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BACKGROUND: Lower perceived social support is associated with hopelessness in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD). Higher perceived social support is associated with higher heart rate variability (HRV) in adults following a stressful event, but the relationship between HRV and hopelessness has not been examined in patients with IHD. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the relationships among HRV, perceived social support, and hopelessness in patients with IHD. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ninety-four participants were enrolled while hospitalized for an IHD event at a large hospital in the United States. Data collection occurred 2 weeks after hospital discharge and included the State-Trait Hopelessness Scale, ENRICHD Social Support Inventory, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, a demographic form, and a short-term HRV measurement taken at rest. Linear models were used to assess associations between variables in unadjusted and adjusted models. Most participants were men (67%), married (75%), and non-Hispanic White (96%) and underwent coronary artery bypass surgery (57%). There were inverse correlations between high frequency HRV and state hopelessness (r=-0.21, P=0.008) and root mean square of successive differences between normal heartbeats HRV and state hopelessness (r=-0.20, P=0.012) after adjusting for important covariates. High frequency and root mean square of successive differences between normal heartbeats did not show evidence of mediating the relationship between perceived social support and hopelessness. CONCLUSIONS: There were significant inverse correlations between parasympathetic measures of HRV and hopelessness. Assessing high frequency and root mean square of successive differences between normal heartbeats during early recovery following an IHD event could provide promising evidence for understanding a possible precursor to hopelessness and targets for future interventions. Registration Information: clinicaltrials.gov. Identifiers: NCT03907891, NCT05003791.

PurposeMaterials and methodsResultsDiscussionConclusionThis study investigates the role of perceived social support from family and friends in enhancing life satisfaction among Syrian refugees in Türkiye during the COVID-19 pandemic.A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 636 Syrian refugees residing in Istanbul and Hatay provinces. The study used the Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale, the COVID-19 State Anxiety Sources Scale, and the Satisfaction With Life Scale. Structural equation modeling was applied to analyze the relationships between social support, COVID-19-related anxieties, and life satisfaction.Both family and friend social support were positively associated with life satisfaction. Friend social support was negatively associated with COVID-19-related economic anxiety, daily routine change anxiety, and isolation anxiety. These anxieties mediated the relationship between friend social support and life satisfaction.The results suggest that strengthening social support from families and friends can mitigate the adverse effects of economic and routine-related anxieties among refugees, with friend support playing a more crucial role.Social support is vital for enhancing life satisfaction among Syrian refugees in Türkiye during public health crises. Policy interventions should aim to reinforce these systems to build resilient refugee communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Individuals with gender dysphoria (GD) often exhibit suicidal inclinations. In the present study, we investigated the scope of suicidal ideation and attempts and the roles of perceived social support, stress, and psychological distress in mediating social problem‐solving and suicidality in individuals with GD. Two hundred and five adults with GD (110 GD assigned female at birth [AFAB]; 95 GD assigned male at birth [AMAB]) completed a self‐report survey including questions about suicide ideation and attempts, as well as the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ‐12), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and Social Problem‐Solving Inventory‐Revised (SPSI‐R). We utilized correlation, regression, and mediation analyses to assess models. Overall, both suicidal ideation (for AFAB = 61.8%; for AMAB = 61.1%; p = 0.91) and suicide attempts (for AFAB = 43.6%; for AMAB = 37.9%; p = 0.41) were common in individuals with GD. The two groups did not differ in GHQ‐12, PSS, and SPSI‐R total scale scores, but AMAB scored lower on the MSPSS total score. Perceived social support, perceived stress, and psychological distress partially mediated social problem‐solving and suicidal ideation, whereas perceived stress and psychological distress fully mediated social problem‐solving and suicide attempts. There is a need to develop interventions to improve the psychological well‐being of people with GD. Current results suggest that problem‐solving therapy may effectively suit the need to manage suicidality in people with GD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The current study aimed to examine the moderated mediation between perceived social support, the deviant behavior of new street corner youth on campus (NSCYC), interpersonal needs (as a mediator), and meaning in life (as a moderator). Methods: A total of 596 new street corner youth on campus were investigated using the Deviant Behavior Questionnaire, Perceived Social Support Scale, Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire, and Meaning in Life Questionnaire. Results: The findings showed that: (1) perceived social support significantly and negatively predicted deviant behavior; (2) interpersonal needs mediated the association between perceived social support and deviant behavior; and (3) a moderated mediating role of perceived social support influencing deviant behavior was established, with meaning in life regulating both the direct and the first half paths of the model. Discussion: These findings offer important insights into the factors influencing the deviant behavior of NSCYC. They highlight the role of perceived social support, interpersonal needs, and meaning in life, and suggesting intervention points to mitigate deviant behaviors of NSCYC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The recent increase in the population of women in prison within the societal context of China has shifted attention towards understanding the unique psychological and social dynamics distinct from those traditionally associated with man offenders. Growing evidence suggests that childhood experiences of discrimination play a crucial role in shaping the aggressive behaviors observed among women in prison. This underscores the necessity for an in-depth examination of the psychological and societal foundations of these behaviors. Objective: This study seeks to elucidate the roles of empathy and perceived social support (PSS) in moderating the effects of childhood discrimination on aggression among women in prison. It aims to provide insights that could inform effective intervention and prevention strategies. Participants and Setting: The study involved 411 women in prison from correctional facilities across two provinces in China. Data were collected through paper-based surveys distributed from May to June 2024. Methods: Participants responded to the Everyday Discrimination Scale, Interpersonal Reactivity Index, Perceived Social Support Scale, and Aggression Questionnaire. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlations, analysis of variance, and parallel multiple mediation models. These analyses were conducted using SPSS and a PROCESS macro to test statistical hypotheses. Results: Results demonstrated significant associations between high levels of childhood discrimination and increased aggressive emotions and behaviors in adulthood. Mediation analysis indicated that both affective empathy and PSS significantly mediated these relationships. Affective empathy was found to intensify emotional responses leading to aggression, while PSS acted as a buffering mechanism that mitigated these adverse outcomes. Conclusions: The findings highlight the pivotal moderating roles of empathy and social support in the aggression dynamics observed among women in prison, influenced by early experiences of discrimination. The study advocates for targeted interventions that enhance empathic abilities and bolster social support networks to reduce aggression and aid in rehabilitation. These insights foster the development of nuanced approaches to addressing the needs of women in prison and have significant implications for policy and practice in correctional and rehabilitative settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Students' perceived social support from important others may be an important protective factor in science self‐handicapping. This study examined the extent to which science self‐handicapping mediates the relationship between perceived social support and science academic outcomes (engagement and achievement). The study used a cross‐sectional survey design with self‐report data from 2654 participants in elementary schools and 2781 participants in high school from China. The results indicated that (1) perceived social support had an effect on students' science academic engagement and achievement; (2) self‐handicapping in science mediated the entire process; (3) at different stages, different social support would not be equally important for the effects of adolescents' self‐handicapping in science. The findings indicate that social support can create a positive academic environment to weaken the effect of self‐handicapping on students' science academic outcomes, and educators need to consider the entire influence process differently in different academic stages of their students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Combat deployment increases exposure to potentially traumatic events. Perceived social support (PSS) may promote health and recovery from combat trauma. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize studies investigating the level of PSS and associated factors among (ex-)military personnel who served in the Iraq/Afghanistan conflicts. Methods: Five electronic databases were searched in August 2023 and searches were restricted to the beginning of the Iraq/Afghanistan conflicts in 2001. The search was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A quality assessment was carried out, and a meta-analysis and narrative synthesis were performed. Results: In total, 35 papers consisting of 19,073 participants were included. Of these, 31 studies were conducted in the United States (US) and 23 were cross-sectional. The pooled mean PSS score was 54.40 (95% CI: 51.78 to 57.01). Samples with probable post-traumatic stress disorder had a lower mean PSS score (44.40, 95% CI: 39.10 to 49.70). Approximately half of the included studies (n = 19) investigated mental health in relation to PSS, whilst only four explored physical health. The most frequently reported risk factors for low PSS included post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety, whilst post-traumatic growth and unit support were protective factors. Conclusion: Higher levels of PSS were generally associated with more positive psychosocial and mental health-related outcomes following deployment. PSS should be targeted in psychosocial interventions and education programmes. Future research should investigate PSS in (ex-)military personnel across other countries and cultures, based on the lack of studies that focused on PSS in countries outside of the US. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Online learning has grown in popularity over the last few years. Understanding what factors and how they contribute to students' e-learning engagement is crucial for the success of online education. Based on the ecological system theory, this study aims to examine the association between perceived social support and e-learning engagement among Chinese college students and explore whether growth mindset and subjective well-being mediated this association. A survey was conducted among 605 college students in China. The results showed that perceived social support is positively and significantly associated with e-learning engagement and that growth mindset and subjective well-being play independent and joint mediating roles in the link between the two constructs. Our findings highlight the importance of the interaction between perceived social support, growth mindset, and subjective well-being in e-learning engagement among college students. This study contributes to the theoretical and practical understanding of the e-learning ecosystem in college students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Personal values are broad motivational goals that have been found to have systematic relations with subjective wellbeing in adults. Values that promote higher subjective wellbeing are considered healthy while those that hamper it are considered unhealthy (Schwartz & Sortheix, 2018). However, little is known about these relations in children. This pre-registered study examined (1) whether the values of children (6 to 12 years of age) relate to their subjective wellbeing and (2) whether these relations are moderated or mediated by perceived social support from parents, teachers, classmates, and close friends. These research questions were examined with a sample of 738 primary school students (50% female). Our results show that healthy growth values were positively related to subjective wellbeing overall, and for the subgroups of girls and children 9 to 12 years but not boys and children 6 to 8 years; however, unhealthy anxiety values were only negatively associated with subjective wellbeing for girls. While perceived social support partially mediated relations between growth values and subjective wellbeing, the direct values-wellbeing relations accounted for over half the variance. Interestingly, this study also found that growth values positively, and anxiety values negatively, influenced perceived social support from all referents. While perceived social support did not moderate values-wellbeing relations in the overall sample, differences were found in the way perceived social support moderated these relations in some age and gender subgroups. Taken together, these findings suggest that healthy growth values positively influence subjective wellbeing in middle childhood, even after accounting for perceived social support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the general aggression model, the current study examined the mediating role of moral disengagement in the association between sensation seeking and cyberbullying perpetration and the moderating role of perceived social support. A total of 2,286 Chinese adolescents aged 11–16 years completed the questionnaires regarding sensation seeking, cyberbullying perpetration, moral disengagement, and perceived social support. After gender and age were controlled, sensation seeking was significantly and positively associated with cyberbullying perpetration and this relationship was partially mediated by moral disengagement. Moderated mediation analysis further indicated that perceived social support moderated the relationship between sensation seeking and moral disengagement as well as sensation seeking and cyberbullying perpetration. These two relationships became weaker for adolescents with high perceived social support. Specifically, adolescents with higher levels of sensation seeking were more likely to develop moral disengagement and further engaged in cyberbullying perpetration, when they perceived less social support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior research examines how social media use in general affects experiences of loneliness, but few studies have investigated the specific effects of interaction with social media influencers on loneliness and well-being. The study investigates how followers' interaction with social media influencers affects loneliness through mediation mechanisms underlying this process. An online survey was adopted using Qualtrics, and participants were U.S. residents recruited through Dynata, a professional sampling corporation. Results suggested that interaction with influencers was positively associated with loneliness through parasocial relationships and perceived social support. In addition, a sense of belonging and perceived social support significantly mediate the relationship between interaction with influencers and loneliness. Our study suggests that while interactions with SMIs may foster parasocial relationships, a sense of belonging, and social support, they can paradoxically also increase feelings of loneliness. This indicates that SMIs can act as a double-edged sword, namely providing social bonds but simultaneously amplifying loneliness. Thus, it is critical for followers to be aware of their emotional attachment to SMIs and the potential adverse effects on their well-being. Our study has important implications for how we conceptualize the role of social media influencers in the modern information environment. The study provides empirical support and is a starting point for future research on SMIs' impacts on emotional, social, and psychological well-being. Findings from the study contribute to the scholarly works investigating the adverse effects of following and interacting with SMIs. Our finding differs from previous research suggesting active social media use helps reduce loneliness through enhanced social support. Such contradictions may be attributed to the nature of interacting with SMIs, which affects loneliness through serial mediators. The study contributes to the scholarly works investigating the adverse effects of following and interacting with SMIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of maintaining hope for individuals affected by natural disasters is often stated. This study investigated the mediating role of perceived social support in the relationship between sense of coherence and state hope in individuals affected by the earthquake in February 2023, centered in Kahramanmaraş province of Turkey. The study sample consisted of 323 adults affected by the earthquake in Turkey. Data were collected four months after the earthquake. The study used analyses utilizing hierarchical multiple regression and Hayes' bootstrapping approach (PROCESS; Preacher & Hayes, 2008). The bootstrapping regression method was conducted to determine the mediating role of perceived social support in the relationship between sense of coherence and hope. Correlation analysis results showed a positive relationship between sense of coherence and perceived social support and hope. The results of the bootstrapping that was performed to analyze the mediating role of perceived social support showed that perceived social support had a partial role in the relationship between sense of coherence and state hope. The results reveal that it is important for people affected by the earthquake to find life meaningful, understandable, and manageable and to maintain their hopes for life with perceived social support. Determination of the psychological needs of the people affected by the earthquake is considered to enable the psycho-social support activities to be organized according to their needs. The findings were discussed in light of previous studies, and recommendations were made for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to explore the association between perceived social support and eHealth literacy in Chinese nursing students, with a particular emphasis on the mediating effects of self-efficacy, family health, and perceived stress within this relationship. Method: This study utilized data drawn from the 2023 Psychology and Behavior Investigation of Chinese Residents (PBICR) survey, which involved a sample of 967 nursing students. Structural equation modeling was utilized to examine the relationships among the study variables. Results: The mediating effect analysis revealed a negative direct relationship between perceived social support and eHealth literacy in Chinese nursing students (β = -0.149, p < 0.001). Both self-efficacy (β = 0.124, p < 0.05) and family health (β = 0.148, p < 0.05) acted as mediators in the association between perceived social support and eHealth literacy. Additionally, perceived social support positively affected eHealth literacy through a chain mediation of self-efficacy, perceived stress, and family health (β = 0.008, p < 0.05). Conclusion: This study provides valuable insights for developing strategies to enhance nursing students' eHealth literacy, ultimately contributing to their professional development and the quality of healthcare services they provide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Social anxiety has been a burning problem among contemporary college students in China. Increasing evidence suggests that individual circadian typology–chronotype may play an important role in the development of social anxiety. However, little research has focused directly on examining the association between chronotype and social anxiety, and less is known about the mediating and moderating mechanisms underlying this relationship. The aim of the present study was to investigate the link between chronotype and social anxiety among Chinese college students, and to explore the mediating effect of loneliness and the moderating effect of perceived social support in the association between chronotype and social anxiety. Methods: A cross-sectional design was conducted among 1616 college students (16–29 years old) from several public universities in Northern China, including 1172 females (72.52%) and 444 males (27.48%), with an average age of 19.68 years old (SD = 1.49). All participants completed the standardized self-report questionnaires including the Social Avoidance and Distress Scale, Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire, UCLA Loneliness Scale, and the Perceived Social Support Scale. Common method bias was performed using Harman’s single-factor test. The mediation and moderation effects were analyzed using SPSS software and PROCESS macros. Results: Chronotype had a negative predictive effect on social anxiety in college students. Specifically, the greater the inclination of individuals' chronotypes toward evening preference, the more pronounced their symptoms of social anxiety would be. Loneliness served as a partial mediator in the relationship between chronotype and social anxiety, accounting for 30.0% of the total effect. In addition, perceived social support, particularly from friends and significant others, was found to play a moderating role in the process of loneliness affecting social anxiety among college students, while support from family did not. Interestingly, the perceived social support displayed a limited protective effect when college students suffered from higher levels of loneliness. Conclusion: These findings deepened our understanding of how and when (or for “whom”) chronotype is related to social anxiety, offering a theoretical foundation and practical insights for preventing and addressing social anxiety risk in young adult university students, particularly those with evening chronotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adolescents in less economically developed areas are susceptible to social anxiety, so finding ways to effectively prevent and intervene in social anxiety could be a major step forward for poverty alleviation. However, little is known about the inner workings of social anxiety in this group. Exploring the risk and protective factors of social anxiety among adolescents in less developed rural areas is crucial for maintaining their mental health and improving their social adaptability. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationships among perceived social support, core self-evaluation, shyness and social anxiety among rural secondary school students and analyze the risk and protective factors of social anxiety. Methods: A total of 626 rural secondary school students are investigated with the Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS), Core Self-Evaluation Scale (CSES), Shyness Scale (SS) and Social Avoidance and Distress Scale (SADS). Structural equation modeling is used to analyze the mediating effects of core self-evaluation and shyness. Results: The results reveal that (1) the perceived social support and core self-evaluation of rural secondary school students are significantly negatively correlated with social anxiety, whereas their shyness is significantly positively correlated with social anxiety. There are significant gender differences in perceived social support, core self-evaluation, shyness and social anxiety. (2) There is a significant chain mediating effect of core self-evaluation and shyness between perceived social support and social anxiety, and the mediation model is cross-gender consistent. Conclusions: These results confirm that perceived social support and core self-evaluation are protective factors against social anxiety in rural secondary school students and that shyness is a risk factor for social anxiety. Moreover, perceived social support can indirectly affect social anxiety through core self-evaluation and shyness. Prevention and intervention of social anxiety can be carried out in three ways: improving the perceived ability of social support, enhancing positive self-evaluation, and reducing shyness and avoidance behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many regions and countries implemented lockdowns and isolation to curb the virus's spread, which might increase loneliness and lead to a series of psychological distress. This study aims to investigate the association between loneliness and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic and examine whether perceived social support and perceived internal control mediate the loneliness-depression relationship in China. Self-report questionnaires were distributed online in two waves during the pandemic in 2020. At Wave 1, demographics and loneliness were reported when the lockdown was initially implemented in China, and at Wave 2, as the pandemic came under control and the epicenter lifted its lockdown. Depression, perceived social support, and perceived internal control were measured at both two waves. Higher levels of loneliness at Wave 1 were associated with more depression at Wave 2 after controlling for baseline depression and demographic variables. Simple mediation models showed that both perceived social support and internal control at two waves independently mediated the relationship between Wave 1 loneliness and Wave 2 depression. Additionally, the serial multiple mediation model indicated that perceived social support and perceived internal control sequentially mediated the path from loneliness to subsequent depression. A higher level of loneliness during the initial lockdown was linked with more severe depression with the development of the COVID-19 pandemic. Both perceived social support and perceived internal control acted as essential protective factors against depression from loneliness. Meanwhile, social support might protect mental health by enhancing the sense of self-control when facing loneliness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research explored the link between teacher-student relationships and learning engagement, considering perceived social support as a mediator and academic self-efficacy as a moderator. A total of 930 college students completed the Academic Self-Efficacy Scale, Teacher-Student Relationships Questionnaire, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and College Student Learning Engagement Questionnaire. Mediating and moderating effects were investigated using SPSS19.0 and one of its process plugins 3.5. The findings indicated (1) teacher-student relationships positively predicted learning engagement; (2) perceived social support mediated the link between teacher-student relationships and learning engagement; and (3) academic self-efficacy moderated the initial phase of the pathway to the mediating role of perceived social support. Moreover, the mediating effect was more significant at elevated academic self-efficacy levels. Establishing harmonious relationships between teachers and students, nurturing students' confidence in their academic abilities , and expanding students' access to social support were essential to boosting the educational involvement of college students. The study findings will help educators enhance college students' engagement in learning and provide recommendations for educators to conduct educational and teaching activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper was to explore the impact of social support on the academic achievement of master's students and the mediating effect of academic emotions in the impact mechanism. This paper collected data from 567 master's students at J University and analyzed it using SPSS 26.0 and Amos 23.0. The results showed that social support significantly predicted academic achievement. Specifically, all three dimensions of social support (family support, supervisor support and institutional resource support) significantly predicted academic achievement. Positive academic emotions mediated the relationship between social support and academic achievement, with the indirect effect, while negative academic emotions had no significant effect on academic achievement. Therefore, to promote academic achievement of master's students, universities should create a supportive university environment and optimize the mode of postgraduate training and management, and constantly improve the support of supervisors. Additionally, master's students should cultivate the self-regulation abilities to better stimulate positive academic emotions among them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Children with chronic illnesses pose a significant burden on parents who are directly involved in caregiving. Despite the high prevalence of chronic illnesses among children in Saudi Arabia, no study has examined caregiver burden and other related factors in the Saudi Population. Thus, this study determined the levels of caregiver burden, perceived social support, and perceived stress and their association among parents who provide care to their child with a chronic illness. Methods: A cross-sectional design was used for this study. Data were collected through an online survey using standardized scales from parents who had at least one child suffering from a chronic illness or disability for more than 12 months and requiring continuous medical treatment. Results: A total of 206 parents reported mild-to-moderate levels of caregiver burden, moderate levels of perceived stress, and high levels of perceived social support. Furthermore, perceived social support was significantly correlated with caregiver burden (rho = − 0.36, p < 0.01) and perceived stress (rho = − 0.45, p < 0.01), and caregiver burden was significantly associated with perceived stress (rho = 0.65, p < 0.01). Conclusions: Study findings suggest that social support could play a pivotal role in designing intervention programs to mitigate the stress caused by the caregiver burden. This insight underscores the urgent need for policymakers to develop psychosocial interventions and targeted programs for caregivers of children with chronic illnesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots have made significant strides in generating human‐like conversations. With AI's expanding capabilities in mimicking human interactions, its affordability and accessibility underscore the potential of AI chatbots to facilitate negative emotional disclosure or venting. The study's primary objective is to highlight the potential benefits of AI‐assisted venting by comparing its effectiveness to venting through a traditional journaling platform in reducing negative affect and increasing perceived social support. We conducted a pre‐registered within‐subject experiment involving 150 participants who completed both traditional venting and AI‐assisted venting conditions with counterbalancing and a wash‐out period of 1‐week between the conditions. Results from the frequentist and Bayesian dependent samples t‐test revealed that AI‐assisted venting effectively reduced high and medium arousal negative affect such as anger, frustration and fear. However, participants in the AI‐assisted venting condition did not experience a significant increase in perceived social support and perceived loneliness, suggesting that participants did not perceive the effective assistance from AI as social support. This study demonstrates the promising role of AI in improving individuals' emotional well‐being, serving as a catalyst for a broader discussion on the evolving role of AI and its potential psychological implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Our aim is to construct a moderated mediation model for investigating the effect of interparental conflict on social anxiety, the potential mediating role of psychological resilience, the moderating effect of perceived social support on this association, and the gender difference among Chinese college students. Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted on 1343 Chinese college students from Anhui Province, Hunan Province, Jiangsu Province, and Henan Province, China, in March 2024. Pearson correlation, mediation effects analyses, and multiple-group comparison were conducted. Results: (1) Interparental conflict and social anxiety varied significantly with gender, while the interparental conflict (t = − 3.998, p < 0.001) and social anxiety (t = − 4.644, p < 0.001) in the female group were significantly more severe than in the male group. However, there was no significant difference in interparental conflict and social anxiety between different grades (p > 0.05); (2) Interparental conflict positively predicts social anxiety; (3) The relationship between interparental conflict and social anxiety is mediated by psychological resilience; (4) The relationship between interparental conflict and psychological resilience is moderated by perceived social support; (5) The mediating effect was found only in women, but the moderating effect was no gender difference. Conclusion: It is crucial to recognize and cultivate the psychological resilience of college students and to provide them with appropriate high social support. This is conducive to alleviating the social anxiety suffered by college students and promote their psycho-social well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Initiating and maintaining physical activity is particularly difficult for at-risk groups such as those with chronic low back pain (LBP). OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess whether there is a relationship between perceived social support (e.g., emotional and physical support) in individuals recently discharged from treatment for chronic LBP and the number of exercise sessions and total amount of exercise they perform over a 6-month period. This study also aimed to investigate a possible mediation effect of exercise self-efficacy on the relationship between perceived social support and exercise adherence (number of exercise sessions and total amount of exercise). METHODS: This prognostic study employed a secondary analysis of data collected for The Buddy Study; Data was collected through online weekly diaries over a 6-month period. Poisson regression analyses were used to quantify the relationship between social support at baseline and total number of exercise sessions, and total amount of exercise performed (frequency and duration) in the 6-month follow-up period. Where a relationship was observed, the Stata SEM command was used for the mediation analysis. RESULTS: A positive relationship was found between participants' perceived levels of social support at baseline and the total number of exercise sessions they performed (IRR = 1.56, 95%CI: 1.18 to 2.06) and the total amount of exercise they performed (IRR = 1.57, 95%CI: 1.05 to 2.35) during the 6-month follow-up period. No mediating relationship was found between exercise self-efficacy at 3-months and the total number of exercise sessions performed (β 3.96, 95% CI: - 4.91 to 12.84), or the total amount of exercise performed (β 243.96, 95% CI: - 258.08 to 746.01). CONCLUSION: Social support is potentially an important aspect of exercise adherence, following discharge from treatment, for those with chronic LBP. People's self-efficacy to exercise does not appear to mediate this relationship. Harnessing social support following physiotherapy treatment may increase exercise adherence and may therefore improve long term outcomes for those with chronic LBP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The senior high school period is a critical phase for the proliferation of mental health problems, as well as a key period for cognitive development among adolescents. Due to the importance of support from the external environment for students, this study aims to explore and verify the protective role of social support in the mental health and creative tendencies of senior high school students, as well as its mechanisms and boundary conditions. Based on a survey of 1463 Chinese senior high school students, a moderated mediation model was constructed. The results showed that (1) perceived social support significantly negatively predicts mental health problems and significantly positively predicts creative tendencies; (2) self-esteem mediates the impact of perceived social support on both mental health problems and creative tendencies; (3) perceived stress not only moderates the impact of self-esteem on mental health problems and creative tendencies, but also moderates the mediating effect of self-esteem. The findings of this study shed light on the positive impact of social support and the self-esteem it nurtures during the senior high school years. These insights offer valuable recommendations for practitioners aiming to prevent mental health issues and foster creative tendencies among senior high school students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incarceration is a challenging and stressful experience that requires offenders to alter their previous functioning and adjust to the correctional environment. Incarcerated female offenders who experience adjustment difficulties in the correctional environment tend to experience increased mental and physical health concerns. Therefore, investigating the possible predictor variables of correctional adjustment among incarcerated female offenders within the South African context is important. This study employed a quantitative research approach on a sample of 123 female offenders. The data were collected using questionnaires, and the findings indicated that the combination of some variables (Significant Other and Seeking Social Support) predicted Internal Adjustment, (Stress and Family) predicted External Adjustment, and (Stress and Significant Other) predicted Physical Adjustment of the female offenders. The results of this study could inform the development of correctional programmes centred on the unique treatment needs of incarcerated female offenders to assist offenders with adjusting to the correctional environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been a recent surge in social entrepreneurship to address pressing social problems. Social ventures drive positive change and reshape traditional business norms by providing innovative solutions and fostering inclusive growth. Social entrepreneurial intention (SEI) is crucial to studying social entrepreneurship since it sheds light on the underlying motivations and factors that drive people to engage in social enterprise. The study examines empathy, moral obligation, perceived social support, social self-efficacy, risk-taking motive, and innovativeness as determinants of SEI. Data collected through an online questionnaire from 349 commerce and management students were analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). Results reveal a significant influence of social self-efficacy, perceived social support, risk-taking motive, and innovativeness on SEI. Notably, the results highlight an indirect influence of empathy and moral obligation on SEI mediated by social self-efficacy and perceived social support. The study also reveals how social vision and social proactiveness relate to social self-efficacy. The findings have significant implications for encouraging social entrepreneurship. Policymakers and educators may use these insights to develop specific activities that assist prospective social entrepreneurs by enhancing the attributes that affect their desire to establish social ventures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social support is a key determinant of mental health across multiple populations and contexts. Little is known about social support among UK (ex-)military personnel, especially those with combat injuries following deployment to Afghanistan. This study aimed to investigate the level of perceived social support and its associations with mental health among injured and uninjured UK (ex-)military personnel. An analysis of baseline data from the Armed Services Trauma Rehabilitation Outcome (ADVANCE) prospective cohort study was performed. A representative sample of male UK combat-injured personnel was compared with a frequency-matched sample of uninjured personnel. Validated questionnaires were completed including the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). MSPSS score was transformed using linear splines with a knot at ≥ 55. Multivariable logistic regression analyses examined associations between perceived social support and mental health. In total, 521 combat-injured participants (137 with amputations) and 515 uninjured participants were included. Median MSPSS score was 65 (interquartile range [IQR] 54–74). Injured and uninjured participants reported similar MSPSS scores, as did those injured with amputations, and non-amputation injured participants. For each one unit increase in MSPSS score (for scores ≥55), the odds of post-traumatic stress disorder decreased (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.93, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.91 to 0.96). No such association was found with MSPSS scores below 55 (AOR 0.99, 95% CI 0.97 to 1.01). Similar results were observed for depression and anxiety. Perceived social support may be a target for intervention within this population, irrespective of injury status. • Injured/uninjured UK military personnel report similar levels of social support. • Amputation/non-amputation injured personnel report similar levels of social support. • Social support has a negative association with mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the revised job demands–resources model, this study aimed to analyze the direct relationship of teacher self‐efficacy with burnout and its indirect relationship through perceived social support as well as the moderating roles of teacher optimism in these relationships. The study used a Bayesian estimator with structural equation modeling to examine the structural relationships among self‐efficacy, optimism, perceived social support, and burnout, using data collected from a sample of 288 teachers in Elâzığ, a city in the eastern region of Turkey. The results demonstrated the negative relationships between teacher self‐efficacy and optimism with burnout, and the indirect negative relationship between teacher self‐efficacy and burnout through perceived social support. In addition, the present study revealed that the direct relationship between teacher self‐efficacy and perceived social support and the indirect relationship between teacher self‐efficacy and burnout through perceived social support can be strengthened depending on the level of optimism. Recommendations for practitioners, policymakers, and researchers are presented. Practitioner Points: Teacher self‐efficacy is negatively related to burnout and positively related to perceived social support.Perceived social support partially mediates the relationship between teacher self‐efficacy and burnout.Teacher optimism moderates the relationship between teacher self‐efficacy and perceived social support, as well as the relationship between teacher self‐efficacy and burnout through perceived social support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the gradual penetration of the Internet into the study and life of college students, the Internet not only brings convenience to young adults but also becomes a new channel for them to engage in deviant behaviors. This study explores the relationship between stressful life events and college students' online deviant behaviors, as well as the mediating role of negative automatic thoughts and the moderating role of perceived social support. Data is drawn from 448 college students (Mage = 20.10, SDage = 1.74). Results showed that stressful life events were significantly positively correlated with online deviant behaviors, and negative automatic thoughts mediated the relationship between stressful life events and online deviant behaviors. The relationship between stressful life events and online deviant behaviors, as well as that between negative automatic thoughts and online deviant behaviors, were both moderated by perceived social support. This study provides a practical guiding value for effectively preventing and intervening in college students' online deviant behaviors and maintaining the regular order of the online society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 epidemic not only impacted China's economy but also induced periodic anxiety among employees, especially during its peak. Even as governmental controls relaxed, enterprises seemed unaffected externally. However, beneath the surface, the lingering effects on employee mental health persisted. Many faced dual stressors concerning their job and personal well-being due to the epidemic, heightening work-related anxieties. This research, a year after China resumed work, delves into the psychological stress influencing this sustained anxiety. A survey of 516 employees helped test the hypothesis using a multiple regression model. Findings indicated heightened continuous work anxiety due to the epidemic, particularly in hard-hit areas. However, individual resilience, organizational, and social support were found to mitigate these effects. The study underscores the sustained psychological aftermath of the epidemic on employees, urging health authorities to address it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The findings of this study offer novel insights and avenues for advancing patient prognostic rehabilitation and stroke care in the future, while also providing practical implications for clinicians and nurses to design and implement targeted interventions. • Family resilience offers nurses the opportunity to create protective factors that leverage patient family strengths to promote their family resilience. • As geriatric nurses, they can provide their own professional support and actively mobilize existing resources, exert the role of social support and coping styles in the management of ischemic stroke, improve the social support for patients and their families, the importance of coping styles in disease control, and improve their family adaptability. Ischemic stroke events impose a substantial burden on both families and society, underscoring the critical importance of early intervention and prevention strategies. The dearth of familial and societal support significantly impacts coping styles and family resilience, with negative coping styles potentially linked to diminished levels of family resilience. However, empirical evidence supporting these associations remains lacking. The aim of this study was to examine the association between simplified coping style, perceived social support and family resilience in patients with ischemic stroke, while also investigating the potential mediating role of simplified coping style in the relationship between perceived social support and family resilience. Convenience sampling was employed to select patients with ischemic stroke from three tertiary hospitals in Hunan Province between May and November 2021. A comprehensive investigation was conducted using a General data questionnaire, Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire, Perceived Social Support Scale and Family Resilience Rating Scale. The mediating effect was analyzed using PROCESS macros in SPSS, while the significance was tested through the Bootstrap method. A total of 310 questionnaires were distributed, with 7 identified as containing errors, omissions, or losses. Of these, 303 valid questionnaires were collected, yielding an effective response rate of 97.74 %. The scores for family resilience among ischemic stroke patients showed significant positive correlations with simple coping style (r = 0.59, P < 0.01) and perceived social support (r = 0.69, P < 0.01). Additionally, there was a positive correlation between perceived social support and simple coping style (r = 0.56, P < 0.01). Furthermore, the simple coping style played a crucial mediating role in the relationship between perceived social support and family resilience by accounting for approximately 20.70 % of the effect size. The findings suggest that enhancing positive coping styles and effective social support can enhance the level of family resilience in patients with ischemic stroke. Therefore, medical professionals should focus on improving social support while targeting coping styles as an intervention strategy to actively adjust the coping modes, ultimately elevating the level of family resilience in patients with ischemic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Revealed a dyadic effect in advanced lung cancer patient and their spouses. • The potential mediating role of sense of coherence was examined. • Caregivers perceived social support can improve patients' psychological distress. The primary objective of this study was to examine the dyadic relationships between perceived social support, sense of coherence (SOC), and psychological distress in advanced lung cancer patients and their spousal caregivers with the dyadic analysis method. 302 dyads of patients and their spouses were recruited between April 2023 to October 2023 from a Chinese tertiary hospital. Participants′ perceived social support, SOC, and psychological distress were evaluated by corresponding questionnaires. In order to explore the potential dyadic associations between the covariates, the data were analyzed by adopting the actor-partner interdependence mediation model (APIMeM). The findings demonstrated that the impact of perceived social support on psychological distress had both actor and partner effects. Specifically, the perceived social support of patients and their spouses was directly and positively associated with their own psychological distress. Furthermore, in patient-spouse dyads, SOC mediated the actor effects of perceived social support on psychological distress. Another important finding was that perceived social support by spouse had a direct or indirect negative partner effect on the psychological distress of patients. The investigation uncovered a dyadic interdependence between perceived social support, psychological distress, and SOC. It is necessary for medical professionals to identify patients and spouses who report poor levels of SOC and perceived social support and implement targeted interventions to address these concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This study is an addition to the literature on the relationship between perceived social support and self-management behaviors in rural older adults with coronary heart disease. • This is the first study to investigate the relationship between acceptance of illness mediating perceived social support and self-management behaviors in rural older adults with coronary heart disease in China. • The importance of perceived social support and acceptance of illness must be taken into account with regard to improving self-management behaviors in rural older adults with coronary heart disease. To explore the relationship between perceived social support, acceptance of illness, and self-management behaviors and the mediating role of acceptance of illness in perceived social support and self-management behaviors. Between August 2022 and February 2023, 731 rural older adults with coronary heart disease in Feicheng City participated in this study. Correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationship between variables, and mediating effects were analyzed using AMOS 23.0 software. Perceived social support and acceptance of illness were positively correlated with self-management behaviors. Acceptance of illness mediated the relationship between the perceived social support and the three dimensions of self-management behavior. These findings contribute to the understanding that increased perceived social support and acceptance of illness are more likely to improve self-management behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Perceived social support plays a crucial role in adolescent development, health, well-being, and resilience. Understanding the factors associated with perceived social support among adolescents is essential for designing effective interventions. However, research in this area, particularly within specific contexts, remains limited. Therefore, this study aims to identify the factors associated with perceived social support among adolescents in the Gamo Zone, South Ethiopia Regional State. Method: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted, involving 1172 adolescents selected through a stratified multi-stage sampling method. Structured face-to-face interviews were employed for data collection. Summary statistics were utilized for data presentation. Multiple linear regressions were then performed to identify factors associated with perceived social support. The strength and direction of associations were presented using b coefficients and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The level of statistical significance was set at alpha 5%. Result: The total mean for perceived social support among adolescents was 57.02 ± 12.68. Adolescents living with their biological parents reported significantly higher levels of perceived social support (b = 4.17, 95% CI: 2.00 to 6.34) compared to their counterparts. Similarly, adolescents engaged in paid work within the last 12 months reported higher perceived social support (b = 3.43, 95% CI: 1.39 to 5.46). Higher levels of parental monitoring were also associated with increased perceived social support (b = 3.03, 95% CI: 1.23 to 4.82). Additionally, adolescents who perceived risks for sexual and reproductive health (SRH) problems reported higher levels of perceived social support (b = 2.76, 95% CI: 0.84 to 4.69). Moreover, adolescents with good knowledge about SRH rights exhibited increased perceived social support (b = 2.46, 95% CI: 0.89 to 4.02). Furthermore, adolescents residing in rural areas reported higher levels of perceived social support compared to those in urban areas (b = 1.56, 95% CI: 0.16 to 3.11) Conclusion: The findings of this study reveal that factors such as living arrangements, employment status, parental monitoring, perceived risks for SRH problems, knowledge about SRH rights, and geographical context emerged as important predictors of perceived social support. Therefore, implementing interventions and initiatives to address these identified factors holds promise for nurturing resilient adolescent social support networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study aimed to explore the relationship between family function and altruistic behavior in adolescents, while also investigating the potential mediating roles of extraverted personality and perceived social support. Methods: Surveys were administered to high school students across various schools in Guangdong Province, utilizing the Family APGAR Questionnaire, Extraversion Personality Scale, Perceived Social Support Scale, and Altruistic Behavior Scale. A total of 972 valid questionnaires were collected for analysis. Results: The findings revealed that family function did not directly predict altruistic behavior. However, extraverted personality and perceived social support were identified as mediators between family function and altruistic behavior. Furthermore, both extraverted personality and perceived social support acted as chain mediators in this relationship. Discussion: These results emphasize the importance of considering family dynamics in understanding adolescent altruistic behavior and highlight the potential pathways through which family function influences altruistic tendencies. Promoting positive family environments and enhancing extraverted personality and perceived social support may facilitate the cultivation of altruistic behavior in adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies have shown the positive impact of perceived social support on cognitive function among older adults in rural areas. However, existing studies often overlook the impact of different support sources. This study aimed to explore the relationship between the diverse sources of perceived social support and cognitive function. Methods: Participants were drawn from the Guizhou Rural Older Adults' Health Study (HSRO) in China. We included 791 participants who participated in a baseline survey in 2019 and a 3-year follow-up survey. Perceived social support was investigated from the six main sources (friend, relative, children, spouse, sibling, and neighbor). Hierarchical linear regression models were used to observe the effects of diverse sources of perceived social support and their combinations on cognitive function. Results: Cognitive function was positively associated with perceived support from children, friends, and neighbors. A positive association was found between cognitive function and increases in each additional source [ß = 0.75 (95%CI: 0.51, 0.98), p < 0.001]. Older adults who perceived support from both children and friends showed better cognitive function [ß = 2.53 (95%CI: 1.35, 3.72), p < 0.001]. The perception of support from spouse, siblings, and relatives did not show a statistically significant association with cognitive function among older adults in rural areas. Conclusion: This study found that the association between different sources of perceived social support and cognitive function was varied. This study provides scientific evidence that personalized support strategies may benefit in promoting cognitive health in rural older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe pathways between personality traits and older adults’ quality of life (QOL) have been well studied. However, perceived social support and positive coping styles should not be ignored by older adults’ QOL. Hence, this study examines the chain mediating role of perceived social support and positive coping styles between personality traits and older adults’ QOL. In total, 230 older individuals (Meanage = 69.43, SDage = 7.23, age range from 60 to 93) participated in this study. All older people provided a rating of QOL and perceived social support, the Chinese Big Five personality, and positive coping styles. (1a) the five personality traits of older adults were significantly associated with QOL; (2b) perceived social support mediated the relationship between three personality traits (neuroticism, extraversion, and agreeableness) and QOL; (3c) positive coping styles played a mediator role in the personality traits (neuroticism, extraversion, and agreeableness) and QOL; (4d) perceived social support and positive coping styles had a significant chain mediating effect on the three dimensions of personality traits (neuroticism, extraversion, and agreeableness) and QOL. As mediating influences, social support and positive coping styles can be applied to efforts to promote QOL for older adults who share the personality traits of neuroticism, extraversion, and agreeableness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a leading cause of long-term disability in children worldwide where severe cases may require complete dependence on caregivers for mobility, self-care, and social participation. The demand for caregiving may negatively impact the level of life satisfaction of the caregivers, especially the mothers. This study was thus carried out to evaluate the level of life satisfaction of mothers of children with CP, its association with perceived social support, and the motor function of their children. Method: The study involved 58 mothers of children with CP and their children. The level of life satisfaction, perceived social support, and socioeconomic status of the mothers were assessed using the satisfaction with life scale, the multidimensional scale of perceived social support, and the modified Kuppuswamy Socioeconomic Scale, respectively. The motor function of the children with CP was assessed using the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS). Result: About 38% of the mothers of children with cerebral palsy were fully satisfied with their lives. There was no significant association among the level of life satisfaction, perceived social support of mothers of children with CP, and the motor function of their children. Conclusion: Six out of ten mothers of children with cerebral palsy are somewhat dissatisfied with life. It was recommended that measures to relieve factors leading to dissatisfaction with life should be put in place by national health policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Loneliness is a risk factor for numerous negative life outcomes and diseases among older adults. Physical exercise can reduce social isolation among older adults and improve their health status. This study focused on the relationships among physical exercise, perceived social support, resilience and loneliness to provide theoretical support for physical exercise interventions to address loneliness in older adults. Methods: This study used a structural equation model and bootstrap method to test a serial mediation model of physical exercise and loneliness and the role of perceived social support and resilience. In this descriptive and cross-sectional study, a questionnaire survey was conducted on 516 older adults from 5 January 2024 to 20 January 2024. The data were collected using the physical activity rating scale (PARS-3), UCLA loneliness Scale-8 (ULS-8), perceived social support scale (PSSS) and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). Results: The results showed that physical exercise among older adults had a direct negative relationship with loneliness (Effect = -0.049, 95% CI: -0.072 to -0.027). In addition, perceived social support and resilience mediated the relationship between physical exercise and loneliness both independent and serially, with the independent mediation effect of perceived social support being − 0.041 (95% CI: -0.056 to -0.028), the independent mediation effect of resilience being − 0.018 (95% CI: -0.026 to -0.011), and the serial mediation effect of perceived social support and resilience being − 0.009 (95% CI: -0.015 to -0.005). The total indirect effect of the three mediation paths was 58.47%. Conclusions: (1) In this study, physical exercise and loneliness in older adults were negatively correlated. Perceived social support and resilience play mediating roles in the relationship between physical exercise and loneliness. (2) This study suggests that participation in group events or team sports is valuable for alleviating loneliness caused by a lack of social interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID‐19 pandemic has escalated concerns regarding internet addiction. This study investigated the impact of an online photograph intervention on internet addiction and identified its effectiveness mechanisms. Individuals diagnosed with internet addiction (internet addiction test score > 36, Mage = 22.85, 78.6% women) were randomly allocated to either the intervention (n = 64) or control (n = 81) groups. For 10 days, the intervention group was tasked with photographing "things that make you feel a sense of control in life" and writing 100‐word descriptions explaining the reason for the sense of control elicited by the image. Meanwhile, the control group participated only in the assessments. Assessments were conducted before the intervention, immediately afterward and 7 days later. A significant interaction between group and time was observed, with the intervention group showing a notable reduction in internet addiction and an increase in sense of control. The sense of control at post‐test significantly mediated the intervention's effect on reducing internet addiction at follow‐up, but only among individuals with high perceived social support. The findings indicate that online photography interventions can effectively diminish internet addiction, with a sense of control acting as a potent mechanism for intervention, particularly in individuals with substantial perceived social support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The support provided by parents plays a relevant role in the life satisfaction (LS) of young people, as well as in their level of psychological distress (PD), which are among the important mediators of their well-being. Family structure has also been identified as a protective or risk factor. Hence, the present study provides a more complex analysis of young people's LS, considering the type of family cohabitation (based on parental presence), the personal conditions of the young people (PS), and their perception of the context (social support; SP). A cross-sectional design was used, and 557 young people, with a mean age of 20.68 (SD = 2.23), 50.8% women, 60.7% students, participated. Their levels of psychological distress, perceived social support, life satisfaction, and parental cohabitation were assessed. A mediation and a moderated-mediation model were used. Young people living in a biparental family reveal higher levels of LS and lower levels of PS. A partial mediation was found in the effect of SP on the relation between PS and LS. The moderated-mediation model tested showed that the indirect effects on the paths PS–SP and SP–LS were not significant by the type of parental family cohabitation. Several implications regarding family structure on young people's LS are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nonbinary individuals grapple with societal and individual pressures from a pervasive lack of comprehension, acknowledgment, and affirmative social representation. This dearth of a societal conversation recognizing the validity of nonbinary identities leads to instances of discrimination. Social support is recognized as a buffer to these experiences and is positively related to better physical and psychological health. Aims: To explore the processes nonbinary people experienced with their most significant relationships, be it romantic, friendships, and/or family members, before and after disclosure of nonbinary identification. Additionally, we sought to contextualize their participation, or nonparticipation, in activist groups and virtual communities. Methods: The present study adopts a qualitative methodology to build an initial understanding of the perceived social support of non-binary people in Portugal. We conducted non-structured life story interviews with thirty-three Portuguese nonbinary people and analyzed the collected data using thematic analysis. Results: The findings are illustrated by two main themes: the Flow of Relational Support, where we explored the support perceived or not by the most significant relationships; and The Search and Find of Community Support, where we characterized the search and find of support through the participation in activist and virtual communities/groups. Discussion: The current findings illustrate the positive influence of perceived social support on the experiences of nonbinary individuals. Of note, these experiences were highly diverse, with no participants reporting comprehensive support from all the sources explored. Additionally, the detrimental impact of perceiving a lack of support in some critical areas remained prominent. Individuals struggled to gain recognition and validation, resulting from a lack of relational support and a reluctance to seek out and find community support. Nonbinary individuals confront intense scrutiny and prejudice from the broader social sphere, compromising their ability to live openly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study sought to examine the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and mental health issues among transgender individuals in Kenya. Methods: Descriptive and correlational design was utilized with a sample size of 55 transgender people. Self-report online questionnaire was used to collect data. Results: Respondents showed high exposure to ACEs, high levels of psychological distress, significant risk of suicide and moderate perceived social support. A significant relationship was found between ACEs and psychological distress, ACEs and suicidal ideation, and ACEs and perceived social support. Conclusion: ACEs strongly influence mental health of transgender people in adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic loneliness and low perceived social support have been recognized as risk factors for both mental and cardiovascular disorders. It has been proposed that their link to psychophysiological problems may involve changes in parasympathetic activity. However, the exact underlying psychopathological mechanisms and the moderating effects of gender are still not thoroughly examined. Thus, the present study investigated associations between perceived social functioning and resting vagal tone in the context of potential cognitive and subclinical mediators and gender differences. Three hundred twenty‐five young adults (aged 18–35, 180 women) underwent an electrocardiogram measurement of 6‐minute resting heart rate variability (HRV). They also completed questionnaires assessing loneliness, perceived social support, social cognitive biases, depressive and social anxiety symptoms, and general mental health. In men, HRV was significantly and negatively associated with poorer perceived social functioning, depressive symptoms, and self‐reported social cognitive biases, while in women, there was a quadratic link between HRV and depressive symptoms and HRV and general mental health. Moderated mediation analysis revealed that depressive symptoms fully mediated the relationship between perceived social functioning and HRV in men. The results suggest that decreased resting vagal tone in lonely individuals is linked to depressive symptomatology rather than to specific social cognitive biases and that this association is significant only in men. While previous work on the relationship between loneliness and parasympathetic activity has yielded mixed results, the present study provides evidence for an association between reduced resting vagal tone, loneliness, and perceived social support. Importantly, we showed that this association was mostly related to subclinical depressive symptoms and was only observed in men, which may help better understand individual differences related to maladaptive physiological processes in lonely individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the mediating effect of resilience and academic self-efficacy (psychological resources) in the relationship between social support and uncertainty of COVID-19. We recruited 607 Turkish undergraduate students (68% females) with a mean age of 21.71 years (SD = 3.18). Results showed that perceived social support positively predicted resilience and academic self-efficacy, while social support, resilience, and academic self- efficacy negatively predicted uncertainty of COVID-19. Findings highlight the significance of investing in social support resources for orchestrating gains in psychological resources, which may then support one another to act collectively to assuage the uncertainty of COVID-19. Theoretical contribution and practical implications of the results as well as study limitations and future research are discussed in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study examined the relationship between Type D personality and ageism in young adults, and evaluated the role of protective and risk factors. Methods: Two hundred and forty-seven community volunteers (M age = 31.8 years) reported online on age-related attitudes, Type D personality, and on measures of well-being. Results: A significant correlation was found between ageist attitudes and the tendency toward Type D personality. Both Type D personality and ageism correlated negatively with all the well-being measures. Perceived social support (PSS) partially down-mediated the association between Type D personality and ageism. A three-way interaction was found among individuals with Type D personality. Low PSS and low self-esteem were associated with an elevation of ageism compared to those with low PSS and high self-esteem. Discussion: The current research suggests that self-esteem and PSS are protective against ageism, and might be good targets for psychological interventions in order to mitigate ageism, particularly among individuals with Type D personality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dysfunctional workplace behavior (DWB) is a prevalent phenomenon in schools, which has adverse consequences for teachers and students. In addition to the known negative implications, little is known about the mechanism through which DWB functions. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of DWB on teacher emotional exhaustion (EE) and understand whether perceived social support (PSS) moderates the mediating effect that anxiety has on the relationship between DWB and EE. A battery of measurement tools was administered to 249 English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers in Iran. Moderated mediation regressions were used to analyze survey data. Results indicated that anxiety mediated the relationship between DWB and EE. Additionally, it was found that PSS moderated the direct relationship between DWB and anxiety; and the indirect relationship between DWB and EE. DWB was more strongly associated with an increased incidence of anxiety and EE in teachers with low levels of PSS. Results highlight the need to understand the intervening factors and sources of EE to actively identify, assess, and control teachers' behavioral and mental health risk factors. Given the significant role of emotions in teacher well-being, it is imperative to develop effective interventions (e.g., promoting PSS and positive workplace behaviors) in order to optimize teachers' emotional and behavioral health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we aimed to investigate the impact of indirect gratitude experience on life satisfaction and perceived social support. The participants included 68 adults (33 males and 35 females) who were assigned to a direct gratitude group, an indirect gratitude group, or a control group for a 6-day writing intervention. This study shows that gratitude treatment, including direct and indirect gratitude, significantly increases life satisfaction and perceived social support levels in the direct and indirect gratitude groups compared to the control group. There was no significant difference in life satisfaction and social support between the direct and indirect gratitude groups. In addition, changes in the measured values of direct and indirect gratitude before and after the intervention were significant in both life satisfaction and perceived social support, indicating that just reading or seeing other people’s gratitude experiences enhances the feeling of gratitude and its psychological effects. Finally, the limitations of this study and suggestions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Individuals working in veterinary field suffer significantly from mental health problems, and research has extensively focused on psychological and work-related predictors of psychological distress. This study intended to approach psychological distress through a positive lens by investigating the predictive role of life satisfaction on psychological distress in veterinary staff, and the mediating effect of compassion satisfaction, resilience and perceived social support. Methodology: A total of 868 veterinary staff (i.e. veterinarians, veterinary nurses, veterinary assistants and veterinary administrative staff) completed a web-survey assessing life satisfaction, psychological distress, compassion satisfaction, resilience, and social support. Results: Life satisfaction negatively predicts psychological distress, and compassion satisfaction and resilience showed a mediation effect on the relationship between life satisfaction and psychological distress, with compassion satisfaction explaining 59% and resilience 6.4% of the effect of life satisfaction on psychological distress. Conclusion: Current data support the role of life satisfaction as a protective dimension on psychological distress within a broader sample population of veterinary staff in Portugal, highlighting the role of compassion satisfaction and resilience in contributing in minimising distress among veterinary staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study compared female adolescents in institutional care (AICs) diagnosed with major depression (MD) or substance use disorder (SUD) with those who were not. In addition, we examined the protective effects of resilience, coping skills, and social support on SUD and MD. Methods: Participants included 49 female AICs (11–18 years) and a control group of 49 girls of similar age. Psychiatric diagnoses were made using the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL). In addition, participants completed self-report questionnaires: Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders Child Version (SCARED), The Child and Youth Psychological Resilience Scale, KIDCOPE, Social Support Appraisals Scale (SSAS), Children's Depression Inventory (CDI). Results: AICs were found to have more psychopathologies than the control group. Higher resilience, SSAS-friends scores, and more positive coping styles were associated with lower CDI scores in AICs with MD. CDI and SCARED scores were higher, and SSAS- family, friends, teacher scores, and positive coping styles were lower in the AICs with SUD. Conclusions: Resilience, increased social support from friends, and positive coping styles showed negative relationships with MD and SUD in AICs. Social support from teachers and family was negatively associated with SUD in AICs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Despite the link between neuroticism trait and postnatal depression has been confirmed, little is known about the factors that influence this association. This study aimed to examine whether childbirth experience mediated the association between neuroticism trait and postnatal depression, and whether this indirect effect was moderated by perceived social support. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1686 women within one year postpartum from 38 hospitals in China. Participants completed anonymous questionnaires measuring neuroticism trait, postnatal depression, childbirth experience, perceived social support, and demographic and obstetric variables. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 and PROCESS 4.0. Results The prevalence of postnatal depression among Chinese women was 24.1%, higher than the global pooled prevalence. The results showed a positive correlation between neuroticism trait and postnatal depression, which was partially mediated by childbirth experience. The negative correlation between neuroticism trait and childbirth experience was moderated by perceived social support. Specifically, the negative impact of neuroticism trait on childbirth experience was stronger among women with high perceived social support. Conclusions Our findings highlight the critical importance of interventions dedicated to improving the childbirth experience, which may help reduce postnatal depression. Moreover, neuroticism and perceived social support are highly correlated and must be considered simultaneously to inform individualized interventions for postnatal depression.