Factors of Stress Resistance in Doctors and Medical Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to analyze the severity of stress reactions and highlight stress resistance factors in medical workers under the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and methods. The methodological complex included: social and demographic questionnaire;the Perceived Stress Scale-10 questionnaire;State-Trait Anxiety Inventory;Maslach Burnout Inventory, Russian adaptation, version for healthcare workers);Russian-language version of the 24-itemHEXACO six-factor Personality Inventory;Russian-language version of Kuhl and Fuhrmann Self-regulation Study Methodology (Selbststeuerungs-Inventar – SSI). A total of 318 medical workers (mean age 38.7±11.6 years) participated in the online survey in the period between Apr. 27, 2020, and Nov. 20, 2021. Results. The results of the study revealed that a low level of stress resistance and a high level of emotional burnout were mostly detected in medical workers with specialized secondary education under the age of 30, in female medical staff and among respondents who did not have their own children. The dynamics of changes in burnout rates directly corresponded to the dynamics of changes in morbidity rates during the pandemic periods. Psychological factors of medical staff stress resistance under the COVID-19 pandemic conditions were identified, including such personality traits as extraversion, openness to new experiences and conscientiousness, a developed capacity for self-regulation, will development, orientation to act after failures, as well as congruence of own feelings and readiness to integrate contradictions. Conclusion. The conclusion summarizes the results and presents the limitations and prospects of this study. © 2023, Professionalnye Izdaniya. All rights reserved.

Determination of Dysfunctional Breathing by Psychological Distress During the COVID-19 Pandemic. What Psychological Variables Mediate This Relationship?

Purpose. Сomparative analysis of personality traits contribution and representations about the coronavirus and the COVID-19 pandemic in determining the occurrence and severity of dysfunctional breathing (DB) symptoms by psychological distress in the current COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and methods. The methodological set included socio-demographic questionnaire, the Perceived Stress Scale-10 questionnaire, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the "Perceptions of the COVID-19 pandemic" questionnaire, the Nijmegen Questionnaire to assess the severity of DB, the Russian version of the HEXACO-24 six-factor personality questionnaire. Empirical data collection took place from 04/27/2020 until 12/31/2020. The sample consisted of 1,362 uninfected Russian-speaking respondents (with an average age of 38.3±11.4 years), 85% of which were women. Results. To explain the impact of psychological distress on DB, with the mediating influence of personality traits and representations about the coronavirus and COVID-19 pandemic, four pathway models were constructed using structural modeling. Models analysis showed that personality traits were more likely to explain the impact of psychological distress on DB compared to representations about the coronavirus and COVID-19 pandemic. Personality traits such as "Benevolence", "Extroversion" and "Consciousness" can be considered protective in terms of the occurrence of dysfunctional breathing when stress and anxiety occur, while such traits such as "Emotionality" and "Openness to experience", on the contrary, modulate the influence of psychological distress on DB. It was shown that the model in which psychological disadvantage determines DD in simultaneous mediation by both personality traits and representations about the COVID-19 had the greatest explanatory power. However, when combined with personality traits, only one of the three aspects of the coronavirus and COVID-19 pandemic representations, the "Fear of Unknown Disease" component, contributes to explaining this influence of psychological distress on DB. On its positive pole lies the search for bodily sensations of the coronavirus and on its negative pole stands the understanding of the pandemic. Conclusion. The limitations of the research and its prospects are outlined. © 2023, Professionalnye Izdaniya. All rights reserved.

Verification of the Psychometric Characteristics of the Nijmegen Questionnaire for the Diagnosis of Dysfunctional Breathing During the COVID-19 Pandemic on a Russian Sample

The purpose of the study was to check the psychometric properties of the Nijmegen questionnaire (NQ) (Van Dixhoorn, Duivenvoorden, 1985), aimed at diagnosing the presence of signs of dysfunctional breathing (DB) according to self-reports of respondents in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic in a Russian-speaking sample. The study sample consisted of 1 362 respondents (1 153 women and 209 men) aged 18 to 88 years (mean age 38.3 +/- 11.4) who filled out an online questionnaire from April to December 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The following methods were used to test the construct validity of the Russian version of the NQ: 1) Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10;Ababkov et al., 2016);2) State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI, Khanin, 1976), the scales of which were modified to measure the level of anxiety during a pandemic (State anxiety) and before the pandemic (Trait anxiety) (Pervichko et al., 2020);3) The Symptom Check List-32 (SCL-32) (Mitina, Gorbunova, 2011);(4) An abridged version of the Six-Factor Personality Inventory HEXACO-24 (Egorova et al, 2019). The study participants also completed a socio-demographic questionnaire (Pervichko et al., 2020). The results of checking the Russian -language version of the NQ for reliability are presented: the value of the internal consistency coefficient alpha-Cronbach for the integral indicator = 0.877. Four subscales were identified, the indicators of which improved when the questionnaire was reduced to 10 points. Internal convergent and discriminant validity has been verified for the abridged version. The external constructive validity of the questionnaire is proved. High rates of correlation with stress, situational and personal anxiety, as well as other symptoms of psychological distress were revealed. In addition, a high correlation with emotionality has been established. The problem of the "threshold" value of NQ required to identify the formed symptom complex of DB is discussed. The prevalence of DB symptoms before and during the pandemic was compared. A significant difference in the indicators on the scale for men and women was established. Using the obtained Russian-language version of NQ, it was shown that in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic, 27.7% of the study participants who were not sick with COVID-19 showed signs of a formed DB symptom complex, which is more than twice higher than the population indicators in the pre-pandemic period. The frequency of occurrence of the holistic symptom complex of DB in women is three times higher than in men: 31.0% vs 9.1% (p<0.001). The results of the study allow us to conclude that NQ is a reliable and valid tool for diagnosing the severity of DB symptoms, which can be recommended for use as an express diagnostic tool for the presence of psychogenically caused respiratory disorders in persons complaining of "difficulty breathing" in the absence of objective grounds.

Socio-demographic predictors of the prevalence of dysfunctional breathing in a healthy population during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction: Dysfunctional breathing is a breathing patterns that do not correspond to the physiological needs of the body, provoke many poly-systemic symptoms. Dysfunctional breathing is experienced as a feeling of "difficulty in breathing", which in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic may be similar to the symptoms of coronavirus infection (Taverne et al., 2021). Objective(s): To examine the role of socio-demographic predictors in the prevalence of dysfunctional breathing in the Russian population during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method(s): The author's socio-demographic questionnaire, the Naimigen Questionnaire (Van Dixhoorn, Duivenvoordent, 1985), the STAI (Spielberger et al., 1983) and the "Perceived Stress Scale-10" (Cohen, Kamarck, Mermelstein,1983) were used. The study was conducted online fromApril 27 toDecember 28, 2020. Itwas attended by 1,362 people from all regions of Russia (38.3 +/-11.4 y.o.). Result(s): In men, the average values for NQ (11.19+/-7.74) are lower than among women (18.73+/-9.96, p=0.000). Persons with incomplete higher education have a higher score on NQ (N=103, NQ=20.44+/-11.8) than persons with higher education (N=1051, NQ= 17.40+/-9.63, p=0.048) and candidates/doctors of sciences (N=97, NQ= 15.34+/-11.20, p=0.005). There was also a connection between the severity of dysfunctional breathing and the level of income, which is associated with a negative correlation between income level and perception of stress (r=-0.215, p=0.000), state (r=-0.165, p=0.000) and trait anxiety (r=-0.127, p=0.000). Conclusion(s): The severity of dysfunctional breathing is associated with gender, income levels and education, what can be used to identify a group of people who are most susceptible to the occurrence of dysfunctional breathing during the pandemic COVID-19.

Validation of the Naimigen questionnaire among the healthy population of Russia during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction The Naimigen questionnaire (Van Dixhoorn, Duivenvoordent, 1985) was developed in the 1980s to assess the severity of hyperventilation syndrome, which causes respiratory alkalosis and, as a result, polysystemic functional symptoms. Later, this questionnaire was recommended for use in the diagnosis of dysfunctional breathing. The COVID-19 pandemic provokes anxiety as a stressful event and objectifies the respiratory function, which becomes a favorable ground for the growth of the prevalence of dysfunctional breathing in society. Objectives To validate the Naimigen questionnaire in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic among the Russian-speaking population. Methods The author’s socio-demographic questionnaire and the Naimigen Questionnaire (NQ) were used (Van Dixhoorn, Duivenvoordent, 1985). The study was conducted online from April 27 to December 28, 2020. It was attended by 1,362 people from all regions of Russia, including 1,153 women and 209 men aged 15 to 88 years (38.3 ±11.4). Results The stable reliability of the Alpha-Kronbach coefficients (> 0.877) was revealed for all NQ points. To check the factor structure of the Naimigen questionnaire, we conducted an exploratory factor analysis using the direct Oblimin criterion, which, when explaining 57.3% of the total variance, allowed us to identify 4 factors: respiratory symptoms, paresthesia and gastrointestinal symptoms, tension, derealization. Conclusions Checking the reliability and factor structure of the Naimigen questionnaire allows us to reasonably use this questionnaire on a Russian-language sample in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Disclosure: Research is supported by the Russian Science Foundation, project No. 21-18-00624. Disclosure Research is supported by the Russian Science Foundation, project No. 21-18-00624.

The connection of dysfunctional breathing with Self-Government styles in the Russian population during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction Dysfunctional breathing is experienced as “difficulty in inhaling” and is similar to the symptoms of COVID-19 (Gavriatopoulou et al., 2020), which justifies the relevance of studying this phenomenon in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Objectives To identifiy a relationship between self-management styles and the severity of dysfunctional breathing in the uninfected COVID-19 population of Russia. Methods The author used the socio-demographic questionnaire, the Naimigen Questionnaire (Van Dixhoorn, Duivenvoordent, 1985) and J. Kuhl’s and A. Fuhrman’s Self-Government Test (Kool, Furman, 1998;Kul, Kvirin, Kool, 2020). The study was conducted online from April 27 to December 28, 2020. It was attended by 1,362 people from all regions of Russia (38.3 ±11.4y.o.). Results The components are Self-regulation (r = -0.454, p = 0.000) and Self-Control (r =-0.197, p=0.000). There is also a component of Will Development (r=-0,297, p = 0,000) and Sensitivity to oneself (r=-0,480, p=0,000). It is important to note that dysfunctional breathing has a strong positive correlation with the component of life stress experiencing (=0.335, p=0.000). At the same time, the components of Self-regulation and Self-sensitivity have large correlation coefficients, which indicates their greater role. Conclusions People with low self-regulation and self-control, as well as with less expressed will and sensitivity to themselves, are more likely to have dysfunctional breathing and a more pronounced experience of life stress in a pandemic. The described components can be used as “targets” for individualized psychotherapy of dysfunctional breathing in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study was supported of the Russian Science Foundation, project No. 21-18-00624. Disclosure The study was carried out with the support of the Russian Science Foundation, project No. 21-18-00624.

The relationship between anxiety and dysfunctional breathing among the Russian population during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction Dysfunctional breathing is a pattern of respiratory movements that do not correspond to the physiological needs of the body and can lead to a series of respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive, sensory and neurological symptoms ( Vidotto et al., 2019). The causes of dysfunctional breathing are a combination of biological, psychological and social factors. Objectives To examine the relationship between anxiety and occurrence of dysfunctional breathing in the Russian population under the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We used a socio-demographic questionnaire, the Naimigen questionnaire (Van Dixhorn, Duivenvoordent, 1985), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Spielberger et al., 1983). The study was conducted online from April 27 to December 28, 2020. It was attended by 1,362 people from all regions of Russia, including 1,153 women and 209 men aged 15 to 88 years (38.3 ±11.4) Results It was revealed that with a low level of state anxiety (< 35 points), dysfunctional breathing was detected in 4.8% of respondents;while with a borderline level of anxiety (> 60 points) there were at 55.9%. A similar dependence was found for personal anxiety: at a low level (< 35 points), dysfunctional breathing was detected in only 4% of respondents;while at a borderline level of anxiety (> 60 points) at 62.8%. Conclusions Dysfunctional breathing can occur among people with high and borderline levels of situational and personal anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results allows us to conclude that dysfunctional breathing and anxiety are not equivalent concepts, although they have a common phenomenological field. The study was supported of the Russian Science Foundation, project No. 21-18-00624. Disclosure The study was supported of the Russian Science Foundation, project No. 21-18-00624.

The relationship of dysfunctional breathing with the ideas about the COVID-19 pandemic among the healthy population of Russia

Introduction Dysfunctional breathing is experienced as a feeling of “difficulty in inhaling” and shortness of breat , which may be similar to the symptoms of coronavirus infection (Gavriatopoulou et al., 2020). The conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic create an increased level of anxiety and attention to respiratory sensations, which becomes a favorable ground for the occurrence of dysfunctional breathing. Objectives To examine the relationship of ideas about the pandemic with the occurrence of dysfunctional breathing in the Russian population during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods The Naimigen Questionnaire (Van Dixhoorn, Duivenvoordent, 1985) and the author’s socio-demographic questionnaire were used, which included questions about personal experience of the pandemic. The study was conducted online from April 27 to December 28, 2020. It was attended by 1,362 people from all regions of Russia, including 1,153 women and 209 men aged 15 to 88 years (38.3±11.4). Results It was found that respondents who are more confident in the danger of coronavirus have more respiratory difficulties (N=517;NQ=19±10.6) compared to those who consider its danger exaggerated (N=454,NQ=15.9±9.2,p=0.000). Respondents who are completely convinced of the absence of a condemnation for COVID-19 disease have less pronounced dysfunctional breathing (N=331,NQ=15.26±9.5), compared to those who sure about it (N=88,NQ=19.16±10.05, p=0.007). Respondents who have relatives ill COVID-19 (N=430) have a higher score on NQ (18.6±10.5), compared with those dont have (N=932, NQ=17.1±9.7, p =0.011). Conclusions The dysfunctional breathing is associated with the respondents’ beliefs about the danger of coronavirus and the expectation of stigmatization in COVID-19 disease, as well as with the experience of COVID-19 disease among relatives. Disclosure Research is supported by the Russian Science Foundation, project No. 21-18-00624.

Prevalence of dysfunctional breathing associated with anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has become a situation of increased concern due to health threats and increased uncertainty. The risk of infection with the respiratory system coronavirus attracts increased attention to respiratory sensations. These two aspects can be beneficial grounds for the dysfunctional breathing-changes emergence in the breathing pattern that does not correspond to physiological needs.ObjectivesTo study the prevalence of dysfunctional breathing associated with anxiety during the COVID – 19 pandemic in Russia.MethodsThe author’s socio-demographic questionnaire, the Naimigen Questionnaire, The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were used. The survey was conducted online in May 2020. There were 582 participants (496 women&86 men) between the ages of 18 and 64.ResultsThe severity of dysfunctional breathing significantly correlated with the height of personal anxiety (r=0.488,p=0.000). Women are more likely than men to have dysfunctional breathing (18.1±9.6vs11.6 ±7.9;p=0.000) and have more expressed personal anxiety(26±10.5vs19.8 ±9.7;p=0.000). The age of respondents has an inverse correlation with personal anxiety (r=-0.147,p= 0.000), but not with dysfunctional breathing. Respondents who consider coronavirus to be a very dangerous trend to have dysfunctional breathing more than those who believe that the danger of coronavirus is exaggerated(18.1±10vs15.9 ±8.9;p=0.052).ConclusionsDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, the risk of dysfunctional breathing increases in a wide range of the population, especially among women. Since one of the dysfunctional breathing symptoms is a feeling of “difficulty inhaling”, anxious people may interpret this as shortness of breath in COVID-19, which may motivate them to seek medical help, thereby artificially increasing the burden on the health system during the COVID-19 pandemic.Conflict of interestNo significant relationships.

Family well-being as an important protective factor in the treatment of stress and emotional burnout among medical professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic and the need to fight it disrupt the balance between work and rest for health workers that can lead to a decrease in stress tolerance and emotional burnout appearance. The lifestyle and well-being of personal and family life can be both a “depletion” and a “resource” factor for health professionals when working under stressful conditions.ObjectivesTo study the presence/absence and severity of burnout symptoms in medical professionals in the COVID-19 pandemic context;to investigate the interaction between burnout severity and overall stress levels, family well-being, and the presence of children.MethodsThe author’s socio-demographic questionnaire, Stress Perception Questionnaire (Linville, 1987), modified Pandemic Perception Questionnaire (Broadbent et al.,2006), Maslach Burnout Inventory (Maslach et al.

The interaction between personality traits and dysfunctional breathing during the COVID-19 pandemic in Russians

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic situation creates specific conditions for increased anxiety and increased attention to respiratory sensations. This can become a favorable ground for the occurrence of dysfunctional breathing. Dysfunctional breathing is a pattern of breathing that does not meet physiological needs and can lead to respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive disorders and neurological dysfunctions (Chaitow et al.,2014)ObjectivesThe aim of the study is to identify “personality predictors” for the occurrence of dysfunctional breathing in the Russian population during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsThe author’s socio-demographic questionnaire, the Naimigen Questionnaire (VanDixhoorn, Duivenvoordent, 1984), HEXACO-PI-R (Ashton, Lee, 2017;Egorova, Psrshikova, Mitina, 2019), and The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Spielberger, 1983;Leonova, 2013) were used. The study was conducted online from April 27 to May 27. 582 people from all regions of Russia attended it, including 496 women and 86 men aged 18 to 64 years.ResultsDysfunctional breathing has a direct correlation with personal anxiety (r=0.543, p=0.000) and emotionality (r=0.370,p=0.000), as well as a negative correlation with the personality traits of Honesty/ Humility(r=-0.153, p=0.000), Extraversion (r=-0.247, p=0.000), Agreeableness (r=-0.226, p=0.000), and Conscientiousness (r=-0.128, p=0.002).ConclusionsThus, in the COVID-19 pandemic context, dysfunctional breathing was detected in people with increased trait anxiety and pronounced emotionality, as well as in people with hostility and low conscientiousness/organization, as well as in introverts and those who are inclined to demonstrate social status. The occurrence of dysfunctional breathing during a pandemic can be interpreted as a sign of coronavirus disease by those people, which can motivate them to seek medical help, and thus increase the burden on the healthcare system.

The interaction between the perception of danger from coronavirus and the severity of burnout syndrome in medical workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has become a major challenge for both the overall health system and the individual ability for health professionals to stress coping.ObjectivesTo find the link between the perception of danger from coronavirus and the severity of burnout syndrome in medical workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia.MethodsWe used a socio-demographic questionnaire (20 questions), a Stress Perception Questionnaire (Linville, 1987;Ababkov et al., 2016), a Modified Pandemic Perception Questionnaire (Broadbent et al.,2006;Yaltonsky et al., 2017), and Maslach Burnout Inventory (Maslach et al., 1996;Lozinskaya et a. 2007). 249 medical workers (58 men and 191 women) took part in the online survey between April 27 and October 26 in Russia.ResultsThe severity of stress is positively correlated with the perception of pandemic as threatening (r=0.532, p=0.000) and unknown disease (r=0.297, p=0.000). Stress severity also correlates with all burnout parameters: exhaustion (r=0.737, p=0.000), depersonalization (r=0.342, p=0.000), and belief in personal achievement (r=-0.417, p=0.000). The perception of pandemics as threatening events is significantly associated with exhaustionm (r=0.458, p=0.000), depersonalization (r=0.133, p= 0.036), and belief in personal achievement (r=-0.152, p=0.016).The feeling of uncertainty from the pandemic is statistically significantly associated with exhaustion (r=0.242, p=0.000), while the feeling of control over the pandemic is positively associated with belief in personal achievements (r=0.129, p=0.042) and negatively associated with exhaustion (r=-0.161, p=0.011) and depersonalization (r=-0.125, p=0.049).ConclusionsUncertainty and a sense of threat from the coronavirus and the pandemic are significant factors of stress and emotional burnout for health workers. To determine the interaction between parameters such as signs of burnout, perception of the COVID-19 pandemic and the severity of stress, further construction of a structural model is required.

COVID-19: Belief in Conspiracy Theories and the Need for Quarantine

Background. Situations that are characterized by unexpected scenarios, unpredictable developments, and risks to life and health facilitate beliefs in conspiracy theories. These beliefs - together with reliable information, intentional and unintentional misinformation and rumors - determine attitudes toward the situations and ways to overcome them. Objective. To examine the effect of belief in conspiracy theories on the recognition of the need for quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic;the effect of personality traits on belief in conspiracy theories and on the recognition of the need for quarantine;the relationship of belief in conspiracy theories with assessment of the dangers of COVID-19 and with feelings of hopelessness. Design. The study was conducted over a period when the number of coronavirus cases was growing, during the first three weeks of the lockdown in Russia. The sample included 667 undergraduate and graduate students aged 16-31 (M = 20.44, SD = 2.38);74.2% of the participants were women. Respondents tilled out two online questionnaires. The first related to perceptions about the COVID-19 pandemic;the second was a brief HEXACO inventory. Results. Belief in Conspiracy Theories accounts for 13% of variance in Recognition of the Need for Quarantine;together with Dangers of COVID-19 and Hopelessness, conspiracy beliefs account for more than a quarter of the variance. Personality traits defined in the context of the 6-factor personality model have a small effect on conspiracy beliefs about the coronavirus and on perception of the need for quarantine. Conclusion. Belief in conspiracy theories is associated not only with irrational views of reality, but also with the adoption of ineffective behaviors.