Positive Orientation and Fatigue Experienced by Polish Nursing Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Mediatory Role of Emotional Control.

This study aimed to investigate the mediatory role of emotional control with respect to the control of anger, depression, and anxiety in the relationship between positive orientation and tiredness/fatigue occurring in a group of Polish nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study included 894 nursing students from six universities in Poland. A diagnostic survey was applied as the research method, and the data were collected using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), the Courtauld Emotional Control Scale (CECS) and the Positive Orientation Scale (SOP). The mean participant age was 20.73 years (SD = 1.81). More than half of the students in the study showed a low level of positive orientation. Correlational analyses revealed a significant negative correlation between positive orientation and tiredness/fatigue experienced by the students participating in the study (r = −0.336; p < 0.001), and correlation between positive orientation and the overall emotional control index (r = −0.317; p < 0.001), and the indices of control of anger (r = −0.154; p < 0.01), depression (r = −0.376; p < 0.001), and anxiety (r = −0.236; p < 0.01). Analysis of the results also revealed the occurrence of significant, positive links between the controlled emotions and their components and the tiredness/fatigue experienced by nursing students. It is important to take action associated with the prevention of tiredness/fatigue among students and to reinforce a positive orientation and the capacity to control emotions to effectively minimize the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on nursing students.

Flexibility in Coping with Stress Questionnaire: structure and psychometric properties.

BACKGROUND: Flexibility in coping relies on applying a coping strategy that is appropriate to the circumstances. Individuals who are flexible in coping exhibit sensitivity to subtle signals sent by the environment. Therefore, they are able to adjust their behaviour accordingly and function in a more adaptive manner. PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE: The study included N = 1535 participants. The following methods were used: the Flexibility in Coping with Stress Questionnaire (FCSQ-14) and the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (CFI). RESULTS: The Flexibility in Coping with Stress Questionnaire measures flexibility as a feature of the process of coping with which an individual applies coping strategies. The Flexibility in Coping with Stress Questionnaire is an accurate and reliable method of measuring coping flexibility and three of its subscales: the Repertoire of coping strategies, the Changeability of their use, and Reflexivity. CONCLUSIONS: The Flexibility in Coping with Stress Questionnaire examines three subscales of flexibility, namely, Repertoire of coping strategies, Changeability, and Reflexivity. This measurement is accurate and reliable. The questionnaire is applied to the study of persons exposed to severe or chronic stress at work, when we want to assess the individual's ability to change their functioning in a stressful situation. It can be used to examine healthy and somatically ill people, in the area of research and clinical diagnosis.

Cognitive flexibility and flexibility in coping in nurses - the moderating role of age, seniority and the sense of stress.

OBJECTIVES: The nursing profession entails many stressful situations and challenges, such as heavy workload, shift work, emotional demands and professional conflicts. In the light of the results of the research conducted so far, flexible coping has occurred to be highly adaptive, as its association with adaptive struggle with the disease, fewer depressive symptoms and both greater mental well-being and better health have been proven. In connection with the above, the aim of this study was to determine the nature of the relationship between cognitive flexibility and flexibility in coping in nurses, taking into account the moderating role of age of the respondents, seniority and the sense of stress. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study sample consisted of 280 persons working as nurses (age range: 21-66). The number of women and men reflected their percentage distribution in this profession, as it is highly feminized. The following methods were used in the study: the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (CFI) by Dennis and Vander Wal, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) by Cohen et al., the Flexibility in Coping with Stress Questionnaire (FCSQ-14) by Basinska et al., and a self-developed survey. RESULTS: As the obtained research results show, cognitive flexibility in both the Control and Alternatives subscales was a predictor of flexible coping and their subscales. The analysis revealed that the model of the relationship between cognitive flexibility and flexibility in coping was moderated by age, seniority and the sense of stress. CONCLUSIONS: Coping skills and flexibility are positively correlated with the psychological adjustment of nurses. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2020;33(4):507-21.

The importance of cognitive flexibility and flexibility in coping with stress for the quality of life in inflammatory bowel disease patients during biological therapy. A preliminary report.

INTRODUCTION: There are studies demonstrating the relation between psychological factors and efficiency of treatment in the course of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). AIM: To investigate the relation between cognitive flexibility and flexibility in coping with stress and the quality of life, as well as the sense of satisfaction with life, in patients undergoing the biological treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 33 adults who were diagnosed with Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC). The Flexibility in Coping with Stress Questionnaire (FCSQ-14), the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (CFI), the Quality of Life SF36v2 Questionnaire, the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), and the socio-demographic questionnaire were used to gather the data. RESULTS: A total of 14 females and 19 males were included in this analysis. The results did not prove that the disease diagnosis (UC or CD) differed the level of psychological resources. However, older respondents achieved lower results in cognitive flexibility. A positive correlation was observed between both cognitive flexibility and flexibility in coping with stress and different dimensions of quality of life and satisfaction with life. CONCLUSIONS: There is a relationship between both cognitive flexibility and flexibility in coping with stress and health-related quality of life. These factors can be considered to be a kind of resource that helps to cope with challenges posed by a chronic illness, including IBD. Therefore, it is significant to increase their level by applying tailored therapeutic methods.

Smoking Status and the Five-Factor Model of Personality: Results of a Cross-Sectional Study Conducted in Poland.

Tobacco smoking is the single most important modifiable factor in increased morbidity and premature mortality. Numerous factors-including genetics, personality, and environment-affect the development and persistence of tobacco addiction, and knowledge regarding these factors could improve smoking cessation rates. This study compared personality traits between never, former, and current smokers, using the Five-Factor Model of Personality in a country with a turbulent smoking reduction process.: In this cross-sectional study, 909 Polish adults completed the Revised Neuroticism-Extraversion-Openness Personality Inventory. Our results showed that current smokers' scores for extraversion, one of the five global dimensions of personality, were higher relative to never smokers. Neuroticism, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness did not differ significantly according to smoking status. Facet analysis, which described each dimension in detail, showed that current smokers' activity and excitement seeking (facets of extraversion) scores were higher relative to those of never and former smokers. In turn, current smokers' dutifulness and deliberation (facets of conscientiousness) scores were lower than those found in former and never smokers. Never smokers scored the highest in self-consciousness (a facet of neuroticism) and compliance (a component of agreeableness). The study conducted among Polish individuals showed variation in personality traits according to their smoking status; however, this variation differed from that reported in countries in which efforts to reduce smoking had begun earlier relative to Poland. Knowledge regarding personality traits could be useful in designing smoking prevention and cessation programs tailored to individuals' needs.

Mental states in early and late old age patients and their expectations of their physicians. / Stan psychiczny pacjentów na etapie wczesnej i póznej starosci a ich oczekiwania wobec lekarza.

OBJECTIVES: Understanding and fulfilling expectations of patients attending medical consultations is part and parcel of medical practice. Clinical context in which these expectations arise is crucial in assessing patients' expectations. The objective of this research was to assess patients' expectations of medical doctors depending on patients' mental state. METHODS: Patients attending GP consultations were examined. The research sample consisted of 219 patients, out of which 129 (59%) were female and 90 (41%) were male patients. The mean age of patients was 61 (SD = 9.80). The 28-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) and the Four Dimensional Symptom Questionnaire (4DSQ) were administered to assess patients' mental state and Patient Request Form (PRF) was used to assess patients' expectations of medical doctors. RESULTS: The study revealed that the youngest patients declared the highest anxiety and insomnia levels and that they differed significantly from the oldest patients. The sampled patients did not differ in terms of other mental state dimensions. It was also documented that younger patients had higher expectations of their medical doctors, required greater explanation of their medical condition and expected more emotional support. Both intensity and duration of somatic symptoms were particularly important in shaping those expectations. CONCLUSIONS: The research findings show the need for systematic assessment of mental state of patients attending medical consultations. Mental state and somatic symptoms intensity are essential indicators of patients' expectations of medical doctors.

[Psychological factors affecting medical conditions--a method of measurement]. / Psychologiczne czynniki oddzialujace na stan somatyczny--metoda pomiaru.

Improving the way of diagnosing diseases is reflected in changes which are being introduced into the existing systems of classifications. Researchers aim to create such a system that will be free of assumptions that are controversial and difficult to approve on the medical basis. Currently completed works associated with the preparation and introduced the DSM-5, in which they prepared criteria for the assessment psychological factors affecting medical conditions and their method of measurement. An interview which is presented in this article has been created for the evaluation of those groups of syndromes and has been translated into the Polish language.

Emotional intelligence as an indicator of satisfaction with life of patients with psoriasis.

INTRODUCTION: Research reports confirm the existence of a relation between emotional intelligence and various aspects of human functioning. It protects psychical and physical health of an individual, helps to adapt to new conditions and, consequently, contributes to the increase in life quality expressed in satisfaction with life. Psoriasis, a chronic skin disease, may negatively influence the psychical state of a patient and his or her social functioning, which leads to the decrease in satisfaction with life. AIM: This research aimed at determining the relation between emotional intelligence and satisfaction with life in a group of patients with psoriasis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The research group consisted of 81 people with psoriasis (40 men and 41 women) with the average age of 41.22 (SD = 14.18). The research tools used included the Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire INTE, Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), personal questionnaire and PASI scale. RESULTS: There is a positive correlation between emotional intelligence and satisfaction with life in the group of patients with psoriasis. Especially factor I - using emotions in thinking and operating - positively correlates with satisfaction with life. CONCLUSIONS: Emotional intelligence together with the percentage of body area taken by pathological changes are the indicators of satisfaction with life in patients with psoriasis.

The relation between type D personality and the clinical condition of patients suffering from psoriasis.

INTRODUCTION: TYPE D PERSONALITY IS THE LAST DISTINGUISHED SPECIFIC TYPE OF PERSONALITY THAT IS CHARACTERISED BY TWO DIMENSIONS: a tendency for feeling negative emotions - depression, anxiety, anger or hostility, and a tendency for withdrawal from the society. The latest research shows the significant role played by type D personality in the aetiology and course of a variety of diseases. AIM: The article discusses the problem of the occurrence of type D personality in the group of patients suffering from psoriasis. Diversities in the clinical condition of psoriasis patients due to increasing type D personality traits are specified. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ninety psoriasis patients and 86 healthy subjects participated in the research. In the research questionnaires, the scale for assessing increasing psoriasis complaints and the DS-14 scale to assess type D personality were applied. RESULTS: Research results made it possible to corroborate more frequent occurrence of type D personality among psoriasis patients. Moreover, it was found that with increasing negative affectivity - one of type D personality components - complaints increase as far as the clinical condition of psoriasis patients is concerned. CONCLUSIONS: Monitoring of psychological well-being of psoriasis patients, especially within type D personality, seems to be a vital element, irrespective of purely medical treatment.

[Psychological factors affecting medical conditions--contemporary conception of psychosomatic syndrome]. / Psychologiczne czynniki oddzialujace na stan somatyczny--wspólczesne ujecie zespolu psychosomatycznego.

While analyzing the character of relationship between soma and psyche throughout the centuries one can perceive its alternate changes triggered of many different reasons. XX century was a period in which researchers described psychosomatic dependences unambiguously however different explorers had understood it somewhat differently. These transformations throughout the centuries were the bases to create in XXI century a new system free from controversial and difficult to accept on the ground of medicine foundations. Prepared to introduce together with from DSM-V, the study of Psychological Factors Affecting Medical Conditions seems to be free from mistakes and helpful in treatment of ills.

The strategies of coping with stress in workplace used by surgeons working in different hospitals: a pilotage research.

THE AIM OF THE STUDY: was an evaluating the frequency for adapting different strategies within the group of surgeons to cope up with stress and determining the differentiation on their usage depending on the type of the hospital unit and social-demographic variables. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The samples were 40 surgeons from hospitals. Following research methods were applied: 1. Latack Coping Scale was used to investigate the strategies of coping with stress; 2. Personal questionnaire was used to obtain general social-demographic data about subjects. RESULTS: The Latack scale is a reliable tool for testing work related stress coping strategies within a group of surgeons. Active strategies are more common than avoiding strategies. Surgeons mostly use Direct action and Positive thinking strategy in coping with stress at work. In turn, Alcohol use strategy is rarely use by subjects to solve difficult professional situations. The lack of significant differences in frequency of usage of particular strategies in correlation with the hospital type was observed. There is positive correlation which is statistically significant between analyzed social-demographic variables and usage of Avoidance/Resignation strategy within examined surgeons. The more experienced, older people are, the more likely it is that they will use this strategy in stressful situations. CONCLUSIONS: Surgeons usually use adaptive strategies in coping with stress at work.

Nurses' sense of coherence and their work related patterns of behaviour.

OBJECTIVES: This paper is a report on the relationship between a sense of coherence (and its components) and work related patterns of behaviour in the group of nurses. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Data were collected by two questionnaires (Antonovsky's Orientation Questionnaire and Work Related Patterns of Behaviour and Experience Questionnaire) in the sample of 331 volunteer nurses employed in three Polish general care hospitals. RESULTS: The analysis of r-Pearson's correlation and the linear multiple regression analysis revealed a strong relationship between the sense of coherence and healthy type of behaviour, and a strong negative relationship with a burnout type of behaviour. CONCLUSION: The results obtained in this study provide grounds for the conclusion that the sense of coherence correlates with healthy functioning at work in the group of nurses.

[Mood of individuals with Graves-Basedow's disease and Hashimoto's disease]. / Nastrój osób z choroba Gravesa-Basedowa i choroba Hashimoto.

INTRODUCTION: Mood can be characterized as subjective, relatively long lasting emotional state. The impact of the mood on health can be considered in two aspects: mood as an intermediary factor/cause of disease or as its result. The aim of following paper was to define the mood of individuals with Graves-Basedow's disease Hashimoto's disease in comparison to each other and in comparison to healthy individuals. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 70 individuals with Graves-Basedow's disease (56 women and 14 men) and the same amount of healthy ones. The study group of Hashimoto's disease consisted of 54 individuals (46 women and 8 men) and the same amount of healthy ones. The patients filled out three psychological methods: Profile of Mood States (POMS), University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology Mood Adjective Check List (UMACL), a personal survey and an analysis of the medical documentation. RESULTS: Results indicate difference between individuals with Graves-Basedow's disease and healthy ones taking under consideration mood: anger and tension, dejection, embarrassment and vigor. There is no difference between individuals with Hashimoto's disease and healthy ones considering mood. There are differences between Graves-Basedow's disease and Hashimoto's disease regarding tension - anger. No differences have been claimed concerning criterions of health such as: time of duration of disease, complications, coexisting other diseases. Nevertheless the level of hormones is connected with the mood. CONCLUSIONS: In case of Graves-Basedow's disease has been claimed stronger anger, sadness, embarrassment and less vigor. Individuals with Hashimoto's disease are regarded as similar to the healthy ones, without features of forced depression, irritability or embarrassment. To sum up the mood of individuals among testing group is a result of disease.