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This article extends and builds upon our previous research concerning Virtual Reality (VR) with bilateral stimulation as an automated stress-reduction therapy tool. The study coincided with Russia's invasion of Ukraine, thus the software was tailored to reduce the stress of war refugees. We created a 28 minutes relaxation training program in a virtual, relaxing environment in the form of a cozy apartment in the mountains. An integral part of this tool is a set of sensors, which collects and records objective physiological measures to evaluate the system's effectiveness. A pilot treatment programme, incorporating the VR system mentioned above was carried out on the experimental group of 55 Ukrainian refugees who participated in up to five relaxation training sessions. Before starting the session, baseline features such as subjectively perceived stress, mood, galvanic skin response, and EEG were registered. The monitoring of physiological indicators was continued during the training session. Before and after the session, volunteers were asked to fill in questionnaires regarding their current stress level and mood. The obtained results were analyzed in terms of variability over time: before, during, and after the session. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

background The study aimed to identify significant predictors of illness acceptance in women with endometriosis. As potential predictive factors, variables related to the disease (pain frequency, co-morbid infertility, diagnostic delay, years of living with the diagnosis), demographic variables (age, place of residence, education, income, the fact of having children) and psychological variables (pain coping strategies) were taken into account. participants and procedure The study participants - 247 women with endometriosis - were recruited in Poland in medical facilities from 6 large voivodship cities and through a patients' association. The participants filled in the following questionnaires: the Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS), Endometriosis Health Profile-30 (EHP-30), and the Coping Strategies Questionnaire (CSQ). The data were analysed with the method of stepwise hierarchical regression. results The final significant model explained 24% of the variance of the AIS score. The model consisted of the following variables: pain frequency, reinterpreting pain sensations, pain catastrophizing and praying/hoping. Only two variables were significant predictors in this model: pain frequency and pain catastrophizing. Years with diagnosis, age, diagnostic delay, place of residence, education, income, and the fact of having children were not significant. conclusions The interventions addressed to patients should support their acceptance of chronic pain and help them to develop adaptive pain coping strategies. Due to the co-morbidity of endometriosis-related pain and depression the inclusion of antidepressant pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy based on cognitive techniques is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. The study aimed at exploration of a relationship between PTSD symptoms, traumarelated guilt (TRG), time perspective (TP), and guilt/shame proneness among perpetrators of motor vehicle accidents (MVA). We also analyzed relationships between length of imprisonment, PTSD and trauma-related guilt. Methods. The sample consisted of 37 incarcerated perpetrators of MVA. They were asked to fill in the set of questionnaires: Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory, Guilt and Shame Proneness Inventory, Trauma-Related Guilt Inventory). Results. The results showed that 50% of the perpetrators met the DSM-5 PTSD criteria. The proneness to guilt and shame positively correlated with the trauma-related guilt. Shame susceptibility as a consequence of negative self-esteem was associated with a greater traumarelated shame. There was no correlation between guilt/shame or trauma-related guilt and PTSD. The time perspective was associated with PTSD - the stronger the tendency of the respondents to focus on the present/past, the greater the symptoms of PTSD. Focusing on the hedonistic present positively correlated with guilt related to trauma. Conclusions. In the studied population, every second perpetrator of the accident was affected by PTSD, which was associated with the past and present time perspective. Negative assessment of self and behavior intensified the guilt associated with trauma and reduced the search for justification for one's own actions in external circumstances. Time spent in prison had no effect on moral attitudes or on the moral evaluation of one's own behavior that caused harm to others. However, it was associated with experiencing stress and focusing on one's own suffering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Many recent studies indicate that prenatal maternal distress increases the risk of allergic diseases in children. The mechanisms that favor it are still unclear. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess the association between exposure to different kinds of prenatal stress and the occurrence of atopic dermatitis, food allergy, wheezing, and recurrent respiratory tract infections in children. METHODS: The study population consisted of 370 mother--child pairs from a Polish Mother and Child Cohort (REPRO_PL). The analysis was restricted to the women who worked at least one month during the pregnancy period. Maternal psychological stress during pregnancy was assessed based on the Subjective Work Characteristics Questionnaire, the Perceived Stress Scale, and the Social Readjustment Rating Scale. The presence of atopic dermatitis, food allergy, wheezing, and recurrent respiratory tract infections in children was evaluated by doctors at 12 months of age. RESULTS: In a univariate model, we showed significant association between maternal life stress (according to the Perceived Stress Scale) and stressful life events (according to the Social Readjustment Rating Scale) and infant wheezing (at least 1 episode of wheezing during the first year of life). A multivariate model of logistic regression analysis revealed that maternal stress during pregnancy, described by the Social Readjustment Rating Scale, increased the risk of wheezing in children (OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.01-1.02) independently from other predictors of wheezing previously determined in this cohort, such as the number of infections and maternal smoking. We observed also significant positive association between maternal life stress during pregnancy measured by the Perceived Stress Scale and the risk of recurrent respiratory tract infections in the first year of life, however it was not significant after adjustment for confounding variables. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal stress during pregnancy increases the risk of childhood wheezing. The effects of stress during pregnancy on the onset of allergic diseases in children should be developed and translated into early prevention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The study has aimed to identify the relations between the supplementary person-organization fit (P-O fit) and the perceived stress among managerial staff, with special regard to the mediating role of the effort-reward balance.Material and Methods: The study sample consisted of 715 middle-level managers, aged 25-64 years old, employed in large companies. To measure the selected variables, the authors used the Questionnaire of Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI), Perceived Stress Scale - 10 (PSS-10), and Person-Organization Fit Questionnaire.Results: The regression analysis revealed that the perceived effort-reward imbalance partially mediated the negative relationship between the supplementary person-organization fit and stress.Conclusions: The results suggest that even when the characteristics of the manager and organization are highly congruent, the managers will experience stress if their work involves heavy effort or when this effort is not compensated properly. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2017;30(2):305-312. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Job characteristics and the consequences of everyday stress among radio journalists who are not exposed to traumatic events have not been studied sufficiently before. We aimed at determining the most common job characteristics and their stressfulness; relationships between stress exposure, health and occupational functioning; differences between radio journalists and other journalists, and also the psychosocial risk for health and functioning in this group.Material and Methods: The studied group involved 208 journalists, 134 of whom worked in radio stations. The respondents filled in the Psychosocial Risks Scale (PRS) developed by the Department of Health and Work Psychology of the Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland.Results: Requirement of mental effort and readiness to response quickly for most of the time as well as limited possibilities for promotion were the most frequent journalists' complaints. We confirmed that higher levels of stress resulted in worse functioning--the radio journalists who experienced lower stress assessed their health status and ability to work better, were more satisfied with particular aspects of their work, and were more involved in their work. They also presented a significantly lower turnover intention. Moreover, the radio journalists were more involved in their work than other journalists, but experienced lower satisfaction, took more sick leaves and had more days of absence.Conclusions: Well-known relationships between stress level, satisfaction and occupational functioning were confirmed. The most important conclusion refers to the fact that psychosocial risks and stress analysis should be based on the understanding of specificity of each occupation or even position. It is so, because the same job characteristic may pose a challenge for one person, while for another--it can result in extreme discomfort and anxiety--such an attitude broadens understanding of the phenomenon. We also confirmed that the PRS is a well-designed method, appropriate to investigate an individual perception of job environment and its stressfulness. Future research on causal relationships between the variables is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Virtual reality scenarios represent valuable digital tools that could help university students cope with stress in assessment situations. A gender gap limits women's access and motivation, as these scenarios do not consider their preferences, since their performance is high in some tasks. This study aims to provide empirically grounded guidelines for designing virtual reality educational scenarios to cope with stress in assessment situations based on university students’ preferences according to gender. An online questionnaire was applied to 182 university students to obtain information about stress and other emotional states perceived in assessment modalities and the relaxing potential attributed to situations, stimuli, activities, environments, and students’ preferred images for relaxing. Women generally reported higher stress levels and stronger negative emotions before being assessed at university. Men reported higher levels of resignation afterwards. For women, the most relaxing scenario was “being outdoors,” whereas, for men, it was “being in small groups”. Stimuli, mainly from cool temperatures, were significantly less relaxing for women, and passive activities were perceived to be more relaxing for women. Both genders preferred realistic environments, and women chose brighter images. Given this scenario, it is necessary to design differentiated illustrative and sound virtual reality scenarios considering gender preferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parents create visions of a perfect childhood for their children. At the same time, parenthood is a process shaped in response to conditions and demands of the environment; fulfilling this vision depends crucially on the environmental, cultural or social conditions in which the family lives. The authors used Maslow's hierarchical theory of needs as a theoretical framework to illustrate Polish parents' opinions on the components of an “ideal childhood” and the possibilities of realising such a vision. This paper presents the results of interviews with 31 Polish working parents, each of whom had at least one child aged six or younger. Their opinions on perfect childhood lead to the supplementing of Maslow's theory with a Pyramid of Needs in a Perfect Childhood. Confronting parents' expectations with their reality showed their beliefs and hopes concerning the chances for the comprehensive development of their children but also revealed financial problems, as well as difficulties related to child care and medical health care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Occupational e-mental health (OeMH) interventions significantly reduce the burden of mental health conditions. The successful implementation of OeMH interventions is influenced by many implementation strategies, barriers, and facilitators across contexts, which, however, are not systematically tracked. One of the reasons is that international consensus on documenting and reporting the implementation of OeMH interventions is lacking. There is a need for practical guidance on the key factors influencing the implementation of interventions that organizations should consider. Stakeholder consultations secure a valuable source of information about these key strategies, barriers, and facilitators that are relevant to successful implementation of OeMH interventions., Objective: The objective of this study was to develop a brief checklist to guide the implementation of OeMH interventions., Methods: Based on the results of a recently published systematic review, we drafted a comprehensive checklist with a wide set of strategies, barriers, and facilitators that were identified as relevant for the implementation of OeMH interventions. We then used a 2-stage stakeholder consultation process to refine the draft checklist to a brief and practical checklist comprising key implementation factors. In the first stage, stakeholders evaluated the relevance and feasibility of items on the draft checklist using a web-based survey. The list of items comprised 12 facilitators presented as statements addressing "elements that positively affect implementation" and 17 barriers presented as statements addressing "concerns toward implementation." If a strategy was deemed relevant, respondents were asked to rate it using a 4-point Likert scale ranging from "very difficult to implement" to "very easy to implement." In the second stage, stakeholders were interviewed to elaborate on the most relevant barriers and facilitators shortlisted from the first stage. The interview mostly focused on the relevance and priority of strategies and factors affecting OeMH intervention implementation. In the interview, the stakeholders' responses to the open survey's questions were further explored. The final checklist included strategies ranked as relevant and feasible and the most relevant facilitators and barriers, which were endorsed during either the survey or the interviews., Results: In total, 26 stakeholders completed the web-based survey (response rate=24.8%) and 4 stakeholders participated in individual interviews. The OeMH intervention implementation checklist comprised 28 items, including 9 (32.1%) strategies, 8 (28.6%) barriers, and 11 (39.3%) facilitators. There was widespread agreement between findings from the survey and interviews, the most outstanding exception being the idea of proposing OeMH interventions as benefits for employees., Conclusions: Through our 2-stage stakeholder consultation, we developed a brief checklist that provides organizations with a guide for the implementation of OeMH interventions. Future research should empirically validate the effectiveness and usefulness of the checklist., (©Alberto Raggi, Renaldo M Bernard, Claudia Toppo, Carla Sabariego, Luis Salvador Carulla, Sue Lukersmith, Leona Hakkaart-van Roijen, Dorota Merecz-Kot, Beatriz Olaya, Rodrigo Antunes Lima, Desirée Gutiérrez-Marín, Ellen Vorstenbosch, Chiara Curatoli, Martina Cacciatore. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (https://www.jmir.org), 15.03.2024.)

Background: This article presents the diagnosis of the socio-economic status and health condition of Polish workers living in urban areas., Material and Methods: The study was conducted in the nationwide group of occupationally active people aged 19-65 years. The interview questionnaire comprised an extensive socio-demographic part and a psychometric part, containing questionnaires measuring the status of mental health, work ability, work satisfaction and family functioning., Results: Slightly more than half of the respondents (54%) worked in occupations related to their profession. The majority (88%) worked full-time, 8 h a day (65%) being employed by 1 employer (92%). Most respondents were satisfied with their job (apart from the financial aspect) and family life; 59% of employees were stressed by their job, including 15% of those who experienced strong stress. The family situation was emphasized by 31% of the respondents. At least one health disorder was diagnosed in 42% of the respondents. Musculoskeletal disorders (19%), cardiovascular diseases (13%) and respiratory disorders (11%) were most frequently reported. At the same time 76% of respondents assessed their health as rather good and good. The mental health index fell within the average values, but 12% of patients reached the score indicating the risk of serious mental health problems. Most of employees assessed their work ability as rather good and good., Conclusions: The data presented show the direction of the activities that need to be undertaken in the workplace, namely prevention of occupational stress, musculo-skeletal, cardiovascular and respiratory disorders, which significantly limit work ability. It is also necessary to implement educational programs in the workplace. Such activities, if organized on a regular basis, bring the best results.