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Background and objectives: Examination anxiety is a common occurrence, and is potentially detrimental to student attainment. In recent theorizing, it has been suggested that cognitive appraisals, as put forth in cognitive appraisal theory, and irrational beliefs, as put forth in rational emotive behavior therapy, may interact to predict affectivity. The current research examines the antecedents and associates of examination affect and academic self-concept in undergraduate students. Design: A preliminary study applied confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to test the factor structure of an irrational beliefs inventory. Study 1 utilized a cross-sectional and correlational approach to testing core theoretical assumptions. Study 2 took a two-wave longitudinal and path analytical approach to examine temporal effects between target variables. Method: All self-report data collection took place in the United Kingdom with university students. We recruited n = 1150, n = 362, n = 662 for preliminary, study 1, and study 2, respectively. Results: Across studies, data indicated that a pattern of adaptive cognitive appraisal was associated with more advantageous affectivity, and better academic self-concept. Conclusions: Reciprocal temporal relationships were revealed between many variables, supporting an interactive and bidirectional view of how cognition and affect are related pertaining to examination anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Against the backdrop of the COVID‐19 pandemic, workplace wellbeing is a key priority for employers. Severe market and health conditions continue to bring inevitable problems that could be reduced with the application of psychological interventions to prevent mental and physical health issues, making this study a highly pertinent and valuable contribution to the field. This paper reports the effects of a rational emotive behaviour therapy (REBT) programme on the irrational beliefs and emotional reactivity of 56 office‐based sales professionals located in the northwest region of the UK. A pre‐test, post‐test experimental design was utilised, and a mixed model ANOVA (repeated measures) was adopted to assess changes in mean differences concerning irrational beliefs and emotional reactivity at pre and post‐test stages for the intervention group, in comparison to a control group. Results indicate that those in the REBT group reported significant reductions in irrational beliefs and emotional reactivity, whilst those in the control group reported no such changes. It is recommended that future research studies consider utilizing a mixed methods design and focus on a strategic collaboration of organisational and individual level interventions for improving the psychological wellbeing and performance of sales personnel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strong evidence that folic acid (FA) prevents the majority of cases of neural tube defects (NTDs) has led to national organisations developing guidelines for women concerning periconceptional supplementation. In Europe, there is evidence of national variations in the incidence of NTDs, with a recent Irish study reporting an increase in the rate. This review compares the periconceptional FA supplementation guidelines between the different countries in Europe. An online search of country-specific guidelines produced before 2015 concerning periconceptional FA supplementation was conducted. If an English version was not available directly, the EUROCAT register was searched for the English version of the recommendations. We identified national guidelines from 20 European countries. Over half recommended that FA supplements be taken by women planning a pregnancy, but three recommended that they should be taken by all women of child-bearing age. Four guidelines recommended starting FA at least 4 weeks preconceptionally, but no country recommended starting FA at least 12 weeks preconceptionally as suggested by recently published studies. There is a need for further consideration of the duration of preconceptional FA supplementation specifically. The latest scientific evidence in this area should inform the development of European guidelines on FA, as there is wide variation in current recommendations. Overall, the wide variation in national guidelines concerning periconceptional FA supplementation may in part explain the differences in national rates of NTDs reported by EUROCAT. National guidelines on FA supplementation should be standardised across European countries., Author(s): S Cawley [sup.1] , L Mullaney [sup.1] , A McKeating [sup.2] , M Farren [sup.2] , D McCartney [sup.1] , M J Turner [sup.2] Author Affiliations: (1) School of [...]

This study assessed physiological (cardiovascular) and psychological (confidence, control, and approach focus) data in professional academy soccer players prior to performance in competitive matches. A challenge state is characterised by an increase in cardiac output (CO), and a decrease in total peripheral vascular resistance (TPR). Data were collected from 37 participants, with 19 of these providing data on two separate occasions. Performance was measured using coach and player self-ratings. Challenge reactivity was positively, and significantly, associated with performance. Participants who demonstrated blunted cardiovascular (CV) responses performed significantly worse than participants who displayed either challenge or threat reactivity. There was mixed consistency in CV reactivity for those participants whose data were collected on more than one occasion, suggesting that some participants responded differently across the competitive matches. The association between self-report data and CV responses was weak. This study supports previous research demonstrating that challenge reactivity is associated with superior performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background This longitudinal study examined the profile and pregnancy-related behaviours of women who reported smoking in two successive pregnancies when they presented for prenatal care in a large maternity hospital. Methods Using the hospital electronic medical records, women who delivered two successive singleton pregnancies during the years 2011–15 were analyzed. Standardized data were computerized by a midwife at the first prenatal visit, following delivery and before discharge. Results Over the 5 years, 6647 women delivered twice. Overall 5754 (86.6%) were persistent non-smokers in both pregnancies, 609 (9.2%) were persistent smokers in both pregnancies and between pregnancies 202 (3.0%) quit and 82 (1.2%) started smoking. Compared with persistent non-smokers, persistent smokers had higher rates of reported illicit drug use, alcohol consumption and psychological problems and lower rates of planned pregnancy, folic acid supplementation and breastfeeding in both pregnancies (all P < 0.001). In persistent smokers, folic acid supplementation practices deteriorated and illicit drug use increased in the subsequent pregnancy. Conclusions We found that approximately one in 10 women smoked in two consecutive pregnancies. Furthermore, compared with non-smokers, persistent smokers were more likely to report other health behaviours associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and may require additional multidisciplinary support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Maternal nutrition is a determinant of pregnancy outcomes. Few studies have evaluated the potential of online nutrition resources to modify behaviour. This randomized controlled trial aimed to determine whether access to a customized evidence-based nutrition website in pregnancy improved neonatal outcomes. Methods Women <18 weeks gestation were recruited at their convenience. The control group received standard care. In addition to standard care, the intervention group received access to an evidence-based nutrition website, customized to the preferences of pregnant women. Results Of the 250 women, there were no differences in characteristics between the two groups. Of the women, 91.0% reported they make a conscious effort currently to eat a healthy diet. However, only 19.6% met dietary requirements for calcium, 13.2% for iron, 2.7% for folate and 2.3% for iodine. The most popular website section was pregnancy nutrition advice but engagement was not sustained. Access to the website was not associated with any improvement in clinical outcomes (P > 0.05). Conclusions We found that provision of a customized website providing nutrition information, did not improve neonatal outcomes. Future studies should explore whether redesign with website interactivity or embedding information on popular digital platforms sustains women's engagement and modifies dietary behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The irrational performance beliefs inventory (iPBI) was developed to measure irrational beliefs within performance domains such as sport, academia, business, and the military. Past research indicates that the iPBI has good construct, concurrent, and predictive validity, but the test–retest reliability of the iPBI has not yet been examined. Therefore, in the present study the iPBI was administered to university sport and exercise students (n = 160) and academy soccer athletes (n = 75) at three-time points. Time point two occurred 7 days after time point one, and time point three occurred 21 days after time point two. In addition, social desirability was also measured. Repeated-measures MANCOVAs, intra-class coefficients, and Pearson’s (r) correlations demonstrate that the iPBI has good test–retest reliability, with iPBI scores remaining stable across the three-time points. Pearson’s correlation coefficients revealed no relationships between the iPBI and social desirability, indicating that the iPBI is not highly susceptible to response bias. The results are discussed with reference to the continued usage and development of the iPBI, and future research recommendations relating to the investigation of irrational performance beliefs are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: National guidelines have been developed to ensure correct dosing of tinzaparin for women delivered by caesarean delivery (CD) to reduce the risk of venous thromboembolism.Aims: The aim of this study is to examine the impact of implementation of national guidelines on thromboprophylaxis prescribing practice for women undergoing CD in a university maternity hospital.Methods: Details of tinzaparin usage were obtained from the Hospital pharmacy for the years 2009–2014. Information on CD and pulmonary embolism (PE) were obtained from the Hospital’s annual clinical reports.Results: Following guideline recommendations on weight-based tinzaparin for all women undergoing CD, the usage of syringes prefilled with tinzaparin 4500 IU increased from 526 to 8502 (P < 0.001) and usage of syringes prefilled with tinzaparin 10,000 IU increased from 36 to 910 (P < 0.001). Usage of syringes prefilled with tinzaparin 3500 IU decreased from 8216 in 2009 to 39 in 2014 (P < 0.001). During 2008–2010, there were two cases of PE after CD, both of whom received an inadequate dose of prophylactic tinzaparin. During 2011–2014 there were no cases of PE diagnosed after a total of 9427 CDs.Conclusions: The development of national guidelines on thromboprophylaxis after CD was followed by a significant change in weight-based prescribing of tinzaparin. Following implementation, there have been no cases of PE after CD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]