Impact of a Mobile Meditation Application Among Hospital-Based Acute Care Nurses

Compassion fatigue has also resulted in increased absenteeism, errors, and other disruptive behaviors and can have negative effects on patient care. Examples may include medication errors and failure to rescue patients with unrecognized declining health status. [...]in a separate study of college students who were randomly assigned to use one of three apps, for ten minutes per day for ten days, Headspace users had positive outcomes. Methods The Professional Quality of Life 5 (ProQOL5) and Mindfulness Attentive Awareness Scale (MAAS) surveys were used to collect pre-and post-intervention data through Survey Monkey online.

Scientific rationale of Indian AYUSH Ministry advisory for COVID-19 prevention, prophylaxis, and immunomodulation

The current outbreak of COVID-19 is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus that has affected > 210 countries. Various steps are taken by different countries to tackle the current war-like health situation. In India, the Ministry of AYUSH released a self-care advisory for immunomodulation measures during the COVID-19 and this review article discusses the detailed scientific rationale associated with this advisory. Authors have spotted and presented in-depth insight of advisory in terms of immunomodulatory, antiviral, antibacterial, co-morbidity associated actions, and their probable mechanism of action. Immunomodulatory actions of advised herbs with no significant adverse drug reaction/toxicity strongly support the extension of advisory for COVID-19 prevention, prophylaxis, mitigations, and rehabilitation capacities. This advisory also emphasized Dhyana (meditation) and Yogasanas as a holistic approach in enhancing immunity, mental health, and quality of life. The present review may open-up new meadows for research and can provide better conceptual leads for future researches in immunomodulation, antiviral-development, psychoneuroimmunology, especially for COVID-19.Copyright © 2021, Institute of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University.

Acceptability of Online Yoga Among Individuals With Chronic Conditions and Their Caregivers: Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND: The online delivery of yoga interventions rapidly expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic, and preliminary studies indicate that online yoga is feasible across multiple chronic conditions. However, few yoga studies provide synchronous online yoga sessions and rarely target the caregiving dyad. Online chronic disease management interventions have been evaluated across conditions, life spans, and diverse samples. However, the perceived acceptability of online yoga, including self-reported satisfaction and online delivery preferences, is underexplored among individuals with chronic conditions and their caregivers. Understanding user preferences is essential for successful and safe online yoga implementation. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to qualitatively examine the perceived acceptability of online yoga among individuals with chronic conditions and their caregivers who participated in an online dyadic intervention that merged yoga and self-management education to develop skills (MY-Skills) to manage persistent pain. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative study among 9 dyads (>18 years of age; individuals experiencing persistent moderate pain) who participated in MY-Skills online during the COVID-19 pandemic. The intervention consisted of 16 online, synchronous yoga sessions over 8 weeks for both dyad members. After the completion of the intervention, participants (N=18) participated in semistructured telephone interviews for around 20 minutes, discussing their preferences, challenges, and recommendations for improved online delivery. Interviews were analyzed by using a rapid analytic approach. RESULTS: MY-Skills participants were, on average, aged 62.7 (SD 19) years; were primarily women; were primarily White; and had a mean of 5.5 (SD 3) chronic conditions. Both participants and caregivers reported moderate pain severity scores (mean 6.02, SD 1.3) on the Brief Pain Inventory. The following three themes were identified related to online delivery: (1) participants indicated a preference for the intervention to be in person rather than online because they were distracted in the home setting, because they felt that in-person yoga would be more engaging, because the yoga therapist could physically correct positions, and because of safety concerns (eg, fear of falling); (2) participants indicated good acceptability of online MY-Skills delivery due to convenience, access, and comfort with being in their home; and (3) recommendations for improving online delivery highlighted a need for additional and accessible technical support. CONCLUSIONS: Both individuals with chronic conditions and their caregivers find online yoga to be an acceptable intervention. Participants who preferred in-person yoga did so due to distractions in the home and group dynamics. Some participants preferred in-person corrections to ensure correct positioning, while others felt safe with verbal modifications in their homes. Convenience and access were the primary reasons for preferring online delivery. To improve online delivery, future yoga studies should include specific activities for fostering group engagement, enhancing safety protocols, and increasing technical support. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03440320; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03440320.

Mindfulness Meditation App Abandonment During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Observational Study.

Objectives: Mindfulness meditation apps are used by millions of adults in the USA to improve mental health. However, many new app subscribers quickly abandon their use. The purpose of this study was to determine the behavioral, demographic, and socioeconomic factors associated with the abandonment of meditation apps during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: A survey was distributed to subscribers of a popular meditation app, Calm, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 that assessed meditation app behavior and meditation habit strength, as well as demographic and socioeconomic information. App usage data were also collected from the start of each participant's subscription until May 2021. A total of 3275 respondents were included in the analyses. Participants were divided into three cohorts according to their subscription start date: (1) long-term subscribers (> 1 year before pandemic start), (2) pre-pandemic subscribers (< 4 months before pandemic start), and (3) pandemic subscribers (joined during the pandemic). Results: Meditating after an existing routine was associated with a lower risk of app abandonment for pre-pandemic subscribers (hazard ratio = 0.607, 95% CI: 0.422, 0.874; p = 0.007) and for pandemic subscribers (hazard ratio = 0.434, 95% CI: 0.285, 0.66; p < 0.001). Additionally, meditating "whenever I can" was associated with lower risk of abandonment among pandemic subscribers (hazard ratio = 0.437, 95% CI: 0.271, 0.706; p < 0.001), and no behavioral factors were significant predictors of app abandonment among the long-term subscribers. Conclusions: These results show that combining meditation with an existing daily routine was a commonly utilized strategy for promoting persistent meditation app use during the COVID-19 pandemic for many subscribers. This finding supports existing evidence that pairing new behaviors with an existing routine is an effective method for establishing new health habits. Preregistration: This study is not pre-registered.

Prayer and meditation practices in the early COVID-19 pandemic: A nationwide survey among Danish pregnant women. The COVIDPregDK study.

BACKGROUND: The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the derived changes in maternity care have created stress and anxiety among pregnant women in different parts of the world. In times of stress and crisis, spirituality, including spiritual and religious practices, may increase. OBJECTIVE: To describe if the COVID-19 pandemic influenced pregnant women's considerations and practises of existential meaning-making and to investigate such considerations and practices during the early pandemic in a large nationwide sample. METHODS: We used survey data from a nationwide cross-sectional study sent to all registered pregnant women in Denmark during April and May 2020. We used questions from four core items on prayer and meditation practices. RESULTS: A total of 30,995 women were invited, of whom 16,380 participated (53%). Among respondents, we found that 44% considered themselves believers, 29% confirmed a specific form of prayer, and 18% confirmed a specific form of meditation. In addition, most respondents (88%) reported that the COVID-19 pandemic had not influenced their responses. CONCLUSION: In a nationwide Danish cohort of pregnant women, existential meaning-making considerations and practices were not changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly one in two study participants described themselves as believers, and many practised prayer and/or meditation.

Yoga for Preventive Health: A Holistic Approach.

Yoga has been prevalent for over 5000 years; it originated in India and has become an essential lifestyle ingredient for achieving optimal health. The goal of this article in lifestyle modification is to increase awareness about the benefits of yoga and how its practice can reduce the overall risk of chronic diseases. Yoga has been proven to be therapeutic for enhancing immunity and support management of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine disorders, obesity, cancer, and metabolic syndrome. Yoga techniques called asanas, such as pranayama for breathing regulation and dhyana for meditation, boost innate immune response, interrupt inflammation, and thereby prevent the manifestation of chronic diseases. Yoga also provides symptomatic relief for chronic arthritis by increasing joint flexibility and microcirculation. Yoga and meditation regulate neurotransmitters, neuropeptides, hormones, and cytokines that mediate interactions between the central nervous system and the immune system. These techniques reduce the psychological and physiological effects of chronic stress. Serotonin, oxytocin, and melatonin released directly due to practicing yoga have been shown to better manage anxiety and fear, especially during the pandemic. We believe the current trends of chronic disease management will become more effective with the implementation of lifestyle changes using yoga.

Assessment of well-being using Fitbit technology in college students, faculty and staff completing breathing meditation during COVID-19: A pilot study.

This pilot study aimed to explore the intersection of mindfulness, physical activity, and mental well-being within higher education populations during the COVID-19 pandemic. College students, faculty, and staff (n = 34) from a public university participated in the study during spring, summer, and fall 2021. All participants wore a Fitbit for two weeks and were assigned to a treatment group (n = 17), who completed a daily five-minute breathing meditation during the second week, and a control group (n = 17), who did not complete breathing meditation. Amount of sleep and physical activity were measured with the Fitbit. Surveys assessed feasibility and acceptability of the intervention, along with perceived anxiety, depression, well-being, worry, and mindfulness at baseline and after the two-week study. Results demonstrated that the intervention was feasible, and that daily breathing meditation may help reduce anxiety and may lead to greater physical activity and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. This pilot study lays the foundation for further research into mindfulness, physical activity, and mental health, which may have important implications for promoting mental well-being in college populations following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Creative work during a COVID-19 lockdown

In Csikszentmihalyi's 1990 theory of flow, individuals can become immersed in creative activities as well as other positive activities including exercise and meditation. Research found that individuals engaged in flow could persevere regardless of feeling boredom or fatigue. However, the flow state is more difficult to achieve in the face of stress (Csikszentmihalyi, 1990). The current research study utilized an archival database collected during a COVID-19 lockdown to examine the impact of flow-like activities (creative work, meditation, and inside exercise) on psychological well-being (boredom, fatigue, anxiety, and depression). Correlation analyses were conducted followed by hierarchical regression to determine the relative variance in boredom, fatigue, depression, and anxiety that was explained by creative work, exercise, and meditation ratings. Further, creative work was positively associated with meditating, indicating that participants who reported more frequent creative work also reported meditating more often. Additionally, creative work, inside exercise, and meditation were associated with psychological outcomes including feeling boredom and fatigue. However, only inside exercise was associated with decreased anxiety and depression symptoms. These findings should inform interventions to improve psychological well-being during difficult times such as the COVID-19 lockdown. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Psychological Impact Of Covid-19 And Prevention Strategies: A Buddhist Solution

As a major virus outbreak in the twenty-first century, the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has posed unprecedented risks to global mental health. Because of the severity of the virus, people were forced to isolate themselves and confine themselves to their homes. This was linked to people's inability to work, seek help from loved ones, and participate in their communities. Stressors that contribute to anxiety and depression include loneliness, fear of infection, suffering and death for oneself and loved ones, bereavement grief, and financial worries. As a result, covid 19 is a source of psychological distress. This paper investigates the impact of these stressors on all age groups in society, including today's youth, the elderly, and even health workers. Because Buddhism has a longstanding experience with medicine and preaches calmness and acceptance of fear, it is not surprising that Buddhist ideas come to the aid of those in need during times of crisis. However, it receives little attention. Thus, this paper focuses on theories such as mindfulness meditations, engaged Buddhism, and cultivating compassion, all of which can aid in increasing positive emotions and thus reducing stressors. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Pharmaceutical Negative Results is the property of ResearchTrentz and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Physical Activity Solutions to Decrease Occupational Stress

Occupational stress impacts employees, organizations, and potential customers. Physical activity as a coping mechanism can help to mitigate the adverse outcomes of occupational stress. Physical activity solutions for employees allow employees to initiate and maintain a physically active lifestyle, potentially mitigating the adverse outcomes of occupational stress. Apply It!: After reading this article, fitness professionals will be able to: • Understand the impact of occupational stress on employees. • Understand how physical activity impacts occupational stress. • Implement suggestions for on-site physical activity solutions and off-site physical activity promotion to impact occupational stress.

Effects of Acute Exercise and Meditation on Mood and Affect in Youth

Background: Physical activity (PA) has shown to have beneficial effects on children's health and development. However, a reduced focus on PA programming in schools and home environments may contribute to the increasing prevalence of mental health problems among youth, particularly following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we report preliminary findings from an ongoing randomized controlled trial of acute exercise (light-intensity or moderate-intensity) and meditation on mood and affect in youth. Method(s): Youth participants recruited from the Metro Detroit area (N =25: 52% female, 48% black;Mean + SD age =12.92 + 2.18yrs) were randomly assigned to a single 30-minute session of either (1) moderate-intensity treadmill walking, (2) light-intensity stretching, or (3) a seated meditation session. Mood and positive and negative affect were measured pre- and post-session. Result(s): There was a pre-to-post-session reduction in negative mood and affect scores and an increase in positive affect (p's<0.05, d's 0.42-0.67). However, no significant main effects of condition or condition x time interaction were observed (p>0.05). Youth with higher negative baseline mood scores showed greater reductions in negative mood following the 30-minute session, as compared to youth with lower negative moods (r=0.87, p< 0.001). Conclusion(s): Acute light and moderate-intensity exercise, as well as meditation, were associated with reductions in negative mood and affect and increases in positive affect. Further, the antidepressant effects of acute exercise and meditation were more pronounced among youth with poorer baseline moods. These findings have implications for the use of PA and meditation-based interventions to combat mental health problems in youth. Funding Source: Wayne State University, National Institute of Mental Health, and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Keywords: Affect, Adolescent Depression, Mental health, exercise intervention, Mindfulness MeditationCopyright © 2023

How Resilience and Wellness Behaviors Affected Burnout and Academic Performance of First-Year Pharmacy Students During COVID-19

Objective. To determine whether students' levels of resilience and self-reported wellness behaviors predicted burnout and grade point average at the end of the first fall semester of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods. We measured first-year students' resilience, burnout (exhaustion and disengagement), and self-reported wellness behaviors (sleep, nutrition, social time, and self-care activities) at the beginning and end of the fall 2020 semester of pharmacy school. We also collected students' demographic information and end-of-semester grade point average from their academic records. Using multivariable regression, we assessed whether students' resilience and wellness behaviors predicted burnout and grade point average at the end of the semester. We also assessed for changes in burnout and wellness behaviors over time. Results. Resilience was positively associated with older age and was lower among students of color. Exhaustion and disengagement were high at baseline and continued to worsen over time. Students' selfreported wellness behaviors also decreased over time, except for ratings of sleep adequacy. Resilience predicted lower levels of disengagement at the end of the semester, but its relationship with exhaustion was inconsistent. The only wellness behaviors associated with lower burnout were nutrition and sleep adequacy. Students' end-of-semester grade point average was also related to nutrition and sleep adequacy but not resilience or burnout. Conclusion. Resilience offered some protection from burnout, but its relationship to immutable factors suggests that individual-focused interventions to improve student well-being (eg, wellness behaviors such as mindfulness meditation) should be complemented by organizational support, especially for younger students and students of color.

Assessing Vocal Chanting as an Online Psychosocial Intervention.

The ancient practice of chanting typically takes place within a community as a part of a live ceremony or ritual. Research suggests that chanting leads to improved mood, reduced stress, and increased wellbeing. During the global pandemic, many chanting practices were moved online in order to adhere to social distancing recommendations. However, it is unclear whether the benefits of live chanting occur when practiced in an online format. The present study assessed the effects of a 10-min online chanting session on stress, mood, and connectedness, carried out either in a group or individually. The study employed a 2 (chanting vs. control) × 2 (group vs. individual) between-subjects design. Participants (N = 117) were pseudo-randomly allocated across the four conditions. Before and after participation, individuals completed the Spielberg's State Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, the Social Connectedness Scale and Aron's Inclusion of Self in Other Scale. Online chanting led to a significant reduction in stress and an increase in positive affect when compared to the online control task. Participants who took part in group chanting also felt more connected to members of their chanting group than participants in the control group. However, feelings of general connectedness to all people remained similar across conditions. The investigation provides evidence that online chanting may be a useful psychosocial intervention, whether practiced individually or in a group.

Aged brain and neuroimmune responses to COVID-19: post-acute sequelae and modulatory effects of behavioral and nutritional interventions.

Advanced age is one of the significant risk determinants for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related mortality and for long COVID complications. The contributing factors may include the age-related dynamical remodeling of the immune system, known as immunosenescence and chronic low-grade systemic inflammation. Both of these factors may induce an inflammatory milieu in the aged brain and drive the changes in the microenvironment of neurons and microglia, which are characterized by a general condition of chronic inflammation, so-called neuroinflammation. Emerging evidence reveals that the immune privilege in the aging brain may be compromised. Resident brain cells, such as astrocytes, neurons, oligodendrocytes and microglia, but also infiltrating immune cells, such as monocytes, T cells and macrophages participate in the complex intercellular networks and multiple reciprocal interactions. Especially changes in microglia playing a regulatory role in inflammation, contribute to disturbing of the brain homeostasis and to impairments of the neuroimmune responses. Neuroinflammation may trigger structural damage, diminish regeneration, induce neuronal cell death, modulate synaptic remodeling and in this manner negatively interfere with the brain functions.In this review article, we give insights into neuroimmune interactions in the aged brain and highlight the impact of COVID-19 on the functional systems already modulated by immunosenescence and neuroinflammation. We discuss the potential ways of these interactions with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and review proposed neuroimmune mechanisms and biological factors that may contribute to the development of persisting long COVID conditions. We summarize the potential mechanisms responsible for long COVID, including inflammation, autoimmunity, direct virus-mediated cytotoxicity, hypercoagulation, mitochondrial failure, dysbiosis, and the reactivation of other persisting viruses, such as the Cytomegalovirus (CMV). Finally, we discuss the effects of various interventional options that can decrease the propagation of biological, physiological, and psychosocial stressors that are responsible for neuroimmune activation and which may inhibit the triggering of unbalanced inflammatory responses. We highlight the modulatory effects of bioactive nutritional compounds along with the multimodal benefits of behavioral interventions and moderate exercise, which can be applied as postinfectious interventions in order to improve brain health.

The doctor within: Integrative health, social work, and palliative care

Integrative medicine, social work, and palliative care overlap and complement each other in a variety of ways. This chapter presents an overview of this synergy;reviews integrative therapies as a whole;and describes examples of specific modalities and their applications to social work and palliative care. Professional and family caregivers are often the primary contact for palliative care patients. If the caregiver is distressed, the patient will be distressed. Integrative therapies offer a means to heal and support both caregiver and care receiver. Social workers will find integrative approaches to health and healing to be an important aspect of palliative care. Palliative care, integrative medicine, and social work share common values and approaches toward healthcare. For many palliative care older adults, loneliness is a risk factor for mortality during COVID-19. Additionally, persons with comorbidity, usually older adults, are at high risk for COVID-19 with accompanying anxiety. Currently, there are many offerings of mindfulness-based classes, yoga, and meditation available online. In more ordinary times, these methods of delivering interventions will be beneficial for rural and homebound palliative care receivers and caregivers. The holistic approaches of integrative medicine have the potential to bring relief from both chronic physical suffering and spiritual distress. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Perinatal Depression and Anxiety during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Review and Future Direction

Introduction: During the COVID-19 pandemic, a variety of stressful situations have affected perinatal women, including behavioral restrictions due to government lockdown, avoidance of hospital visits due to infection anxiety, and increased partner violence due to economic difficulties. These increased stressors often have impacts on perinatal mental health. Method(s): This review summarizes the prevalence of perinatal depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic and examines the impact of the pandemic on perinatal mental health around the world. Result(s): The prevalence of perinatal depression ranged from 13-58%, and perinatal anxiety ranged from 11-61%, based on simple screening methods. As the prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms among perinatal women increases, medical staff availability will decrease. Therefore, receiving medical care is becoming increasingly difficult for perinatal women under pandemic restrictions. A need exists to popularize mobile applications and other online methods for remotely providing mental healthcare to perinatal women. Conclusion(s): The important role of medical staffs in caring for pregnant women includes preventing perinatal depression by telemedicine during a pandemic. Clear procedures should be prepared on how medical staffs of obstetrics and gynecology can be involved in telemedicine for perinatal women and the optimal timing for connecting them to psychiatric care.Copyright © 2023 Japan University of Health Sciences.

Home Remedies, Dietary and Lifestyle Changes during Covid-19 Pandemic

December 2019 has become one of the most surprising days in the whole world in light of the flare-up of a most infectious sickness brought about by novel Covid or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This study is conducted to assess the benefits of the use of home remedies to prevent the cause of Covid-19 and evaluate the assessment of dietary changes and physical activity in the prevention of Covid-19. A questionnaire-based online survey is conducted using Google forms consisting of multiple-choice questions about home remedies, lifestyle and dietary changes made by the people during this pandemic. These home remedies included using different types of herbal preparations, steam inhalation, physical exercise and OTC medications for prophylaxis. Questions likewise included about being infected by Coronavirus-19(during first wave or second) and their recovery period, additionally collected their viewpoint for changes made, for example how much they are useful in the prevention of the attack and whenever encountered any undesirable impacts. Total responses were 210, among which 121(57.6%) responses were from females and 89(42.4%) from males. 65 people tested Covid positive (42 during the first wave and 23 during the second wave). 118(56.2%) of people think these changes are very beneficial. (Rated 4 and 5 out of 5 points). From our survey, we concluded that different herbal preparations of their composition, which they thought are helpful, and steam inhalations have been used. Rating regarding the use and effectiveness was also found to be average. Further studies are needed to prove and provide clear evidence about adverse and side effects associated with the use of herbal products.Copyright © 2022 Society of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research. All rights reserved.

Psychocosmetology - the opportunity to reduce stress in a beauty salon with the use of music therapy, massage, yoga, and meditation

Excessive, uncontrolled stress adversely affects the human body. The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to increased stress levels in society. The use of stress reduction techniques, proposed by psychocosmetology, such as massage, music therapy, yoga, and meditation, in beauty salons can bring many benefits including stress release. The aim of this article was the analyze the respondent's opinions about stress reduction in beauty salons by performing psychocosmetology. In addition, the relationship between appearance and wellbeing was also examined. The results of the study confirmed the influence of using stress reduction methods on the client's wellbeing, as well as the mutual influence of appearance and comfort. © 2022 by the Author(s).