The Nucleus Accumbens CRH-CRHR1 System Mediates Early-Life Stress-Induced Sleep Disturbance and Dendritic Atrophy in the Adult Mouse / 神经科学通报·英文版

Adverse experiences in early life have long-lasting negative impacts on behavior and the brain in adulthood, one of which is sleep disturbance. As the corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)-corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1 (CRHR1) system and nucleus accumbens (NAc) play important roles in both stress responses and sleep-wake regulation, in this study we investigated whether the NAc CRH-CRHR1 system mediates early-life stress-induced abnormalities in sleep-wake behavior in adult mice. Using the limited nesting and bedding material paradigm from postnatal days 2 to 9, we found that early-life stress disrupted sleep-wake behaviors during adulthood, including increased wakefulness and decreased non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep time during the dark period and increased rapid eye movement (REM) sleep time during the light period. The stress-induced sleep disturbances were accompanied by dendritic atrophy in the NAc and both were largely reversed by daily systemic administration of the CRHR1 antagonist antalarmin during stress exposure. Importantly, Crh overexpression in the NAc reproduced the effects of early-life stress on sleep-wake behavior and NAc morphology, whereas NAc Crhr1 knockdown reversed these effects (including increased wakefulness and reduced NREM sleep in the dark period and NAc dendritic atrophy). Together, our findings demonstrate the negative influence of early-life stress on sleep architecture and the structural plasticity of the NAc, and highlight the critical role of the NAc CRH-CRHR1 system in modulating these negative outcomes evoked by early-life stress.

Role of an enriched environment in ameliorating early life stress-induced changes in structure and functions of hippocampus and amygdala in rats

Objectives: This study aimed to understand whether an enriched environment (EE) in adulthood benefits in mitigating the early life stress-induced changes in the structure and functions of the hippocampus and amygdala. Materials and Methods: Male Wistar rats were exposed daily for 6 h to early maternal separation and isolation (MS) stress from postnatal days (PND) 4–14 and later at PND 60–70 days subjected to EE, while, the normal control (NC) rats were not subjected to stress but reared with the mother under standard housing conditions. The effects of MS and EE on adulthood behaviour were not subjected to stress but assessed by measuring the ambulatory, repetitive and anxiety-like behaviour. The study has also done the plasma corticosterone concentrations. The dendritic remodelling in the amygdala and hippocampus was assessed using the Golgi cox staining approach. Finally, the present study compared the reactive oxygen species-induced lipid peroxidation and total antioxidant capacity in MS rats as an indirect measure of oxidative stress to study the impact of MS stress on the limbic circuit and peripheral organs. Results: MS rats showed increased anxiety and lower plasma corticosterone levels. The pyramidal neurons’ dendritic plasticity displayed a different pattern, with shrinkage in the CA1 hippocampal neurons and hypertrophy in the amygdala’s primary neurons. Variations in antioxidant activity and peroxidation observed in NC to MS across tissues indicate the occurrence and management of oxidative stress in MS. The 10 days of EE in young adulthood helped to reduce MS stress-induced structural abnormalities in hippocampal and amygdala pyramidal neurons, as well as anxiety and plasma corticosterone levels. Conclusion: These findings together indicate that exposure to adverse experiences may cause harmful effects on brain plasticity and behaviour in young adulthood. Exposure to EE may be beneficial in reducing the early life stress-induced pathophysiology later in life.

Effect of early-life maternal deprivation on depressive-like behavior and neurogenesis in hippocampal granular layer of adolescent rat / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

Objective:To explore the effects of early-life maternal deprivation on depressive-like behavior and neurogenesis in the granular layer of hippocampus in adolescent rats (6-7 weeks old).Methods:Neonatal rats were randomly divided into maternal deprivation group and control group, with 3 litters in each group.Rats in the maternal deprivation group were given maternal deprivation from 1 to 14 days after birth and rats in the control group were caged with the mother rats and raised normally.The body weight of rats at 5-6 weeks old was recorded and the increased body weight was calculated.When the rats were 6 weeks old, the sucrose preference test was carried out.Then the rats were killed and immunofluorescence histochemistry was applied to compare the expression of Ki67 and Nestin positive cells in the dentate gyrus of hippocampus.SPSS 22.0 software was used for statistical analysis.The data of the two groups were tested to conform to the normal distribution, and then t-test was carried out. Results:There was significant difference in body weight growth between the two groups at the age of 5-6 weeks.Compared with the control group, rats in the maternal deprivation group had lower body weight growth ((20.57±2.19) g, (30.57±1.25) g, t=3.96, P<0.01)) and lower sucrose preference rate((58.38±53.14)%, (73.88±3.67)%, t=3.21, P<0.01). The results of immunofluorescence showed that the number of Ki67 positive cells in the granular layer of hippocampus in the maternal deprivation group was less than that in the control group ((5.13±0.31), (7.60±0.38), t=5.09, P<0.01), and the number of Nestin immunofluorescence positive cells was more than that in the control group ((16.65±0.79), (7.64±0.70), t=8.51, P<0.01). The Nestin immunofluorescence positive cells in the maternal deprivation group had more protrusions and branches, and the morphology was similar to astrocytes, while the immunofluorescence positive cells in the control group had fewer protrusions, and the cell body was oval. Conclusions:Early-life maternal deprivation leads to depressive-like behavior in adolescent rats, which may be associated with the decrease of neurogenesis and activation of astrocytes in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus.

Eventos vitales estresantes, estrategias de afrontamiento y resiliencia en adolescentes en contexto de pandemia / Stressful life events, coping strategies and adolescent resilience in the context of a pandemic

Resumen Introducción: El impacto psicológico causado por la pandemia Covid-19 en los adolescentes escolarizados conlleva la necesidad del análisis de las estrategias de afrontamiento y la resiliencia, al momento de enfrentar los eventos vitales estresantes. Objetivo: Identificar la correlación entre las variables eventos vitales estresantes, estrategias de afrontamiento y resiliencia en un grupo de adolescentes de la ciudad de Pasto, Colombia en el contexto de la Pandemia Covid-19. Método: Estudio descriptivo correlacional, no experimental transversal. Se aplicaron las versiones adaptadas del Cuestionario de Eventos Vitales Estresantes CEVE-A-R para Adolescentes (Villalobos et al., 2011), la Escala Estrategias de Coping Modificada EEC-M (Londoño et al., 2006) y la Escala de Resiliencia Escolar E.R.E (Obando et al., 2020). Se seleccionó una muestra intencional de 145 adolescentes entre hombres y mujeres con edades comprendidas entre los 14 y 19 años. Resultados: La variable eventos vitales estresantes se correlacionó de forma inversa estadísticamente significativa con resiliencia (p= -0,250) y de manera directa con las estrategias de afrontamiento tales como evitación emocional (p= 0,164), reacción agresiva (p= 0,228) y expresión de la dificultad de afrontamiento (p= 0,254). Por el contrario, se encontró una correlación inversa con las estrategias de solución de problemas (p=-0,172) y búsqueda de apoyo social (p=-0,04). Conclusiones: Se identifica en población adolescente en tiempos de pandemia una correlación débil entre las variables eventos vitales estresantes y estrategias de afrontamiento, y una correlación moderada entre resiliencia y las estrategias de solución de problemas y búsqueda de apoyo social.

Abstract Introduction: The psychological impact caused by the Covid-19 pandemic on adolescents in school entails the need for analysis of coping strategies and resilience, when facing stressful life events. Objective: To identify the correlation between the variables of stressful life events, coping strategies and resilience in a group of adolescents from the city of Pasto, Colombia in the context of the Covid-19 Pandemic. Method: descriptive, correlational, non-experimental cross-sectional study. The adapted versions of the CEVE-AR Stressful Life Events Questionnaire for Adolescents (Villalobos et al., 2011), the Coping Strategies ScaleModifiedEEC-M (Londoño et al., 2006) and the School Resilience Scale were applied E.R.E (Obando et al., 2020). An intentional sample of 145 adolescents between men and women aged between 14 and 19 years was selected. Results: The stressful life events variable was statistically significantly inversely correlated with resilience (p= -0,250) and directly with coping strategies such as emotional avoidance (p=0,164), aggressive reaction (p= 0,228) and expression of coping difficulty (p=0,254). On the contrary, an inverse correlation was found with problem solving strategies (p=-0,172) and seeking social support (p=-0,04). Conclusions: A weak correlation between stressful life events and coping strategies, and a moderate correlation between resilience and problem-solving strategies and seeking social support, is identified in the adolescent population in times of pandemic.

Relationship between early factors life stress and college students’ risk-taking behaviors: gender difference and situational influence / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

Objective:To explore the differences in risk-taking behaviors of individuals with early life stress between different genders under the control of social situation.Methods:A total of 160 college students including 78 males and 82 females were selected by the child psychological abuse and neglect scale.Then the subjects were divided into the early life stress group ( n=80) and the non-early life stress group ( n=80) according to the scores of the above scales.According to the presence or absence of peers, the subjects in the two groups were randomly assigned to peer presence group ( n=80) or no peer presence group ( n=80). The study adopted an experimental design of 2 (early life stress, non-early life stress) ×2 (peer presence, no peer presence) ×2 (male, female) among the subjects.All subjects performed the task of simulating risky behavior, and the number of times they chose "forward" and did not crash in the task was used as the measurement index of risky behavior.Three-factor ANOVA and Bonferroni simple effect test were carried out using SPSS 22.0 software under various conditions. Results:There were significant differences in the main effects of early life stress ( F(1, 152)=162.06, P<0.01, η2=0.52). In the simulated risk behavior task, the risk behavior of the early life stressed individuals was higher than that of the non-early life stressed individuals (no peer presence: (59.11±11.48) vs (34.91±7.42), P<0.01); peer presence: (59.24±8.59) vs (55.08±10.32), P<0.01). The interaction between early life stress and the presence of peers was statistically significant ( F(1, 152)=65.35, P<0.01, η2=0.30), for non-early life stressed individuals, the risk-taking behaviors in the peer presence group was significantly higher than that in the no peer presence group ((55.08±10.32) vs (34.91±7.42), P<0.01, but the difference was not significant for early life stressed individuals ((59.24±8.59) vs (59.11±11.48), P>0.05). The interaction of early life stress, peer presence and gender was statistically significant ( F(1, 152) =5.92, P=0.016, η2=0.04). In the presence of companions, female early-life stressed individuals exhibited higher risk behaviors than non-early life stressed individuals ((53.91±5.12) vs (46.30±4.57), P<0.01), while the difference between male early life stressed individuals and non-early life stressed individuals was not statistically significant ((65.75±7.42) vs (62.27±7.78), P>0.05). Conclusion:The influence of early life stress on individual risk-taking behavior is related with presence and gender.

Early childhood abuse: adult impulsivity and risky behavior / Abuso na infância: impulsividade no adulto e comportamentos de risco

We review the role of childhood abuse (CA) in the practice of impulsive, risk-taking behaviors during adulthood. CA deregulates the adult response to stress, which in turn disrupts the prefrontal-striatal systems that provide executive control over reward-related behavior. The result is impulsivity and risk-taking, including self-medication with drugs and alcohol and the practice of unsafe sex. These behaviors decrease quality of life and impair the attainment of long-term goals. Risky sexual behavior, in particular, increases the chance of HIV infection and perpetuates the epidemic.

Revisamos o papel do abuso na infância na prática de comportamentos impulsivos e de risco durante a vida adulta. O abuso na infância desregula a resposta do adulto ao estresse, o que, por sua vez, impede os circuitos frontoestriatais de fornecerem o adequado controle executivo sobre comportamentos associados à recompensa. O resultado é a impulsividade e escolhas de risco, incluindo automedicação com drogas e álcool e a prática de sexo inseguro, reduzindo a qualidade de vida e prejudicando o alcance de metas de longo prazo. O comportamento sexual de risco, em particular, aumenta a chance de infecção pelo Vírus de Imunodeficiência Humana e perpetua a sua epidemia.

Early maladaptive schemas and harm avoidance as mediating factors between early life stress and psychiatric symptoms in adults

Objective: This study investigated how factors of temperament and early maladaptive schemas predict psychiatric symptoms, as well as how they mediate the relation between early life stress and psychiatric symptoms in adults. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 200 university students. Data was collected through a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Adult Self-Report Inventory, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, the Young Schema Questionnaire, and the Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised. Results: A model including early maladaptive schemas, harm avoidance (temperament factor), and early life stress explained 69% of the variation of the psychiatric symptoms; among the predictors, early maladaptive schemas explained 31% of psychiatric symptoms, while harm avoidance explained 25%. Most of the predictive power associated with early life stress can be better explained by early maladaptive schemas and, to a lesser extent, harm avoidance. Conclusion: By managing these processes therapeutically, deleterious effects associated with early life stress can be minimized.

Early-life stress alters sleep structure and the excitatory-inhibitory balance in the nucleus accumbens in aged mice / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

Background@#Exposure to adverse experiences in early life may profoundly reshape the neurodevelopmental trajectories of the brain and lead to long-lasting behavioral and neural alterations. One deleterious effect of early-life stress that manifests in later life is sleep disturbance, but this has not been examined in aged mice and the underlying neural mechanisms remain unknown. Considering the important role of the nucleus accumbens (NAc) in the sleep-wake regulation, this study aimed to assess the effects of early-life stress on the sleep behaviors in aged mice and the potential involvement of the NAc in stress-induced sleep abnormalities.@*Methods@#Twenty aged male C57BL/6 mice (>16 months, n = 10 per group) were used in this study. During post-natal days 2 to 9, dams were provided with either sufficient (control) or a limited nesting and bedding materials (stressed). When the mice were 16 to 17 months old, their sleep-wake behaviors were recorded over 24 h using electroencephalogram and electromyelogram. The amount of each sleep-wake stage, mean duration, and stage transition was analyzed. Then, five animals were randomly chosen from each group and were used to measure the expression levels of vesicular glutamate transporter-1 (VGluT1) and vesicular transporters of γ-aminobutyric acid (VGAT) in the NAc using immunohistochemistry. Group comparisons were carried out using Student t test or analysis of variances when appropriate.@*Results@#Compared with the control mice, the early-life stressed aged mice spent less time awake over 24 h (697.97 ± 77.47 min vs. 631.33 ± 34.73 min, t17 = 2.376, P = 0.030), accordingly, non-rapid eye movement sleep time was increased (667.37 ± 62.07 min vs. 723.54 ± 39.21 min, t17 = 2.326, P = 0.033) and mean duration of rapid eye movement sleep was prolonged (73.00 ± 8.98 min vs. 89.39 ± 12.69 min, t17 = 3.277, P = 0.004). Meanwhile, we observed decreased VGluT1/VGAT ratios in the NAc in the stressed group (F(1, 16) = 81.04, P < 0.001).@*Conclusion@#Early adverse experiences disrupt sleep behaviors in aged mice, which might be associated with the excitatory-inhibitory imbalance in the NAc.

Early-Life Stress in D2 Heterozygous Mice Promotes Autistic-like Behaviors through the Downregulation of the BDNF-TrkB Pathway in the Dorsal Striatum

A number of specific genetic variants including gene mutations and single nucleotide variations have been identified in genomewide association studies of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ASD phenotypes in individuals carrying specific genetic variations are manifest mostly in a heterozygous state. Furthermore, individuals with most genetic variants show incomplete penetrance and phenotypic variability, suggesting that non-genetic factors are also involved in developing ASD. However, the mechanisms of how genetic and environmental factors interactively promote ASD are not clearly understood. In the present study, we investigated whether early-life stress (ELS) in D2 dopamine receptor heterozygous knockout (D2(+/−)) mice induces ASD-like symptoms. To address that, we exposed D2 heterozygous pups to maternal separation stress for 3 h daily for 13 days beginning on postnatal day 2. D2(+/−) adult mice that had experienced ELS exhibited impaired sociability in the three-chamber test and home-cage social interaction test and increased grooming behavior, whereas wildtype littermates exposed to ELS did not show those phenotypes. ELS-exposed D2(+/−) mice had decreased levels of BDNF, TrkB, phospho-ERK1/2 and phospho-CREB in the dorsal striatum. Administration of the TrkB agonist 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF) to ELS-exposed D2(+/−) mice rescued the sociability deficits and repetitive behavior. In contrast, behavioral rescue by 7,8-DHF in ELS-exposed D2(+/−) mice was blocked when TrkB expression in the dorsal striatum was locally inhibited by the injection of TrkB-siRNA. Together, our results suggest that the interaction between ELS and defective D2 gene function promotes autistic-like behaviors by downregulating the BDNF-TrkB pathway in the dorsal striatum.

Relationship between Dietary Behaviors and Life Stress of Middle School Students in Gyeonggi Area / 대한지역사회영양학회지

OBJECTIVES: The study was performed to examine the dietary behaviors and life stress of middle school students in the Gyeonggi area. METHODS: A total of 580 middle school students (295males, 285 females) in the Gyeonggi area participated in the study between July and August in 2011. The study was a questionnaire-based survey that included dietary habits, dietary behaviors, and life stress. RESULTS: For dietary habits, the score for drinking milk was higher in male students than in female students, whereas the score for eating fruits was higher in female students compared to male students. There were significant differences in foods eaten and preferred under stress between male and female students. Male students showed significantly less changes in the number of meals, amount of meal intake, number of snacks, snack intake, frequency of overeating, and appetite during stress than female students. Life stress score of students largely came from academic factors, and female students showed higher stress levels in personal and surrounding environment factors than male students. Life stress score was significantly lower in students with high and moderate levels of dietary habits than in students with a low level of dietary habits. Total score for dietary habits and scores for eating adequate amounts of foods for each meal, considering a combination of food groups at each meal and eating green and orange vegetables, were significantly negatively correlated with life stress score. Life stress score was significantly negatively correlated with meal regularity and positively with the level of overeating. CONCLUSIONS: This study may provide basic information on dietary habits and life stress according to gender and the relationship between dietary behaviors and life stress of middle school students, and it suggests gender-based nutrition education programs to solve undesirable dietary habits and dietary behaviors in students with higher stress.

Experiences of Stress among Mothers of Preschoolers with Atopic Dermatitis

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the meaning and essence of experiences of stress in mothers of preschoolers with atopic dermatitis. METHODS: This study employed a qualitative research design. Seven mothers of preschoolers with atopic dermatitis were interviewed and the data were analyzed using Giorgi's phenomenological method. RESULTS: Five main themes and 12 theme clusters emerged. The 5 main themes were 1) the mother's enduring heartache from the conflict that arise among family members, 2) the complete loss of daily happiness, 3) the steady stream of emotional fluctuations, 4) struggling to bear the heavy financial burden, and, 5) a life of hope accompanied by stress. CONCLUSION: The results of this study provide an in-depth understanding of stress among mothers of preschoolers with atopic dermatitis. These results can be used in the development of nursing interventions to provide psychological and emotional support for mothers and family members.

Relationship among character strength,life stress events and emotional well-being in nursing staffs / 中国职业医学

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship among character strength,life stress events and emotional well-being in nursing staffs. METHODS: A total of 2 160 nursing staffs in 8 grade 3 A Hospitals in Liaoning Province were selected as study subjects by cluster random sampling method. The Chinese version of General Information Questionnaire of Character Strengths Scale,Life Event Scale,Emotional Well-Being Scale were used to explore the character strength,life stress events and emotional well-being in these nursing staffs,as well as the mediating effect of character strength in life stress events and emotional well-being. RESULTS: The total score of character strength was( 42. 59 ± 5. 78),the total score of life stress events was( 139. 32 ± 3. 26),and that of emotional well-being was( 23. 26 ± 5. 18). The total score of life stress events was negatively correlated with emotional well-being score [correlation cofficient( r) =-0. 382,P < 0. 01 ],the total score of character strength was positively correlated with emotional well-being( r = 0. 453,P < 0. 01). The mediating effect of character strength in life stress events and emotional well-being was-0. 332,accounting for 50. 84% of the total effect. CONCLUSION: The life stress events in nursing staffs can negatively predict their emotional well-being. The character strength plays a mediating role affecting the life stress events and the emotional well-being.

Modelo teórico sobre os significados do estresse precoce e a vida adulta com depressão / Theoretical model of the meanings of early life stress and adulthood with depression

O desenvolvimento humano, presente desde a formação primária do indivíduo é constituído pelo conjunto das experiências vividas durante infância, incluindo as experiências de estresse precoce. Tais vivências repercutem nas ações do sujeito, podendo ser importante no aparecimento da depressão. Objetivos: explorar e analisar o significado do Estresse Precoce para portadores de depressão e construir um modelo teórico sobre o fenômeno estudado; caracterizar a amostra quanto às características sociodemográficas e de saúde; explorar e analisar, à luz do Interacionismo Simbólico, o significado do estresse precoce entre adultos portadores de depressão. Método: Estudo qualitativo que teve como referencial teórico norteador o Interacionismo Simbólico e como referencial metodológico a Teoria Fundamentada nos Dados. Os participantes desse estudo foram portadores de depressão que vivenciaram Estresse Precoce, recrutados no Centro de Atenção Psicossocial - CAPS III do interior paulista. Instrumentos utilizados: Childhood Trauma Questionnaire -CTQ, questionário sociodemográfico e entrevista em profundidade. O número de participantes foi se configurando conforme a análise da teoria emergente (amostragem teórica), totalizando 12 participantes. Resultados: a análise dos dados permitiu identificar o modelo teórico "Caminhando entre a infância traumática e a vida adulta com depressão". Sete categorias estruturaram a experiência relatada pelos participantes do estudo: "Vivenciando o Estresse Precoce"; "Sentindo diferenciação de tratamento dentro no núcleo familiar"; "Percebendo a distribuição de papeis dentro do núcleo familiar"; "Construindo a si próprio"; "Aliando-se à passividade frente a incapacidade de decisões"; "Percebendo comportamentos nos pais e em si próprio" e "Vivenciando a depressão". Conclusões: o estudo permitiu identificar um modelo teórico que simbolizou a forma como as vivências foram compreendidas pelos próprios sujeitos e como o significado de cada experiência foi se entrelaçando na composição do ser, moldando seu conjunto de símbolos, sendo expresso em sentimentos, percepções e comportamentos. O modelo teórico contribuiu para a compreensão dos significados construídos e as condições que afetam o indivíduo desde a infância traumática até a depressão na idade adulta

Human development, present since the primary formation of the individual, consists of all the lived experiences during childhood, including the early life stress experiences. Such experiences have repercussions on the subject actions, and may be important in the depression onset. Objectives: To explore and to analyze the meaning of early life stress in adulthood with depression and to construct a theoretical model about the phenomenon; To characterize the sample regarding sociodemographic and health characteristics; to explore and to analyze, in the according to Symbolic Interactionism, the meaning of early life stress among adults with depression. Method: Qualitative study that had as a guiding theoretical referential the Symbolic Interactionism and Grounded Theory as a methodological referential. The study participants were depressive individuals who experienced early life stress, recruited at the Center for Psychosocial Care - CAPS III in inner city of São Paulo, Brazil. Instruments: Childhood Trauma Questionnaire - CTQ, sociodemographic questionnaire and in-depth interview. The participants number was configured according to the analysis of the emerging theory (theoretical sampling), totaling 12 participants. Results: Data analysis allowed the identification of the theoretical model "Walking between traumatic childhood and adulthood with depression". Seven categories structures the experience: "Experiencing early life stress"; "Feeling treatment differentiation within the family nucleus"; "Perceiving the distribution of characters within the family"; "Building Yourself"; "Allying to passivity in the face of inability to make decisions"; "Perceiving behaviors in parents and in yorurself" and "Experiencing depression". Conclusions: the study allowed to identify a theoretical model that symbolized the way as the experiences were understood by the individuals and how the meaning of each experience was interlaced in the composition of being, shaping its set of symbols, being expressed in feelings, perceptions and behaviors. The theoretical model contributed to the understanding of the raised meanings and the conditions that affect the individual from traumatic childhood to depression in adulthood

O estresse e a máquina de moer alunos do ensino superior: vamos repensar nossa política educacional? / Stress and the machine to grind higher education students: let's rethink our educational policy?

O objetivo da presente pesquisa foi investigar a forma em que a rotina acadêmica interfere nos níveis de estresse de alunos de graduação, explorando as situações geradoras e/ou mantenedoras das situações vivenciadas. O recorte da pesquisa focou em uma amostra heterogênea de 102 acadêmicos de graduação em uma primeira fase e depois 82 alunos de diversos cursos de uma universidade particular de São Paulo. Foram aplicados questionários abertos e o Inventário de Sintomas de Stress (ISS) para adultos. O estudo revela que a maioria dos alunos considera que a rotina universitária tem grande influência negativa nos níveis de estresse e as maiores críticas são com relação à sobrecarga de atividades. Os dados coletados apontam para a necessidade de uma significativa reformulação da educação superior, com destaque para alterações na política curricular. Sugere-se também que as universidades fomentem programas de apoio psicossocial e projetos capazes de minimizar o estresse vivenciado pelos alunos.

The objective of the present research was to investigate the way in which the academic routine interferes in the stress levels of undergraduate students, exploring the situations generating and/or maintaining the situations experienced. The research has focused on a heterogeneous sample of 102 undergraduate students in a first phase and then 82 academics from several courses at a private university in São Paulo. An open questionnaires and the Stress Symptom Inventory (ISS) for adults were applied in the research. The study reveals that the majority of students consider that the university routine has a great negative influence on the levels of stress and the biggest criticisms are regarding the overload of activities. The data collected point to the need for a significant reformulation of higher education, with emphasis on changes in curricular policy. It is also suggested that universities should promote psychosocial support programs and projects that can minimize the stress experienced by students.

Relationship among Life Stress, Dietary Behaviors and High-fat Snack Intake in High School Students in Gyeonggi Area / 대한지역사회영양학회지

OBJECTIVES: Stress during adolescence is related to undesirable nutritional intake and negatively affects the growth and development. This study was performed to investigate the relationship among life stress, dietary behaviors and the intake of high-fat containing snacks in male and female high school students in Gyeonggi-do area. METHODS: The subjects were 700 high school students (350 males, 350 females) in Gyeonggi-do from July to September 2014 and the survey was performed by using questionnaire that included general characteristics, dietary behaviors, high-fat containing snacks intake, and daily life stress. RESULTS: There was a gender difference in health-related life style and dietary behaviors, and the life stress was significantly higher in female students than in male students. For health-related life style, exercise frequency, hours of sleep and conversation time with parents had significantly negative correlations with life stress, while smoking and perceived stress had significantly positive correlations with life stress. For dietary behaviors, the frequency of eating-out had a significantly negative correlation with life stress, while the changes in amount of meal intake under stress had a significantly positive correlation with life stress. The fat intake of ‘high-stress group’ was significantly higher and high-fat containing snacks consumed by this group consisted of cookies, honey bread and fried foods. CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to develop appropriate programs for the emotional stability and stress relief of adolescents that provide continuous nutrition education focused on proper snack intake, desirable dietary behaviors and nutritional aspects.

Maternal Separation Does Not Produce a Significant Behavioral Change in Mice

Early life adversities together with genetic predispositions have been associated with elevated risks of neuropsychiatric disorders during later life. In order to investigate the underlying mechanisms, many chronic, early-life stress paradigms in multiple animal models have been developed. Previously, studies reported that maternal separation (MS) in the early postnatal stages triggers depression-and/or anxiety-like behaviors in rats. However, similar studies using mice have reported inconsistent behavioral outcomes. In this study, we sought to assess behavioral outcomes from two different early-life stress paradigms; a conventional 3-hour MS and a maternal separation with early weaning (MSEW) paradigm using C57BL/6J male mice with independent cohorts. Our data demonstrated that both MS and MSEW paradigms did not produce reported behavioral anomalies. Therefore, MS paradigms in mice require further validation and modification.

Effects of Empathic Ability and Campus Life Stress on Stress Coping Behaviors in Dental Hygiene Students / 치위생과학회지

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of empathic ability and campus life stress on the stress coping behaviors among 395 dental hygiene students. The analysis was performed using PASW Statistics ver. 18.0, and the following conclusions were obtained. The empathic concern factor was the highest in the subscale of empathic ability (3.60). The interpersonal relationship stress was 1.65 and the task-related stress was 2.72. The stress coping behaviors were the highest among the sub-domains, with 3.69 for wishful thinking. The differences of stress coping behaviors according to general characteristics were as follows. The lower the age and grade, the higher the problem-focused coping; when they were religious there was a high pursuit of seeking social support. When they were satisfied with their economic level, wishful thinking was high. There was a low negative correlation between empathic concern and interpersonal relationship stress in campus life (p<0.01). There was a positive correlation between personal distress and task-related stress (p<0.001). The relationship between empathic ability and stress coping behaviors was most associated with personal distress and wishful thinking. Among the sub-domains of stress coping behaviors, factors that have a common impact on personal distress and seeking social support are viewpoint acceptance. Factors supporting emotional focus and wishful thinking were task-related stress. Dental hygiene students are not able to completely eliminate the stress that they are actually under. However, as the research results show, it is necessary to use stress coping techniques to cope effectively with individual tendencies and situations, and to improve the ability to sympathize with another individual.

Measuring child maltreatment using multi-informant survey data: a higher-order confirmatory factor analysis / Dados de levantamento com múltiplos informantes para a mensuração de maus-tratos na infância: uma análise fatorial confirmatória de segunda ordem

Objective To investigate the validity and reliability of a multi-informant approach to measuring child maltreatment (CM) comprising seven questions assessing CM administered to children and their parents in a large community sample. Methods Our sample comprised 2,512 children aged 6 to 12 years and their parents. Child maltreatment (CM) was assessed with three questions answered by the children and four answered by their parents, covering physical abuse, physical neglect, emotional abuse and sexual abuse. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to compare the fit indices of different models. Convergent and divergent validity were tested using parent-report and teacher-report scores on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Discriminant validity was investigated using the Development and Well-Being Assessment to divide subjects into five diagnostic groups: typically developing controls (n = 1,880), fear disorders (n = 108), distress disorders (n = 76), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (n = 143) and oppositional defiant disorder/conduct disorder (n = 56). Results A higher-order model with one higher-order factor (child maltreatment) encompassing two lower-order factors (child report and parent report) exhibited the best fit to the data and this model's reliability results were acceptable. As expected, child maltreatment was positively associated with measures of psychopathology and negatively associated with prosocial measures. All diagnostic category groups had higher levels of overall child maltreatment than typically developing children. Conclusions We found evidence for the validity and reliability of this brief measure of child maltreatment using data from a large survey combining information from parents and their children.

Objetivo Investigar a validade e confiabilidade de uma abordagem de múltiplos informantes para a mensuração de maus-tratos na infância, composta por sete questões avaliando maus-tratos na infância respondidas pelas crianças e seus pais em uma ampla amostra comunitária. Métodos A amostra foi composta por 2.512 crianças com idades entre 6 e 12 anos e seus pais. Maus-tratos na infância foram avaliados com três questões respondidas pelas crianças e quatro respondidas pelos seus pais, investigando violência física, negligência física, violência emocional e violência sexual. Análises fatoriais confirmatórias foram utilizadas para comparar os índices de ajuste de diferentes modelos. Validade convergente e divergente foi testada utilizando escores de relato parental e de relato dos professores no Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Validade discriminante foi investigada utilizando a entrevista Development and Well-Being Assessment para dividir os participantes em cinco grupos diagnósticos: controles com desenvolvimento típico (n = 1.880), transtornos do medo (n = 108), transtornos do estresse (n = 76), transtorno de déficit de atenção-hiperatividade (n = 143) e transtorno opositivo-desafiador/conduta (n = 56). Resultados Um modelo de segunda ordem com um fator de segunda ordem (maus-tratos na infância) englobando dois fatores de primeira ordem (relato da criança e relato parental) demonstrou o melhor ajuste aos dados, e os resultados de confiabilidade desse modelo foram aceitáveis. Como esperado, maus-tratos na infância estiveram positivamente associados a medidas de psicopatologia e negativamente associados a medidas pró-sociais. Todos os grupos de categorias diagnósticas tiveram níveis mais altos de maus-tratos na infância do que as crianças com desenvolvimento típico. Conclusões Foram encontradas evidências de validade e confiabilidade dessa medida breve de maus-tratos na infância utilizando dados de um grande levantamento combinando o relato de pais e seus filhos.

Cross-cultural adaptation of the Maltreatment and Abuse Chronology of Exposure (MACE) scale to Brazilian Portuguese / Adaptação transcultural da escala Maltreatment and Abuse Chronology of Exposure (MACE) para o português brasileiro

Introduction : There is strong evidence to indicate that childhood maltreatment can negatively affect both physical and mental health and there is increasing interest in understanding the occurrence and consequences of such experiences. While several tools have been developed to retrospectively investigate childhood maltreatment experiences, most of them do not investigate the experience of witnessing family violence during childhood or bullying exposure. Moreover, the majority of scales do not identify when these experiences may have occurred, who was involved or the feelings evoked, such as helplessness or terror. The Maltreatment and Abuse Chronology of Exposure (MACE) scale was developed to overcome these limitations. Objective : In view of the improvements over previous self-report instruments that this new tool offers and of the small number of self-report questionnaires for childhood maltreatment assessment available in Brazil, this study was conducted to conduct cross-cultural adaptation of the MACE scale for Brazilian Portuguese. Method : The following steps were performed: translation, back-translation, committee review for semantic and conceptual evaluation, and acceptability trial for equivalence. Results : Semantic and structural changes were made to the interview to adapt it for the Brazilian culture and all 75 of the items that comprise the longer version of MACE were translated. The results of the acceptability trial suggest that the items are comprehensible. Conclusion : The MACE scales may be useful tools for investigation of childhood maltreatment and make a valuable contribution to research in Brazil. Future studies should consider testing the availability and reliability of the three versions of the instrument translated into Brazilian Portuguese.

Introdução : Há evidências robustas na literatura indicando que os maus-tratos na infância podem afetar negativamente a saúde física e mental. Além disso, há um crescente interesse em compreender a ocorrência e as consequências dessas experiências. Vários instrumentos vêm sendo desenvolvidos para investigar retrospectivamente experiências de maus-tratos na infância, mas a maioria deles não investiga a experiência de testemunhar violência familiar durante a infância ou a ocorrência de bullying . Além disso, a maioria não identifica quando as experiências ocorreram, quem estava envolvido ou os sentimentos que evocaram, como desespero ou terror. A escala Maltreatment and Abuse Chronology of Exposure (MACE) foi desenvolvida para superar essas limitações. Objetivos : Considerando as vantagens dessa nova escala em relação aos instrumentos de autorrelato existentes e o reduzido número de questionários de autorrelato disponíveis no Brasil para avaliar maus-tratos na infância, este estudo teve como objetivo conduzir a adaptação transcultural da escala MACE para o português brasileiro. Método : Foram realizadas as etapas de tradução, retrotradução, análise de equivalência semântica e correspondência conceitual por um comitê avaliador e teste de aceitabilidade. Resultados : Adaptações semânticas e estruturais foram realizadas na entrevista para a realidade cultural brasileira, e todos os 75 itens incluídos na versão estendida da MACE foram traduzidos. Os resultados do teste de aceitabilidade sugerem que os itens foram adequadamente compreendidos. Conclusões : A escala MACE é uma ferramenta útil para a investigação de maus-tratos na infância, contribuindo para a pesquisa no Brasil. Futuros estudos devem considerar testar a validade e fidedignidade das três versões do instrumento traduzidas para o português do Brasil.

Life Stress and Coping Style for Stress of Vietnamese Married Immigrant Women

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to survey female Vietnamese marriage immigrants' life stress and to analyze factors influencing their life stress and coping strategies. METHODS: As descriptive correlation research, this study conducted a survey with 182 conveniently sampled subjects. Data were collected in June, 2015, and analyzed with descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple regression. RESULTS: The subjects' life stress levels were above average, and significantly varied according to their health, and economic status. Stress coping strategies used by the subjects included assistance seeking, problem avoidance, wishful thinking, problem solving, and emotional alleviation in the order of frequency. As a result of the stepwise multiple regression, economic level, economic activity, and health status were found to be the most significant factors influencing the subjects' life stress, and these variables explained 45.1% of the variation in life stress. CONCLUSION: Female marriage immigrants were experiencing above-average life stress, and they were coping with it mainly in terms of assistance seeking or problem avoidance. In order to mitigate their stress, therefore, it is necessary to provide extended employment opportunities and economic activities for them so that they can cultivate their abilities in health management.