Voice Disorder, Job Stress, and COVID-19 in Teachers: Impacts in Times of Pandemic

Introduction: The conditions of teachers' work during the COVID-19 pandemic affected teachers' lives regarding voice disorder and stress, even in emergency remote classroom situation. Objective: To analyze the relationship between the presence of voice disorder, job stress, and COVID-19 in teachers when in emergency remote classroom teaching situation at the time of the pandemic. Method: This is a primary, exploratory, observational cross-sectional study with the use of survey forwarded online during the period of emergency classes after the arrival of COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. The teachers answered the sociodemographic questions about the presence of COVID-19 and the following instruments: Condition of Vocal Production-Teacher [Condição de Produção Vocal - Professor (CPV-P)], Screening Index for Voice Disorder (SIVD), and Job Stress Scale (JSS). Results: Of the 118 teachers analyzed, 94.1% were female; the average age was 44 years. The SIVD recorded the presence of voice disorder in 66.9% of the participants. Regarding the JSS, which are the findings related to stress at work in the demand domain, the teachers showed high levels, a fact which presupposes the existence of pressure of psychological nature to perform their work. Conclusion: The teachers self-reported the presence of voice disorder even in remote class situation, on the occasion of COVID-19, which were more common in older teachers. When comparing the presence of voice disorders, coronavirus symptoms, and stress domains in relation to demand, control, and social support, there was no significance. It is hoped that this study will help to reflect on the need to improve teachers' working conditions, strengthening work-related voice disorder actions and guiding actions for vocal care and well-being.

Introducción: Las condiciones de trabajo de los profesores durante la pandemia de COVID-19 afectaron sus vidas en lo que respecta al trastorno de la voz y el estrés, incluso en situaciones de emergencia en aulas remotas. Objetivo: Analizar la relación entre la presencia de trastorno de la voz, estrés laboral y COVID-19 en profesores cuando se encontraban en situación de emergencia de enseñanza en aulas remotas en la época de la pandemia. Método: Se trata de un estudio primario, exploratorio, observacional de tipo transversal, con el uso de encuesta remitida online durante el periodo de clases de emergencia tras la llegada de la pandemia de COVID-19 en Brasil. Los profesores respondieron a las preguntas sociodemográficas sobre la presencia de COVID-19 y a los siguientes instrumentos: Condición de Producción Vocal-Profesor (CPV-P), Índice de Detección de los Trastornos de la Voz (SIVD) y Escala de Estrés Laboral (JSS). Resultados: De los 118 profesores analizados, el 94,1% eran mujeres; la mediana de edad era de 44 años. El (SIVD) registró la presencia de trastorno de la voz en el 66,9% de los participantes. En cuanto a la JSS, que son los hallazgos relacionados con el estrés laboral en el dominio de la demanda, los profesores mostraron niveles elevados, hecho que presupone la existencia de presiones de naturaleza psicológica para realizar su trabajo. Conclusión: Los profesores autoinformaron de la presencia de trastornos de la voz incluso en situación de clase a distancia, con ocasión del COVID-19, que fueron más frecuentes en los profesores de más edad. Al comparar la presencia de trastornos de la voz, los síntomas del coronavirus y los dominios de estrés en relación con la demanda, el control y el apoyo social, no hubo resultados significativos. Se espera que este estudio ayude a reflexionar sobre la necesidad de mejorar las condiciones de trabajo de los docentes, fortaleciendo las acciones de Trastorno de la voz relacionado con el trabajo (WRVD) y orientando acciones para el cuidado y bienestar vocal.

The Selah trial: A preference-based partially randomized waitlist control study of three stress management interventions.

Chronic stress undermines psychological and physiological health. We tested three remotely delivered stress management interventions among clergy, accounting for intervention preferences. United Methodist clergy in North Carolina enrolled in a partially randomized, preference-based waitlist control trial. The interventions were: mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), Daily Examen prayer practice, and Stress Proofing (stress inoculation plus breathing skills). Co-primary outcomes were symptoms of stress (Calgary Symptoms of Stress Inventory) and 48-hour ambulatory heart rate variability (HRV) at 12 weeks compared to waitlist control. Survey data were collected at 0, 12, and 24 weeks and 48-hour ambulatory HRV at 0 and 12 weeks. The 255 participants were 91% White and 48% female. Forty-nine participants (22%) without a preference were randomly assigned between the three interventions (n = 40) and waitlist control (n = 9). Two hundred six participants (78%) with a preference were randomly assigned to waitlist control (n = 62) or their preferred intervention (n = 144). Compared to waitlist control, MBSR [mean difference (MD) = -0.30, 95% CI: -0.41, -0.20; P < .001] and Stress Proofing (MD = -0.27, 95% CI: -0.40, -0.14; P < .001) participants had lower stress symptoms at 12 weeks; Daily Examen participants did not until 24 weeks (MD = -0.24, 95% CI: -0.41, -0.08). MBSR participants demonstrated improvement in HRV at 12 weeks (MD = +3.32 ms; 95% CI: 0.21, 6.44; P = .036). MBSR demonstrated robust improvement in self-reported and objective physical correlates of stress; Stress Proofing and Daily Examen resulted in improvements in self-reported correlates of stress. These brief practices were sustainable and beneficial for United Methodist clergy during the heightened stressors of the COVID pandemic. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04625777.

A common source of stress, which can harm physical and mental health, is work. Clergy engage in a profession that requires toggling between varied and interpersonally complex tasks, providing emotional labor, and experiencing stressors such as public criticism. Practical, brief practices are needed to manage occupational stress. We invited all United Methodist clergy in North Carolina to enroll in a stress management study. Participants chose their preferred of three interventions: mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), Daily Examen prayer practice, or Stress Proofing (a combination of stress inoculation plus breathing skills). Clergy without a preference were randomly assigned to one of the three interventions and a waiting group. Clergy with a preference were randomly assigned to either begin the intervention or wait at least 6 months and provide data while waiting. Participants practiced each of the three interventions at high levels across 24 weeks. Compared to clergy who waited for an intervention, MBSR participants evidenced robust improvement in self-reported (stress and anxiety symptoms) and physiological (heart rate variability measured across 48 hours) outcomes, whereas Stress Proofing and the Daily Examen only resulted in improvements in self-reported outcomes. The three brief practices were sustainable and beneficial for United Methodist clergy during the heightened stressors of the COVID pandemic.

Emotional demands at work and risk of disability pension: a nationwide cohort study in Denmark.

INTRODUCTION: Working in emotionally demanding jobs is associated with an increased risk of temporarily leaving the labour market due to long-term sickness absence. We tested whether employees working in emotionally demanding jobs are also at higher risk of permanently leaving the labour market due to disability pension compared with employees working in jobs that are not emotionally demanding. METHODS: We conducted a 10-year cohort study in the workforce in Denmark (n=1 670 825), aged 30-59 years at baseline, by linking job exposure matrices with nationwide registries on social transfer payments and covariates. Using Cox regression, we analysed the risk of disability pension in relation to emotional demands in the full population and sex stratified. Multivariable adjusted models included sex, age, cohabitation, migration background, household disposable income and other work environmental factors (physical workload, influence, possibilities for development and role conflicts). RESULTS: We identified 67 923 new cases of disability pension during 15 649 743 person-years of follow-up (mean follow-up: 9.4 years). We found an increasing risk of disability pension with higher levels of emotional demands, with HRs of 1.20, 1.23 and 1.73 for medium-low, medium-high and high emotional demands, respectively, compared with low emotional demands in the most adjusted model. There was an exposure-response association in women and a tendency towards an exposure-response association in men. DISCUSSION: In this nationwide cohort study, we found an increased risk of permanent exit from the labour market due to disability pension in women and men working in emotionally demanding jobs.

Emotional Intelligence and Occupational Stress Among Nursing Professionals in Tertiary Care Hospitals of Bangalore: A Multicentric, Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Nursing profession requires strength and resilience not just physically, but emotionally as well which requires them to adapt in stressful situations that they are often exposed to in their work environment. Objective: To determine the prevalence and associated factors of emotional intelligence (EI) and occupational stress (OS) among the nursing professionals from selected tertiary care hospitals in Bangalore, India. Methods: This was a multi-centric, cross-sectional study done among nurses with more than 1year of work experience and they were randomly selected from four tertiary care hospitals in Bangalore. The EI and OS were assessed using the Emotional intelligence scale (EIS) and Occupational Stress Index (OSI). Data was collected, both online and offline, owing to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The data was analyzed using SPSS v21.0 to calculate the mean, associations, and regression. Results: Out of the total 294, the mean age of the study participants was 27±4.92years. A total of 75 (25.5%) nurses had poor EI and 245 (83.3%) had moderate OSI. None of the participants had high OSI. There was a significant association between the severity grades of EI and OSI (P = 0.010) and a binary logistic regression showed that those staff with high EI had a lesser odd (OR 0.531, 95% CI 0.282-0.999) of developing occupational stress as compared to those with low EI. Conclusion: EI plays a significant role in reversing the effect of one's occupational stress. Thereby, the training curriculum should include skills and measures of resilience to facilitate their EI improvement.

Effect of Occupational Stress on Work Behavior as Perceived by Nurses at Benue State University Teaching Hospital Makurdi.

Background: Every work environment, especially in hospital settings must be conducive, friendly, and stress-free in order to promote quality care and the well-being of healthcare workers, whose job demands are increasing by the day. Aims: The purpose of this study was to determine the perceived effect of occupational stress on work behavior among nurses at Benue State University Teaching Hospital in Makurdi. Methods: From the facility's population of nurses, a quantitative survey randomly chose 150 respondents nurses, for the purpose of gathering information and testing the hypothesis, a well- developed and validated questionnaire was employed to gather data. Using SPSS, the data were descriptively analyzed, and an inferential analysis with a significance level of 5% was performed using Pearson's Chi-square test (0.05). Results: The majority of participants (56.6%) were men with a higher level of education. This study also shows the effect of occupational stress on work behavior as poor work performance 142 (94.7%), counterproductive work behavior 139 (92.7%), increases the incidence of absenteeism 112 (74.7%), high occurrence of medication error 120 (80%), Negative effect on teamwork 98 (65.3%), increases the incidence of Substance use disorders 95 (63.3), and aggressive attitude toward patients during nursing care 137 (91.3). Furthermore, there is a significant association between occupational stress and job satisfaction (x2 = 25.49, df = 8, and p < 0.001), patient safety (x2 = 51.07, df = 8, and P = 0.002), and nurses' attitudes toward their patients (x2 = 86.67, df = 12, and P = 0.012). Conclusion: We discovered that workplace stress can affect how happy nurses are with their jobs and how they behave while providing nursing care. We recommend that hospital administrators implement a plan to create a stress-free working environment for nurses.

Randomized controlled trial investigating the role of yoga at workplace in improving fatigue, burnout, pain, strength, and quality of life among blue-collar workers.

BACKGROUND: Due to the physical demands of work, blue-collar workers (BCW) frequently experience fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, and burnout. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility and utility of introducing yoga-based loosening exercises (YLE) at the workplace for improving fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, and burnout among BCW. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and twenty-eight BCW were randomized into a yoga group that received 40 minutes of supervised YLE daily, 5 days a week, for 1 month, followed by 1 month of unsupervised practice at home or a waitlisted control group. The Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFS), Visual Analog Scale for pain, Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI), sit-and-reach test (SRT), handgrip strength dynamometer, and the Short Form-8 (SF-8) questionnaire were measured at baseline, at the end of the first month, and at follow-up after the first month. RESULTS: All the participants adhered well to the YLE (≈86% at the workplace, ≈70% at home). Compared to the controls, the yoga group reported significant reductions in fatigue, pain, and burnout and significant improvements in flexibility, strength, and quality of life (P < 0.001) at all the time points. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that workplace yoga programs for BCW are feasible and can considerably reduce fatigue, pain, and burnout and improve their quality of life.

Exploring the impacts of COVID-19 on Alberta correctional workers.

COVID-19 and the subsequent public health responses disrupted the routines and lives of people globally. The impact was felt by correctional workers who navigated rapidly changing public health policies and many disruptions to operations within both institutional and community correctional services. In the current study, we unpack qualitative findings emerging from an online mental health and well-being survey, during COVID-19, of 571 correctional workers employed in the Canadian province of Alberta. Results emphasize how correctional work was strained by the on-set of the COVID-19 pandemic, creating other risks and vulnerabilities for both staff and incarcerated people. Respondents highlighted impacts to their workload, routine, personal and institutional security, relationships with colleagues and incarcerated people, and their competing perspectives on the enforcement and ethics of ensuing public health measures intended to contain the spread of the virus. We discuss the empirical implications of these findings and areas for future research post pandemic.

Occupational Stress Among Middle-Aged Professionals in India.

Background: Professional world nowadays is very competitive, and surviving the cutthroat competition while sustaining work-related stress and pressure is an important task for employees. Professionals are required to meet daily and monthly objectives and may encounter work-related stressors. Purpose: The study aims to explore occupational stress among middle-aged professionals in the age range of 45-60 years from the marketing, banking, and teaching sectors. Methods: A total sample of 180 consented middle-aged professionals in the age range of 45-60 years from the banking, teaching, and marketing sectors were included in the study using a purposive and snowball sampling technique. Professionals having serious medical or psychiatric conditions and undergoing treatment for the same were excluded. The Occupational Stress Index was administered to assess different types of occupational stressors. The statistical analysis was done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20 software. A descriptive analysis and a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to get meaningful results. Results: Results revealed that 40% of the middle-aged professionals reported experiencing minimal levels of occupational stress, followed by 32.2% experiencing moderate levels and 27.8% experiencing high levels of occupational stress. Additionally, it was found that a significantly higher percentage (91.6%) of banking professionals reported low levels of occupational stress compared to their counterparts. Eighty percent of marketing professionals reported experiencing high levels of occupational stress, whereas a majority (73.3%) of teaching professionals reported moderate levels of occupational stress. Conclusion: Occupational stress with different severity levels is found to be common among middle-aged professionals, which is a risk factor to develop mental health problems and affects well-being. Large-scale primary and secondary interventions are required to manage stress and facilitate professional growth and development in India.

When help is not wanted: Frustrated needs and poor after-work recovery as consequences of unwanted help at work.

Instrumental help and support in the workplace are mostly associated with outcomes that are considered desirable for organisations and their employees. In this study, we seek to shed light on a specific type of help at work that may entail negative consequences: being offered help that is not wanted by the recipient. Drawing on basic psychological needs theory and on theory of ruminative thoughts, we propose that offering unwanted help frustrates the recipient's psychological needs for autonomy and competence, which in turn affects after-work recovery processes in the form of increased rumination and decreased psychological detachment. Supporting our hypotheses, a cross-sectional survey study (Study 1, N = 279) revealed that employees who were offered unwanted help from coworkers or supervisors experienced higher frustration in need for competence and autonomy, which in turn was associated with higher rumination after work and less psychological detachment from work. Results from a time-lagged survey with two measurement points 2 weeks apart (Study 2, N = 165) showed that being offered unwanted help was concurrently related to increased competence and autonomy frustration, of which only autonomy frustration later translated into higher after-work rumination and ultimately lower psychological detachment from work. Our findings suggest that needs frustration provides a promising approach to investigate and explain potentially detrimental effects of unwanted help at work on after-work recovery processes.

Reduce stress and the risk of burnout by using yoga techniques. Pilot study.

Introduction: This article examines the effectiveness of yoga in managing stress, with a particular focus on work-related stress. Yoga combines physical postures, breath control, and meditation, and has gained recognition for its potential to relieve stress. Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the motivating factors behind individuals adopting yoga exercises and to assess the effects of regular yoga practice, with a particular focus on age-related differences. Additionally, we aimed to compare participants' expectations with the actual results of their yoga practice. Methods: To achieve this, we conducted a comprehensive survey using an online form, which was completed by 520 yoga practitioners. Participants were surveyed about their motivation, the effects they experienced, and the type of yoga they practiced. Results: The results showed that the most common motivation for individuals practicing yoga was stress reduction. Additionally, the analysis of the effects of regular yoga practice demonstrated a significant reduction in stress levels, with experienced practitioners reporting lower stress levels compared to beginners. In conclusion, the study suggests that regular yoga practice can be an effective way to reduce stress levels. Conclusion: Dynamic forms of yoga, which incorporate fluid movements and synchronized breathing techniques, are highly effective approaches to stress management and relief. These findings highlight the value of yoga as a tool for individuals of all ages seeking stress relief and overall well-being. Another advantage of yoga practice is its affordability and lack of negative side effects.

Predictive factors of occupational stress among nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study in Kashan, Iran.

BACKGROUND: Considering the severe and sudden changes in the job conditions of nurses during the covid-19 pandemic, the increase in job tensions during this critical period and its consequences on the quantity and quality of nursing care, this study aims to investigate the job stress of nurses during the covid-19 pandemic and its predictors in Iran. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 400 nurses in 'Kashan', Iran, who were randomly selected using stratified sampling. Data were collected using two questionnaires on occupational stress and potential related factors. The data were analyzed in SPSS version 16. RESULTS: The results showed that the occupational stress of nurses in Iran was at a medium to high level with a mean and standard deviation of 103.773 ± 15.742 (scale of 34-136). Factors such as satisfaction with physical health, quality of work life, satisfaction with the availability of facilities, sense of coherence, education level, work experience, job burnout, male gender, being native, and workplace were predictors of occupational stress and explained 23.3% of the variance in occupational stress score. The highest contribution was related to satisfaction with physical health. CONCLUSION: Considering the consequences of occupational stress for nurses, it is crucial for health and nursing authorities to take these factors into consideration in policy-making and planning.

Stress and depression among male police officers in Taiwan: Severity, determinants, and coping strategies.

BACKGROUND: Police work, known for its high stress, exhibits elevated depression rates. OBJECTIVE: This study explores stress and depression in male officers, examining personality traits, coping strategies, family, and social support. Aligned with the diathesis-stress hypothesis and job demands-resources model, it aims to illuminate these factors in policing. METHODS: Two hundred and sixty-four male police officers from Yunlin, Taiwan were enrolled in this study. Structured measurements of stress level, depression symptoms, personality traits, family functioning, and social support were made. We used multiple regression analysis to assess predictors of stress level and depression and identified coping strategies used by the police officers. RESULTS: Of the 264 male police officers, 36.4% had clinically significant depression. Occupational stress was mostly related to organizational factors. Multivariate regression analyses showed that age, personality traits, officer's rank, and period of education obtained could predict police officers' occupational stress. Personality traits, social support, occupational stress, and period of education obtained could predict depression. The most frequently used coping strategies were drinking and smoking. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study support the diathesis-stress hypothesis and the job demands-resources model. Enhancing male police officers' mental well-being requires addressing key factors like social support and occupational stress. Strategic measures, such as mental health education, destigmatization, counseling, and community-building, are vital. Policymakers should collaborate with mental health professionals for tailored interventions, fostering a healthier work environment.

The effects of work on cognitive functions: a systematic review.

Introduction: Cognitive functions play a crucial role in individual's life since they represent the mental abilities necessary to perform any activity. During working life, having healthy cognitive functioning is essential for the proper performance of work, but it is especially crucial for preserving cognitive abilities and thus ensuring healthy cognitive aging after retirement. The aim of this paper was to systematically review the scientific literature related to the effects of work on cognitive functions to assess which work-related factors most adversely affect them. Method: We queried the PubMed and Scopus electronic databases, in February 2023, according to the PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO ID number = CRD42023439172), and articles were included if they met all the inclusion criteria and survived a quality assessment. From an initial pool of 61,781 papers, we retained a final sample of 64 articles, which were divided into 5 categories based on work-related factors: shift work (n = 39), sedentary work (n = 7), occupational stress (n = 12), prolonged working hours (n = 3), and expertise (n = 3). Results: The results showed that shift work, occupational stress, and, probably, prolonged working hours have detrimental effects on cognitive functioning; instead, results related to sedentary work and expertise on cognitive functions are inconclusive and extremely miscellaneous. Discussion: Therefore, workplace health and well-being promotion should consider reducing or rescheduling night shift, the creation of less demanding and more resourceful work environments and the use of micro-breaks to preserve workers' cognitive functioning both before and after retirement. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42023439172, identifier CRD42023439172.

[Study on the applicability of the Brief Job Stress Questionnaire based on classical test theory and item response theory].

Objective: To evaluate the quality and item characteristics of the Brief Job Stress Questionnaire (BJSQ) among employees in manufacturing and service industries. Methods: From December 2021 to December 2022, a total of 2077 employees from 4 manufacturing and service enterprises in Beijing were selected by the method of combining purpose sampling and convenience sampling. The Chinese version of BJSQ was used to carry out a survey on occupational stress from 57 items in 4 dimensions including job stress factors, stress response, social support factors and satisfaction. Classical test theory (CTT) was used to analyze the validity and reliability of the questionnaire. The Semejima hierarchical response model in item response theory (IRT) was used to analyze the differentiation a, difficulty coefficient b and information content of each item. Results: Among the 2077 subjects, the age M (Q(1), Q(3)) was 33 (28, 37) years old, and the working age M (Q(1), Q(3)) was 4 (2, 8) years. There were 723 (34.8%) people in manufacturing industry and 1354 (65.2%) people in service industry. Eleven common factors were extracted by exploratory factor analysis, with a cumulative variance contribution rate of 62.823%, the variance of the common factors of each entry ranging from 0.451 to 0.865, and the range of factor loading values from 0.413 to 0.825, with 5 items having cross-loadings. The results of the validation factor analysis showed that the model fit indexes of root means square error of approximation was 0.055, comparative fit index was 0.950, Tucker Lewis index was 0.948, and standardized root mean square was 0.066. Content validity results showed that the total scores of the Chinese version of the BJSQ were positively correlated with the scores of the 4 dimensions (r(s)=0.487-0.936, P<0.05) . The results of the reliability analysis showed that the Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the total questionnaire was 0.945, and the Cronbach's alpha coefficients of job stress factors, stress response and social support factors were 0.775, 0.957, and 0.830, respectively. The Spearman-Brown coefficient for the total questionnaire was 0.866, and for the 3 dimensions, it was 0.572, 0.882 and 0.772. The results of IRT analysis showed that only 1 of the 57 items had a differentiation a-value<0.30, the difficulty coefficient b-value of each item ranged from -12.02 to 11.09, of which 8 items had a difficulty coefficient that was too high, 3 items had a difficulty coefficient that was too low, and 3 items did not meet the requirements, and the average amount of information in each item ranged from 0.022 to 2.566, and there were 47 items with average amount of information>0.088 (5/57) . Conclusion: The Chinese version of BJSQ has good reliability and validity in the typical occupational groups of manufacturing and service industries in China, and most of the items have good performance, but some items still need to be further improved and optimized or deleted.

Salutogenesis intervention improves cardio-cerebrovascular health in at-risk office workers: A quasi-experimental study.

OBJECTIVE: Cardio-cerebrovascular disease is the major cause of work-related deaths. Salutogenesis indicates individual differences in health levels occur owing to differences in the sense of coherence (SOC). A salutogenesis-based intervention may promote cardio-cerebrovascular health at work. This study examined the effects of a SOC promotion program based on salutogenesis. DESIGN: Quasi-experimental study. SAMPLE: Fifty-six office workers who were above the "low risk" of cardio-cerebrovascular disease from two workplaces were included in the final analysis. MEASUREMENTS: Data collected pre- and postintervention. To determine the intervention's effectiveness, repeated-measures analysis of variance was used. INTERVENTION: The intervention group was provided with the SOC promotion program, whereas the control group was provided with educational materials alone for 12 weeks. RESULTS: Generalized resistance resources (GRRs; knowledge of cardio-cerebrovascular disease prevention, stress-coping strategies, and social support) and SOC significantly improved in the intervention group. The intervention group showed significant improvements in occupational stress, physical activity, dietary behavior, total cholesterol level, fasting glucose level, hemoglobin A1C level, body mass index, waist circumference, diastolic and systolic blood pressure, and cardio-cerebrovascular risk. CONCLUSIONS: Systematic salutogenesis-based SOC promotion programs should be established to enhance the cardio-cerebrovascular health of office workers at-risk of cardio-cerebrovascular diseases. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Trial Registration Number is KCT0007029. The date of registration is February 23, 2022.

Mediating roles of meaning in life and psychological flexibility in the relationships between occupational stress and job satisfaction, job performance, and psychological distress in teachers.

Employees may experience stress in the workplace for various reasons. Psychological strengths may help them to cope with emerging challenges and foster mental health and work productivity. This study examined the mediating roles of meaning in life and psychological flexibility in the relationships between perceived occupational stress and job satisfaction, job performance and psychological distress. This cross-section study included 554 teachers (56.0% males; Mage = 36.99 ± 7.88 years) at all school levels in Türkiye. The research data was collected through a convenience sampling method using an online survey. Participants completed self-report measures of meaning in life, psychological flexibility, perceived occupational stress, job satisfaction, job performance, and psychological distress. Pearson product-moment correlation and parallel mediation model using PROCESS macro (Model 4) were utilized to analyze the data. The results showed that perceived occupational stress had a significant effect on meaning in life, psychological flexibility, job satisfaction, job performance, and psychological distress. Also, meaning in life and psychological flexibility had significant effects on job satisfaction, job performance, and psychological distress. Furthermore, meaning in life and psychological flexibility partially mediated the relationships between occupational stress and job satisfaction, job performance, and psychological distress. These findings highlight the significance of considering meaning in life and psychological flexibility as crucial factors in mitigating the impact of occupational stress on employee mental health and work productivity. By focusing on enhancing employees' sense of meaning and their ability to adapt flexibly to workplace challenges, organizations can potentially create a better environment that fosters positive outcomes for both employees and the organization. However, the impact of occupational stress on job performance, job satisfaction and psychological distress may change over time. To address this concern, future research should test the model through a longitudinal study design.

Potential strategies for supporting mental health and mitigating the risk of burnout among healthcare professionals: insights from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Healthcare professionals (HCPs) experienced prolonged stressful conditions during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, and the global situation (particularly in the United Kingdom) meant that they continue to sustain mental stress related to the subsequent cost-of-living and healthcare budgeting crises. The psychological toll on HCPs may lead to increased staff attrition, adversely impacting the quality of patient care and work security. To help mitigate this psychological impact, the current evidence is strongly supportive of healthcare providers consistently adopting programmes fostering improvement in coping and resilience, facilitating healthy lifestyle, and allocating some resources for therapeutic strategies (e.g. cognitive behavioural therapy-based strategies and other strategies specified to trauma-related issues) which can be delivered by trained professionals. We stress that some approaches are not a one-size-fits-all strategy, and we also highlight the need to encourage treatment-seeking among those who need it. These strategies are highly relevant to healthcare employers and policymakers to support all HCPs in settings marked by prolonged periods of stress. The investment in these strategies are expected not only to reduce staff attrition in the long-term, but are likely to add to the cost-effectiveness of overall healthcare budgetary allocation.

Forensic Professionals' Stress Inventory (FPSI): Development and psychometric properties.

Professionals in the justice system are particularly susceptible to occupational stress and burnout due to factors intrinsic to their profession. The Forensic Professional's Stress Inventory (FPSI) was designed to assess stress and psychological distress specifically in justice system professionals. A preliminary 41-item scale was administered to a sample of 690 forensic professionals (i.e., judges, lawyers, and attorneys). Exploratory factor analysis, exploratory structural equation modeling, and confirmatory factor analysis were conducted to find the most interpretable and parsimonious factor solution for FPSI. The 25-item bifactor model (with four first-order factors) demonstrated the most adequate fit to the data. Overall, FPSI revealed adequate psychometric properties and would be a useful instrument for assessing psychological strain and stress in forensic professionals.

Moral distress measurement in animal care workers: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: The mental health of veterinary and other animal health professionals is significantly impacted by the psychological stressors they encounter, such as euthanasia, witnessing animal suffering and moral distress. Moral distress, initially identified in nursing, arises when individuals are aware of the right action but are hindered by institutional constraints. We aimed to review existing research on moral distress scales among animal care workers by focusing on the identification and psychometric validity of its measurement. DESIGN: Two-step systematic review. First, we identified all moral distress scales used in animal care research in the eligible original studies. Second, we evaluated their psychometric validity, emphasising content validity, which is a critical aspect of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). This evaluation adhered to the Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN). The results were reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, EMBASE and PsycINFO to search for eligible studies published between January 1984 and April 2023. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES: We included original (primary) studies that (1) were conducted in animal care workers; (2) describing either the development of a moral distress scale, or validation of a moral distress scale in its original or modified version, to assess at least one of the psychometric properties mentioned in COSMIN guidelines. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Two independent reviewers used standardised methods to search, screen and code included studies. We considered the following information relevant for extraction: study reference, name and reference of the moral distress scale used, psychometric properties assessed and methods and results of their assessments. The collected information was then summarised in a narrative synthesis. RESULTS: The review identified only one PROM specifically adapted for veterinary contexts: the Measure of Moral Distress for Animal Professionals (MMD-AP), derived from the Measure of Moral Distress for Healthcare Professionals (MMD-HP). Both MMD-HP and MMD-AP were evaluated for the quality of development and content validity. The development quality of both measures was deemed doubtful. According to COSMIN, MMD-HP's content validity was rated as sufficient, whereas MMD-AP's was inconsistent. However, the evidence quality for both PROMs was rated low. CONCLUSION: This is the first systematic review focused on moral distress measurement in animal care workers. It shows that moral distress is rarely measured using standardised and evidence-based methods and that such methods should be developed and validated in the context of animal care. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42023422259.

Association of the barriers of pharmaceutical care perceived by clinical pharmacists and occupational stress in tertiary hospitals of China.

Objective: As an important member of the healthcare team, clinical pharmacists' occupational stress will lead to a decline in the quality of pharmaceutical care. According to person-environment fit theory, barriers of pharmaceutical care perceived by clinical pharmacists may be a potential factor influencing occupational stress. This study aimed to assess the association between the specific barriers of pharmaceutical care perceived by clinical pharmacists and their occupational stress in China. Method: A field-based questionnaire survey of tertiary hospitals was conducted in 31 provincial administrative regions in mainland China using a multi-stage stratified sampling method. Data on occupational stress, barriers of pharmaceutical care perceived by clinical pharmacists and other factors of job stress were collected using the Brief Job Stress Questionnaire and a self-administered instrument. The instruments have undergone multiple rounds of pilot investigations, and their reliability is acceptable. Ordinary least squares regression was used to evaluate the association of the perceived barriers and other factors with their occupational stress. Result: A total of 625 clinical pharmacists from 311 tertiary hospitals in China (response rate = 84%) participated. Perceived resource dimension barriers (p = 0.00) and self-improvement dimension barriers (p = 0.01) were associated with increased occupational stress of the participants. In addition, clinical pharmacists with senior professional titles and engaged in neurology and ICU have higher occupational stress. Conclusion: By removing barriers to pharmacists' resources and self-improvement, it is possible to better meet the work needs of clinical pharmacists and may effectively reduce occupational stress, thereby improving the quality of pharmaceutical services.