Search

This study analyzed households' food security and its determinants along with the coping mechanisms opted against food insecurity while assessing the food security interventions in southern Ethiopia. Combination of emergency and project food aids are the two major intervention strategies enforced to alleviate food insecurity in the area. The results from descriptive statistics show that 74.17% of the surveyed households were food insecure. The logit model result revealed that sex, age, education level of household head, family size and access to remittance were significant factors that affect the status of household's food security. Finally, empowering women, fair aid targeting on older households, strengthening formal and informal education, awareness creation on effective family planning and reducing the dependency syndrome and encouraging entrepreneurship were identified to factors that potentially improve food security on the households.

Orientation: The life of working-class postgraduates can be exhilarating and daunting, juggling the commitments of full-time employment and postgraduate studies. Insofar as can be established, little, if any, research has been conducted on exploring the experiences of such students in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. An in-depth investigation is necessary to assist management and academic institutions to support such students. Research purpose: The purpose of the study was to understand the selected working-class postgraduate students’ perceptions of studying while working simultaneously, as well as explore the experiences, challenges and coping mechanisms of the cohort of students. Motivation for the study: The severe financial challenges, psychological burnout and other obstacles that working-class postgraduates face, which often impair their ability to perform optimally in both their career and studies, motivated the research. Therefore, recommendations can be made to management and institutions of higher learning to assist such students. Research approach/design and methods: The study was positioned in the qualitative research paradigm and used explorative single case study research design and semi-structured interview approach to collect data from the research participants. Four-stage content analysis method was used to analyse the interview transcripts, because the focus was on understanding the content and contextual meaning derived from the transcribed texts. Seven themes were identified, namely, development and growth, applicability of knowledge across school and work, time management and planning, drive and ambition, struggles and sacrifices, support systems/services and work–study balance. Main findings: The results indicate that time management skills and planning, drive and ambition, work–study balance and support from employers and family are significant coping factors that promote working-class postgraduates’ success in their careers and studies. Practical/managerial implications: Given the positive role that time management skills and support play in ensuring professional and academic success, the researchers advocate for professional and institutional interventions. Such interventions could be in the education, training and development domain that can ameliorate the effects of conflicting demands of work and postgraduate studies. Contribution/value-add: Initiating the conceptualisation of a coping mechanism model that combines effective management with high motivation and goal setting can stimulate additional empirical-related research towards validating the conceptual model.

Through analytical autoethnographic analysis of marathon preparation, this study examines challenges faced by people with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) who engage in high-performance sports. Autoethnographer and second-person perspectives (T1D runners, family members, and health providers) were collected through introspective activities (autoethnographic diary and in-depth interviews) to understand the T1D runner’s coping experience. Six insights involved in T1D self-management were identified and analyzed with reference to related design tools (prototyping, archetyping and journey mapping). Finally, we conclude with a discussion of how endurance physical activity (PA) such as running helps to “domesticate” T1D, a term coined to reflect the difficulties that T1D presents for PA accomplishment and how T1D runners’ experiences give them an opportunity to overcome PA barriers promoting physical culture and enriching further health psychology studies.

Abstract This study examined the capacity of sex as leisure approach to serve as a coping strategy with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on sex life and its relationships with people’s tendency to use other coping mechanisms and benefit from them. The cross-sectional data were collected using an online survey (N = 675, 65.9% women, age range:18-76yo). The analysis included t-tests and multivariate multiple regressions. Results show that many people used sex as leisure approach as a coping strategy with the impacts of the pandemic on their sex lives and found it useful. Sex as leisure approach included attitudinal, behavioral, and technologically mediated strategies. The use and capacity to benefit from sex as leisure coping strategy had significant (and in most cases, large) effects on people’s propensity to use and find useful other sexual coping mechanisms, including creativity and pleasure, diversion, goal-setting, relational, educational, caution/logistical, online and technology, and innovation/experimentation coping strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The present study aimed to explore, for a better understanding, the relationship between dysfunctional coping mechanisms, functionality, and quality of life in patients with major depression, during an acute episode and euthymic phase. 65 patients diagnosed with recurrent major depressive disorder were included in a longitudinal study, during which they were evaluated twice, clinically, for coping mechanisms, and also for different life quality areas. For the first time, all patients were assessed during an acute depressive episode and for the second time after 6 months of euthymia. Coping mechanisms were assessed with the Brief COPE scale, the severity of depression was evaluated by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17 items, the quality of life with the WHOQOL-Bref, and the functionality with GAF. Results: The coping mechanisms, represented by self-distraction and self-blame, were identified as being significantly correlated with the areas of life quality, mental health, and general environment, for patients having an acute depressive episode. In the euthymic phase of major depression, all dysfunctional coping strategies showed statistically significant associations with the quality-of-life domains and the coping mechanism represented by disengagement was significantly correlated with the global functionality. Conclusions: Regardless of the current mood state, acute depression or euthymic phase, the dysfunctional coping mechanisms influence the level of life quality domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With lifestyle disruptions in almost all individuals' lives during the COVID-19 pandemic, anti-Asian incidents surged in the United States. The researchers employed a phenomenological method with semi-structured interviews to explore Southeast Asian immigrants' lived experiences from Chinese Texans' perspectives. We employed two research questions for investigation, including a) What were Southeast Asian immigrants' lived experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic and b) How do Southeast Asian immigrants perceive and cope with other individuals' standpoints or perspectives toward the COVID-19 pandemic? We identified six emerging themes from participants' responses, including a) grappling with bias and avoidance, b) overwhelming endeavors, c) pandemic concerns and revocation, d) psychological impacts and somatic symptoms, e) fatigue rising over homeschooling, and f) effective coping mechanisms during the pandemic. Participants concluded that their COVID-19 experiences were more related to cultural and background differences rather than racial issues. Participants also shared their coping strategies that helped them conquer adverse impacts that they faced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The issues of disabilities in their children shake the families and serve as sources of severe psychological disruption to family adjustment. The parents of children with special needs are confronted with major changes in their family life, both with regard to the relationship between husbands, as well as to the parent-child relationship and for this efficient relationship and their quality of life not to suffer, it is necessary that each of the parents develops his/her own resources. The parents of such children live with many difficult issues and frequently experience trauma, grief and stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research determined the challenges encountered by the parents from three schools in Palawan, Philippines, and their applied coping mechanisms concerning modular distance learning. The inquiry employed a mixedmethod research design with 100 randomly sampled participants for the quantitative part and 12 purposively chosen participants for the qualitative component. Results revealed that the main challenge encountered by parents in distributing and retrieving modules is having no time to teach children at home. Nonetheless, the parents could cope with their challenges in supporting their child's education. The result aims to promote awareness to the concerned parents on how they are going to manage challenges when it comes to the distribution and retrieval of modules, to have a positive outlook and mindset, to contribute to the smooth flow with regards to the distribution and retrieval of modules for the next school year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The influence of the COVID‐19 vaccine and the evolution of the pandemic over time on nurses' mental health have not been thoroughly examined. This study aimed to explore the changes in nurses' mental health from the early pandemic to the early vaccination period over a 1‐year time span and examine vaccination and coping mechanisms as predictors of nurses' poor mental health and burnout. Methods: Three cross‐sectional surveys were conducted: Early‐pandemic (n = 320), pre‐vaccination (n = 228), and early‐vaccination cohorts (n = 292). Findings: About 72% of nurses in the early‐vaccination cohort were fully vaccinated with two doses of mRNA COVID‐19 vaccines. There were significant decreases in moderate/severe anxiety and moderate/severe depression for the early‐vaccination cohort compared to the other cohorts. In multivariate analyses, vaccination had almost three‐fold higher odds of moderate/severe anxiety (Odds Ratio [OR] = 2.87; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 1.28–6.44). High resilience, family functioning, and spirituality were associated with two‐ to five‐fold lower odds of poor mental health and burnout. Conclusions: Although nurses in the early‐vaccination cohort had lower anxiety and depression than earlier cohorts, COVID‐19 vaccination had minimal associations with nurses' mental health. Coping mechanisms and organizational support appear to be important predictors of nurses' poor mental health and burnout. Clinical relevance: The evidence gathered over 1 year of the pandemic may be helpful for a better understanding of the challenges facing frontline nurses and preparing for future healthcare crises. As a part of the preparedness plan for the future, evidence‐based interventions that raise frontline nurses' resilience, as well as family and spiritual support, should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Health-care workers (HCWs) are facing stigma during the COVID-19 pandemic. Stigma is associated with poor mental health. Aims: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and psychological impact of COVID‑19‑related stigma and different coping mechanisms among physicians in Mumbai. Settings and Design: An online cross-sectional survey was conducted. Subjects and Methods: One hundred and seventy physicians from Mumbai were administered questionnaires on perceived stress, anxiety, COVID-19-related stigma, and coping strategies. Statistical Analysis Used: Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation tests, and binary logistic regression in the SPSS, version 20.0. Results: The prevalence of stress and anxiety was 57.6% and 20.0%, respectively. 34.7% of physicians felt stigmatized due to COVID‑19. Stress was significantly associated with COVID‑19‑related stigma (P = 0.009), and emotion-oriented coping (P = 0.000), as was anxiety (P = 0.000, P = 0.000, respectively). Conclusions: COVID-19-related stigma is a major issue among physicians. Stigma and emotion-oriented coping mechanisms are predictive of mental distress in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Covid pandemic has exposed fissures of inequality through heightened food insecurity and nutritional deficiency for vulnerable social cohorts with limited coping mechanisms. Given the multi-dimensional pathways through which its effects have been felt, several researchers have highlighted the need to analyse the pandemic in specific contexts. Using random and fixed effect regression models, this study analyzed longitudinal survey data collected from 103 Mandinka households in rural and urban Gambia. The study employed convenience and snowball sampling and involved the monthly collection of detailed income, food consumption, expenditure, sourcing, migration, health, and coping mechanism data through mobile phone interviews which yielded 676 observations. Food insecurity was manifest in terms of quality, not quantity, and spread unevenly across food types and households. Dietary outcomes and sourcing strategies were associated with location, improved sanitation, household size, changes in monthly income, Covid policy stringency, and Covid cases but these associations varied by food group. Staples were the most frequently consumed food group, and dark green vegetables were the least. Rural communities were more likely to eat more healthy millets but much less likely to consume dairy products or roots and tubers. Access to own production was also important for Vitamin A-rich foods but higher incomes and markets were key for protein and heme-iron-rich foods. Tighter Covid policy stringency was negatively associated with dietary diversity and, along with fear of market hoarding, was positively associated with reliance on a range of consumption and production coping mechanisms. Resilience was higher in larger households and those with improved water and sanitation. The number of Covid cases was associated with higher consumption of protein-rich foods and greater reliance on own produced iron-rich foods. Very few households received Government aid and those that did already had access to other income sources. Our findings suggest that the nature of food insecurity may have evolved over time during the pandemic. They also reiterate not only the importance of access to markets and employment but also that the capacity to absorb affordability shocks and maintain food choices through switching between sources for specific nutritious food groups varied by household and location.

Background The cyclic nature of Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) affects those with severe symptoms in ways that make them incapacitated or inefficient every month impairing their quality of life. This problem in Uganda is compounded by the cultural stigma associated with menstruation making it difficult for ladies and communities to address the associated problems. Therefore, this study sought to identify how Premenstrual Syndrome affects the quality of life of female University students in Central Uganda in terms of effects and coping mechanisms. Methodology A cross-sectional study was carried out using a questionnaire between November 2021 and May 2022. 238 participants from 4 universities who met the inclusion criteria were given self-administered questionnaires on PMS symptoms, effects and coping mechanisms. The data was analysed to obtain frequencies and percentages. Statistically significant associations between PMS and Effects of PMS as well as the Coping mechanism were determined using Chi-square correlations. Results At least 70 (33%) of the 212 respondents reported that the PMS symptoms affected either their school and/or their relationships or their daily activities plus home chores. Statistically significant effects of PMS on school efficiency were: sleeping in class χ2(1, n=212) = 4.957, p=0.026; and being late on assignments χ2(1, n=212) = 6.279, p=0.012. Coping mechanisms that were found to be statistically significantly associated with PMS at α-level of 5% were: hiding or locking self in a room χ2(1, n=212) = 4.846, p=0.028; taking alcohol χ2(1, n=212) = 5.115, p=0.024; seeing a health worker χ2(4, n=212) = 14.201, p=0.007; and taking pain killers χ2(1, n=212) = 5.202, p=0.03. Conclusion PMS was significantly affecting school efficiency of students. Recommendation There are still huge knowledge gaps about PMS that need addressing. Some students reported that they used herbal preparations for PMS symptoms which need to be investigated for potential pharmaceutical development.

This study aims to investigate the adaptive strategies employed by dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) in response to oral disease conditions, focusing on their survival and proliferation. DPSCs possess regenerative potential and play a crucial role in the repair and regeneration of dental tissues. The study explores the coping mechanisms of DPSCs under oral disease conditions using a chitosan-based biomaterial reinforced with calcium zirconium nanoparticles (CZNP). The investigation assesses the viability and proliferation of DPSCs in the presence of oral disease conditions and evaluates the performance of the chitosan-CZNP biomaterial. The study presents the characterization and performance evaluation of drug-loaded biomaterials with varying weight percentages of CZNP. Parameters such as porosity, drug release, fracture toughness, tensile strength, degradation rate, and apatite formation are examined. The results demonstrate that increasing the weight percentage of CZNP leads to higher porosity and drug release while maintaining or enhancing fracture toughness, tensile strength, and apatite formation. Notably, the biomaterial containing 7.5 wt% CZNP exhibits the highest drug release, fracture toughness, and apatite formation. These findings suggest that the chitosan-CZNP biomaterial effectively supports the survival and proliferation of DPSCs under oral disease conditions. An artificial neural network (ANN) is employed to predict the properties of samples with different weight percentages and apatite formation. The ANN successfully estimates the degradation rate, tensile strength, fracture toughness, drug release, and porosity of the samples. This research enhances our understanding of the coping mechanisms of DPSCs and highlights the potential of chitosan-CZNP biomaterials in oral tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Further investigations are warranted to explore the long-term effects and clinical applications of these biomaterials in the treatment of oral diseases. • Investigation of adaptive strategies employed by dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) in response to oral disease conditions. • Exploration of the coping mechanisms of DPSCs using a chitosan-based biomaterial reinforced with calcium zirconium nanoparticles. • Characterization and performance evaluation of drug-loaded chitosan-calcium zirconium nanoparticle biomaterials for dental tissue engineering. • Successful prediction of biomaterial properties using an ANN model for optimizing composition and apatite formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic context put to test all adaptive skills of human beings around the world. In this disruptive context, a sample of 401 respondents (173 male and 228 female), aged between 19 and 65 years old, were assessed using the Unconditional Self-Acceptance Questionnaire (USAQ), the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ), the Emotional Distress Profile (PDE) and the Autonomy Questionnaire, from Cognitrom Assessment System. The main objectives of the study aimed at identifying the significant differences in emotional distress, coping mechanisms, autonomy and self-acceptance based on gender and age as grouping variables, and the significant relationships between all these variables. Statistics show differences in behavioural and emotional autonomy between male and female, differences related to catastrophizing and blaming others as resilience mechanisms between male and female, differences in self-acceptance and positive assessment (as coping mechanism) between young people and adults, and significant negative correlations between emotional distress and all types of autonomy (value, cognitive, behavioural and emotional), significant positive correlation with coping mechanisms like blaming others, catastrophizing, self-blame and acceptance, and significant negative correlation with positive assessment and refocusing on planning. All results are discussed in the context of the disruption caused by the pandemic context and in relationship with the necessity of supporting people to maintain their mental health and well-being, now more than ever, with the new turning back to the previous way of life caused by the lifting of the state of alert by the authorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experiences in childhood, both positive and negative, are crucial to a child's progression. Childhood traumas and adversities are detrimental to children's development and can have long term consequences that manifest themselves in young adulthood. The purpose of this study is to inductively explore coping strategies used by young adults during their experience of childhood traumas and adversities. A sample of college students from a diverse northeastern university (N = 146) provided quantitative and qualitative survey responses. Students were asked, "What were the tools you used to cope with adversity and/or traumatic events?" Participants responded to the prompt based on their experiences from childhood. The researchers analyzed the qualitative data using a mixed-method, thematic approach to coding participant responses. Additional quantitative information is explored to explain emerging qualitative themes. Two salient themes of coping strategies emerged, providing support for Machado et al. (2020): (1) Emotion-Focused Coping and (2) Problem-Focus Coping. Minor themes built on the findings in the area of Emotion-Focused Coping, highlighting processes of (i) emotional regulation, (ii) emotional expression, and (iii) emotional avoidance. Excerpts from this study's participants suggest that individuals dealing with adversities and traumas find a variety of ways to cope. These coping strategies can be implemented into institutions' everyday practices to aid children during their time of vulnerability. The article provides recommendations for school administrators, leadership teams, and any professional specializing in school culture, curriculum, and social work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the 1990s, integrated catchment management (ICM) has been promoted as a holistic and integrated approach to water resources management. However, there is evidence to show that the costs and benefits associated with ICM are often inequitably distributed. This study investigates impacts of the implementation of catchment strategies on four rural communities and the coping mechanisms available to residents to cope with concomitant socioeconomic hardships within the Densu River basin, Ghana. The study relies on data collected through reviewing regulatory and policy documents, interviews, observations, and a household survey of 327 respondents. The results show that the implementation of the catchment strategies has negatively impacted the economies of all communities leading to local resistance. Increasing unemployment, decreasing incomes, and decreasing sales are generating increasing crime rates, out migration, and changing gender roles with additional burden on women. What compounds the problem are that socioeconomic interventions and coping mechanisms have failed to make any significant impact. We argue that for effective ICM, proportional representation of local people on catchment committees should be central in order to incorporate a thorough understanding of the local socioeconomic issues and integrating those issues into the implementation process; otherwise catchment strategies risk disproportionately impacting rural communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following the global changes during the pandemic period, employers and employees had to comply with the requirements and rules imposed, and those who did not adapt were eliminated or suffered numerous damages. The study highlights the importance of psychological constructs involved in the industry, such as stress, burnout, adaptability and professional coping mechanisms. The article includes objectives, purpose, hypotheses, conceptual bases, methodology, tools for measuring them and addresses part of the specialized literature about the concepts mentioned at the workplace and their measurement. The aim being to highlight the relationships between stress - adaptability and professional burnout, stress - low performance at work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article formulates some key aspects of the experiences of Estonian men who served in World War I, and went through subsequent critical situations during and after World War II–including interrogation, imprisonment, and forced settlement. By focusing on the case study of Oskar Nõmmela (1893–1969), the article analyzes various coping mechanisms and strategies – especially those relating to interpersonal relationships – that were used in difficult situations. We investigate how successful or unsuccessful these strategies turned out to be in aiding Nõmmela to navigate between hope and despair; and how the strategies evolved throughout his life from one critical situation to another. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the tenth-grade students' significant learnings, challenges, and coping mechanisms by investigating their learning experiences in Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao (EsP) using self-learning modules. The researchers used the qualitative case study method and gathered information through online interviews with the twenty participants who completed their first and second quarters with top grades. The study disclosed the students' significant learnings such as correcting the wrong decision, responsible use of freedom, using the right conscience and identifying acts of man and human acts. Students also experienced difficulties learning EsP using self-learning modules due to a lack of teacher-student interaction and poor time management. However, participants show positivity in coping mechanisms for using internet websites as their learning tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature that examines the nexus of climate risk and armed conflict tends to be based on quantitative datasets and focuses on the causal relationship between the two issues. A limited number of studies consider the human dimensions of this nexus, but this literature has not been the subject of a synthesis. This article reviews the research examining the climate risk and armed conflict nexus, with specific emphasis on field studies and qualitative research. It aims to synthesize key findings emerging from the literature in order to shed light on the human dimensions of this nexus. Our analysis focuses on two broad themes: exposure and response. Exposure varies according to regional particularities and across locations while gender and weak political institutions are significant determinants in further increasing vulnerability. Response to the experience of the climate risk and armed conflict nexus consists primarily of various forms of migration. We also draw attention to specific directions for future research efforts to better understand the human dimensions of the climate-conflict nexus. This includes methodological considerations, attention to the anticipated aggravation of geopolitical realities through climate risk, and the identification of countries having a high climate risk index, and which are experiencing ongoing armed conflict. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identification of root causes and associated impacts of land fragmentation is necessary to reduce future fragmentation and mitigate its impacts. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore the causes and impacts of land fragmentation in a purposively selected coastal Upazila (sub-district) of Bangladesh. This study is carried out mainly based on the collected information from the individual representative of the selected 133 households. It discloses that most of the households observed the land fragmentation during their possession because of rapid population growth and breaking the joint/extended families into nuclear families. In fact, land fragmentation can increase or decrease a particular land use type. However, the results of this research confirm that there are no significant (p >0.07, based on the number of households) associations found between increasing and decreasing homestead land. In contrast, the number of households with cropland significantly (p <0.0001) decreased, whereas the number of households having wetlands significantly (p <0.04) increased. The surveyed households have been practicing high-yielding varieties of crops, using biofertilizers, possessing new land, and changing their income sources for adapting to new land use behavior. The surveyed villagers opine that the land fragmentation problem could be managed by encouraging people living with extended/joint families, vertical use of land, adopting land use policy, etc. The results of this community-reported study can be used to mitigate the impacts of land fragmentation in the coastal rural area of Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Esophagogastroduodenoskopi procedure is an invasive procedure that can cause problems in patients who will undergo it. To overcome anxiety, a coping mechanism is needed. Purpose: This study aims to find out the relationship between coping mechanisms and anxiety levels of Pre Esophagogastroduodenoskopi (EGD) patients in the Endoscopy Unit of Hospital I Hospital I Dr. Saiful Anwar Malang. Method: The study used a correlation analytic design with a cross sectional approach. The number of samples obtained by 34 respondents with the sampling technique used is total sampling. Statistical analysis using the Spearman Rho test with SPSS version 26. Results: The results of this study showed there is a meaningful relationship between coping mechanisms and pre esophagogastroduodenoskopi (EGD) patient anxiety levels in the Endoscopy Unit of IRNA I RSUD Dr. Saiful Anwar Malang (p =0.001) at signification values of 0.05 and r =- 0.554, indicating that the direction of negative correlation with the strength of strong relationships, so that it can be concluded the more adaptive the coping mechanism then the lower the anxiety level. Conclusion: The use of proper coping mechanisms in pre esophagogastroduodenos copy patients can lower anxiety levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several professionals, including teachers, have been engrossed in fear of the worst happening due to COVID-19 and the rapidly evolving nature of the virus affecting the perception of safety in any working environment. This study examined teachers' perception of classroom safety, anxiety, and coping strategies during instructional delivery in senior high schools in Ghana. Adopting the cross-sectional survey design with a quantitative approach, a convenient sample of 174 senior high school teachers in the Cape Coast Metropolis completed a questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, analysis of variance, and multiple linear regression. The findings showed that teachers perceived their classroom environment as unsafe during instructional delivery amidst COVID-19 and reported modest to extreme levels of anxiety. Further, teachers with a high level of COVID-19 anxiety were found to utilize active coping strategies to manage stressful situations. The reported unsafe working environment in schools during pandemic times highlights the critical role of supportive working environments for teachers' mental and psychological wellness. School counseling psychologists, school welfare officers, and school health coordinators should collaborate to implement interventions (e.g., social emotional learning; resilience strategies) that promote the wellbeing of teachers and a safe working environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Caregivers share cancer experiences with patients, but little is known about their own experiences in the end-of-life phase, the most difficult phase in the caregiving journey. Aims: To describe the experiences of caregivers of cancer patients admitted to a hospice in South Africa. Methods: A qualitative design was used; 22 (n=22) participants were purposively selected and in-depth interviews were conducted. Analysis of the data was by qualitative content analysis. Findings: A total of three themes arose from the data: emotional responses towards the caregiver role, personal cost of caregiving and spiritual issues relating to caregiving. Conclusion: Caring for cancer patients during the last phase of life was not easy. Responsibilities overwhelmed the participants and they were emotionally exhausted. They lacked knowledge of how to care and experienced a heavy financial burden. Despite the challenges that they faced, faith and religious practices served as a coping mechanism and kept some going. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Romanian Case Law Review / Revista Română de Jurisprudenţă is the property of Universul Juridic Publishing House and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Psychology / Revista de Psihologie is the property of Romanian Academy Publishing House / Editura Academiei Romane and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract Aims To examine the impact of various factors affecting nurses' mental health during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Design An online cross‐sectional study. Methods Registered nurses who graduated from a nursing school in Southern California, USA, participated in the study from 20 April–10 May 2020 (N = 320). Kendall's tau correlations and multivariate logistic regression procedures were performed with stress, anxiety and depression as outcome variables. Results Most nurses reported moderate/high stress (80.1%), while 43% and 26% reported moderate/severe anxiety and depression, respectively. COVID‐19 patient care was positively associated with moderate/severe high stress (OR = 2.25; p = .012) and moderate/severe anxiety (OR = 3.04; p

International students bring academic, cultural, and economic value to universities around the world. However, adjustments for these students can be difficult as a result of culture shock, resulting in early exit from the university. In order to help inform university personnel on how to better assist international students, this study examines the interpersonal, psychological, and physiological symptoms of culture shock of three Korean international graduate students at a large public university in the southwest United States. Data were collected through three interviews and seven weekly online journals. The findings uncovered the existence of culture shock for each of the three participants to differing degrees at various times throughout the semester. In particular, a comparatively higher incidence of interpersonal and psychological culture shock symptoms compared with physiological ones was displayed, thus showing strong support for theories that conceptualize culture shock as individualized in nature. In addition, the data revealed that personal characteristics, family, religion, and exercise all played a role in the participants' abilities to cope with culture shock. The results of this study could help universities better understand and support international students, ensuring that the university can benefit from the unique value these students bring to campus.

Background: At least half of children and adults with Down syndrome have a major mental health concern during their life but few studies ask people with Down syndrome directly about their experience. We used a co-research model to explore anxiety, stress, and coping in adults with Down syndrome., Methods: Our group of researchers and adults with Down syndrome conducted an online survey on mental health for adults with Down syndrome. We analysed quantitative data and thematically grouped coping mechanisms., Results: Sixty adults with Down syndrome completed the survey, mean age was 30 years, and 55% of respondents had some employment. Approximately 80% of respondents reported experiencing stress and 75% reported experiencing anxiety. Employed respondents were more likely to use social coping mechanisms., Conclusion: Soliciting responses from adults with Down syndrome about their mental health can provide valuable insights. Mental health is a concern for people with Down syndrome that should be addressed., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Introduction: We compared depression of people who smoke and those who do not, depending on whether they have an underlying disease making them at risk for COVID-19. Moreover, we analyzed the factors associated with their depression. Methods: We recruited 948 Lebanese residents, ages 18 and above. Our survey included the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) to assess depression. We divided participants, based on smoking and having a disease making one at risk for a COVID19 infection into four groups: non-smokers not at risk (NSNR), non-smokers at risk (NSR), smokers not at risk (SNR), and smokers at risk (SR). Results: SR had PHQ-9 scores higher than other groups. The diet was not changed during the pandemic, whereas weight increased in all groups but SR. Those not at risk slept longer, while sports were decreased in NSR and SNR. Hobbies were decreased in all groups except SNR. Depending on the group, factors such as age, sex, residency, diet, exercise, sleep duration, and hobbies were associated with PHQ-9 scores. Limitations: we cannot draw causal relationships. Participation required internet access, and participants might not represent the actual population due to the snowball effect. Also, recall bias might skew results. We did not inquire about sexual activity, which could be an essential coping mechanism. Conclusion: Factors associated with depression for one group did not necessarily do so for another. Controlling the underlying risk or smoking cessation could move a patient to a group with more options associated with depression, thereby additional methods to decrease depression.

Aim: The aim of this paper is to reflect upon the experiences of a senior nurse in a patient‐facing role, who led a tea providing direct care to those with coronavirus disease 2019 (covid‐19). This would establish what those experiences meant to nurses during the initial outbreak to enable their coping mechanisms to face subsequent waves in the United Kingdom. Background: The worst infectious disease outbreak of a generation rapidly made its impact known to the medical profession and its support infrastructure across the globe. It imparted unprecedented challenges, not only for managing the care of the most critically ill but for minimising its spread and protecting the workforce. Sources of evidence: Reflections of working on the covid‐19 frontline during the initial stages of the pandemic, the challenges faced, and lessons learned enabled the development of a strategy to better support nurses in the ongoing pandemic. Discussion: Visible, invested and consistent leadership was key in forming a strong foundation to support clear communication, peer support and increasing confidence. Consequently, strong bonds were forged to enable the team to face further challenges as they felt 'in it together'. Summary and implications for nursing and health policy: The experiences described in this paper are those of a senior nurse leader within a particular care context. However, the lessons learned are likely to resonate with many nurses who are facing the same challenges in very similar care contexts and who are urged to reflect upon their own experiences. Furthermore, the associated lessons may help support others and inform their strategy for coping throughout potential future admission surges of this pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The social tides of instability present in today's world often require teachers to cope with social change in their pedagogical practices. Discomfort may be viewed as the beginning of a continuous critical reflective practice rather than a momentary emotive state: a way to see music education founded on an acceptance that nothing will be as it was, that nothing is ever supposed to remain static, and thus, no pedagogy is ever supposed to be the same for everyone. In this paper, I define coping with discomfort as a process of reflexivity that music teachers may already experience; it is continuous, incessant, and can help music teachers develop capacities to respond more actively to their students from diverse backgrounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research investigated children and adolescents' explicit and spontaneous representation of the COVID-19 pandemic and their related emotions, cognitions, and coping strategies. We explored the self-reported protective factors and coping mechanisms, in addition to similar attributional emotional experiences, i.e., the ways participants evaluated others' pandemic experiences. Our sample consisted of 155 children and adolescents aged 10 to 13 (M = 10.70, SD = 0.85, 56.1% females). We designed a 12-item survey and analyzed our data using both qualitative and quantitative methods. Our findings suggested that most children and adolescents associated masks with the thought of the novel coronavirus, and the most frequently associated emotion was sadness (45.2%), followed by fear (17.4%). Generally, participants reported a medium level of perceived adverse effects of the pandemic, mainly because their regular physical school classes moved to the online setting. We also found a significant association between children's self-reported levels of harmful effects of the pandemic and perceived adverse effects on their families. Most participants expressed their dissatisfaction concerning online school classes, primarily due to poor online interaction. In our sample, the children and adolescents reported positive thoughts and family relationships as their primary coping mechanisms during the pandemic, suggesting similar perceived coping mechanisms in the others around them. Finally, more than half of the participants considered that the COVID-19 pandemic had no positive effects, while 40% considered the increased time spent with their families the primary positive consequences following the COVID-19 health crisis. Results are discussed regarding their implications concerning healthcare, social, and educational policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aims to provide an initial depiction of youth aging out of institutional care in China. Services for children cared in state child welfare institutes have been improving in the past decades in China. Lately, there is increasing consensus about the need for further understanding and alleviating challenges faced by youth who are aging out of the institutional care and transitioning to adulthood. Programs aimed at providing transitional services and support for these youth have emerged. However, research on the wellbeing of youth aging out of institutional care in China has been virtually non-existent. The study used survey data from 65 youth in one state child welfare institute to examine the characteristics and wellbeing of aging out foster youth, including their socio-demographic characteristics, independent living skills, sources of stress, coping mechanisms, behavioral problems, and social support. The youth faced financial difficulties and challenges in career planning and employment activities. They reported future self-expectations and economic hardships as major stress sources, and often referred to withdrawal as an anti-stress coping strategy. They were also identified with prevalent problematic behaviors and viewed social welfare agencies and friends as major sources of social support. This study shed light on the profile of youth aging out of institutional care in China. The results indicated that the youth reported unmet needs that require policy and practice attention. The findings are useful in informing social policies and interventions on developing support services for the youth transition to adulthood and independent living. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: COVID-19 imposed challenges on professional sport, with restrictions leading to the delay in the completion of the South African Premier Soccer League (PSL). Creating a biologically safe environment (BSE) provided a solution enabling the 2019/2020 season to be completed. Objectives: Evaluating the impact that the BSE had on player wellness and what coping mechanisms were used in the BSE. Methods: A questionnaire was distributed to PSL teams on the final weekend in the BSE. It consisted of three validated psychology questionnaires. An additional section focused on the impact and coping strategies during the PSL's BSE. Results: A total of 37 completed questionnaires were analysed. General anxiety (4.7±4.2) and depression levels (4.8±3.9) were at an overall low. The health of the players, as well as separation from and concerns about family, were the greatest contributors to anxiety. Electronic communication with family and friends, social interactions with others in the BSE and time spent on self-reflection were important coping mechanisms for players. As time progressed, they adapted to the BSE. Conclusion: The BSE did not have a negative impact on the anxiety and depression levels of the respondents, with a variety of coping mechanisms key helping them adapt in the BSE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper delves into the causes of work stress and coping mechanisms of employees of select local government units and national government agencies in the Province of Bulacan. The study had the employees from selected national and local government agencies in the Province of Bulacan as the respondents. The respondents in the study were selected via Slovin's Formula. There were 321 respondents who agreed to participate in the study. The main data gathering tool of the study is the questionnaire which was adapted from previous studies. The questionnaire is composed of the following parts: Part I -- Demographic Profile, Part II -- Occupational Stress Index (OSI) which consists of 46 items and Part III -- Filipino Coping Strategies Scale consists of 37 items. The researcher asked the permission of the local chief executives and the heads of the concerned LGUs and national government agencies. Afterwards, the researcher administered the survey questionnaire to the respondents. The data collected were tabulated and processed using the SPSS (Statistical Packages for Social Sciences) Version 23 and Graph Pad in Stat Version 3. The common causes of stress and coping mechanisms of the respondents were quantified using a 4 Point Likert Scale. Majority of the respondents were from the Municipality of Guiguinto, were females, belonged to the 41-50 and 51-60 age range, were college graduates, earning between PhP 12,00-15,999, had regular-permanent status, married, and had low monthly income. The common stressors of the respondents are peer group relations, under-participation, powerlessness, and intrinsic impoverishment while the most common coping mechanisms employed were religiosity, problem solving, and cognitive reappraisal. This implies that whenever faced with a stressful situation, the respondents seek the guidance of God, try to look for means or ways to address the issue, and think of the problem or the stressful situation from another vantage point. The study recommends having a comprehensive and integrative Employee Wellness Management institutionalized in the selected local government and national government agencies in the Province of Bulacan to address the stressors faced by their employees. The said program is composed of three major components: Physical Wellness, Spiritual Wellness, and Financial Wellness. It is also recommend that the study be replicated on a wider level and conduct a qualitative study to supplement and further validate the findings obtained in the present study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) represent a category of chronic diseases of gastrointestinal tract with a long-term evolution which includes flares and periods of remission. The aim of the study is to identify and quantify the relationship between IBD status, perceived stress, coping mechanisms, and patients QOL. Methods: Cross-sectional study on two samples consisting of 70 IBD patients monitored in the Gastroenterology Department of the Emergency Clinical County Hospital Craiova, Romania, respectively 70 healthy volunteers. Collected data include socio-demographic details, personal and familial medical history, clinical status, presumed risk factors, perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale-PSS), coping strategies (COPE questionnaire) and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL-SF-36 scale). Results: Perceived stress was considerably higher on IBD subjects (p<0.0001). The assessment of HRQOL has shown that patients had the best perception over their physical and emotional domains of SF-36 (p<0.0001), while the most often coping mechanisms used are those from the problem-focused category. Conclusions: There is a significant relationship between increased activity of IBD and higher level of stress, that led to the development of problem-focused coping strategies. We did not find a strong correlation between lower HRQOL levels and the items considered as potential risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The urgent need to respond to the Covid crisis has provided the impetus for the implementation of modular distance learning in the Philippines. Hence, this study is one of the very few studies which sought to investigate the modular distance learning in the country, particularly the challenges it brought to the English language learners. Also, this present research aimed to determine the coping mechanisms of students, relevant to the challenges raised. The participants of the study were senior high school students, two males andsixfemales, who were purposely selected to fit into the inclusion criteria. Descriptive qualitative research design was employed and individual in-depth interviews were conducted to gather the data. The responses were transcribed, translated, and analyzed through thematic analysis. With regards the challenges, these themes were created: absence of teacher's instruction, struggles of self-learning, poor picture quality, limited contents of the module, insufficient allotted time, failure of teachers to respond to inquiries, unstable and limited access to internet, students lack of vocabulary and grammatical knowledge, and less opportunity for correction. The paper ends with the discussion on how the students addressed the challenges of modular distance learning which was also subdivided into themes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spread of the Coronavirus pandemic had affected every sector in our community including the sector of education. Educational institutions all over the world were forced to temporarily close. The COVID-19 pandemic is continuously arising yet learners should continue to learn. Thus, the Department of Education together with other educational institutions in the Philippines decided to devise a learning continuity plan. The authorities and the stakeholders decided to utilize distance learning as an alternative to face-to-face classes. Specifically, public elementary and secondary schools used distance modular learning. The modules used in modular distance learning. Hence, this qualitative research study utilized the thematic analysis method to unveil the challenges and coping mechanisms of English language teachers in developing the modules. This study primarily aimed to present the challenges encountered by inexperienced English language teachers in developing the materials for the modular learning of English. Moreover, the coping mechanisms of the English language teachers against the challenges they faced while developing the modules are discussed herein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has left the student community in distress. They have had to vacate their hostels and go home, which has restyled their enjoyable campus life into virtual online classes. The technical glitches and uncertainty of the future kept them in the doldrum. Our study explored the subgroups of socio-demographic variables (gender, educational qualifications, history of mental health condition, current experience of mental health condition, and current accommodation) and Social Connectedness as predictors of coping strategies during the pandemic in university students of Delhi-NCR. Method and Materials: A cross-sectional research design was implemented. Through purposive sampling, 248 students were recruited. The sample consisted of males and females aged 18-34 years (Mean=21, SD=2.86). Data was collected using Google forms consisting of the Sociodemographic Form, The Brief Cope and Social Connectedness Scale. Online informed consent was taken from the participants. Results: Regression results suggested that the current experience of mental health conditions predicted active emotional and avoidant emotional coping strategies. Social Connectedness positively predicted avoidant emotional coping strategy and negatively predicting problem focus strategies in the COVID-19 pandemic. Significant differences were found in active emotional and avoidant emotional coping strategies between students having a past and current history of mental health conditions (anxiety/depression) vs. those who were in sound mental health. Students with past experience of mental health issue were reported to be significantly more socially connected than who did not have any mental health issue. Conclusions: The potential effects of Social Connectedness, a history of the mental health condition on coping strategies during COVID-19, were found to be necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The psychological condition of diabetic patients affects blood glucose. Assessment of anxiety levels and coping mechanismsis important where diabetic patients are prone to psychosocial problems that affect glycemic control. Objectives: To analyze anxiety levels and coping mechanismsin diabetic mellitus patients during the COVID 19 pandemic. Methods: Descriptive methods of analytics with a cross sectional approach. Sampling with non probability sampling through purposive sampling in 66 diabetic patients at Idaman Banjarbaru Hospital. Results:The result of the analysis with p-value = 0.538 > 0.05, concluded Ho accepted. So there is no relationship between anxiety and coping mechanisms in diabetic mellitus patients during the COVID 19 pandemic. Discussion: Coping is considered a factor of a person’s equilibrium in the adjustment of anxiety conditions. Coping manages the problems faced, with adaptive coping then a person succeeds in solving the problem that makes the level of anxiety decrease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The outbreak of COVID-19 and the resulting lockdown had a great psychological impact on the lives of people in general and on the lives ofstudents in particular. The current study aims to find the level of anxiety and the types of coping mechanisms utilized by university students during the lockdown period. Furthermore, the relationship between these two variables is also addressed. The participants of this study consist of 260 university students. Hopkins Symptoms Checklist and the Coping Strategies Inventory are the instruments that were used as measurement tools. The results showed that university students have probable anxiety, and their most commonly used coping mechanism is social withdrawal. The study also found a statistically significant correlation between social withdrawal, problem avoidance, and expression of emotion with anxiety. According to the findings, there exists a significant difference in anxiety between male and female students. In addition, a significant difference in the use of coping mechanisms among female and male students existed in the use of social withdrawal and expression emotion coping mechanisms, which were both used more by female students. The findings of this study highlight the need for psychological services to be available in the universities of the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Yolanda Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Program (YRRP) is a comprehensive program spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture in Region VIII, Philippines aiming to restore the livelihood farmers and households affected by the super typhoon incident. The program aims to help the farming communities build back better from damages brought by the super typhoon Yolanda in 2013. Anchored on the general objective of the YRRP program, this study aims to document the differences in the coping mechanism between men and women farmers affected by the super typhoon. Specifically, it seeks to describe the socio-demographic and farm characteristics of the YRRP beneficiaries; assess whether men and women farmers have differences in coping mechanisms; and determine the perceived status of the farmers about their current conditions. The study provides a general picture of how men and women handled the disruptions and damages brought by the super typhoon. The determinants of coping better were investigated using different regression models. Results show that income, education, relationship status and farm ownership significantly influence the status of the farmer beneficiaries. Findings show that majority of men and women established farmer’s organizations after the typhoon. Meanwhile, the study revealed that farmers in both sexes need additional financial assistance to purchase farm inputs such as fertilizers and gardening tools which will be used in carrying out their agricultural activities. Based on the results, the YRRP beneficiaries are encouraged to continue strengthening farmers associations as one of the mechanisms to reduce vulnerability and risks to disasters like super typhoons.

The article illustrates the stress that veterinarians face in their profession and advances a few possibilities for stress management. Some representative studies on stress and veterinarians are described in the first part of the paper, which is followed by a discussion of semi-structured interviews conducted with veterinarians in Bucharest. The main objective of the research was to understand and analyze the social world of veterinarians by illustrating the main problems faced by members of this occupational category. Lack of a support network, intricate communication with pet’s owners, limited access to the possibility of a specialization and emotional challenges associated to euthanasia are the main themes that emerged from the interviews. The conclusions show that veterinarians would benefit from trainings in order to address these specific issues, including those related to communication with pet’s owners and the development of efficient coping mechanisms.