Do positive emotions prompt people to be more authentic? The mediation effect of gratitude and empathy dimensions on the relationship between humility state and perceived false self.

BACKGROUND: Gratitude, empathy and humility have been defined as personality dispositions, as complex interpersonal emotions, and as states that prompt people to be more pro-social. However, studies on the associations between these emotions and authenticity are scarce. The main purpose of this study was to analyze the mediation effect of gratitude and empathy on the association between humility and perceived false identity. PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE: The number of participants who took part in the survey was equal to 220 university students (91% female). Students completed questionnaires concerning humility (BSHS scale), gratitude (GQ scale), empathy (QCAE inventory), and perceived false self (POFS scale). RESULTS: The results confirmed significant correlations between gratitude, empathy and authenticity, but not with humility. Further analysis revealed that gratitude and affective and cognitive empathy explain 9% of the perceived false identity level. The findings confirmed the mediation effect of gratitude on the associations between (1) humility and false self, (2) affective empathy and false self, but not between cognitive empathy and false self. The results also indicated that humility may influence authenticity indirectly via gratitude, but not via dimensions of empathy. CONCLUSIONS: The findings confirm the significance of gratitude and cognitive empathy as dispositions that promote a feeling of being authentic. On the other hand, the relationship between affective empathy and false self was positive.

Time Perspective Latent Profile Analysis and Its Meaning for School Burnout, Depression, and Family Acceptance in Adolescents.

This study aimed to apply latent profile analysis (LPA) to (a) empirically identify adolescents' profiles based on their time perspective (TP), using a person-centered approach; (b) outline the identified profiles across student burnout, depression, and perceived family acceptance; and (c) establish differences between pre-COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 students. Cross-sectional data were collected through an online survey of 668 adolescents. The participants completed the Kutcher Adolescent Depression Scale (KADS), Student School Burnout Scale (SSBS), Time Perspective Inventory (TPI), and Perceived Family Acceptance (PFA) items. Five subtypes of TP were found: hedonistic youth focused mainly on the present time; hedonistic youths focused on the present and future time; fatalistic youths focused on the present and negative past time; future-oriented youths with a positive perception of the past; and hedonistic youths focused on the present with a mild past-negative time perspective. These five profiles were compared for the variables of student burnout, depression, and perceived family acceptance. Scores from SSBS, KADS, and PFA showed a statistical difference across the five subtypes, with the most intensive mental health, social, and educational problems in profile 5. The level of SSBS was significantly different in the pre-COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 samples; however, no significant differences were found in KADS and PFA. Thus, perspective should be emphasized in adolescents with burnout and depression symptoms.

Safety, tolerability, and efficacy of a widely available nusinersen program for Polish children with Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a devastating neuromuscular disorder with limited treatment options. Nusinersen is the first disease-modifying therapy to treat children and adults with SMA. This study aimed to review the safety, tolerability, and efficacy data of a nusinersen treatment program in Polish children. A total of 298 patients aged from 0 to 18 years were included in the nusinersen treatment program in Poland between March 1 and September 20, 2019. All patients were prospectively followed for at least one year. The mean age at treatment onset was 6.9 years. SMA type 1 symptoms were reported in 127 patients (43.5%), SMA type 2 symptoms in 68 cases (23.3%), and SMA type 3 in 93 patients (31.8%). No patient met the inefficiency criteria defined in the program. One year after treatment initiation, all patients assessed by the CHOP-INTEND scale had improved or remained stable. The mean change in CHOP-INTEND score was an increase of 8.9 points between baseline and after one-year treatment (p < 0.001). Except for 2 fatal cases, not related to the treatment, no serious adverse events were reported. The results of our study indicate that treatment with nusinersen is beneficial for children with SMA regardless of their age, baseline functional status, or the number of SMN2 gene copies. Therapy with nusinersen was effective and well tolerated by patients.

Student Burnout and PTSD Symptoms: The Role of Existential Anxiety and Academic Fears on Students during the COVID 19 Pandemic.

It is well known that student burnout is a serious mental health problem, caused by chronic stress related to the educational area. However, in the COVID 19 pandemic, young people have to struggle with additional threats that affect their overall functioning and perception of the world. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating effects of existential anxiety and academic fears on the relationship between academic burnout and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. The findings confirmed that academic burnout, existential anxiety, and academic fear were significantly associated with higher posttraumatic symptoms. Existential anxiety and academic fear played a mediating role in the association between academic burnout and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. In conclusion, it is considered that student burnout and anxiety indicators are important risk factors for the trauma experienced by students and may increase its symptoms.

The mediating effect of student school burnout on the relationship between coping strategies and Internet addiction.

BACKGROUND: Each person receives and experiences stress differently and applies more or less effective ways of coping. However, the lack of such skills can lead to burnout. As Rózanska-Kowal (2004) writes, the most important predictor of burnout is stress. Everyone is different, has different resources, so there are differences in how to deal with difficult and stressful situations. Some young people with poor coping strategies try to deal with the overwhelming stress by engaging in problematic behaviors, and this heightens the risk of developing substance or Internet addictions. PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE: The aim of this study was to examine the association between coping strategies (CS), student school burnout (SSB) and problematic use of the Internet (PUI), and to check if SSB may be a mediator between CS and PUI. RESULTS: Further analyses revealed that a lower level of the problem - focused coping strategies (active coping and acceptance) and a higher level of helplessness and avoidance behaviors are directly associated with addictive Internet behaviors. However, school burnout mediates only links between active coping, helplessness and avoidance behaviors and problematic Internet use. In addition, gender appeared as a moderator between SSB and PUI. Finally, the results suggested that gender plays a significant role in the relationship between the tested variables. CONCLUSIONS: Male adolescents with poor coping strategies were more prone to school burnout and, because of being burned out, were at a higher risk of excessive Internet use. In the female group school, burnout insignificantly predicted problematic Internet use.

Be Aware of Burnout! The Role of Changes in Academic Burnout in Problematic Facebook Usage among University Students.

Most previous research has examined the relationship between FB addiction and burnout level by conducting cross-sectional studies. Little is known about the impact of changes in burnout on FB addiction in an educational context. Through a two-way longitudinal survey of a student population sample (N = 115), this study examined the influence of changes in academic burnout over time and FB motives and importance (measured at the beginning and the end of the semester) on FB intrusion measured at the end of the academic semester. The findings show that: (1) increases in cynicism and in FB motives and importance significantly predicted time2 FB intrusion; (2) FB importance enhanced the prediction power of changes in the academic burnout total score, exhaustion and personal inefficacy, and reduced the regression coefficient of changes in cynicism; (3) the interaction effects between FB social motive use and changes in academic burnout, as well as between FB importance and personal inefficacy and exhaustion, accounted for a significant change in the explained variance of time2 FB intrusion. About 20-30% of the variance in time2 FB intrusion was explained by all the examined variables and by the interactions between them. The results suggest that changes in academic burnout and FB motives and importance are suppressive variables, as including these variables in the regression model all together changed the significance of the relationship between independent variables and FB intrusion.

Nusinersen treatment of Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1 - results of expanded access programme in Poland.

AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of nusinersen therapy in Polish children with SMA type 1. CLINICAL RATIONALE OF STUDY: Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a neuromuscular disorder that is characterised by the loss of motor neurons, progressive muscle weakness and atrophy, leading to increased disability and mortality. Nusinersen, an antisense oligonucleotide that promotes production of the functional survival motor neuron protein is approved for the treatment of SMA 5q in the European Union. In 2017, an early access programme (EAP) for nusinersen was launched in Poland. In this study, we present the results of nusinersen treatment in Polish patients participating in the EAP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We collected prospectively clinical data including mutational analysis of SMN1 and SMN2 genes, motor function outcomes as measured on a standardized scales, ventilatory and nutritional status, on SMA type 1 patients receiving nusinersen in three EAP centres in Poland. Scores on the CHOP-INTEND scale after 18-26 months of treatment were compared to baseline. RESULTS: We analysed data from 26 patients with SMA type 1, mean age 4.79 (2-15) years. The mutational analysis revealed two SMN2 gene copies in the majority of patients (61.54%). Three and four copies were found in 34.62% and 3.84%, respectively. Median disease duration was 21 months. Half (n = 13) of the patients required mechanical ventilation at baseline and 57.69% (n = 15) were fed by nasogastric tube or percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. No patient worsened during the follow-up. Mean improvement in CHOP-INTEND from baseline to the last follow-up was 7.38 points (p < 0.001). CHOP-INTEND scores did not decline for any patient. Patients with three or more SMN2 gene copies had higher scores than did the patients with two copies (p = 0.013), and they tended to show greater improvement over time, but the difference was not significant (p = 0.324). Shorter disease duration and higher CHOP-INTEND baseline score were associated with a better response (p = 0.015). Patients with a CHOP-INTEND score above the median had higher scores overall than the rest (p < 0.0013), and they improved significantly more than the rest (p = 0.037). Nusinersen was well tolerated, no new safety findings were identified. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Our data indicates that nusinersen treatment might be effective in SMA type 1 patients, regardless of their age and functional status.

Five-year fracture risk assessment in postmenopausal women, using both the POL-RISK calculator and the Garvan nomogram: the Silesia Osteo Active Study.

The study project was designed to assess the concordance of clinical results in the assessment of 5-year fracture risk of any fracture, carried out by two methods: the Garvan algorithm and the POL-RISK model. The study group included 389 postmenopausal women of Caucasian race. The concordance of results, obtained by those two models, turned out to be moderate, and the threshold for high fracture risk group was 11% in the POL-RISK model. PURPOSE: The goal of the study was to evaluate the concordance of results in fracture risk assessments between the Garvan Fracture Risk Calculator and POL-RISK, a new Polish algorithm, and to define an optimal threshold for intervention. METHODS: The study was a part of the Silesia Osteo Active Study. A group of 389 postmenopausal women, aged 65.2±6.9 years (mean ± SD), was randomly selected from the general population of Zabrze, Poland. All the participants had bone densitometry examination to assess the bone mineral density of the femoral neck. The mean femoral neck T-score was (-0.99) ± 1.05 SD. 6.4% of the women revealed osteoporosis. Five-year risk of any fracture was assessed, using the Garvan and POL-RISK calculators. The performance of each model was evaluated by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). RESULTS: The median 5-year risk of any fracture was 7% (range 1-54%) in the Garvan model and 8.8% (range 1.1-45.5%) in the POL-RISK algorithm. There was a significant correlation between the results obtained by both methods (r=0.6, p<0.005). For the thresholds, assumed at 8% and 13% (according to recommendation derived from Garvan tool), the rates of concordance of results between both calculators were 76% and 84%, respectively. In ROC analysis for the POL-RISK method, performed with reference to the Garvan method at two different cut-offs, assumed to be high fracture risk indicators (8% and 13%), the AUC values were 0.865 and 0.884, respectively. The optimal threshold for high fracture risk in the POL-RISK algorithm was ≥ 11%, which yielded a sensitivity of 0.94 and a specificity of 0.71. CONCLUSION: The obtained data demonstrate a moderate concordance of results between the POL-RISK algorithm and the Garvan model, illustrated by low and high fracture risk cut-offs, established in ROC analysis. In addition, the threshold of 11% in the POL-RISK method was the optimal level for "high risk".

Empathy, Gratitude, and Resilience - Does Gender Make a Difference? / Empatía, resiliencia y gratitud: ¿hay diferencias de género?

Past research shows most women report higher levels of empathy and gratitude than men. Although studies show relations among resilience, gratitude, and empathy, little is known on the influence of gender on the links among. The present study examined the individual difference and relations among young adults' levels of empathy, gratitude, and resilience, particularly how gender influences such relations. Participants were 214 Polish self-identified females and males' young adults, who completed self-report measures of empathy, gratitude, and resilience. Results showed that females scored higher in empathy and gratitude than males, but males reported higher levels of resilience than females. Resilience also served as a mediator between empathy and gratitude and this differed according to self-identified gender. Implications for gendered developmental research in social cognition are discussed

Investigaciones anteriores muestran que la mayoría de las mujeres reportan niveles más altos de empatía y gratitud que los hombres. Aunque los estudios muestran relaciones entre resiliencia, gratitud y empatía, se sabe poco sobre la influencia del género en los vínculos entre ellos. El presente estudio examinó las diferencias individuales y las relaciones entre los niveles de empatía, gratitud y resiliencia de los adultos, particularmente cómo el género influye en tales relaciones. En segundo lugar, se probó el papel de mediación de la resiliencia en las asociaciones entre empatía y gratitud. Los participantes fueron 214 adultos polacos (104 mujeres) autoidentificados, con edades entre 18 y 55 años (M = 28.29 años, DT = 11.19), que completaron medidas de empatía de autoinforme en línea (escala QCAE), gratitud (escala GRAT) y resiliencia (escala SPP-25). El estudio transversal se utilizó para obtener los datos. Los resultados muestran que las mujeres obtuvieron puntuaciones más altas en empatía y gratitud que los hombres, pero los hombres informaron niveles más altos de resistencia que las mujeres. La apertura a nuevas experiencias de vida (dimensión de resiliencia) surgió como el predictor más fuerte de gratitud en ambos grupos. La resiliencia también sirvió como mediador entre la empatía y la gratitud y esto difería según el género autoidentificado. Se discuten las implicaciones para la investigación del desarrollo de género en psicología positiva

Thinking about My Existence during COVID-19, I Feel Anxiety and Awe-The Mediating Role of Existential Anxiety and Life Satisfaction on the Relationship between PTSD Symptoms and Post-Traumatic Growth.

BACKGROUND: The global outbreak of COVID-19set new challenges and threats for every human being. In the psychological field it is similar to deep existential crises or a traumatic experience that may lead to the appearance or exacerbation of a serious mental disorder and loss of life meaning and satisfaction. Courtney et al. (2020) discussed deadly pandemic COVID-19 in the light of TMT theory and named it as global contagion of mortality that personally affected every human being. Such unique conditions activate existential fears as people start to be aware of their own mortality. OBJECTIVE: The main aim of this study was to test the mediating effect of existential anxiety, activated by COVID-19 and life satisfaction (SWLS) on the relationship between PTSD symptoms and post-traumatic growth (PTG). We also examined the moderated mediating effect of severity of trauma symptoms on life satisfaction and existential anxiety and its associations with PTG. METHOD: We conducted an online survey during the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak in Poland. The participants completed existential anxiety scale (SNE), life satisfaction scale (SWLS), IES-R scale for measuring the level of PTSD symptoms and post-traumatic growth inventory (PTGI). RESULTS: The effect of PTSD on PTG was found to be mediated by existential anxiety and life satisfaction. We also confirmed two indirect effects: (1) the indirect effect of PTSD on PTG via existential anxiety and life satisfaction tested simultaneously; (2) the indirect effect of life satisfaction on PTG through severity of trauma symptoms. An intermediate or high level of PTSD level was related to less PTG when low and full PTSD stress symptoms strengthened PTG experiences. CONCLUSIONS: A therapeutic intervention for individuals after traumatic experience should attempt to include fundamental existential questions and meaning of life as well as the severity of PTSD symptoms. The severity of traumatic sensations may affect the relationship between life satisfaction and post-traumatic growth.

Sex Differences in the Relationship between Student School Burnout and Problematic Internet Use among Adolescents.

BACKGROUND: The Internet has many positive sides, but it can also have a negative impact on human emotional-cognitive and behavioral functioning, especially during adolescence. To the most common consequences, the authors add addiction of the teenager to the Internet. This addiction is related to many negative physical and mental problems, including depression, substance abuse and social isolation. METHODS: In the study, SSBS (Student School Burnout Scale) was used to measure the level of burnout, and the level of Internet addiction was measured using PUI (Internet Addiction Test). The research was carried out among 230 individuals aged 17-20 years. RESULTS: The results of the research showed that higher level of school burnout is related to higher Internet addiction indicators, and connection was stronger in the male group. Gender significantly predicted Internet addiction and moderated the link between school burnout and Internet addiction. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses confirmed different predictors of Internet addiction for male and female students. However, for both groups, higher burnout due to parents was a significant predictor of Internet addiction (IA). DISCUSSION: Internet addiction was predicted by school burnout, appearing as a result of parental pressure for high school achievements. In addition, school burnout and school-related characteristics have greater prediction power of Internet addiction and its indicators in a male group.

Antiepileptic treatment before the onset of seizures reduces epilepsy severity and risk of mental retardation in infants with tuberous sclerosis complex.

BACKGROUND: Epilepsy appears in 70-80% of patients with tuberous sclerosis complex, most commonly in the first year of age. Early manifestation of epilepsy is associated with drug-resistant epilepsy and mental retardation in more than 80% of patients. Clinical epileptic seizures are preceded by deterioration of EEG recording thus infants with high risk of epilepsy can be identified. AIMS: We hypothesized that preventative antiepileptic treatment of infants with multifocal activity on EEG might lower the incidence of drug-resistant epilepsy and mental retardation. METHODS: Forty-five infants with early diagnosis of tuberous sclerosis complex were included in the open-label study. They were divided in two groups: standard (n=31) and preventative one (n=14). In standard group the antiepileptic treatment was launched early, but after the onset of seizures. In preventative group medication was commenced when active epileptic discharges were seen on EEG, but before the onset of clinical seizures. Children were followed till the end of 2 years of age. RESULTS: At 24 months of age mental retardation was significantly more frequent and severe in "standard" vs "preventative" group (48% vs 14%; p=0.031; mean IQ score 68.7 vs 92.3; p<0.05). The "preventative" group was characterized by higher ratio of seizure-free patients (93% vs 35%; p=0.004), lower incidence of drug-resistant epilepsy (7% vs 42%; p=0.021) and lower number of patients requiring polytherapy (21% vs 55%; 0.039) than the "standard group. CONCLUSIONS: Preventative antiepileptic treatment of infants with tuberous sclerosis complex and high risk of epilepsy markedly improves their neurodevelopmental outcome and reduces the incidence of drug-resistant seizures.