Beneficios psicológicos de la práctica de la esgrima en edades tempranas, en la provincia de Artemisa

El deporte es un fenómeno social de gran interés público que tiene un importante papel en el bienestar físico-mental, en el crecimiento y en el desarrollo integral de las personas. El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo analizar los beneficios psicológicos de la práctica de la esgrima en edades tempranas, en la provincia de Artemisa. Se utilizaron métodos de investigación teóricos como el histórico-lógico, analítico-sintético e inducción-deducción y empíricos como la entrevista que permitió conocer la opinión especializada en la práctica de la esgrima en Artemisa; el análisis de documentos para explorar el contenido de los documentos normativos que rigen la esgrima y la medición aplicada en los test de concentración de la atención de Tolouse-Pierón y el test de rapidez de pensamiento de Torrance para medir particularidades individuales del pensamiento. Se efectuó, además, una consulta a especialistas para resaltar la importancia y beneficios psicológicos de la esgrima. La muestra estuvo representada por diez niños de nueve años, de la Escuela Primaria "Gabino Labrador" ubicada en el municipio San Cristóbal, se seleccionaron de manera intencional cinco niños que llevaban dos años en la práctica de la esgrima y cinco que no. Los resultados demostraron que los niños practicantes tuvieron un mayor desarrollo de las variables analizadas, ello confirmó los beneficios psicológicos que propicia la práctica de este deporte en edades tempranas.

O esporte é um fenômeno social de grande interesse público que desempenha um papel importante no bem-estar físico-mental, no crescimento e no desenvolvimento integral das pessoas. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar os benefícios psicológicos da esgrima em uma idade precoce na província de Artemisa. Foram utilizados métodos teóricos de pesquisa, como os métodos histórico-lógico, analítico-sintético e de indução-dedução, bem como métodos empíricos, como a entrevista, que nos permitiu conhecer a opinião especializada sobre a prática da esgrima em Artemisa; a análise de documentos para explorar o conteúdo dos documentos normativos que regem a esgrima e a medição aplicada no teste de concentração de atenção de Tolouse-Pieron e no teste de velocidade de pensamento de Torrance para medir as particularidades individuais do pensamento. Além disso, foram consultados especialistas para destacar a importância e os benefícios psicológicos da esgrima. A amostra consistiu em dez crianças de nove anos de idade da Escola Primária "Gabino Labrador", no município de San Cristóbal, cinco crianças que praticavam esgrima há dois anos e cinco que não praticavam. Os resultados mostraram que as crianças que praticaram esgrima tiveram um maior desenvolvimento das variáveis analisadas, o que confirmou os benefícios psicológicos da prática desse esporte em idade precoce.

Sport is a social phenomenon of great public interest that has an important role in the physical-mental well-being, growth and comprehensive development of people. The present study had as objective to analyze the psychological benefits of practicing fencing at an early age, in the province of Artemisa. Theoretical research methods such as historical-logical, analytical-synthetic and induction-deduction were used, as well as the empirical ones as the interview that allowed to know the specialized opinion on the practice of fencing in Artemisa; the analysis of documents to explore the content of the normative documents that govern fencing and the measurement applied in the Tolouse-Pieron attention concentration test and the Torrance quick thinking test to measure individual particularities of thinking. A consultation with specialists was also carried out to highlight the importance and psychological benefits of fencing. The sample was represented by ten nine-year-old children from the "Gabino Labrador" Primary School located in the San Cristóbal municipality. Five children who had been practicing fencing for two years and five who had not were intentionally selected. The results showed that the practitioners had a greater development of the variables analyzed, this confirmed the psychological benefits that practicing this sport at an early age provides.

Presenteeism: The Invisible Leviathan of Organizational Psychology.

The burgeoning field of organizational psychological medicine identifies presenteeism, the practice of attending work while medically or psychologically unwell, as a complex factor influencing workplace health and overall organizational performance. This article examines presenteeism's many facets, focusing on how it affects the Indian labor force and how it increased during the COVID-19 epidemic, particularly in the field of healthcare. Utilizing data from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation and global surveys, the paper elucidates that an alarming percentage of the workforce abstains from utilizing entitled vacations, often leading to presenteeism. The article also probes the paradoxical aspect of presenteeism through the lens of "workaholism," arguing that while presenteeism may offer short-term psychological benefits such as boosting self-esteem or serving as a distraction from personal ailments, it is detrimental in the long term, impacting both individual health and organizational productivity. Recent surveys from the United Kingdom cited within the article indicate that presenteeism has tripled over the last decade, exacerbating health outcomes and compromising economic viability. Contributing factors are delineated, distinguishing between organizational imperatives such as financial penalties for absenteeism and individual motivations like job insecurity. The article ends by putting forward a multifaceted plan to mitigate the adverse consequences of presenteeism. The implementation of compassionate leadership, the adoption of flexible work practices, and the introduction of comprehensive employee well-being initiatives are among the key suggestions. Supervisors should also be trained in the identification and management of presenteeism. The article concludes by emphasizing the critical importance of strategic investment in human resources as a sustainable solution for curbing the detrimental impact of presenteeism on organizations.

The Psychological Benefits of Breastfeeding: Fostering Maternal Well-Being and Child Development.

The value of breastfeeding surpasses its utilitarian role in nourishing, encompassing profound psychological advantages for mothers and children. The orchestration of emotional bonds relies on the interplay of oxytocin and prolactin, fundamental hormones that underpin maternal attachment, mitigate postpartum depression, and cultivate self-confidence. Simultaneously, breastfeeding promotes infant development by fostering robust brain growth, bolstering immune defenses, and nurturing cognitive and emotional maturation - all of which are nurtured through maternal interactions. We must respond to the call for heightened advocacy of breastfeeding. This entails delivering education, easily accessible support, and creating an environment where breastfeeding is normalized. By dispelling misconceptions and eradicating stigmatization associated with breastfeeding, we can amplify awareness and empower mothers to make well-informed decisions for their newborns. These implications reverberate extensively. Enhanced maternal mental well-being and self-assurance form the bedrock of healthier family dynamics. At the same time, the dividends of cognitive, emotional, and immunological enrichment in children represent a more promising future. At a societal level, the embrace and promotion of breastfeeding cultivate an environment that places immense value on the health and happiness of both mothers and children. This journey is more profound than mere sustenance; it signifies a complex web of advantages. Elevating awareness and support for breastfeeding solidifies the global commitment to comprehensive maternal and child welfare and the flourishing of meaningful relationships.

Multisensory Stimuli, Restorative Effect, and Satisfaction of Visits to Forest Recreation Destinations: A Case Study of the Jhihben National Forest Recreation Area in Taiwan.

The perceived quality of the restorative environment of forest resources should be a key consideration for forest recreational areas in managing ecosystem services to provide health benefits to visitors. However, previous studies on utilizing forests as a resource for restorative services have rarely explored the simultaneous integration of on-site sensory experiences from a multisensory perspective or evaluated visitor satisfaction from a service-oriented standpoint. Therefore, this study aimed to understand the association among multisensory stimuli, perceived restorativeness, and satisfaction with visits to forest recreation areas and clarify the mediating role of perceived restorativeness in the relationship between multisensory stimuli and satisfaction. This study deployed a questionnaire and collected 458 valid responses from visitors to the Jhihben National Forest Recreation Area in Taiwan. Structural equation modeling was conducted to test the study hypotheses. The results indicated that visual sensations, auditory sensations, olfactory sensations, and tactile sensations had significant positive effects on perceived restorativeness and satisfaction and that perceived restorativeness also had a significant positive effect on satisfaction. Perceived restorativeness played a partial mediating role in this causal model. This study verified the psychological model of the relationships among a natural setting's multisensory stimuli, perceived restorativeness, and satisfaction. In practice, the findings of this study offer guidance for forest recreation areas to develop strategies for ecological services, encompassing the establishment of restorative environmental management and visitor service management approaches.

Policy choices and compliance behavior in pandemic times.

In this paper, we model an evolutionary noncooperative game between politicians and citizens that, given the level of infection, describes the observed variety of mitigation policies and citizens' compliance during the COVID-19 pandemic period. Our results show that different stable equilibria exist and that different ways/paths exist to reach these equilibria may be present, depending on the choice of parameters. When the parameters are chosen opportunistically, in the short run, our model generates transitions between hard and soft policy measures to deal with the pandemic. In the long-run, convergence is achieved toward one of the possible stable steady states (obey or not obey lockdown rules) as functions of politicians' and citizens' incentives.

Effect of green marketing mix, green customer value, and attitude on green purchase intention: evidence from the USA.

The undertaken research examines the impact of green attitude, green customer value (e.g., environmental image and perceived value), and green marketing mix (e.g., product, packaging, price, promotion, and place) on green purchasing intention. The research has integrated fundamental theoretical approaches of customers' purchasing such as attitude-behavior context (ABC) theory, signaling theory, and theory of planned behavior (TPB) in the modified conceptual framework. Additionally, this research has also incorporated the green psychological benefits (e.g., nature experience, self-expressive, and warm glow) as mediating construct. The modified conceptual framework also unified green marketing (e.g., environmental advertising and green word of mouth) as moderator to investigate further the connotation between attitude, green customer value, green marketing mix, and green purchase intention. The survey method is used to collect data with a sample size of 896 customers that are well-versed with eco-friendly green products and services from the different urban centers of the USA. The data is analyzed through a structural equation modeling (SEM)-based multivariate approach by using SPSS 26, AMOS 26, and conditional process modeling software. The findings have demonstrated a positive and significant impact of green customer value, green marketing mix, and attitude on the green purchase intention of US customers. The study has further concluded that the green psychological benefits (mediator) and green advertising (moderator) have a significant influence on a relationship between attitude, green customer value (environmental image and perceived value), green marketing mix, and green purchasing intention. The results of this research can be helpful for researchers and academicians to get insight into theoretical approaches to green purchasing, and it can also be helpful for marketers to devise green marketing strategies to gain optimal competitive advantage in the long run.

Experiences of Participants with Spinal Cord Injury at an Active Rehabilitation Camp.

This study explored the physical, social, and psychological benefits of an active rehabilitation (AR) camp as experienced by participants with spinal cord injury (SCI), and perceived fitness and mastery of being physically active six months after the camp. The study used a mixed-method design with pre- (n = 23), post- (n = 23), and follow-up questionnaires (n = 18) and individual interviews (n = 8). Fuzzy qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) was used to analyze the quantitative data and qualitative content analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data. Results showed that benefits were mainly experienced in the social and psychological domains. As for the physical domain, younger and more recently injured persons with tetraplegia reported more benefits. Six months after the camp, being in the preparation stage of change and being somewhat physically active were necessary and sufficient conditions for experiencing mastery of physical activity regardless of injury type, but only persons with paraplegia experienced fitness benefits. Qualitative data shed further light on the perceived benefits of the camp. The knowledge gained from this study might help practitioners to tailor interventions to individual needs and researchers to ask questions that take into consideration the complexity of active rehabilitation and changes in physical activity behavior for people with SCI.

The Impact of Engagement with the PARO Therapeutic Robot on the Psychological Benefits of Older Adults with Dementia.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the effect of 8-weeks of a 60-minute PARO intervention to reduce depressive symptoms and loneliness in older adults with dementia and investigated changes in their emotional or behavioral expressions and level of engagement with the PARO robot. METHODS: This was a quasi-experimental study with a repeated measures design. The outcome measures were evaluated at four time-points: before the intervention, week 4, immediately after the intervention, and one month after the PARO intervention. RESULTS: Fifty-two participants were recruited. The age of the participants ranged from 65 to 96 years, with a mean age of 81.81 years (SD = 8.54) in the PARO group and 79.08 years (SD = 7.71) in the control group. Using a mixed between-within subjects' analysis of variance, the results showed that there were significant interaction effects between the groups and time-periods for depression (p < .000), loneliness (p < .000), and engagement (p < .000). CONCLUSIONS: The PARO intervention alleviated depression and loneliness for older adults. Furthermore, the process of engagement with PARO may play an important role in the PARO effects. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: A tailored PARO intervention of at least 4 weeks could engender positive psychological benefits for older adults.

Psychological Benefits of Purchasing Home Meal Replacement in the Context of Eco-Friendly TV Home Shopping Broadcast: The Moderating Role of Personal Norm.

This study observed the relationship between psychological benefits and the theory of planned behavior (TPB) in the context of an eco-friendly TV home shopping broadcasts. The theoretical framework was enhanced even further by examining the moderating role of personal norm on proenvironmental attitudes in the TV home shopping context. An online survey was conducted with Korean customers who had purchased home meal replacement (HMR) products from a TV home shopping broadcast within the past 6 months. A total of 305 samples were collected and used for the data analysis. All six of the hypotheses in the psychological benefits and TPB model were supported, meaning all constructs of psychological benefits, including warm glow, self-expressive benefits, and nature experiences, impacted TPB and behavioral intentions. Furthermore, personal norm had a moderating role in the relationship between warm glow and attitude. This research provides significant theoretical and managerial implications for the home shopping industry.

Psychological benefits of believing conspiracy theories.

Many people believe conspiracy theories, even though such beliefs are harmful to themselves and their social environment. What is the appeal of conspiracy theories? In this contribution, I propose that conspiracy theories have psychological benefits by imbuing perceiver's worldview with meaning and purpose in a rewarding manner. Conspiracy theories enable an alternative reality in which perceivers (a) can defend a fragile ego by perceiving themselves and their groups as important, (b) can rationalize any of their beliefs and actions as legitimate, and (c) are entertained through the opportunity to uncover a mystery in an exciting tale. These are short-term benefits, however, suggesting that conspiracy theories provide people with a form of instant gratification.

Psychological antecedents and psychological benefits of physical exercise for the elderly under the elderly law

The study investigates the psychological antecedents and advantages of physical exercise for the old under the law governing the aged. This paper studies the effects of physical exercise on psychological emotion and psychological benefits by employing a questionnaire and referring to the law of older people. The study discovered that the psychological advantages of physical exercise for the elderly depend on the amount of exercise performed each week and the time spent exercising. Individuals who exercise more than five times per week and for at least 30 minutes are more mentally healthy. Physical exercise can not only improve mood, enhance self-concept and coordinate interpersonal relations, but also eliminate fatigue, reduce stress response, reduce or eliminate mental diseases to indeed promote the fitness and mental health of the elderly.(AU)

Nostalgia, reflection, brooding: Psychological benefits and autobiographical memory functions.

We sought to clarify the psychological profile of experimentally induced nostalgia, compared to two other modes of thinking about one's past-reflection and brooding-also experimentally induced. We tested both British and Chinese participants. Our main hypothesis was that nostalgia's profile is more positive in terms of six psychological benefits and seven autobiographical memory functions. The results were consistent with the hypothesis. In regard to psychological benefits, nostalgia (vs. reflection and brooding) increased positive affect, self-esteem, self-continuity, social connectedness, and meaning in life. Furthermore, nostalgia increased optimism relative to brooding (but not reflection). In regard to autobiographical memory functions, nostalgia (vs. reflection and brooding) led to higher boredom reduction, conversation, intimacy maintenance, and death preparation, as well as lower bitterness revival. Nostalgia also elevated teach/inform relative to brooding (but not reflection). The findings were similar for British and Chinese participants.

Examining the Importance of Green Food in the Restaurant Industry: Focusing on Behavioral Intentions to Eat Insects.

This study analyzed the psychological benefits of environmentally friendly edible insect restaurants, by proposing that three subdimensions of psychological benefits positively affect attitude. Attitude was hypothesized to play an important role in the formation of desire and two subdimensions of behavioral intentions: intentions to use and willingness to pay more. A research model was verified using responses from 419 respondents collected in Korea. Data analysis indicated that (1) warm glow, (2) self-expressive benefits, and (3) nature experiences form attitude and that attitude helps to increase desire, which in turn positively enhances behavioral intentions. The data analysis results supported the importance of the psychological benefits of environmentally friendly edible insect restaurants.

A Guide to Nature Immersion: Psychological and Physiological Benefits.

Nature exposure has been renowned for its positive physiological and psychological benefits. Recent years have seen a rise in nature immersion programs that make use of Guided Forest Therapy walks in a standard sequence of sensory awareness activities to expose participants to natural environments in a safe but effective manner. The study aimed to compare the efficacy of guided versus unguided nature immersion, upon three dependent variables of mood, nature connectedness and heartrate. 51 participants were assigned to either guided or unguided nature immersion. Nature connectedness (Connectedness to Nature Scale, CNS), Environmental Identity Scale, EID short form) and mood (Positive and Negative Affect Scale, PANAS) were assessed before and after nature immersion, while heart rate was tracked continuously by a wristwatch heart rate tracker throughout the 2-h experience. Demographics and general health practice (GHP) information were also collected. A mixed model ANOVA revealed that nature connectedness and mood (but not heart rate) improved post-immersion for all participants. Comparing the guided/unguided conditions, there were no significant differences in the change in nature connectedness, mood or heart rate. Comparing within the five segments within the standard sequence in the guided condition, the third and fifth segments revealed a significantly lower heart rate compared to the baseline heart rate.

Procrastination at the Core of Physical Activity (PA) and Perceived Quality of Life: A New Approach for Counteracting Lower Levels of PA Practice.

Faced with the demonstrated need to engage in physical activity (PA), lack of time is the argument commonly used to justify low or non-existent levels of PA. Underlying this argument, the accomplishment of procrastination behaviour seems to be related to the less time dedicated to practicing PA and the low perception of the quality of life. With this in mind, the purpose of this study is to show that dedicating different amounts of time to PA affects the perceived quality of life and the widespread problem of procrastination. We hypothesise that greater time investment in PA is related to greater perceived quality of life and less procrastination. In all, 621 practitioners of PA (347 men, 274 women) between 18 and 83 years old (M = 35.43, SD = 14.45) filled out validated versions of the World Health Organization quality of life assessment (WHOQOL-BREF) and the Pure Procrastination Scale. Results showed that people who do enough PA have a more positive perception of the quality of life in the domains of physical and psychological health; this perception, in turn, is related to lower levels of procrastination. Likewise, socio-demographic characteristics such as gender and the main activity presented significant associations with various quality of life domains and procrastination. In sum, the benefits of improvements in quality of life and reductions in procrastination identified in this study are sensitive to the time spent on PA, which suggests that a strategy to promote the practice of PA would improve time management and, thus, counteract procrastination.

Benefícios psicológicos do slackline: relação entre estado de fluxo, tempo de prática e qualidade de vida / Psychological benefits of slackline: relationship between flow state, time of practice and quality of life / Beneficios psicológicos del slackline: relación entre estado de flujo, tiempo de práctica y calidad de vida

Esse estudo teve o objetivo de avaliar e mensurar o nível de estado de fluxo de praticantes de slackline e relacioná-lo com a qualidade de vida dos indivíduos. Foram avaliados 30 sujeitos com idade média de 22 (±3) anos. Os instrumentos utilizados: Ficha de identificação; Flow State Scale-2 (FSS-2), Dispositional Flow Scale-2 (DFS-20) e World Health Organization Quality of Life-Bref (WHOQoL-BREF). Para verificar a correlação entre os instrumentos utilizou-se o coeficiente de Spearman, no qual foi possível observar elevados níveis de estado de fluxo e qualidade de vida geral. Foi encontrada correlação significativa entre o fator psicológico da qualidade de vida com a disposição para atingir o fluxo juntamente com o tempo de prática e duração da sessão de treino. Concluímos que a prática do slackline possibilita o desenvolvimento de aspectos psicológicos, como o estado de fluxo e com isso possibilita a melhora na qualidade de vida de seus praticantes.

This study aimed to assess the level of Flow State of slackline practitioners and to relate it to the their quality of life. We evaluated 30 subjects with mean age of 22 (± 3) years. The instruments used: Identification sheet; Flow State Scale-2 (FSS-2), Dispositional Flow Scale-2 (DFS-20) and World Health Organization Quality of Life-Bref (WHOQoL-BREF). To verify the correlation between the instruments the Spearman coefficient was used, in which it was possible to observe high levels of Flow State and general quality of life. A significant correlation was found between the psychological quality of life factor and the disposition to reach the Flow along with the practice time and duration of the training session. We conclude that the practice of slackline allows the development of psychological aspects, such as the Flow State and with that allows the improvement in the quality of life of its practitioners.

Este estudio tuvo el objetivo de evaluar el nivel de Estado de Flujo de practicantes de slackline y relacionarlo con la calidad de vida de los individuos. Se evaluaron 30 sujetos con edad media de 22 (± 3) años. Los instrumentos utilizados: Ficha de identificación; Flow State Scale-2 (FSS-2), Dispositional Flow Scale-2 (DFS-20) e World Health Organization Quality of Life-Bref (WHOQoL-BREF). Para verificar la correlación entre los instrumentos se utilizó el coeficiente de Spearman, en el cual fue posible observar elevados niveles de Estado de Flujo y calidad de vida general. Se encontró correlación significativa entre el factor psicológico de la calidad de vida con la disposición para alcanzar el Flujo junto con el tiempo de práctica. Concluimos que la práctica del slackline posibilita el desarrollo de aspectos psicológicos, como el Estado de Flujo y con ello posibilita la mejora en la calidad de vida de sus practicantes.

Does Age Matter? A Qualitative Comparison of Motives and Aspects of Risk in Adolescent and Adult Freeriders.

Recent research has shown multiple motives for high-risk sport participation derived from research on adult participants. The aim of this study was to provide insights into motives and risk-related aspects in adolescent high-risk sport participants and to compare those findings with adults performing the same activity. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 adolescent (14-20 years) freeriders (skiers/snowboarders who ski outside the protected areas of a ski resort) and 24 adult freeriders (26-41 years). A content analyses was done using MAXQDA software. Both cohorts reported the motives Challenge (adolescents: 92%, adults: 88%), Freedom/Pleasure (adolescents: 88%, adults: 75%), Friends (adolescents: 88%, adults: 79%) and Balance (adolescents: 63%, adults: 63%). However, the description of friends differed between adults and adolescents. Whereas adolescents mostly referred to a community and shared interests, adults described the importance of trust and the development of deep friendships through the activity more often. Nature was a major motive in adults (83%) but not in adolescents (29%). Most of the adults have already experienced a major accident or close call (n = 19; 79%), contrary to adolescents (n = 7; 29%). Adolescents learned about the risks in freeriding primarily through their families (n = 10) and the ski club (n = 9). Some adults reported to have realized the risks involved in freeriding after starting with the activity due to experienced negative outcomes. Both cohorts were largely motivated by the same motives. As the new generation of freeriders seems to receive more instructions about risk reduction, it might be interesting to see if this educational approach results into less accidents or close calls in this group.

Actividad física recreativa en niños y adolescentes: situación actual, indicaciones y beneficios / Recreational physical activity in children and adolescents: current situation, indications and benefits

Actividad física se considera a cualquier movimiento corporal producido por los músculos esqueléticos, con el consiguiente consumo de energía. Los niños que hacen actividad física logran beneficios en diversos aspectos: condición física, psicológica, social, desarrollo de hábitos saludables, mejora en la calidad de vida adulta. Esta actividad física debe ser voluntaria, desarrollada en los tiempos libres, y generar placer y alegría, lo que contribuirá a la salud física y psicológica. Favorece la creatividad y las relaciones sociales y de comunicación. Promueve la educación en hábitos saludables para la vida adulta. Según la Organización Mundial de la Salud la actividad física es un pilar para combatir el flagelo de la obesidad y el sobrepeso, y una herramienta para disminuir el sedentarismo mundial de aquí al 2030. (AU)

Physical activity is considered as any body movement produced by skeletal muscles, which consumes energy. Children who do physical activity achieve benefits in various aspects: physical, psychological, social condition, develop of healthy habits, improvement of quality in adult life. Physical activity must be voluntary, developed in leisure time, and shall generate pleasure and joy. This way physical activity contributes with physical and psychological health. It also promotes creativity as much as sociable and communicational relationships. At the same time, physical activity encourages, promotes the education in healthy habits for adult life. According to the World Health Organization, physical activity is a pillar to combat the scourge of obesity and the overweight. It is a tool to reduce world sedentary lifestyle by 2030. (AU)

The Influence of Companion Animals on Quality of Life of Gay and Bisexual Men Diagnosed with Prostate Cancer.

There has been almost no research on associations of companion animals with quality of life in sexual minorities. Because gay and bisexual men have less social support than their heterosexual peers, some have argued that pet companionship could provide emotional support, while others have argued the opposite, that having a pet is another stressor. This analysis examines the association between having dogs, cats, both animals, or no animals and quality of life using the 12-item Short Form (SF-12) mental and physical composite quality of life scores for gay and bisexual prostate cancer survivors, post-treatment. Participants were 189 gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men, who completed online surveys in 2015. Linear regression analysis found that participants with cats and participants with dogs had lower mental quality of life scores than participants without pets. After adjustment for covariates, mental health scores remained significantly lower for cat owners, dog owners, and owners of both animals compared to those of participants who did not have pets. No differences were seen for physical quality of life scores after adjustment. We conclude that pet companionship may be a net stressor for gay and bisexual men following prostate cancer treatment. As this is the first study of pet companionship in sexual minorities, further research is needed to confirm the reliability of these findings, generalizability, and temporality of the association.

Acute Effects of Resistance-Exercise Intensity in Depressed Black/African Americans Living With HIV: A Randomized Pilot Study.

Depressive symptoms and fatigue are prevalent among people living with human immunodeficiency virus. Resistance exercise is known to stimulate a positive affective response. OBJECTIVE: To examine the acute psychological effects of resistance-exercise intensity among Black/African-American people living with human immunodeficiency virus and experiencing depressive symptoms. METHODS: A total of 42 participants were randomized into a moderate- (n = 21) or high-intensity (n = 21) group. Assessments were collected before exercise (PRE), at the midpoint (MID), immediately following (POST) exercise, and 15 (DELAY 15) and 30 (DELAY 30) min after. RESULTS: In the moderate-intensity group, affect improved PRE to POST, PRE to DELAY 15 and DELAY 30, and perceived distress decreased from PRE to all time points. In the high-intensity group, affect declined PRE to MID, and perceived distress decreased PRE to DELAY 15 and DELAY 30. Perceived activation increased PRE to MID, and POST in both groups (ps < .01). CONCLUSIONS: The moderate-intensity group compared with the high-intensity group is more effective at improving affect and energy and at reducing distress.