Identification of sexual myths of university students in health-related departments and affecting factors.

AIM: The research aimed to determine the attitudes of students studying in health-related departments toward sexual myths and the factors affecting them. METHODS: The study is descriptive research involving 287 students enrolled in health-related departments. The data were collected using a "Descriptive Information Form" and the "Sexual Myths Scale (SMS)" and analyzed using the SPSS 22.0 software package. The SPSS 22.0 package program was used to evaluate the data. In statistical analysis, Spearman correlation analysis was employed to determine the relationship between continuous variables and the SMS score, and the statistical significance level was accepted as p<0.05. RESULTS: The total score was found to be 53.57±17.54 (min: 28.00 to max: 140.00), reflecting a moderate level. There was a statistically significant difference between the total score of SMS according to gender, family type, maternal employment status, and paternal education level (p<0.05). It was also determined that male students, students whose mothers were unemployed, who lived in extended families, and whose fathers had low education had lower SMS scores. CONCLUSION: Despite students studying in health-related departments and receiving relevant courses, their level of sexual myths remains at a moderate level, indicating the presence of knowledge gaps and misconceptions in the subject matter. Therefore, it is crucial to implement comprehensive education and counseling services on reproductive and sexual health for all university students.

The effectiveness of an exercise intervention in reducing the severity of postpartum depression: A randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: This study aims to identify the effectiveness of an exercise program in reducing the severity of postnatal depression in women who had a spontaneous vaginal delivery. DESIGN AND METHODS: This randomized control trial was conducted with 65 postpartum women residing in a city located in south-eastern Turkey. In the first postpartum month, following random assignment of subjects, the experimental group (n = 40) performed exercises for 4 weeks, and the control group (n = 40) received standard care. The participating women were administered the Edinburgh postpartum depression scale. FINDINGS: The average age of the participants was 28.90 ± 4.83 (min:19, max:40). Pretest mean depression scores of the exercises (16.41 ± 1.61) and control group (15.74 ± 2.35) were found to be similar, and there were no statistically significant differences (P > .05). After the 4-week exercise program, a statistically significant difference was found between the posttest mean scores of the exercises (7.29 ± 1.67) and control (12.54 ± 2.65) group participants. Pretest mean scores were found to be similar, and there were no statistically significant differences (Z = -6.501, P = .001). CONCLUSION: The 4-week exercise program was found to be an effective method in decreasing the severity of depressive symptoms experienced in the postpartum period. Nurses and midwives providing care in the postpartum period are recommended to provide women in this period with exercise training. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Postpartum depression is a specific psychological disorder in which preventive interventions might lead to dramatic benefits. Exercises done in the postpartum period are reported to enable psychosocial well-being, less anxiety, and depression.

Do university students' personality traits affect their attitudes towards gender roles?

PURPOSE: Attitudes of individuals towards gender roles may be affected by their experiences such as personality traits. This study is to identify the relationship between university students' personality traits and their attitudes towards gender roles. DESIGN AND METHODS: This cross-sectional was conducted with 301 university students between November 2018 and January 2019. FINDINGS: The students who had introverted personality traits had traditional attitudes according to the egalitarian gender role subscale (P < 0.05). Students who had neurotic personality trait had more traditional attitudes according to the female, marriage, traditional, and male gender role subscales (P < 0.05). PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: It may be advisable to enable students with an introverted and neurotic personality to develop an egalitarian attitude towards gender roles through women health nursing and psychiatric nursing studies.