ABSTRACT
Importance: Moral distress occurs when individuals feel powerless to do what they think is right, including when clinicians are prevented from providing health care they deem necessary. The loss of federal protections for abortion following the Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization Supreme Court decision may place clinicians providing abortion at risk of experiencing moral distress, as many could face new legal and civil penalties for providing care in line with professional standards and that they perceive as necessary. Objective: To assess self-reported moral distress scores among abortion-providing clinicians following the Dobbs decision overall and by state-level abortion policy. Design, Setting, and Participants: This survey study, conducted from May to December 2023, included US abortion-providing clinicians (physicians, advanced practice clinicians, and nurses). A purposive electronic survey was disseminated nationally through professional listservs and snowball sampling. Exposure: Abortion policy in each respondent's state of practice (restrictive vs protective using classifications from the Guttmacher Institute). Main Outcomes and Measures: Using descriptive statistics and unadjusted and adjusted negative binomial regression models, the association between self-reported moral distress on the Moral Distress Thermometer (MDT), a validated psychometric tool that scores moral distress from 0 (none) to 10 (worst possible), and state abortion policy was examined. Results: Overall, 310 clinicians (271 [87.7%] women; mean [SD] age, 41.4 [9.7] years) completed 352 MDTs, with 206 responses (58.5%) from protective states and 146 (41.5%) from restrictive states. Reported moral distress scores ranged from 0 to 10 (median, 5) and were more than double for clinicians in restrictive compared with protective states (median, 8 [IQR, 6-9] vs 3 [IQR, 1-6]; P < .001). Respondents with higher moral distress scores included physicians compared with advanced practice clinicians (median, 6 [IQR, 3-8] vs 4 [IQR, 2-7]; P = .005), those practicing in free-standing abortion clinics compared with those practicing in hospitals (median, 6 [IQR, 3-8] vs 4 [IQR, 2-7]; P < .001), those no longer providing abortion care compared with those still providing abortion care (median, 8 [IQR, 4-9] vs 5 [IQR, 2-8]; P = .004), those practicing in loss states (states with the greatest decline in abortion volume since the Dobbs decision) compared with those in stable states (unadjusted incidence rate [IRR], 1.72 [95% CI, 1.55-1.92]; P < .001; adjusted IRR, 1.59 [95% CI, 1.40-1.79]; P < .001), and those practicing in surge states (states with the greatest increase in abortion volume since the Dobbs decision) compared with those in stable states (unadjusted IRR, 1.27 [95% CI, 1.11-1.46]; P < .001; adjusted IRR, 1.24 [95% CI, 1.09-1.41]; P = .001). Conclusions and Relevance: In this purposive national survey study of clinicians providing abortion, moral distress was elevated among all clinicians and more than twice as high among those practicing in states that restrict abortion compared with those in states that protect abortion. The findings suggest that structural changes addressing bans on necessary health care, such as federal protections for abortion, are needed at institutional, state, and federal policy levels to combat widespread moral distress.
Subject(s)
Abortion, Induced , Humans , Female , United States , Adult , Abortion, Induced/psychology , Abortion, Induced/ethics , Abortion, Induced/legislation & jurisprudence , Pregnancy , Surveys and Questionnaires , Middle Aged , Male , Psychological Distress , Health Policy/legislation & jurisprudence , Supreme Court Decisions , Morals , Abortion, Legal/psychology , Abortion, Legal/ethics , Abortion, Legal/legislation & jurisprudence , Physicians/psychologyABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Pain and anxiety-inducing interventions have a major impact on pediatric patients. Pain reduction by virtual reality (VR) during port and vein punctures is well studied. This study investigates peri-interventional reduction of pain, anxiety and distress using VR compared to the standard of care (SOC) in a pediatric oncology outpatient clinic. METHODS: In a randomized, controlled cross-over design, patients aged 6-18 years experience potentially painful interventions accompanied by VR. Observational instruments include NRS, FPS-r, BAADS, mYPAS-SF, PedsQL and SSKJ3-8R. All patients undergo two observations: SOC (A) and VR (B) in a randomized order. In addition, parents and staff are interviewed. Specific conditions for VR in an outpatient clinic setting derived from interprofessional focus group discussion are being explored. RESULTS: Between July 2021 and December 2022 57 eligible patients were included and randomized to the orders A/B (n = 28) and B/A (n = 29). Thirty-eight patients completed both observations. Characteristics in both groups did not differ significantly. More than half of the patients had no previous experience with VR, 5% decided to discontinue VR prematurely. Peri-interventional pain, anxiety and distress were significantly reduced by VR compared with SOC. 71% of patients and 76% of parents perceived punctures with VR to be more relaxed than previous ones. 95% of patients perceived fun with VR goggles. Detailed questionnaires on individual stress and anxiety were returned from 26 of 38 patients. Focus group discussion with staff yielded evidence for successful implementation of VR in an outpatient clinic. CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows that VR can be used for peri-interventional reduction of pain, anxiety, and distress in the special environment of a pediatric outpatient clinic. Specific conditions must be met for successful implementation. Further studies are needed to identify particularly susceptible patients and to illuminate alternatives for distraction that are feasible to implement with limited resources. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: (ClinicalTrials.gov ID): NCT06235723; 01/02/2024; retrospectively registered. This study adheres to the standard checklist of CONSORT guidelines.
Subject(s)
Anxiety , Cross-Over Studies , Pain, Procedural , Humans , Child , Adolescent , Female , Male , Anxiety/etiology , Pain, Procedural/etiology , Pain, Procedural/prevention & control , Pain, Procedural/psychology , Ambulatory Care Facilities , Virtual Reality , Pain Management/methods , Psychological Distress , Pain Measurement , Neoplasms/psychology , Neoplasms/complicationsABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: It was reported that voice can carry information about personality and psychological distress. In the current study, the relationship between five-factor personality traits and psychological distress with voice was enlightened from diverse aspects. METHODS: A total of 119 participants (55 with and 64 without dysphonia) sustained vowels /a/ and /i/, read six standard sentences, and answered a question. Three raters auditory-perceptually evaluated the vocal samples using the Persian version of CAPE-V. The participants were distributed into four groups (vocally healthy, mild, moderate, and severe dysphonia). They completed two questionnaires: NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21. RESULTS: Results showed that the conscientiousness (U = 1146.500, z = -3.27, p = .001) in the dysphonia group was significantly less than the vocally healthy group. Depression (U = 1381.000, z = -2.03, p = .042) and anxiety (U = 1181.000, z = -3.10, p = .002) in the dysphonia group were significantly higher than in the vocally healthy group. In comparing different abnormal overall voice qualities, the mild dysphonia group revealed significantly lower conscientiousness (p = .001) and significantly higher anxiety (p = .002) relative to the vocally healthy group. CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicated that the conscientiousness trait could play an influential role in persons with dysphonia and its psychological status. The voice care team should consider conscientiousness and psychological distress during the assessment and treatment of dysphonic patients.
Subject(s)
Anxiety , Depression , Dysphonia , Personality , Humans , Male , Dysphonia/psychology , Dysphonia/physiopathology , Female , Personality/physiology , Adult , Anxiety/psychology , Depression/psychology , Young Adult , Psychological Distress , Middle Aged , Stress, Psychological/psychologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Undergraduate nursing students experience high stress and use social media sites at high rates. Yet, there is a paucity of literature focused on understanding the association between social media use and psychological distress among undergraduate nursing students. METHOD: Guided by Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA), a systematic review was conducted on the association between social media use and psychological distress among undergraduate nursing students. RESULTS: Ten articles met the inclusion criteria. Most of the included studies used cross-sectional designs. The findings indicated that undergraduate nursing students who followed social media sites were more likely to report symptoms of psychological distress, particularly significant depressive and anxiety symptoms. CONCLUSION: Undergraduate nursing students who use social media are likely to experience psychological distress. Combined interventions focused on minimizing social media use and reducing academic stress may help foster the psychological health of nursing students. [J Nurs Educ. 2024;63(8):540-545.].
Subject(s)
Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate , Psychological Distress , Social Media , Students, Nursing , Humans , Students, Nursing/psychology , Students, Nursing/statistics & numerical data , Social Media/statistics & numerical data , Stress, PsychologicalABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Dependency on screen viewing (SV) has reached unprecedented levels, and mental health issues are becoming a major public health concern. However, the associations between SV, including variations in purposes, devices, and timing, and mental health remain unclear. This study aims to provide insights into these associations among university students. METHODS: This analysis used baseline data from a longitudinal cohort study among first-year university students matriculating in the 2021-2022 academic year. Self-reported data on sociodemographics, health behaviors and mental health outcomes alongside anthropometric measurements were collected. Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression analyses were conducted. RESULTS: The average age of the 997 valid students was 20.2 years, with 59.6% being female and 41.4% male. Students spent 14.3 h daily on SV, with females reporting higher SV than males. Daily SV was predominant for study purposes (7.6 h/day). Computer usage was the highest (7.0 h/day), while TV usage was the lowest (1.7 h/day). Poor mental wellbeing was reported by 33.6% of students, while 13.9% experienced psychological distress. Compared to students with low total SV, those with high levels were more likely to have poor mental wellbeing [OR (95% CI): 1.40 (0.99, 1.98)] and psychological distress [1.56 (1.00, 2.44)]. High levels of recreational and study related SV were significantly associated with poor mental wellbeing [1.81 (1.27, 2.56)] and psychological distress [1.75 (1.11, 2.83)], respectively. Those with high levels of computer time were more likely to have poor mental wellbeing [1.44 (1.01, 2.06)], and high weekend day SV was associated with greater odds of psychological distress [2.16 (1.17, 4.06)]. CONCLUSIONS: SV among university students was high, as was the high prevalence of poor mental wellbeing and psychological distress. Greater SV was associated with poor mental wellbeing and psychological distress. Differences according to purpose of SV were noted. Although recreational SV was associated with poor mental wellbeing, study related SV was associated with psychological distress. Variations across different devices and timing were also noted. This highlights the need for further longitudinal research to understand the impact of SV on mental health and to guide interventions for promoting mental health of university students globally.
Subject(s)
Mental Health , Psychological Distress , Screen Time , Students , Humans , Female , Male , Students/psychology , Students/statistics & numerical data , Universities , Cross-Sectional Studies , Young Adult , Mental Health/statistics & numerical data , Longitudinal Studies , Adolescent , Television/statistics & numerical dataABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Older adults are more likely to have poor sleep quality and be socially isolated. The present study examined the potential benefits and disadvantages of social media use (SMU) with respect to sleep quality and perceived social isolation among Iranian late-middle-aged and older adults with focus a on both the mediating and moderating role of psychological distress. METHODS: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 900 older community-dwellers living in Shiraz using a structured questionnaire. Social media use was assessed by estimating the frequency of social networking site visits per week. Data concerning self-rated physical health, chronic medical and mental health conditions, perceived social isolation, sleep quality, and psychological distress were also collected. Multiple linear regression was used to identify independent variables associated with outcomes. Then, mediation and moderation models were used to examine the potential mediating and moderating effects of psychological distress and SMU on their relationships with the study variables. RESULTS: Higher social media use was associated with better sleep quality and less perceived social isolation. Nevertheless, the relationships between SMU and participants' sleep quality and perceived social isolation were largely mediated by their level of psychological distress. Furthermore, SMU had a significant moderating effect in the relationship between the psychological distress and the levels of perceived social isolation, so that participants with higher frequency of SMU per week felt less loneliness. CONCLUSIONS: The study findings suggest that SMU has a positive buffering effect regarding late middle-aged and older adults' mental health mainly through moderation of their perceived social isolation. The mediating role of psychological distress in research examining the relationship between SMU and older adults' mental health outcomes should be considered in future research.
Subject(s)
Psychological Distress , Sleep Quality , Social Isolation , Social Media , Humans , Social Isolation/psychology , Male , Female , Aged , Cross-Sectional Studies , Middle Aged , Surveys and Questionnaires , Iran/epidemiology , Aged, 80 and over , Stress, Psychological/psychology , Stress, Psychological/epidemiologyABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a diagnosis defined by gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms like abdominal pain and changes associated with defecation. The condition is classified as a disorder of the gut-brain interaction (DGBI), and patients with IBS commonly experience psychological distress. The present study focuses on this distress, defined from reports of fatigue, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, and performance on cognitive tests. The aim was to investigate the joint contribution of these features of psychological distress in predicting IBS versus healthy controls (HCs) and to disentangle clinically meaningful subgroups of IBS patients. METHODS: IBS patients ( n = 49 ) and HCs ( n = 28 ) completed the Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFQ), the Hamilton Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Bergen Insomnia Scale (BIS), and performed tests of memory function and attention from the Repeatable Battery Assessing Neuropsychological Symptoms (RBANS). An initial exploratory data analysis was followed by supervised (Random Forest) and unsupervised (K-means) classification procedures. RESULTS: The explorative data analysis showed that the group of IBS patients obtained significantly more severe scores than HCs on all included measures, with the strongest pairwise correlation between fatigue and a quality measure of sleep disturbances. The supervised classification model correctly predicted belongings to the IBS group in 80% of the cases in a test set of unseen data. Two methods for calculating feature importance in the test set gave mental and physical fatigue and anxiety the strongest weights. An unsupervised procedure with K = 3 showed that one cluster contained 24% of the patients and all but two HCs. In the two other clusters, their IBS members were overall more impaired, with the following differences. One of the two clusters showed more severe cognitive problems and anxiety symptoms than the other, which experienced more severe problems related to the quality of sleep and fatigue. The three clusters were not different on a severity measure of IBS and age. CONCLUSION: The results showed that psychological distress is an integral component of IBS symptomatology. The study should inspire future longitudinal studies to further dissect clinical patterns of IBS to improve the assessment and personalized treatment for this and other patient groups defined as disorders of the gut-brain interaction. The project is registered at https://classic. CLINICALTRIALS: gov/ct2/show/NCT04296552 20/05/2019.
Subject(s)
Anxiety , Brain-Gut Axis , Depression , Fatigue , Irritable Bowel Syndrome , Machine Learning , Psychological Distress , Humans , Female , Male , Irritable Bowel Syndrome/psychology , Irritable Bowel Syndrome/physiopathology , Irritable Bowel Syndrome/complications , Adult , Anxiety/psychology , Anxiety/diagnosis , Middle Aged , Fatigue/psychology , Fatigue/diagnosis , Fatigue/physiopathology , Fatigue/etiology , Depression/psychology , Depression/diagnosis , Sleep Wake Disorders/psychology , Sleep Wake Disorders/physiopathology , Sleep Wake Disorders/diagnosis , Case-Control Studies , Neuropsychological Tests , Stress, Psychological/psychology , Stress, Psychological/diagnosisABSTRACT
The study aims to explore the relationship among metacognition (MC), fear of disease of progression (FoP), psychological distress (PD), and quality of life (QoL), and verify whether FoP and PD have a chain mediating effect between MC and QoL. 231 hematologic tumor patients in a large tertiary hospital were investigated by using Meta-Cognitions Questionnaire-30, Fear of Progression Questionnaire-Short Form, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy scale. Data analyses were performed using IBM SPSS (version 25.0) and the PROCESS macro (version 4.1). The results showed that the direct impact of MC on QoL was not statistically significant. However, the indirect influence of MC on QoL manifest through the independent influences of PD and FoP, as well as the chain mediating effect of "PD â FoP." In addition, all four dimensions of QoL (physical, social and family, emotional, and functional) satisfy the chain mediation model, except for the social and family domain. These insights advance our comprehension of the intricate interplay between MC and QoL, underscoring the importance of improving MC to alleviate patients' PD, mitigate FoP, and ultimately improve the QoL of hematologic tumor patients.
Subject(s)
Hematologic Neoplasms , Metacognition , Quality of Life , Humans , Hematologic Neoplasms/psychology , Male , Female , Middle Aged , Adult , Metacognition/physiology , Aged , Surveys and Questionnaires , Fear/psychology , Disease Progression , Psychological DistressABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Survivors of adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer face significant psychological distress and encounter barriers accessing mental health care. However, limited research exists on psychological health among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) survivors of AYA cancer, particularly in comparison with heterosexual survivors and LGB individuals without a history of cancer. METHODS: Using the National Health Interview Survey (2013-2018), we identified LGB survivors of AYA cancer, LGB individuals without a history of cancer, and heterosexual survivors of AYA cancer. Sociodemographic, chronic health conditions, modifiable factors (such as smoking and alcohol use), and psychological outcomes were assessed using chi-square tests. Logistic regression models, adjusted for survey weights, evaluated the odds of psychological distress by cancer status after accounting for covariates. Interactions between variables and cancer status were explored. RESULTS: The study comprised 145 LGB survivors, 1450 LGB individuals without a history of cancer, and 1450 heterosexual survivors. Compared to heterosexual survivors, LGB survivors were more likely to report severe distress (aOR = 2.26, p = 0.021) and had higher odds of reporting a mental health care visit (aOR = 1.98, p = 0.003). Odds of severe distress (aOR = 1.36, p = 0.36) and reporting a mental health care visit (aOR = 1.27, p = 0.29) were similar between LGB survivors and LGB individuals without a history of cancer. While 47.8% of LGB survivors reported moderate/severe distress, only 29.7% reported a mental health care visit. CONCLUSION: A history of cancer during the AYA years is associated higher odds of severe psychological distress among LGB survivors compared to heterosexual survivors. However, many LGB survivors with psychological distress have not accessed mental health care.
Subject(s)
Cancer Survivors , Psychological Distress , Sexual and Gender Minorities , Humans , Female , Male , Young Adult , Adolescent , Cancer Survivors/psychology , Cancer Survivors/statistics & numerical data , Sexual and Gender Minorities/psychology , Sexual and Gender Minorities/statistics & numerical data , Adult , Neoplasms/psychology , Patient Acceptance of Health Care/statistics & numerical data , Patient Acceptance of Health Care/psychology , Mental Health Services/statistics & numerical data , Stress, Psychological/epidemiologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Psychopathological disorders are often comorbid diagnosis in eating disorders (EDs). We aimed to assess the presence of psychopathological traits and symptoms associated with EDs in an Italian high school adolescent population. METHODS: A sample of high school adolescents was enrolled, and demographic and clinical data were collected. Two self-report questionnaires, the Eating Disorder Inventory-3 (EDI-3) and the Questionnaire for the Assessment of Psychopathology in Adolescence (Q-PAD), were administered. RESULTS: 548 adolescents (333 F/215 M; 16.89 ± 0.85 years) were included. Symptoms associated with EDs of clinical or high clinical concern were prevalent in a range of individuals, with percentages varying from 26.82% for body dissatisfaction to 51.83% for Interoceptive Deficits. The findings from the Q-PAD assessment indicated the presence of psychological distress, leading to discomfort or challenging situations requiring potential intervention in a percentage of adolescents ranging from 2.93% for psychosocial risks to 23.77% for anxiety. These percentages showed differences between genders (F > M, p < 0.001). Our study also highlighted an association between symptoms of EDs and lifestyle factors within families. We observed correlations between Q-PAD measures and EDI-3 scores, including a positive correlation between Q-PAD and EDI-3 body dissatisfaction (r = 0.7), Q-PAD interpersonal conflicts and EDI-3 interpersonal problems (r = 0.6) and a negative correlation between Q-PAD self-esteem and well-being and EDI-3 ineffectiveness Composite (r=-0.7). CONCLUSIONS: a substantial prevalence of ED symptoms and psychological distress among high school adolescents were recorded. These conditions are interrelated, suggesting the importance of addressing them comprehensively. Early detection is essential to improve treatment outcomes and to implement preventive strategies.
Subject(s)
Feeding and Eating Disorders , Humans , Adolescent , Male , Female , Italy/epidemiology , Feeding and Eating Disorders/epidemiology , Feeding and Eating Disorders/psychology , Surveys and Questionnaires , Risk Factors , Self Report , Psychological Distress , Prevalence , Body Image/psychologyABSTRACT
To explore the influence of the 5E rehabilitation nursing model integrated with mindfulness training on mitigating psychological distress and adjusting coping styles in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The clinical data of 94 patients with AMI who underwent PCI from August 2020 to January 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on different nursing modes. Among them, 47 cases received routine interventions were categorized into the control group, and 47 cases received the 5E rehabilitation nursing model integrated with mindfulness training on the basis of routine interventions were categorized into the study group. After 3 months of intervention, both groups exhibited a significant reduction in Self-Rating Anxiety Scale and Depression Scale scores compared to the pre-intervention period, with the study group demonstrating lower scores than the control group (Pâ <â .05). Herth Hope Index scores significantly improved in both groups after intervention, with the study group exhibiting higher scores than the control group (Pâ <â .05). After 3 months of interventions, Self-Care Agency scores significantly elevated in both groups, with the study group demonstrating higher scores than the control group (Pâ <â .05). WHO Quality of Life-BREF scores significantly improved in both groups, with the study group demonstrating higher scores than the control group (Pâ <â .05). The study group exhibited higher compliance and satisfaction levels and lower complication rate compared to the control group (Pâ <â .05). Integrating the 5E rehabilitation nursing model with mindfulness training effectively alleviates psychological distress, ameliorates quality of life, and improves satisfaction in AMI patients after PCI.
Subject(s)
Adaptation, Psychological , Mindfulness , Myocardial Infarction , Percutaneous Coronary Intervention , Humans , Mindfulness/methods , Male , Female , Myocardial Infarction/psychology , Myocardial Infarction/rehabilitation , Myocardial Infarction/nursing , Percutaneous Coronary Intervention/methods , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies , Rehabilitation Nursing/methods , Psychological Distress , Aged , Models, Nursing , Quality of Life , Stress, Psychological/etiology , Stress, Psychological/prevention & controlABSTRACT
To develop the Head and Neck Cancer Psychosocial Distress Scale (HNCPDS) with the aim of identifying high-risk individuals for psychosocial distress among patients, and to assess its reliability, validity and applicability. Using the classical test theory, a total of 435 head and neck cancer patients from six tertiary hospitals in China were recruited for developing the HNCPDS. Delphi expert consultation and item analysis were used to improve the content validity of the preliminary HNCPDS. Factor analysis (FA) and Structural equation modeling (SEM) were used to test the structural validity of HNCPDS. Cronbach's alpha coefficient, Spearman-Brown coefficient and Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) were used to test the internal consistency and retest reliability of HNCPDS. Multiple stepped-linear regression was used to analyze the risk factors of psychological disorder, and Pearson correlation coefficient was used to analyze the correlation between psychosocial distress and quality of life (QOL). The HNCPDS consisted of 14 items, which were divided into 3 subscales: 3 items for cancer discrimination, 5 items for anxiety and depression, and 6 items for social phobia. The HNCPDS had good validity [KMO coefficient was 0.947, Bartlett's test was 5027.496 (P < 0.001), Cumulative variance contribution rate was 75.416%, and all factor loadings were greater than 0.55], reliability (Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.954, Spearman-Brown coefficient was 0.955, test-retest reliability was 0.845) and acceptability [average completion time (14.31 ± 2.354 min) and effective completion rate of 90.63%]. Financial burden, sex, age and personality were found to be independent risk factors for HNCPDS (P < 0.05), and patients with higher HNCPDS scores reported a lower QOL (P < 0.01). The HNCPDS is effective and reliable in early identification and assessment of the level of psychosocial distress in patients with head and neck cancer, which can provide an effective basis for health education, psychological counseling, and social support in the future.
Subject(s)
Head and Neck Neoplasms , Quality of Life , Humans , Head and Neck Neoplasms/psychology , Male , Female , Middle Aged , Reproducibility of Results , Psychological Distress , Adult , Aged , Stress, Psychological/diagnosis , Risk Factors , Psychometrics/methods , China/epidemiology , Surveys and Questionnaires , Factor Analysis, Statistical , Depression/diagnosis , Depression/psychology , Anxiety/diagnosis , Anxiety/psychologyABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Psychological distress in pregnant and postpartum women increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the impact of the pandemic in perinatal women at the end of the health emergency has been rarely studied. This study is aimed at investigating the psychological health of pregnant and postpartum women at the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency, hypothesizing that the COVID-19-related fears influence perinatal psychological distress via the mediation of the COVID-19-related posttraumatic impact and loneliness. METHODS: A total of 200 women in the perinatal period, of which 125 were pregnant and 75 were postpartum, participated in an online survey at the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency in Italy. Depression, anxiety, stress, loneliness, posttraumatic impact of COVID-19 pandemic and COVID-19-related fears were assessed. To test the hypotheses, robust serial mediation analyses were performed. RESULTS: Increased levels of COVID-19-related fears were associated with an increase in perinatal depression, anxiety and stress indirectly through the serial mediation of COVID-19 posttraumatic impact and loneliness. Loneliness played a stronger role in mediating the relationship between COVID-19-related fears and depression than anxiety and stress outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: This study should be considered exploratory for its methodological characteristics and nonreplicability of the pandemic condition. However, this study suggests the importance of assessing posttraumatic reactions to 'collective' crises in pregnant and postpartum women for research and clinical practice. In addition, it sustains the role of loneliness as a transversal construct that should be greatly considered in targeting psychological interventions for women in the perinatal period.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Loneliness , Humans , Female , COVID-19/psychology , Pregnancy , Cross-Sectional Studies , Adult , Italy/epidemiology , Loneliness/psychology , Psychological Distress , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/psychology , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/epidemiology , SARS-CoV-2 , Fear/psychology , Postpartum Period/psychology , Surveys and Questionnaires , Pandemics , Pregnant Women/psychology , Depression, Postpartum/psychology , Depression, Postpartum/epidemiologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The Nightmare Distress Questionnaire (NDQ), known and commonly used for its adequate psychometric properties, is the most widely used instrument for the measurement of nightmare distress. This study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of a newly translated Arabic version of the Nightmare Distress Questionnaire (NDQ-AV). METHODS: A total of 546 Lebanese adolescents was recruited for this study and completed the NDQ-AV, the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and the eight-item Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-8). RESULTS: The results of the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) supported both a one-factor model and a two-factor model of the NDQ-AV, with the latter consisting of seven items within both factors. The first factor was referred to as the "general nightmare distress and coping" while the second was named "nightmare impact and perception". The reliability of the scale was excellent (α = 0.930 and ω = 0.915). Moreover, measurement invariance was shown across gender, demonstrating that this measure performs consistently for both men and women. Additionally, the NDQ-AV scores exhibited excellent reliability alongside factorial and concurrent validity. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, these results support the psychometric validity of the Arabic version of the NDQ. The availability of the NDQ-AV is expected to facilitate the understanding of nightmare distress within the Lebanese context.
Subject(s)
Dreams , Psychometrics , Humans , Male , Female , Adolescent , Lebanon , Reproducibility of Results , Factor Analysis, Statistical , Dreams/psychology , Surveys and Questionnaires/standards , Psychological Distress , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales/standards , Stress, Psychological/psychology , Stress, Psychological/diagnosis , Depression/psychology , Depression/diagnosis , Anxiety/psychology , Anxiety/diagnosisABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Although breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a valuable screening tool, breast MRI testing burden was associated with cancer worry and quality of life. We aimed to develop and validate the MRI-related distress scale (MRI-DS) to assess comprehensive distress specifically related to breast MRI. METHODS: We enrolled women aged above 18 years, diagnosed breast cancer, had MRI examination at least one time, and who could speak and read Korean in phase I and enrolled women aged above 18 years, visited outpatient clinic of breast general surgery, had undergone MRI examination at least once, and could speak and read Korean in phase II. We excluded patients who had any physical or psychiatric conditions in both phases. We recruited from a tertiary university-based hospital in South Korea between April and August 2023. RESULTS: All 18 items had acceptable levels of item correlation (≥0.30) in the explanatory factor analysis with a four-factor solution. The fit indices for the four-factor solution model were good. The discriminant validity of the MRI-DS had a moderate correlation with general anxiety or quality of life. In the known-group analysis, those who reported MRI as the most burden breast examination had higher total scores. CONCLUSION: The validity of the MRI-DS has been confirmed as a scale for measuring the specific distress caused by breast MRI. The MRI-DS is recommended to health professional to communicate with patients with MRI. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: It can be used to assess the distress associated with MRI screening in breast cancer patients. Physician could use MRI-DS to discuss the reasons for distress caused by breast MRI screening and to address specific sources of discomfort associated with it.
Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Quality of Life , Humans , Female , Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods , Breast Neoplasms/psychology , Breast Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Middle Aged , Adult , Republic of Korea , Psychological Distress , Stress, Psychological , Psychometrics , Anxiety/psychology , Anxiety/etiology , Aged , Patient Reported Outcome Measures , Reproducibility of Results , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
AbstractMoral distress is traditionally defined as situations where one knows the right thing to do but external constraints make it nearly impossible to pursue the right course of action. Many interventions to mitigate moral distress focus on making healthcare workers more resilient or courageous in the face of adverse circumstances. While these "virtue cultivation" responses might be valuable traits for individuals, I want to argue that cultivating virtue is at best an incomplete strategy for dealing with moral distress in an organizational setting. The individualistic character of these approaches ignores how an organization's policies may be contributing to many morally distressing situations. I will argue that resources from the virtue tradition can still play a valuable theoretical role in addressing moral distress in healthcare settings if we transpose them to the organizational level. The policies of a hospital or healthcare institution can be seen as virtuous to the degree that they further the organization's goals of medicine. Organizational virtue ethics can then illuminate the issue of moral distress in healthcare organizations. If an organization's policies contribute to its members suffering from moral distress, then that policy may well inhibit the organization from carrying out its mission of providing excellent healthcare. Organizations should respond to moral distress and seek ways to mitigate if not eliminate it.
Subject(s)
Health Personnel , Virtues , Humans , Ethics, Institutional , Morals , Stress, Psychological/etiology , Organizational Culture , Psychological Distress , Organizational PolicyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: This study examined the influence of early life circumstances, family characteristics, social ties and psychological distress in adulthood on adult's health-related behaviours. METHODS: A cohort study (Pro-Saúde Study) involving technical and administrative civil servants at university campuses in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil was conducted in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Data from 2155 adults were collected at baseline (1999) and after a 13-year period (2012-13). Family characteristics at 12 years of age were assessed retrospectively in 1999. Gender, marital status, living situation, social support, social networks of relatives and psychological distress were also measured in 1999. Data collection in 2012-13 included information about marital status, social networks of relatives, cigarette smoking, fruit and vegetable consumption and physical exercise. A conceptual model testing the relationships between variables was assessed through structural equation modelling. RESULTS: Female gender (ß = 0.043), better social networks of relatives in 1999 (ß = 0.053) and 2012-13 (ß = 0.069) and low psychological distress (ß = -0.048) directly predicted less smoking. Better social networks of relatives in 2012-13 was directly linked to higher consumption of fruits (ß = 0.045) and vegetables (ß = 0.051) and being physically active (ß = 0.070). Low psychological distress directly predicted higher fruit consumption (ß = -0.040). Family characteristics at 12 years-old, marital status and living with other people were linked indirectly with health behaviours through social networks, social support and psychological distress. CONCLUSIONS: Adults with better early life family and social circumstances, and those who were married reported positive health behaviours through indirect pathways. Stronger social ties and lower psychological distress represented the pathways by which early life circumstances and relationship status influenced positive health behaviours.
Subject(s)
Family Characteristics , Health Behavior , Psychological Distress , Social Support , Humans , Male , Female , Brazil/epidemiology , Adult , Longitudinal Studies , Middle Aged , Cohort Studies , Young Adult , Stress, Psychological/epidemiology , Stress, Psychological/psychology , Exercise/psychology , Adolescent , Marital StatusABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Online-based interventions provide a low-threshold way to reach and support families. The mentalisation-based Lighthouse Parenting Programme is an established intervention aimed at preventing psychopathological development in children. The objective of this study is to examine the feasibility of an online adaptation of the Lighthouse Parenting Programme (LPP-Online), evaluating (a) recruitment capability, compliance, acceptability and satisfaction with the intervention; (b) the psychometric properties of and the acceptability regarding the adjunct psychological evaluation; and (c) the employed materials and resources. The study will also obtain a preliminary evaluation of participants' responses to the intervention. METHOD AND ANALYSIS: In this monocentric, one-arm, non-randomised feasibility trial, n=30 psychologically distressed parents with children aged 0 to 14 years will participate in the LPP-Online for a duration of 8 weeks. The intervention consists of online group sessions and individual sessions, 38 smartphone-based ecological momentary interventions (EMI), and psychoeducational materials (website, booklet). At baseline (T0) and the end of the intervention (T1), parents complete self-report questionnaires as well as 7-day ecological momentary assessments (EMA) via smartphone. During the intervention, additional EMA are completed before and after the daily EMI. An interview regarding parents' subjective experience with the intervention will be conducted at T1. The feasibility of the intervention, the psychological evaluation and the resources will be examined using descriptive and qualitative analyses. The preliminary evaluation of the parents' response to the intervention will be conducted by analysing pre-post changes in questionnaire measures and the 7-day EMA as well as data of additional EMA completed before and after the daily EMI. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval of the study has been obtained from the local ethics board (Faculty of Behavioural and Cultural Studies, University of Heidelberg). Consent to participate will be obtained before starting the assessments. Results will be disseminated as publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals and at international conferences. REGISTRATION DETAILS: German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00027423), OSF (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/942YW).
Subject(s)
Feasibility Studies , Internet-Based Intervention , Parenting , Parents , Humans , Parents/psychology , Parents/education , Child , Parenting/psychology , Child, Preschool , Adolescent , Infant , Male , Psychological Distress , Female , Adult , Infant, NewbornABSTRACT
Objective: To examine the emotional distress situation among hospitality industry workers and their access to and use of health care including telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A survey was administered on the Qualtrics platform both in English and Spanish from November 18, 2020, to November 30, 2020, through the Culinary Workers Union in Nevada. A total of 1182 union members participated in the survey, of whom 892 completed the survey. Descriptive and multivariable regression analyses were conducted. Results: Among 892 respondents, 78% were people of color; 71% were laid off or furloughed during the COVID-related shutdown, but most had access to health care. Further, 78.8% experienced at least 2 or more signs of emotional distress during the pandemic. Females and unemployment status were positively associated with experiencing emotional distress. About 43.5% received care through telehealth, although most did not prefer telehealth (74.2%). Only 18.3% of non-telehealth users were interested in telehealth and 15.0% had never heard about telehealth. Conclusions: Health insurance coverage is essential for access to health services regardless of employment status. Strengthening mental health services, including psychological counselling for hospitality workers, is needed in such public health emergency situations as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Psychological Distress , Humans , COVID-19/psychology , COVID-19/epidemiology , Female , Male , Adult , Middle Aged , Telemedicine/statistics & numerical data , Surveys and Questionnaires , Nevada/epidemiology , Health Services Accessibility , Young Adult , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 lockdown has forced young children to spend more time on media and significantly impacted their mothers' mental health. This study explored how mothers' individual distress influences children's problematic media use during the Shanghai citywide lockdown caused by COVID-19. Data were collected from 1889 Chinese mothers (Mage = 34.69 years, SD = 3.94 years) with preschoolers aged 3-6 years (Mage = 4.38 years, SD = 1.06 years; 49.0% boys) via an online survey. The statistical analyses relied on SPSS Statistics version 26.0 and macro-program PROCESS 3.3. to investigate the associations and mediation analysis among all the study variables. The results indicated a positive association between maternal distress and children's problematic media use, mediated by parenting stress and maladaptive parenting. Specifically, the serial mediation analysis revealed that high levels of maternal distress exacerbate parenting stress, which in turn leads to maladaptive parenting practices. These maladaptive practices subsequently increase problematic media use in preschool children. The findings highlighted that parents need to enhance their ability to manage risk and promote mental health during periods of significant stress and routine disruption to reduce children's problematic media use.