Brief Coping Scale TCS-9: Optimising the Assessment of Coping Strategies. The case of Health Care Workers.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the focus on mental health, particularly on the coping strategies of healthcare workers who have faced unparalleled stress due to their pivotal role in addressing health disparities and determinants of health. Constantly operating in high-risk environments and managing the surge of critically ill patients, these professionals' psychological resilience has been sternly tested, necessitating robust assessment tools. Aim: This study aims to refine the extensive 54-item Toulouse Coping Scale into a more pragmatic and less time-consuming instrument while preserving its statistical integrity, to support the mental well-being of healthcare workers. Setting: The setting for this study was amongst healthcare workers in Greece, during the COVID-19 pandemic, a period marked by significant psychological demands on medical staff. Methods: We conducted an unbiased exploratory factor analysis on the Toulouse Coping Scale's 54 items, drawing from a sample of 144 healthcare workers, adhering to strict methodological criteria. Results: Data completeness was achieved across the sample, which comprised 40 (28%) males and 104 (72%) females, predominantly aged between 31 and 50 years. The final instrument, encapsulating two domains with a total of nine questions, demonstrated strong internal consistency, with an eigenvalue of 3.438 for the first domain and 1.478 for the second, validated by a scree plot. Conclusion: The streamlined TCS-9 scale facilitates a more rapid assessment of coping strategies while reducing redundancy. The two-domain structure ensures that the revised scale retains the original's thoroughness in a more concise form. Contribution: By enabling quicker and more efficient evaluations, the TCS-9 enhances the practicality of assessing coping mechanisms in healthcare settings, thereby contributing to the sustenance of health systems and the promotion of health equity.

Validating the Stanford Gender-Related Variables for Health Research (SGVHR) in a Canadian population.

In addition to biological sex, the impact of gender on health outcomes is now well-recognized. Gender norms are changing rapidly, demanding contemporary gender assessment tools. This study sought to validate the recent US-based Stanford Gender-Related Variables for Health Research (SGVHR) scale in Canada. We also aimed to improve gender prediction by including socio-demographic information on education, income and occupations. We recruited 2445 Canadian online participants (~50% female; mean age: 49.3). Multigroup confirmatory factor analyses confirmed the SGVHR factor structure in our sample, indicating its generalizability beyond the USA. Regression analyses indicated that the SGVHR subscales were moderately predictive of self-reported gender. Incorporating socio-demographic factors Significantly enhanced gender prediction via the SGVHR. This study underscores the SGVHR's applicability in diverse Western populations and encourages the inclusion of easily accessible sociodemographic variables to approximate a gender metric. Future studies should test the health-relevance of such indicators along with the SGVHR.

Headache Specialists' Perceptions of the Role of Health Psychologists in Headache Management: A Qualitative Study.

Background Since headache specialists cannot treat all the patients with headache disorders, multidisciplinary teams that include health psychologists are becoming more prevalent. Health psychologists mainly use a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), along with biofeedback on occasion, to effectively address patients' pain and headache disorders. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is one setting that routinely includes a health psychologist with advanced training in pain disorders in their pain care to its veterans. The VHA has established Headache Centers of Excellence (HCoE) around the country to provide multidisciplinary treatment for patients with headache disorders, which enables headache specialists to regularly interact with health psychologists. Objective The study's objective is to evaluate headache specialists' views of health psychologists in the treatment of patients with headache disorders. Method Semi-structured interviews were conducted with headache specialists in academic-based healthcare settings, the community, and VHA HCoE sites. The interviews were audio-recorded and de-identified so they could be transcribed and analyzed using content matrix analysis. Results Four themes emerged: headache specialists desired to work with health psychologists and included them as members of multidisciplinary teams; valued health psychologists because they provided non-pharmacological treatments, such as CBT and biofeedback; preferred in-person communication with health psychologists; and used multiple titles when referring to health psychologists. Conclusion Headache specialists valued health psychologists as providers of behavioral and non-pharmacological treatments and considered them essential members of multidisciplinary teams. Headache specialists should strive to work with a headache psychologist, not just a general health psychologist. By committing to this, headache specialists can foster changes in the quality of care, resource allocation, and training experiences related to health psychologists.

Machine learning-based detection of acute psychosocial stress from body posture and movements.

Investigating acute stress responses is crucial to understanding the underlying mechanisms of stress. Current stress assessment methods include self-reports that can be biased and biomarkers that are often based on complex laboratory procedures. A promising additional modality for stress assessment might be the observation of body movements, which are affected by negative emotions and threatening situations. In this paper, we investigated the relationship between acute psychosocial stress induction and body posture and movements. We collected motion data from N = 59 individuals over two studies (Pilot Study: N = 20, Main Study: N = 39) using inertial measurement unit (IMU)-based motion capture suits. In both studies, individuals underwent the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) and a stress-free control condition (friendly-TSST; f-TSST) in randomized order. Our results show that acute stress induction leads to a reproducible freezing behavior, characterized by less overall motion as well as more and longer periods of no movement. Based on these data, we trained machine learning pipelines to detect acute stress solely from movement information, achieving an accuracy of 75.0 ± 17.7 % (Pilot Study) and 73.4 ± 7.7 % (Main Study). This, for the first time, suggests that body posture and movements can be used to detect whether individuals are exposed to acute psychosocial stress. While more studies are needed to further validate our approach, we are convinced that motion information can be a valuable extension to the existing biomarkers and can help to obtain a more holistic picture of the human stress response. Our work is the first to systematically explore the use of full-body body posture and movement to gain novel insights into the human stress response and its effects on the body and mind.

Exploring the role of cancer fatalism and engagement with skin cancer genetic information in diverse primary care patients.

OBJECTIVE: To broaden the currently limited reach of genomic innovations, research is needed to understand how psychosocial and cultural factors influence reactions to genetic testing in diverse subgroups. Cancer fatalism is important in cancer prevention and deserves theoretical and empirical attention in the context of genomics and behavior change. METHODS: The current study employed data from a randomized controlled trial (N = 593) offering skin cancer genetic testing (using the melanocortin-1 receptor [MC1R] gene) in primary care in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. We examined interrelations of cancer fatalism with demographics, general health beliefs, perceived risk, perceived control, sun protection and skin screening behaviors and cancer worry in the skin cancer context stratified across Hispanic versus non-Hispanic ethnicity, and examined cancer fatalism as a moderator of intervention effects on study primary outcomes, including 3-month sun protection, cancer worry and perceived risk. RESULTS: Cancer fatalism was significantly related to the perception of control over skin cancer risk behaviors (ps ≤ 0.01) and demographics (ethnicity, education, health literacy; ps < 0.05), but not consistently related to general health beliefs or risk perception. Cancer fatalism did not moderate intervention effects on primary outcomes, except those with higher cancer fatalism randomized to intervention had higher levels of 3-month cancer worry (p = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: These findings will guide future work considering the role of cancer fatalism in use of genomic technologies in the general population. This work anticipates strategies required to address cancer fatalism as translational genomics becomes more commonly available to diverse general population subgroups.

Dose-response effects of exercise on mental health in community-dwelling older adults: Exploration of genetic moderators / Efectos dosis-respuesta del ejercicio sobre la salud mental en adultos mayores que viven en la comunidad: exploración de moderadores genéticos

Background/Objective: (1) Examine the role of exercise intensity on mental health symptoms in a community-based sample of older adults. (2) Explore the moderating role of genetic variation in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and apolipoprotein E (APOE) on the effects of exercise on mental health symptoms. Method: This study is a secondary analysis of a three-arm randomized controlled trial, comparing the effects of 6 months of high-intensity aerobic training vs. moderate-intensity aerobic training vs. a no-contact control group on mental health symptoms assessed using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS). The BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and APOE ε4 carrier status were explored as genetic moderators of exercise effects on mental health symptoms. Results: The exercise intervention did not influence mental health symptoms. The BDNF Val66Met polymorphism did not moderate intervention effects on mental health symptoms. APOE ε4 carrier status moderated the effect of intervention group on perceived stress over 6 months, such that APOE ε4 carriers, but not non-carriers, in the high-intensity aerobic training group showed a decline in perceived stress over 6 months. Conclusions: APOE ε4 carrier status may modify the benefits of high-intensity exercise on perceived stress such that APOE ε4 carriers show a greater decline in stress as a result of exercise relative to non-APOE ε4 carriers.(AU)

"I loved before, but now I love even more." Qualitative study of posttraumatic growth as a consequence of severe COVID-19 experience in Slovak adults.

Introduction: The results indicate that post-traumatic growth does indeed occur after overcoming the severe form of COVID-19. It suggests that this posttraumatic growth most often occurred through a reassessment of priorities and an appreciation of life itself and loved ones. COVID-19 disease has been one of the most discussed and researched topics for several years, as it dramatically affects everyone's daily life. Methods: The qualitative study presented here focuses on health psychology, especially post-traumatic growth after overcoming a severe form of the COVID-19 disease. We worked with adult people who had either been treated in the intensive care unit or had been hospitalized with severe pneumonia. Results: Thematic analysis was used to determine categories and subcategories. The study presented here contributes to knowledge about the COVID-19 experience by mapping a Slovakian sample of adult participants. Discussion: The results obtained by Thematic analysis help us better understand how people experience the disease, especially those who have overcome a severe form of the disease and thus had a borderline experience when their lives were directly threatened, as well as their overall health.

The perception, understanding and experience of flourishing in young people living with chronic pain: A Q-methodology study.

Much research has adopted a deficits-based approach to chronic pain, neglecting the study of flourishing. Using a Q-methodological framework, this study sought to explore how individuals experience, understand and perceive flourishing in the context of young people living with chronic pain. Fifty-four individuals completed a Q-sorting task, indicating their level of agreement and disagreement with 52 statements. Q-analysis generated three factors that represented clear viewpoints of participants: 'Pain is not a barrier to flourishing', 'Adapting to a new life' and 'Adopting a positive perspective'. Factors expressed the viewpoints that flexibility is key to enjoying life despite chronic pain, while resilience, management of stressors, acceptance and problem-solving may be required to flourish with chronic pain. Participants' understanding of flourishing also focused on the appreciation and enjoyment of life and achievements. This study provides a useful contribution towards furthering our understanding of flourishing in young people living with chronic pain.

Ageing with Parkinson's: Identification of Personal Needs in the Northern Spanish Context.

As individuals diagnosed with Parkinson's disease enter older age, the myriad challenges and complications associated with this condition tend to escalate. Hence, there is a critical necessity to comprehensively discern the perceived needs of these individuals, along with their proposed remedies and essential support requisites. Additionally, understanding the perspectives of their families becomes imperative to formulate tailored interventions aimed at enhancing their overall development, progression, and quality of life. The study's main objective is to assess the perceived needs of individuals with PD and their family members, propose necessary solutions, and suggest future perspectives. The study encompassed a cohort of 268 participants, comprising 179 individuals diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and 89 of their relatives. A meticulously designed structured interview instrument consisting of 93 items was employed to assess various domains encompassing perceived needs, institutional support mechanisms, essential solutions, and future anticipations. Results: Statistically significant differences were found in health resources, social services resources, obstacles, solutions, and future outlook, with higher mean values from the relatives. Conclusions: The results highlight the most concerning needs in this context. Specifically, those needs related to health resources, social services resources, and future outlook present the greatest differences between the two subsamples, with the family members perceiving more needs. This alignment extended to both the categorization of unmet needs and the requisite solutions envisioned to address them. Suggested improvements include a sociosanitary strategy, stakeholder involvement, and prioritizing flexible home assistance to support older individuals with PD and their families.

Access to inpatient mood management services after stroke in Australian acute and rehabilitation hospitals.

OBJECTIVE: Post-stroke mental health impairments are common, but under-assessed and under-treated. We aim to describe trends in the provision of mood management to patients with stroke, and describe factors associated with adoption of national mood management recommendations for stroke within Australian hospitals. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from the biennial Stroke Foundation Audit Program. SETTING: Participating acute (2011-2021) and rehabilitation hospitals (2012-2020) in Australia. PARTICIPANTS: In the acute audit, 22,937 stroke cases were included from 133 hospitals. In the rehabilitation audit, 15,891 stroke cases were included from 127 hospitals. MAIN MEASURES: Hospital- and patient-level mood management processes. RESULTS: Among 133 acute hospitals (22,937 stroke episodes), improvements were made between 2011 and 2021 in utilization of mood screening (17% [2011], 33% [2021]; p < 0.001) and access to psychologists during hospital stay (18% [2011], 45% [2021]; p < 0.001). There was no change in access to a psychologist among those with a mood impairment (p = 0.34). Among 127 rehabilitation hospitals (15,891 stroke episodes) improvements were observed for mood screening (35% [2012], 61% [2020]; p < 0.001), and access to a psychologist during hospital stay (38% [2012], 68% [2020]; p < 0.001) and among those with a mood-impairment (30% [2012], 50% [2020]; p < 0.001). Factors associated with receiving mood management processes included: younger age, not requiring an interpreter and longer length of stay. CONCLUSIONS: Adherence to mood management recommendations has improved over 10 years within Australian hospitals. Those aged over 65, requiring an interpreter, or with shorter hospital stays are at risk of missing out on appropriate mood management.

Dose-response effects of exercise on mental health in community-dwelling older adults: Exploration of genetic moderators.

Background/Objective: (1) Examine the role of exercise intensity on mental health symptoms in a community-based sample of older adults. (2) Explore the moderating role of genetic variation in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and apolipoprotein E (APOE) on the effects of exercise on mental health symptoms. Method: This study is a secondary analysis of a three-arm randomized controlled trial, comparing the effects of 6 months of high-intensity aerobic training vs. moderate-intensity aerobic training vs. a no-contact control group on mental health symptoms assessed using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS). The BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and APOE ε4 carrier status were explored as genetic moderators of exercise effects on mental health symptoms. Results: The exercise intervention did not influence mental health symptoms. The BDNF Val66Met polymorphism did not moderate intervention effects on mental health symptoms. APOE ε4 carrier status moderated the effect of intervention group on perceived stress over 6 months, such that APOE ε4 carriers, but not non-carriers, in the high-intensity aerobic training group showed a decline in perceived stress over 6 months. Conclusions: APOE ε4 carrier status may modify the benefits of high-intensity exercise on perceived stress such that APOE ε4 carriers show a greater decline in stress as a result of exercise relative to non-APOE ε4 carriers.

Psychosocial experiences of involuntary definitive childless women: a comparative study based on reproductive status.

STUDY QUESTION: Do involuntary definitive childless women have lower psychosocial adjustment levels than women with infertility diagnoses actively trying to conceive and presumably fertile women? SUMMARY ANSWER: Involuntary definitive childless women have lower levels of sexual functioning than infertile women actively trying to conceive and presumably fertile women, and higher levels of depression than presumably fertile women. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Involuntary definitive childless defines those who wanted to become parents but were unable to do so. Studies have provided evidence about infertility and its psychosocial consequences, but there is a lack of knowledge about the impact of involuntary definitive childlessness, namely on sexual function, social support, marital satisfaction, and psychological adjustment. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: This associative study was conducted between July 2021 and January 2022 for involuntary definitive childless women and between July 2016 and February 2018 for women with an infertility diagnosis actively trying to conceive as well as presumably fertile women. An online questionnaire announced in social media and gynaecology and fertility clinics was used. The inclusion criteria for all participants were being childless, in a heterosexual relationship and cohabiting for at least 2 years. Specific inclusion criteria for involuntary definitive childless women were: trying to conceive for at least 2 years; not achieving pregnancy because of biological and medical constraints; and not undergoing fertility treatment or being a candidate for adopting a child at time of the study. For women with an infertility diagnosis the inclusion criteria were: actively trying to conceive (naturally or through fertility treatments); having a primary fertility diagnosis; and aged between 22 and 42 years old. For presumably fertile women, the inclusion criteria were: having a parenthood wish in the future; and not knowing of any condition that could prevent them from conceiving. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Out of 360 women completing the survey, only 203 were eligible for this study (60 involuntary definitive childless women, 78 women with an infertility diagnosis actively trying to conceive, and 65 presumably fertile women). All participants completed a questionnaire including sociodemographic and clinical data, the Female Sexual Function Index, the 2-Way Social Support Scale, the Relationship Assessment Scale, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Binary logistic regression was performed to assess the relation between sexual function, social support, marital satisfaction, anxiety, depression, and reproductive status, adjusting for age, and cohabitation length. Presumably fertile women were used as a reference group. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Women were 34.31 years old (SD = 5.89) and cohabited with their partners for 6.55 years (SD = 4.57). The odds ratio (OR) showed that involuntary definitive childless women had significantly lower sexual function than infertile women actively trying to conceive (OR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.79-0.99) and presumably fertile women (OR = 34.89, 95% CI = 1.98-614.03), and higher depression levels than presumably fertile women (OR = 99.89, 95% CI = 3.29-3037.87). Women with an infertility diagnosis actively trying to conceive did not differ from presumably fertile women in sexual function, social support, marital satisfaction, anxiety, and depression. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: The majority of childless women underwent fertility treatments, and childlessness for circumstantial reasons owing to lack of a partner was not included, therefore these results may not reflect the experiences of all women with an involuntary childless lifestyle. There was a time gap in the recruitment process, and only the definitive childlessness group filled out the questionnaire after the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. We did not ask participants if they self-identified themselves with the groups' terminology they were assigned to. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Our results emphasize the importance of future research to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the adjustment experiences of childless women and an awareness of the poor adjustment they might experience, highlighting the need to keep following women after unsuccessful treatments. Clinical practitioners must attend to these dimensions when consulting involuntary definitive childless women who might not have gone through treatments but also experience these adverse outcomes. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): This study was partially supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: N/A.

Just World Beliefs among Medical Students and the General Public in Hawai'i.

Just World Beliefs (JWBs) are a psychological tendency to conclude the world is an inherently fair place in which people experience the outcomes they deserve. Strong JWBs positively correlate with a personal commitment to long-term ambitions and blaming people for their negative health outcomes. This study aimed to measure JWBs in medical students and the general population of Hawai'i. It was hypothesized that (1) medical students would have stronger JWBs than the general public, and (2) JWBs would be strongest for medical students in the latter part of their training. Current residents of Hawai'i and medical students at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa were recruited to complete a web-based survey measuring JWBs using the Global Belief in a Just World Scale. A t-test was used to compare JWB strength between the groups. A regression analysis identified factors predicting strength of JWBs. Contrary to both hypotheses, medical students in Hawai'i possessed weaker JWBs than Hawai'i residents (P<.01), and JWBs did not differ based on training duration (P=.97). Age (P<.01) was the only demographic variable to significantly predict JWBs. The difference in JWBs among medical and non-medical cohorts was no longer significant after controlling for age. Among medical students, younger age was associated with weaker JWBs. Future studies should explore the prevalence and effects of JWBs among diverse populations and the medical professionals that care for them.

Prevalence of alcohol and drug use and their impact on adherence among hospitalised TB patients in South Africa.

This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the use of alcohol and drugs and the potential impact on adherence to medication for tuberculosis. Adult patients admitted to specialised tuberculosis hospitals in South Africa were assessed for drug use, alcohol use and adherence to tuberculosis medication. A total of 175 patients participated in the study; 32% reported harmful alcohol use, and 44% reported problematic use of drugs. Participants who used drugs were four times as likely (OR = 4.11, 95% CI (1.89, 8.91)) and those using alcohol were twice as likely (OR = 2.06, 95% CI (1.02, 5.08)) to be nonadherent to medication for tuberculosis. Prevalence of harmful/hazardous use of alcohol and other drugs was high and significantly correlated with poorer medication adherence. Routine screening for and treatment of substance use in patients on treatment for tuberculosis and ongoing monitoring of adherence to medication is recommended.

Macro-engagement in mHealth: Exploring user engagement beyond the screen.

While digital technology holds great promise for health and well-being, some users feel sceptical about the time they spend online and how they use their mobile devices. This attitude could hamper uptake of digital health technologies and engagement with them. This study uses the concept of macro-engagement as a starting point to investigate how users of digital behaviour change interventions (DBCIs) engage with their behaviour change goals beyond the screens of their tools. Thirty semi-structured interviews were conducted with individuals who take part in behaviour change processes in different ways (i.e. mental health professionals, digital health experts and users of DBCIs). A qualitative analysis of their data through a grounded theory approach highlighted a wide array of offscreen behaviors and strategies that complement a behavior change process offscreen. Furthermore, implications for designing technology that encourages progressive non-reliance on DBCI usage are drawn out.

Breaking the Habit? Identifying Discrete Dimensions of Sitting Automaticity and Their Responsiveness to a Sitting-Reduction Intervention.

BACKGROUND: Growing evidence suggests that sitting is activated automatically on exposure to associated environments, yet no study has yet sought to identify in what ways sitting may be automatic. METHOD: This study used data from a 12-month sitting-reduction intervention trial to explore discrete dimensions of sitting automaticity, and how these dimensions may be affected by an intervention. One hundred ninety-four office workers reported sitting automaticity at baseline, and 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 12 months after receiving one of two sitting-reduction intervention variants. RESULTS: Principal component analysis extracted two automaticity components, corresponding to a lack of awareness and a lack of control. Scores on both automaticity scales decreased over time post-intervention, indicating that sitting became more mindful, though lack of awareness scores were consistently higher than lack of control scores. CONCLUSION: Attempts to break office workers' sitting habits should seek to enhance conscious awareness of alternatives to sitting and afford office workers a greater sense of control over whether they sit or stand.

Behavioural Sciences Contribution to Suppressing Transmission of Covid-19 in the UK: A Systematic Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: Governments have relied on their citizens to adhere to a variety of transmission-reducing behaviours (TRBs) to suppress the Covid-19 pandemic. Understanding the psychological and sociodemographic predictors of adherence to TRBs will be heavily influenced by the particular theories used by researchers. This review aims to identify the theories and theoretical constructs used to understand adherence to TRBs during the pandemic within the UK social and legislative context. METHODS: A systematic review identified studies to understand TRBs of adults in the UK during the pandemic. Identified theoretical constructs were coded to the Theoretical Domains Framework. Data are presented as a narrative summary. RESULTS: Thirty-five studies (n = 211,209) investigated 123 TRBs, applied 13 theoretical frameworks and reported 50 sociodemographic characteristics and 129 psychological constructs. Most studies used social cognition theories to understand TRBs and employed cross-sectional designs. Risk of sampling bias was high. Relationships between constructs and TRBs varied, but in general, beliefs about the disease (e.g. severity and risk perception) and about TRBs (e.g. behavioural norms) influenced behavioural intentions and self-reported adherence. More studies than not found that older people and females were more adherent. CONCLUSIONS: Behavioural scientists in the UK generated a significant and varied body of work to understand TRBs during the pandemic. However, more use of theories that do not rely on deliberative processes to effect behaviour change and study designs better able to support causal inferences should be used in future to inform public health policy and practice. PROSPERO REGISTRATION: CRD42021282699.

Exploring and describing current behavioral and social sciences curricula in predoctoral dental programs.

PURPOSE: To maintain accreditation status, predoctoral dental programs in the United States and Canada are required to train future dentists in the fundamentals of behavioral sciences. Each program independently determines how to fulfill this task, and little information exists on the consistency of training across programs. The purpose of this study was to identify the range of topics currently taught in predoctoral dental programs in the United States and Canada, who teaches them, and the modes of instruction and assessment. METHODS: Invitations to complete an online survey were emailed to faculty responsible for, or familiar with, the behavioral sciences curricula at 75 predoctoral dental programs in the United States and Canada. Questions elicited information on behavioral sciences education at each program, including instructor background, topics taught, instructional and assessment methods, and sources of content. RESULTS: Of those invited, 27 (36%) completed surveys. Per the responses, prototypical behavioral sciences programs usually consist of didactic/lecture format teaching, mostly during the first 2 years of the predoctoral program, by a dentist who assesses students using multiple-choice or true/false exams. The results indicated, however, substantial variation in what is taught, how it is taught, who teaches it, and how it is assessed. CONCLUSIONS: While being a requirement for accreditation, this study demonstrated how behavioral and social sciences topics, teaching strategies, and assessments, along with the individuals teaching those topics varied across predoctoral programs. Consistency, coordination, and clinical integration are possible ways of enhancing behavioral science instruction.

"Learning with each other, about each other": Interdisciplinary learning among genetic counseling students and clinical health psychology residents.

Interprofessional collaborative healthcare is known to improve provider satisfaction and retention, as well as patient safety and quality of care. The specific knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to work in these environments are best taught interprofessionally. Despite having considerable overlap in training, orientation, and populations served, it is rare for trainees from genetic counseling and clinical health psychology to interact and learn together. In 2017, we developed an innovative week-long clinical health psychology rotation for students in the University of Manitoba MSc in Genetic Counselling Program, which aims to enrich psychotherapeutic/counseling knowledge and skills, as well as gain familiarity with the work of clinical psychologists. This rotation incorporates didactic teaching, observation, and structured reflection. Didactic teaching includes topics such as psychological assessment, adaptation to life-altering news, skills for managing intense emotional responses, and counseling for change. Observations of clinical health psychologists and clinical health psychology residents occur in a range of health settings. Structured reflection is practiced in both oral and written formats. Finally, both groups of trainees participate in an interprofessional case seminar series. Feedback from this experience has been very promising, and it was identified as a strength in the program's accreditation review. Adaptations over time include refining the clinical exposures to increase breadth and relevance, increasing the contact between the trainees from the two professions and enhancing the case seminar series to be more learner-driven and to focus on explicit interprofessional skills and themes. In addition to expected results, this rotation has led to some unanticipated findings, including an emergent emphasis on the social determinants of health and the need to work collaboratively for systemic change. Further, psychology residents have identified that it benefits them to learn more about genetic counseling and expressed interest in potential reciprocal learning opportunities in genetics clinics.

Relationship Between Athletes' History of Stressors and Sport Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

A history of stressors in athletes represents psychosocial factors that may lead to sport injury. However, empirical studies have provided varying results for the relationship between stress history and sport injury. We examined prior literature on the stress history - sport injury relationship within a systematic review and, by meta-analysis, we offered a pooled estimate of the strength of this relationship. We searched seven major academic databases (Sportdiscus, Psyinfo, Academic Search Premier, Ovid, Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed) from January 2000 to September 2023 and identified 19 empirical studies that examined injuries in sports contexts for meta-analysis. In 19 empirical studies of moderate to high publication quality, we found moderate heterogeneity (Q(17) = 98.61; p < .001), low sensitivity (I2 77.82-83.77), and low publication bias (Z-value = 7.74; p < .001). Further, using a random effect estimate-r, we found a low but significant correlation between stress history and sport injury, yielding a small overall effect size (ES) of r = .12. Furthermore, moderation analyses found adolescents (r = .14), contact-sport athletes (r = .09), non-elite athletes (r = .13), and non-European athletes (America r = .16; Asia r = .14; Oceania r = .14) to have a relatively higher ES than their counterparts in this stress history/sport injury relationship. We concluded that inevitable life stressors may lead to many negative consequences for athletes, such that sports professionals should provide stress management educational programs to enhance athletes' health and well-being.