Relationship between academic teaching staff' mental health literacy levels and beliefs toward mental illness.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to determine the relationship between academic teaching staff' mental health literacy levels and beliefs toward mental illness. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 357 academic teaching staff working at a state university in Turkey between July 2021 and February 2022. RESULTS: Significant predictors of academic teaching staff' beliefs toward mental illness were mental health literacy, department, receiving mental health literacy education, seeking psychiatric help before, having a family member with a mental disorder, willingness to work with someone with a mental disorder, experience with a student with a mental disorder in professional life, and thoughts that students with a mental disorder should continue education. CONCLUSION: Mental health literacy is an important variable in reducing academic teaching staff' negative beliefs toward mental illness. Therefore, training programs can be planned to increase the mental health literacy levels of academic teaching staff and change their negative beliefs toward mental illness.

The Relationship Between Psychological Pain, Spiritual Well-Being, and Social Support in Turkish Women Undergoing Therapeutic or Elective Abortion.

This study was conducted to determine the relationship between psychological pain, spiritual well-being, and social support among Turkish women undergoing therapeutic or elective abortion. The cross-sectional study was conducted with 342 women who were hospitalized in the gynecology and obstetrics service of a city hospital between March 2021 and December 2022 in Turkey. The mean psychological pain, spiritual well-being and perceived social support scores of women undergoing therapeutic/elective abortion were 26.96 ± 11.21, 110.72 ± 13.09 and 64.09 ± 15.62, respectively. There were a significant negative correlation between psychological pain with spiritual well-being and social support. According to linear regression analysis, spiritual well-being, social support, age, employment status, economic level, history of abortion, number of abortion, current abortion type, and gestational week were statistically significant predictive factors of psychological pain. Therefore, healthcare providers can provide individualized psychosocial-spiritual care and counseling services that decrease psychological pain in women after therapeutic or elective abortion.

Effect of Personality Traits and Emotion Regulation Strategies on Risky Behaviors in Adolescents.

The current study investigated the effects of personality traits and emotion regulation strategies on high-risk behaviors among adolescents (N = 1,572). This study used a cross-sectional and correlational research design. Multiple linear regression was used for analysis. A 1-unit increase in extraversion and neuroticism led to a 0.391- and 0.365-unit increase in high-risk behaviors, respectively. However, a 1-unit increase in agreeableness and conscientiousness led to a 0.307- and 0.365-unit decrease in high-risk behaviors, respectively (p < 0.05). A 1-unit increase in external and internal dysfunctional emotion regulation strategies led to a 1.34- and 0.548-unit increase in high-risk behaviors, respectively. However, a 1-unit increase in internal functional emotion regulation strategies led to a 0.641-unit decrease in high-risk behaviors (p < 0.05). Regression analysis showed that age, school type, sex, grade level, father's educational level, father's child-rearing style, and school performance were associated with more high-risk behaviors (p < 0.05). There were correlations between some personality traits, emotion regulation strategies, sociodemographic characteristics, and high-risk behaviors. Early intervention programs targeting dysfunctional personality traits and emotion regulation skills in adolescence may prevent the development of risky behaviors in adulthood. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 62(2), 23-36.].

Mental Health Problems Among Adolescents With Mild Intellectual Disability and Relation to Sleep Quality and Perceived Social Support: A Comparative Study.

The current cross-sectional study sought to determine the mental health problems of adolescents with mild intellectual disability (ID) and influencing factors. This study, which used a comparison group, was performed with 188 adolescents (91 with mild ID and 97 without ID) between January 2019 and June 2019 in Turkey. Data were collected using a Personal Information Form, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Perceived Social Support Scale. Adolescents with mild ID were at higher risk for mental health problems compared to those without ID. According to linear regression analysis, sex, age, birth order, maternal age, parents' educational level, sleep quality, and perceived social support were statistically significant predictive factors of mental health problems in adolescents with mild ID. Results of this study indicate that adolescents with mild ID are at greater risk for mental health problems and that effective prevention/intervention strategies are needed. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 62(3), 39-50.].

Art Therapy as a Nursing Intervention for Individuals With Schizophrenia.

The aim of the current study was to determine the effects of group art therapy on clinical symptoms, alexithymia, and quality of life among people with schizophrenia. This single-blinded, randomized controlled trial was performed with 66 individuals with schizophrenia from a community mental health center in western Turkey between September 2021 and February 2022. Following art therapy, the intervention group had lower severity of positive, negative, and general psychopathology symptoms; lower levels of alexithymia; and higher levels of psychological health, social relationships, and total quality of life than the control group; and the difference between groups was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Results reveal that art therapy combined with pharmacological therapy contributes to good clinical outcomes among individuals with schizophrenia. This evidence can guide psychiatric nurses to use art therapy to reduce psychopathology severity and increase functionality and quality of life among individuals with schizophrenia. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, xx(xx), xx-xx.].

The Relationship Between Spiritual Well-Being and Post-Traumatic Growth in Turkish Patients Undergoing Solid Organ Transplantation.

This study was conducted to determine the relationship between spiritual well-being and post-traumatic growth in solid organ transplant patients. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 366 patients who presented to the organ transplantation polyclinic of a university hospital between September 2021 and February 2022 in Turkey. The mean Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory and Spiritual Well-Being Scale scores of solid organ transplant patients were 81.33 ± 20.28 and 37.18 ± 8.69, respectively. There was a significant positive correlation between post-traumatic growth and spiritual well-being. According to linear regression analysis, spiritual well-being, gender, marital status, transplanted organ, donor type, and previous mental disorders were statistically significant predictive factors that affected post-traumatic growth. Spiritual well-being was an important variable that affected post-traumatic growth in solid organ transplant patients. Therefore, healthcare providers can provide individualized psychosocial-spiritual care and counseling services that increase post-traumatic growth in patients after organ transplantation.

The effect of visual and/or auditory distraction techniques on children's pain, anxiety and medical fear in invasive procedures: A randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to determine the effects of visual and/or auditory distraction techniques applied to children aged 7-12 during invasive procedures on pain, anxiety, and medical fear. METHODS: This single-blinded, randomized controlled trial was carried out in the pediatric emergency department of a public hospital between November 2021 and March 2022. In the study, 144 children were assigned to three different intervention groups, in which a kaleidoscope, music, and virtual reality were applied during invasive procedures, and the control group in which the standard invasive procedure was applied, by using the stratified block randomization method. The data were collected using a Personal Information Form, Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale, Children's Anxiety Meter-State, and Child Medical Fear Scale. RESULTS: In the study, the levels of pain, anxiety, and medical fear after the invasive procedure were lower in the intervention groups than in the control group. In addition, there was no difference between the three different distraction techniques in terms of reducing pain and medical fear, but the virtual reality application was more effective in reducing the level of anxiety. CONCLUSION: Visual and/or auditory distraction techniques are effective methods that can be used by nurses in pediatric healthcare to reduce invasive procedure-related pain, anxiety, and medical fear. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This study provides evidence that can guide the use of non-pharmacological methods such as distraction to prevent the traumatic effects of invasive procedures in children.

Turkish adaptation of the nursing student academic resilience inventory: A validity and reliability study.

BACKGROUND: Due to the stressful nature of nursing education, it is stated that academic resilience is an important skill for students. However, there is no measurement tool to determine nursing students' academic resilience in our country. OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to adapt the nursing student academic resilience inventory to Turkish and determine its validity and reliability. DESIGN: A descriptive, cross-sectional, and methodological design was used. SETTING: The study was conducted with nursing students between May 2022 and June 2022. PARTICIPANTS: The study included 250 s, third, and fourth-year nursing students. METHODS: The data were collected using a personal information form, the nursing student academic resilience inventory and the resilience scale for nurses. RESULTS: The inventory showed a 6-factor structure, namely optimism, communication, self-esteem/evaluation, self-awareness, trustworthiness, and self-regulation and consisted of 24 items. In confirmatory factor analysis, all factor loads were found to be >0.30. The fit indexes of the inventory were χ2/df = 2.294, GFI = 0.848, IFI = 0.853, CFI = 0.850, RMSEA = 0.072, and SRMR = 0.067. Cronbach's alpha of the total inventory was 0.887. CONCLUSIONS: The Turkish version of the nursing student academic resilience inventory was shown to be a valid and reliable measurement tool.

The relationship between basic psychological needs and emotional and behavioral problems in middle school students.

BACKGROUND: Basic psychological needs are universal sources of mental growth and development. PURPOSE: This study investigated the relationship between basic psychological needs and emotional and behavioral problems in middle school students. METHODOLOGY: This study adopted a cross-sectional and correlational research design. The sample consisted of 1099 students from three middle schools with different socioeconomic backgrounds. Data were collected using a sociodemographic characteristics questionnaire, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and the Basic Psychological Needs Scale (BPNS). The data were analyzed using multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS: A one-unit increase in autonomy, competence, and relatedness led to a 0.312, 0.263, and 0.312 decrease in emotional and behavioral problems, respectively (p < 0.05). The regression analysis showed that gender (female), academic performance (poor), mother's parenting style (authoritarian), and father's parenting style (permissive) were the risk factors affecting participants' emotional and behavioral problems (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that some basic psychological needs and sociodemographic characteristics make middle school students more likely to develop emotional and behavioral problems. Authorities should develop interventions on basic psychological needs to promote emotional and behavioral development. Researchers should assess the effectiveness of those interventions.

Students as teachers: effect of the peer education model on reducing smartphone addiction in adolescents.

The group at the highest risk of smartphone addiction is adolescents. In particular during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, factors such as conducting education online, curfew and the increase in the monotonous time spent at home have led to an increase in the use of smartphones among adolescents. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effect of the peer education model on reducing smartphone addiction in adolescents. The present semi-experimental study with a pre-test-post-test control group was carried out with 622 high school students in Turkey. The study was carried out between September 2021 and February 2022 in two stages. In the first stage, the peer educator education program on smartphone addiction in adolescents was implemented. In the second stage, the peer education program was implemented and monitored. While there was no significant difference between the intervention and control groups in terms of the mean scores they obtained from the Smartphone Addiction Scale at the pre-test (P > 0.05), the difference between them was statistically significant at the post-test (P < 0.001). This study demonstrated that the peer education model was effective in reducing smartphone addiction in adolescents. Thus, it can be recommended that school-based peer education programs for adolescents should be prepared and implemented.

Effects of the psychiatric nursing course on students' beliefs toward mental illness and psychiatric nursing perceptions in Turkey.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of the psychiatric nursing course on students' beliefs toward mental illness and psychiatric nursing perceptions. DESIGN AND METHODS: This experimental study was carried out with 80 students enrolled for the psychiatric nursing course. FINDINGS: The mean score of the Beliefs toward Mental Illness Scale decreased, and the mean score of the Psychiatric Nursing Perception Scale increased after the course. The difference between the measurements was statistically significant (p < 0.05). PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: This study shows that psychiatric nursing course is effective in decreasing students' negative beliefs toward mental illness and increasing positive psychiatric nursing perceptions. Students' attitudes about mental illness and psychiatric nursing should be determined from the very first year of their education, and their negative beliefs should be intervened with.

Relationship between suicide risk, and violence tendency and eating attitude in working and non-working adolescents: a comparative study.

Although adolescent suicide rates increase significantly, the suicide risk and associated factors in working adolescents is generally neglected. In the present study, it was aimed to determine suicide risk and related factors such as violence tendency and eating attitude in working and non-working adolescents. This case-control study was conducted with 325 adolescents (161 working adolescents, 164 non-working adolescents) between November 2018 and January 2019, in Turkey. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form, Suicide Probability Scale, Violence Tendency Scale and Eating Attitude Test. In the study, the suicide risk was significantly higher in working adolescents (80.79 ± 29.99) than in non-working adolescents (71.90 ± 26.46). Also, working adolescents were determined to be at more risk in terms of violence tendency, eating disorder and substance use than were non-working adolescents. According to linear regression analysis, sex, mother's attitude, presence of a physical or mental illness, alcohol use, violence tendency and eating attitude were statistically significant predictive factors of suicide risk in working adolescents. Researchers, healthcare professionals, educators and policymakers have important responsibilities to improve the mental health of working adolescents.

The relationship between personality traits, menopausal symptoms, and marital adjustment.

This study was aimed at determining the relationship between personality traits, menopausal symptoms and marital adjustment in postmenopausal women. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 599 postmenopausal women who presented to the family health centers between September 2018 and February 2019. Data were collected with the Personal Information Form, Marital Adjustment Test, Cervantes Personality Scale and Menopause Rating Scale. The mean marital adjustment score of the postmenopausal women was 44.03 ± 10.75. The correlation analysis revealed significant negative correlations between marital adjustment, and personality traits and menopausal symptoms. Education level, economic status, duration of menopause, neurotic and inconsistent personality traits, somatic, psychological and urogenital symptoms were determined to be statistically significant predictive factors of marital adjustment in postmenopausal women.

Suicide probability in psychiatric patients' primary caregivers: The role of care burden, alexithymia and some risk factors.

BACKGROUND: Although suicidal ideation seems to be related with both burden of care and alexithymia, there is no study investigating the correlation between these factors and suicide probability in informal caregivers of psychiatric patients in the literature. AIM: In this study, it was aimed to determine the suicide probability in psychiatric patients' primary caregivers, and to evaluate the effects of care burden, alexithymia and some risk factors on suicide probability. METHODS: This study was conducted with 262 caregivers between February 2019 and December 2019. Data were collected with the Personal Information Form, Suicide Probability Scale, Zarit Burden Interview, Toronto Alexithymia Scale. RESULTS: The mean score the caregivers obtained from the Suicide Probability Scale was 79.75 ± 59.29, and 17.9% of them were at risk for suicide. Also, caregivers' suicide probability was related to variables such as caregivers' sex, economic status, presence of any disease, duration of care, and patients' education level, psychiatric diagnosis, duration of illness, presence of physical illness, compliance with treatment. In addition, caregivers' burden and alexithymia levels were significantly associated with the participating caregivers' suicide probability. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that approximately one out of every five caregivers was at risk for suicide. Therefore, hospital and community-based intervention strategies to support caregivers should be developed.

Comparison of students' use and acceptance of emergency online learning due to COVID-19 in the USA, Mexico, Peru, and Turkey.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and pursuant to the governments' order of citizens remaining at home, several countries were required to transition from face-to-face instruction to an online model to provide higher education to their students. While factors affecting the use of online learning are diverse and have been studied by models of use and acceptance of technology, this cross-sectional study explores the factors unique to the current emergency situation that influence students' use and acceptance of emergency online learning. Moreover, it proposes a model to predict a student's cognitive engagement in Mexico, Peru, Turkey, and the USA. This is a quantitative study with an exploratory and descriptive scope and cross-sectional design. Data was collected from 1009 students from the four countries, who completed surveys anonymously. The factors analyzed were attitude, affect, and motivation, perceived behavioral control (ease of use, self-efficacy, and accessibility), and cognitive engagement. The data was analyzed using descriptive, correlation, and regression analysis. The predictive model shows that students' attitude toward online learning impacts their cognitive engagement in Mexico, Peru, and the USA. Furthermore, self-efficacy is a significant moderator for cognitive engagement in all four countries. The model also shows that each country has different determinants for cognitive engagement. Understanding the factors that affect the use of emergency online learning is essential for the success and/or achievement of its maximum benefits in situations like a global pandemic. Limitations of this study have been identified as use of convenience sampling, and an inability to explore factors related to instruction and system attributes. Professors who did not teach online learning lacked knowledge about online educational strategies and used the technological resources that were immediately available to them. Therefore, research that explores the use of instructional strategies and the use of technological systems during emergency online learning is necessary. This study includes suggestions to incorporate open educational resources that use microlearning and emphasizes the importance of student self-efficacy; because it was predictor of cognitive engagement in all four countries. Faculty and higher education institutions can and should develop strategies to increase students' sense of self-efficacy.

Complementary health approaches use in Turkish patients with mental disorders: Related factors and perceived benefits.

PURPOSE: The present study was performed to determine the prevalence, characteristics, perceived benefits, and predictors of complementary health approaches use (CHA) in Turkish patients with mental disorders. DESIGN AND METHODS: The present study was performed with 413 patients with mental disorders. FINDINGS: In the present study, 62.2% of the patients had used CHA in the last 12 months. The most common types of CHA used were religious/spiritual activities and herbs. According to the multivariate logistic regression model, sex, education level, marital status, employment status, medical diagnoses, and duration of diagnoses were significantly associated with increased CHA use. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The CHA use by patients should be investigated, and education and counseling should be provided by health professionals to improve patient safety and patient outcomes.

Association between Turkish clinical nurses' perceptions of individualized care and empathic tendencies.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the association between nurses' perceptions of individualized care and empathic tendencies. DESIGN AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 269 nurses working in Yozgat City Hospital between June 2018 and December 2018. Data were collected with the Personal Information Form, Individualized Care Scale-A-Nurse Version, Empathic Tendencies Scale. For the analysis, descriptive statistics, t test, analysis of variance, Pearson's correlation, multivariate linear regression analysis were used. FINDINGS: Marital status, education level, length of service, clinic worked in, number of patients, and empathic tendency level was determined to be statistically significant predictive factors for nurses' perceptions of individualized care (P < .05). PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Nurse managers can organize in-service training programs to improve clinical nurses' perceptions of individualized care, empathic tendencies, and skills.

Breast Cancer Screening Behaviors in Women Aged 40 Years and Over in a Semi-Urban Region in Turkey: Relationships with Health Beliefs.

In this study, we aimed to determine the breast cancer screening behavior of women and to investigate the relationship between health beliefs and screening behaviors. The study was cross-sectional. It was conducted between April 2017 and June 2017 with 416 women aged ≥40. The Sociodemographic Information Form and the Champion's Health Belief Model Scale were used to collect data. In the statistical analysis, the number, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Pearson chi-square test, and multivariate binary logistic regression analysis were used. The rates for participating women performing breast self-examination, having clinical breast examination, and undergoing mammography were 11.8%, 8.9%, and 11.3%, respectively. Perceived susceptibility, seriousness, self-efficacy, benefits, health motivation, and perceived barriers were found to have strong associations with screening behaviors (p < 0.05). In this study, we found that few women performed breast self-examination, had clinical breast examination and mammography. In the present study, women perceived barriers related to both performing breast self-examination and undergoing mammography.

Association Between Spiritual Well-Being and Resilience Among Turkish Hemodialysis Patients.

This study aimed to determine the association between spiritual well-being and resilience among Turkish hemodialysis patients. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 134 hemodialysis patients treated at two state hospitals' hemodialysis units between February 2019 and July 2019. The data were collected with a Personal Information Form, the Spiritual Well-Being Scale and the Resilience Scale for Adults with the face-to-face interview technique. To analyze the data, descriptive statistics, t tests, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation and multivariate linear regression analysis were used. The patients' spiritual well-being levels were high, while their psychological resilience levels were medium. There was a moderate positive correlation between spiritual well-being and resilience (p < 0.01). Education level, economic level, duration of disease and spiritual well-being were determined to be statistically significant predictive factors of the patients' resilience (p < 0.001). In this context, nurses may provide psychosocial and spiritual care, education and counseling services that will increase patient's resilience.

The use of traditional and complementary medicine among diabetes patients, and the awareness and attitudes of physicians.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency and reasons for use of traditional and complimentary medicines in diabetic patients, and the attitudes and behaviours of physicians towards the issue. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2015 to April 2016 at Van Yuzuncu Yil University, Van, Turkey, and comprised people aged 18 or more with an existing diagnosis of diabetes. A semi-structured questionnaire was used as the data-collection tool.. RESULTS: There were 386 respondents, and 179(46.4%) of them said they had used at least one type of traditional and complimentary medicine related to their diabetic condition. A significant relationship was noted between such usage and age, educational level, type of diabetes, monthly income, duration of diabetes, diabetic complications, gylcated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels <10 and ?10, and prescribed treatment. Besides, 135(75.41%) participants said they had not discussed their use of traditional and complimentary medicines with their physicians. CONCLUSIONS: When evaluating diabetic patients, physicians should ask their patients about their use of traditional and complimentary medicines, and should provide them with detailed information on the subject.