older adult age groups.