Marital Satisfaction and Mental Health in Adults Over 40 Years Old. Associations with Self-Perceptions of Aging and Stress Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Being married has been associated with a better attitude to aging and a buffer against stressful situations, factors that influence mental health. The study analyzes the role of self-perceptions of aging and stress related to the COVID-19 pandemic in the association between marital satisfaction and participants' mental health. 246 people older than 40 years in a marital/partner relationship were assessed. A path analysis was tested, where self-perceptions of aging and stress from the COVID-19 situation were proposed as mechanisms of action in the association between marital satisfaction and anxious and depressive symptoms. Marital satisfaction, self-perceptions of aging, and stress associated with the COVID-19 pandemic significantly contributed to the model and explained 31% of the variance in participants´ anxious symptomatology, and 42% of the variance in depressive symptomatology. The indirect path of self-perceptions of aging and stress associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in the link between marital satisfaction and anxious and depressive symptoms was statistically significant for both outcome variables. The findings of this study suggest that lower perceived marital satisfaction is associated with higher levels of negative self-perceptions of aging and with higher anxiety and depressive symptoms. Public significance statements: This study suggests that higher marital satisfaction may be a buffer for negative self-perception of aging, and both factors are related with experiencing less stress from COVID-19. These links are associated with less anxious and depressive symptoms.

Self-perception and COVID-19 vaccination self-efficacy among Chinese adults: A moderated mediation model of mental health and trust.

BACKGROUND: Optimal Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination coverage is necessary to achieve community protection, and self-efficacy independently predict vaccination behavior. The current study examined the effect of self-perception on COVID-19 vaccination self-efficacy as well as potential mechanisms among Chinese adults. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from four cities in China (n = 6781). Models 4 and 8 in Hayes' PROCESS macro were used to test models. RESULTS: Self-perception (ß = 0.128, 95 % CI: 0.093, 0.163) and self-perception ∗ mental health (ß = 0.009, 95 % CI: 0.003, 0.014) were positively associated with trust in doctors and vaccine developers, while mental health was negatively related to trust in doctors and vaccine developers (ß = -0.483, 95 % CI: -0.629, -0.337). Self-perception (ß = 0.149, 95 % CI: 0.138, 0.161), trust in doctors and vaccine developers (ß = 0.185, 95 % CI: 0.177, 0.194) and self-perception ∗ mental health (ß = 0.003, 95 % CI: 0.002, 0.005) were positively associated with COVID-19 vaccination self-efficacy. Mental health was negatively related to COVID-19 vaccination self-efficacy (ß = -0.101, 95 % CI: -0.151, -0.051). LIMITATIONS: This cross-sectional study collected data through online questionnaires. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrated that the relationship between self-perception and COVID-19 vaccination self-efficacy was partially mediated by trust in doctors and vaccine developers. Both the correlation between self-perception and COVID-19 vaccination self-efficacy, and the relationship between self-perception and trust in doctors and vaccine developers were moderated by mental health. Findings confirm that increasing COVID-19 vaccination self-efficacy would be facilitated by improvements in self-perception, mental health, and trust in doctors and vaccine developers.

Social and self-stigma during COVID-19 pandemic: Egyptians' perspectives.

BACKGROUND: Social stigma associated with infectious diseases existed throughout the history of pandemics due to fears of contagion and death. This study aims to assess social and self-stigma resulting from COVID-19 infection and other associated factors in Egypt during the pandemic. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 533 adult Egyptians via an online questionnaire. The questionnaire included social stigma toward current and recovered COVID-19 patients and the negative self-image of being a COVID-19 patient. RESULTS: The mean calculated overall COVID-19-related stigma score for the studied sample was 4.7±3.1. The highest reported stigma category was mild stigma: Social stigma towards current COVID-19 patients (88.2%), Social stigma toward recovered COVID-19 patients (64.2%), Negative self-image for being a COVID-19 patient; perceived self-stigma (71.6%) and total stigma score (88.2%) respectively. The overall stigma score was negatively associated with a higher level of education and getting information from healthcare workers and positively associated with getting information from social networks. CONCLUSION: Social and self-stigma related to COVID-19 infection was mild from the Egyptian perspective but found in a large proportion of the population and mainly affected by getting information from healthcare workers or through social media and being more among those with lower education levels. The study recommends more legislative control on social media for disseminating health-related information and conducting awareness campaigns to counteract these adverse effects.

The Relationship between Competitive Class Climate and Cyberloafing among Chinese Adolescents: A Curvilinear Moderated Mediation Model.

Since COVID-19 was officially listed as a pandemic, online schooling has become a more pervasive form of learning, and cyberloafing has become a widespread behavior, even among adolescents. However, less research has explored the influencing mechanism of adolescents' cyberloafing. Based on relevant studies and the real lives of adolescents, this study aimed to examine the association between a competitive class climate and cyberloafing among adolescents, its underlying mechanism, the mediating role of perceived stress and the moderating role of self-esteem. A total of 686 adolescents were recruited to complete a set of questionnaires assessing cyberloafing, perceived stress, self-esteem, and perceived competitive class climate. The results showed that a competitive class climate was positively associated with perceived stress, and the U-shaped relationship between perceived stress and cyberloafing was significant. Perceived stress mediated the relationship between a competitive class climate and cyberloafing. Meanwhile, self-esteem moderated the U-shaped relationship between perceived stress and cyberloafing and the linear relationship between a competitive class climate and perceived stress. The results of this study indicate that the influence of a competitive class climate on individual learning behavior may be nonlinear, and proper competition can contribute to reducing individual cyberloafing.

Chapitre 6. Identité physique et identité numérique à l'ère de la distanciation sociale.

The “social distancing” of the Covid-19 crisis has brought to the forefront a phenomenon that has been at work since the rise of the Web: people exchange goods and services, express themselves and meet each other more and more without being physically present. The question of digital identity then emerges. What place do we occupy on the networks? What control do people have over their image? What place do writings occupy in the definition of this digital «image» of oneself? What is the understanding of the plurality of identities that the same person can have online? This article proposes a reflection on these different questions by distinguishing digital identities with and without physical persons.

The effect of self-esteem on the spread of a pandemic. A cross-country analysis of the role played by self-esteem in the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Extant research on COVID-19 suggests that many socio-economic determinants, by affecting personal behavior, have influenced the evolution of the pandemic. In this paper we study the role played in this regard by average levels of self-esteem in the public. There are reasons to believe that both low and very levels of self-esteem may have an effect on the spread of COVID-19, for opposite reasons. On the one hand, people with low self-esteem may not worry enough to behave in the way recommended (and prescribed, through non-pharmaceutical interventions) by the authorities; people with very high self-esteem, on the other hand, may be over-confident and fail to follow the prescriptions, believing that they do not need them. In this study we test this hypothesis by means of a quantitative cross-country analysis, using a hybrid model and the Rosenberg self-esteem scale. Our results suggest the existence of a U-shaped relationship between the trend of COVID-19 and average levels of self-esteem in a country.

Cognitive Self- Compassion (CSC) Online Intervention Program: A Pilot Study to Enhance the Self-Esteem of Adolescents Exposed to Parental Intimate Partner Violence.

Children exposed to parental intimate partner violence (IPV) are at high risk in terms of their mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, online interventions are imperative in a crisis situation. Empirical studies indicate a significant relationship between self-esteem and children exposed to parental IPV. This research aimed to develop, and pilot test an online intervention program to enhance the self-esteem of Adolescents exposed to parental IPV. Conklin's developmental model was used to develop the online program and the Coopersmith Self Esteem Inventory scale, interview, and focus group discussion was used to understand the key issues. The developed Cognitive Self Compassion (CSC) Online Intervention Program that integrates the theories and techniques of social cognitive theory and self-compassion was implemented over 6 weeks at a rate of 60 min per session to the 10 participants. Results of the single-group pilot experiment showed a significant difference in the pre & post-test scores of the participants. The self-esteem of the adolescents exposed to parental IPV was significantly enhanced after undergoing the CSC Online Intervention Program.

Differences in self-perception of productivity and mental health among the STEMM-field scientists during the COVID-19 pandemic by sex and status as a parent: A survey in six languages.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented challenges for working conditions for scientists, but little is known for how the associations of these challenges with scientists' mental health and productivity differ by sex and status as a parent. This online survey study in six languages collected data from 4,494 scientists in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine fields across 132 countries during October-December 2021. We compared the type of challenges for work, changes in work hours, and perception in productivity during the pandemic by sex and status as a parent (children <18 years living at home). Regression analyses analyzed the impacts of changed working conditions and work-life factors on productivity and mental health. We found that the percentage of participants with increased work hours was the highest in female participants, especially without children. Disproportionately higher increases in work hours were found for teaching and administration in women than men and for research/fundraising in non-parent participants than parent participants (p-value<0.001). Female participants were more concerned about the negative impacts of the pandemic on publications and long-term career progress, and less satisfied with their career progress than their male counterparts. There were differences in the type of institutional actions for the pandemic across study regions. The identified obstacles for work and home-life factors were associated with higher risks of experiencing depression, anxiety, and stress. Decision makers should consider the gender differences in the pandemic's adverse impacts on productivity in establishing equitable actions for career progress for scientists during pandemics.

Pre-Service University Training, Body Expression and Self-Concept.

Body Expression (BE) has been defined in the past few decades as a discipline within Physical Education (PE) with very particular characteristics and a strong emotional component. In this study, a BE program was applied with university Physical Activity and Sports Sciences (PASS) students from six consecutive academic years: three prior to and three during the COVID-19 pandemic. A pre-post design was used to determine how the BE program affected the university students' self-concept (SC). Thus, a questionnaire with a multidimensional approach to this construct was administered, with dimensions closely related to the BE program characteristics. The results revealed significant improvements in the final SC, compared to the initial SC. The men reported lower SC values than the women before the program's implementation, but higher at the end. Therefore, the change was greater in the men, so the program may have had an equalizing effect between the groups. It was also verified that the pandemic had particularly affected the women.

Students at Risk: Self-Esteem, Optimism and Emotional Intelligence in Post-Pandemic Times?

Understanding the emotional profile of students during their training, as well as associated psychosocial factors such as optimism versus pessimism and self-esteem, is critical to improving student performance, especially in the post-pandemic period. In this study, 798 university students participated, belonging to the Degrees of Early Childhood and Primary Education, with a mean age of 24.52 years (±5.48). The following instruments were used: Wong Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS-S), Life Orientation Test Revised (LOT-R) and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES). The objective was to determine the predictive value of self-esteem on emotional intelligence and optimism vs. pessimism. A positive relationship between several dimensions of the instruments used (p < 0.01) were found. Moreover, the regression model predicted an association between emotional intelligence (use of emotions), pessimism and self-esteem. The practical consequences suggest the importance of the acquisition of emotional competences by university students is essential to obtain higher performances.

Moderating Effects of Self-Esteem on the Relationship between Communication Anxiety and Academic Performance among Female Health College Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Unprecedented quarantine due to COVID-19 exposes individuals to withdraw from face-to-face interactions, which may influence communication and self-esteem (SE). Therefore, the overarching aims of this study are to examine the communication apprehension levels among female college students, and thus to investigate the moderating role of self-esteem on the relationship between communication apprehension and academic achievement. In this cross-sectional study, 287 female college students completed the survey, which was circulated through email. The survey included the following questionnaires: General Health Characteristics, Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale, and Personal Report of Communication Apprehension Scale. The results showed that 28.2% of participants were categorized as having a high level of communication apprehension, and only 9.8% had a low level of communication apprehension. The SE reported an overall score of 24.3 ± 2.14, indicating a high self-esteem level among students. The students' grade point average (GPA) was positively correlated with SE. However, self-esteem as a moderator variable had no significant effect on the relationships between all predictors and GPA. The finding of the study highlights the need to implement different strategies to enhance students' group discussions, meetings, and interpersonal communication to ensure the best learning outcomes. Future studies are required to investigate gender-based disparities in the relationship between communication apprehension and SE.

The Effect of Group Identification on Death Anxiety: The Chain Mediation Role of Close Relationships and Self-Esteem.

Based on the terror management theory (TMT), this study integrated self-esteem and close relationships to explore the effects of group identification on death anxiety. Five hundred and four participants completed the Death Anxiety, Rosenberg Self-Esteem, Social Identity, and Inclusion of Other in the Self scales via online platforms. There were significant correlations among group identification, close relationship, self-esteem, and death anxiety. Group identification had a significant negative predictive effect on death anxiety. Specifically, group identification affects death anxiety through two pathways: the separate mediating role of self-esteem and the serial mediation pathway of close relationships → self-esteem. Our study provides direct evidence that group identification relieves death anxiety. The results showed that the alleviating function of group identification was mediated by self-esteem and close relationships. This study provides a new perspective concerning TMT as a defense mechanism against death anxiety.

Changes in health-related quality of life in adolescents and the impact of gender and selected variables: a two-year longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Increased knowledge about factors that can impact changes in adolescents' health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is needed. The present study aimed to investigate possible HRQOL changes in adolescents at 14 and 16 years, and assess the impact of sociodemographic factors, gender, pain, self-esteem, self-efficacy, loneliness, and stress on HRQOL changes over time. Further, to assess HRQOL stratified by gender. METHODS: A longitudinal study involving 211 adolescents was conducted. Sociodemographic variables, pain, self-esteem, self-efficacy, loneliness, and stress were all assessed with well-validated instruments. KIDSCREEN-27 was used to measure HRQOL. Data were analyzed using independent t-tests, paired samples t-tests, and linear mixed models for repeated measures. RESULTS: When all variables were added to the linear mixed models, stress, loneliness, and pain were significantly, independently associated with a reduction in HRQOL change scores for four of the five KIDSCREEN subscales. Time was significantly associated with a reduction in physical and psychological well-being. Self-efficacy and self-esteem were significantly associated with an increase in HRQOL change scores for four and two subscales, respectively. Male gender was significantly negatively associated with changes in social support and peers compared to female gender. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated a significant decline in adolescents' HRQOL regarding physical and psychological well-being for the age range 14-16 years. Furthermore, we found that stress, loneliness, and pain have a significant negative impact on HRQOL changes, whereas self-esteem and self-efficacy have a significant positive impact. Our results highlight the importance of increased understanding regarding factors associated with changes in adolescents' HRQOL to enable accurate and strategic interventions.

Assessing Harmful Bias and Celebrating Strength Through the Narratives of Black/African American Physician Assistant Students.

INTRODUCTION: Two national crises, the COVID-19 pandemic and systemic racism, have drawn nationwide attention to the disparities that exist in our society today. The American healthcare system, including physician assistant (PA) education, is not exempt from the impact of harmful bias and discrimination. The purpose of this study was to explore narratives recounting the experiences of Black/African Americans who have successfully completed their PA education in an attempt to understand how PA educators can better support students of color. METHODS: Qualitative, semi-structured interviews, guided by a critical race theory framework, were conducted with 6 Black/African American PAs who had graduated within the last 5 years. Trustworthiness was ensured through member checking, triangulation, peer debriefing during the coding and analysis process, and autoethnographic reflection. RESULTS: Themes of mentorship and cultural capital, including aspirations, family, social support, and resistance to an oppressive system, highlight the strengths present in Black/African American students. Additional themes surrounding stress related to race, including a pressure to prove, isolation and anxiety, and imposter phenomenon, all pointed toward the need for honest and safe dialogue among individuals with racial differences. DISCUSSION: This research article presents key findings and opportunities for PA educators to emphasize cultural capital to enable Black/African American PA students to thrive. Communicating across racial differences and intentional engagement are imperative for PA educators to successfully support Black/African American students.

The Relationship between Self-Concept and Negative Emotion: A Moderated Mediation Model.

Background: Emotional problems such as depression and anxiety are very serious among college students, especially during the COVID-2019 pandemic. The present study aimed to explore the mediating role of resilience in the relationship between self-concept and negative emotion, and the moderating role of exercise intensity in the direct and indirect effect of self-concept on negative emotion among college students. Methods: A total of 739 Chinese college students aged between 18 and 25 years (M = 20.13; SD = 1.67) were selected to complete the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale (TSCS), the Depression Anxiety Stress Self Rating Scale, the Adolescent Psychological Resilience Scale, and the Physical Exercise Scale (PARS-3) to assess self-concept, negative emotions, psychological resilience, and exercise intensity, respectively. Hayes' PROCESS macro for SPSS was used to test the relationships among these variables. Results: Self-concept was negatively correlated with negative emotions; psychological resilience partially mediated the association between self-concept and negative emotions; exercise intensity moderated the effect of self-concept on negative emotions, and college students with low intensity physical activity would strengthening the association between self-concept and psychological resilience, psychological resilience, and negative emotions. Conclusions: Psychological resilience is a critical mediating mechanism through which self-concept is associated with negative emotions among college students, and exercise intensity plays a role as a moderating variable in the direct and indirect influence of self-concept on negative emotions. Implications for preventing or reducing negative emotions are discussed.

Effects of aerobic and strength training on depression, anxiety, and health self-perception levels during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at comparing the depression and anxiety levels, and health self-perception during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic among subjects who practice aerobic, strength, and mixed (aerobic and strength) exercises and nonsports participants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included 304 Brazilians of both sexes in this cross-sectional study. All participants were recruited through online advertisement and completed a self-administered questionnaire regarding the personal information, level of restriction adopted, physical activity, and mood state screening (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and General Anxiety Disorder-7). We divided the participants into four groups: strength sports group (CrossFit or strength training), aerobic/endurance sports groups (running, cycling, triathlon, or swimming), mixed sports groups (individuals who practice endurance and strength sports), and nonsports group. RESULTS: The Kruskal-Wallis test showed a significant effect of the group on the depression and anxiety levels. Meanwhile, the post-hoc comparisons showed a significantly lower depression level in the mixed and aerobic sports groups than in the strength sports and nonsports groups, and a significantly lower anxiety level in the mixed and aerobic sports groups than in the nonsports group. Furthermore, participants in the mixed, strength, and aerobic sports groups presented a better level of health self-assessment than the nonsports group, and those in the mixed sports group had a better level of health self-assessment than the strength or aerobic sports groups. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals practicing aerobic exercises present lower depression and anxiety levels than those practicing strength training and are inactive. However, individuals who practice strength exercises and aerobics have the best levels of health perception.

Before and Amid COVID-19 Pandemic, Self-Perception of Digital Skills in Saudi Arabia Higher Education: A Longitudinal Study.

Compatible with global sustainable development report, 2016 edition, and vision 2030, Saudi Arabia recognized the importance of technology in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This paper aims to measure the self-perception of digital skills among students in Saudi Arabia's higher education system to understand how they were influenced before and amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic, we started a project to study the self-perception of digital skills among Saudi Arabia university students (group A). A total of 469 students participated in this research. The validity and reliability of the employed scale were tested with first-order confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The differences between the two groups (before and amid the pandemic) were tested through the Mann-Whitney U test. The results for group A (N = 232 students) showed a higher self-perception of their digital skills. In March 2020, amid the pandemic, Saudi Arabia closed and shifted to technology-based teaching like many other countries worldwide. After students' return to universities in 2021, an evaluation of how the students perceived their own digital skills was again conducted (group B). The results for group B (N = 237 students) demonstrated a lower level of confidence in their own digital abilities. Comparing two groups (A and B), after the educational course was administered, group A (prior to COVID-19) had greater self-perceptions of digital skills than group B (amid COVID-19). Students' perceptions of their own digital skills have been negatively impacted as a result of the pandemic situation caused by COVID-19. The collected evidence suggests that there is a difference, and that this difference is statistically significant. As a result of the substantial relationship between self-perception of digital skills and how students deal with reality based on their own self-perception, Saudi Arabia higher education ministry shifted teaching methods to be based on technology. Other significant findings and their implications for practice and theory were reported in this study. Finally, limitations and prospects for future research were also elaborated.

Modified body - symbol of risk or resources? / Modyfikacje ciala ­ symbol ryzyka czy zasobów?

OBJECTIVES: Tattooing and body piercing are becoming more and more popular. The psychological approach to body modifications remains heterogeneous. The purpose of this replication was to assess the level of life satisfaction and self-esteem, as well as to reveal subjectively experienced symptoms of mental health disorders in people who reported having a tattoo and/or piercing during the coronavirus epidemic. METHODS: Method. The research was conducted in the period from April to June 2020 in an on-line form. Participants (N = 557) were 15-68 years old. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in perceived life satisfaction, self-esteem and mental health assessment between people with and without body modifications. The revealed differences in the dimensions of self-esteem and the number of subjective depressive symptoms turned out to be accidental. CONCLUSIONS: All participants in the study (regardless of having body modification) were aware of having and the ability to use personal resources to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. Body modifications should not be considered a risk factor. Especially among tattooed people, the self-assessment of psychological functioning increased with the increase in life satisfaction.

Educational impact of an active learning session with 6-lead mobile electrocardiography on medical students' knowledge of cardiovascular physiology during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States: a survey-based observational study

Mobile electrocardiogram (ECG) devices are valuable tools for teaching ECG interpretation. The primary purpose of this follow-up study was to determine if an ECG active learning session could be safely and effectively performed during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic using a newly developed mobile 6-lead ECG device. Additionally, we examined the educational impact of these active learning sessions on student knowledge of cardiovascular physiology and the utility of the mobile 6-lead ECG device in a classroom setting. In this study, first-year medical students (MS1) performed four active learning activities using the new mobile 6-lead ECG device. Data were collected from 42 MS1s through a quantitative survey administered in September 2020. Overall, students felt the activity enhanced their understanding of the course material and that the activity was performed safely and in compliance with local COVID-19 guidelines. These results emphasize student preference for hands-on, small group learning activities in spite of the pandemic.

Experiences of COVID-19 survivors: A qualitative study based on Watson's Theory of Human Caring.

This study aims to investigate the experiences of survivors of COVID-19 in Turkey. The research questions and results are structured according to Watson's Theory of Human Caring. The study was conducted using a descriptive qualitative research design. The phenomenological method was used to explore the experiences of survivors of COVID-19. A total of 34 survivors of COVID-19 were included in the study. Data were collected using semistructured and open-ended questions online and via telephone interviews between February and March 2020. Data were evaluated using thematic analysis and descriptive analysis. Six main themes and 25 subthemes were defined that describe the experiences of survivors of COVID-19 regarding the illness: (a) denial and adaptation, (b) fear, (c) feeling of hopelessness, (d) preventions, (e) meaning attribution, and (f) metaphors about COVID-19. Information from this research may be used by healthcare professionals to develop new strategies for the care of survivors of COVID-19. Moreover, it can be said that Watson's Theory of Human Caring is suitable for monitoring the psychosocial development of patients with COVID-19.