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Aim. The paper describes the relationship between the symptoms of exercise addiction, behavioral strategies in situations of limited workout possibilities and mental health state in exercising individuals. Methods. The study included 391 participants, 286 women (73.1%) and 105 men (26.9%), aged 18 to 68 years. The respondents were surveyed online after 17-19 days of barriers to routine training due to greatest COVID-19 restrictions in Poland. Subjects completed the Exercise Dependence Scale, General Health Questionnaire - 28 (GHQ-28) and questionnaires enabling the collection of demographic and clinical data as well as data related to exercise behaviors. Results. The variables related to exercise addiction and some related to behavioral changes are predictors of mental health, especially in terms of anxiety, insomnia and somatic symptoms. All the introduced variables accounted for 27.4% to 43.7% of the variation in the mental health status of the subjects, depending on GHQ subscales. Breaking the restriction rules by outdoor training protected against symptoms of psychological disorders, especially in relation to somatic symptoms (Beta = -0.23; p< 0.001). Individual assessment of stress induction in a given situation was a predictor of results in all GHQ subscales, which was the strongest for symptoms of anxiety and insomnia (Beta = 0.37; p< 0.001). Conclusions. Individuals with features of exercise addiction are at risk of deterioration of their well-being during forced abstinence. In addition, the subjective level of stress induction in a given situation is an important determinant that conditions psychological well-being, especially the aggravation of depressive symptoms. People who ignore restrictions and have low levels of stress, experience lower psychological costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: A pandemic triggers certain attitudes and behaviors, resulting in the need for adequate social support. The aim of the study was to determine the factors influencing the estimated risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and to assess the need for social support in a group of medical students. Material and Methods: The survey was conducted among 981 people, including 814 women and 167 men. For this purpose, a self-assessment survey with 22 multiple-choice questions was used. The online survey was conducted on March 20-April 2, 2020, which can be considered as the first stage of the pandemic in Poland. Results: The tested model for the subjective SARS-CoV-2 infection risk assessment explained 32.6% of the dependent variable variance (F(7.945) = 66.61, p < 0.001). The model for adherence to the recommendations for reducing the risk of SARSCoV-2 transmission explained 9.5% of the variability (F(8.943) = 12.39, p < 0.001), and the model for an increased need for social support due to the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic explained 27.4% of the variability (X2(8) = 12.17, p = 0.144). Conclusions: Factors important for estimating the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the need for social support in the group of medical students were determined. The subjective assessment of the stress level, infection symptoms experienced and the field of study proved to be crucial. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The dynamic development of new technologies, common access to the Internet, and globalisation allow for a source of physical and symbolic stimuli of unprecedented amounts. These stimuli lie at the bottom of objective and persistent overstimulation leading to sensory or information overload. Materials and methods: This article is based on a review of the literature and statistical data related to the problem of chronic diseases in a socioeconomic context. Results: Overstimulation constitutes the core area of research of this article. There is no doubt that information overstimulation leads to information stress manifesting on a physiological, emotional, psychical and behavioural level. Progression to chronic conditions leads globally to increased incidence of mental disorders and severe somatic diseases. Conclusions: Since the range and rate of the transformation of civilisation accelerates, it should be envisaged that mental and somatic disorders underlain by information stress will take up a continuously increasing share of healthcare expenditures. This should call for the need for further medical specialisation in the field of treating the symptoms of diseases of affluence and primarily the need for preventive healthcare focused on balancing the excess stimuli. Success lies in their effective filtering and management. It seems therefore that the issue of overstimulation, including in particular information overstimulation, is one of the key challenges for public health in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sense of humor has a positive influence on mental and social functioning of humans by supporting interpersonal competences and effective coping with difficult situations. The aim of this study was to present research conducted to this date and concerning processing of humoristic content by people with schizophrenia in relation to cognitive deficits associated with this illness and their neurobiological background. Understanding of humor and its effective use require many linguistic and extralingustic skills, including processing of signals from social environment, such as correct recognition of emotional messages, understanding of a context of a humoristic situation, or drawing correct conclusions on a mental status of other people. An efficient use of the metaphorical language allows experiencing amusement resulting from inaccuracies, different semantic interpretations, irony, and sarcasm. A tendency for excessive concretism reflected in problems with understanding nonliteral content and semantically complex language structures, as well as other cognitive deficits observed in schizophrenia patients, frequently hinder the use of humoristic messages. Better understanding of mechanisms controlling the effective use of humor may help to develop therapeutic tools to improve the communication efficiency of schizophrenia patients, as well as positively influence their social functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the relationships between selected psychological features and adherence to therapy in oncological patients. Methods: The study included 102 patients of oncological clinics, 66.67% of whom were female. The average (SD) age of the study subjects was 49.15 ± 18.16 years old. The following tools were used: Morisky Medication Adherence Questionnaire (MAQ‐4), Multidimensional Health Locus of Control, Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations, Personal Values Inventory (LWO), and a study‐specific survey questionnaire. Results: High MAQ‐4 scores were declared by 39.2% of the subjects, medium scores by 32.3% and low scores by 28.5%. The values were higher in female patients (P =.23), younger subjects (P <.001), and in individuals with higher education (P =.03). The greatest adherence was observed in subjects who placed their locus of control in chance (P =.022). Significant relationships were identified between the level of medication adherence and the use of avoidance strategies of coping with stress (P =.037), including the willingness to engage in social relationships (P =.04). It was demonstrated that the risk of noncompliance in the analyzed group was associated with a lower assessment of appearance (OR = 0.75) and health (OR = 0.78) on the scale of values. Conclusion: Medication adherence in oncological patients is related to the health locus of control, strategies of coping with stress, and the value assigned to appearance and health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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