Mental health and religiosity: the role of experiential avoidance in the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress

Several studies have considered religiosity to be a protective factor against several mental health difficulties. However, other studies suggest the opposite, that is, that religiosity is a risk factor associated with psychological symptoms. In this context, there are no studies that evaluate this relationship considering the role of experiential avoidance, which is a predictive transdiagnostic variable of various mental health disorders. This study evaluated the relationship between experiential avoidance, attitudes toward religion, and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress in a sample of believers using a non-experimental cross-sectional design in the city of Valdivia, Chile. Results indicate that experiential avoidance is positively related to symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress, being the only predictor variable of the three symptomatic dimensions. Engaging in regular religious practice was not associated with religious literalness or experiential avoidance, while religious literalism was negatively associated with stress. Finally, Evangelicals showed a more regular religious practice than Catholics, while Catholics showed a higher index of religious literality; however, these differences were not associated with mental health. The clinical implications of these results are discussed (AU)

Burnout syndrome in dentistry, difficulties and search for solutions: a critical review

Burnout syndrome (BOS) is defined as a gradual exhaustion of the individual that appears on people whose occupation requires direct contact with other people and providing them a helpful service. BOS tends to be associated with somatic and behavioral alterations, as well as emotio-nal disorders. Dentists present an important workplace risk, since they are the most prone to suffer from BOS. Likewise, dentistry students present a varied prevalence of stress, generally due to the students' attitudes, which are mostly aimed at perfection and excellence, as well as aca-demic, social and institution-related factors. The aim of this review is to identify factors involved in BOS in dentistry and preventive measures in educational and professional contexts. BOS is characterized by being a persistent negative mental state showing fatigue, exhaustion and disa-ppointment. The main physical reaction generated by academic stress in dentistry students was sleepiness with 10.8%, followed by increase in food consumption with 6.4%, and restlessness and despair with 5.2%. Students might be severely affected according to the adaptive response that they present, which is individual. On the one hand, they might face the challenges in a posi-tive manner, managing to learn from them. On the other hand, the might lose control and not be able to face difficulties, thus being likely to develop pathological states of depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and dependency on alcohol or other hallucinogenic substances. Education agents are particularly relevant, since they contribute to the configuration of the students' way of thinking and acting. Therefore, the integration of critical thinking and socioemotional abilities must be promoted and reinforced among the educational community. It is important to realize that the presence of BOS is not due to an individual weakness, but is a symptom that something is wrong with the educational institution.