What are the benefits of cultivating self-compassion in adults with low back pain? A systematic review.

Introduction: Low back pain is one of the most prevalent public health problems in the world, generating psychosocial impacts on quality of life and a high demand for medical care. Self-compassion may be beneficial for low back pain control, however, studies in the area are scarce. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to investigate the benefits of self-compassion-related interventions on low back pain and mental health in adults. Methods: The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO and the method was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. Searches were conducted using the keywords "self-compassion" and "low back pain" in Portuguese, English, and Spanish in the following databases: PubMed, LILACS, SciELO, PePSIC, PsycInfo, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane. Additional searches were also conducted through the references of the included studies. Results: Thirty-three articles were identified and analyzed by two independent reviewers using Rayyan. Four of these studies were included. RoB 2 was used to assess the risk of bias of each study. The main findings suggest that self-compassion-related interventions demonstrate benefits in the treatment of low back pain, as well as reduction in pain intensity, psychological stress, and improvement of pain acceptance. Discussion: However, these positive data must be analyzed carefully, as only two studies presented a low risk of bias. Despite growing interest in this field, more research self-compassion-related interventions for low back pain are suggested, since biopsychosocial aspects associated with low back pain can impact the outcome of treatment. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier (CRD42022376341).

Association of Emotional Self-Regulation with Psychological Distress and Positive Functioning Dimensions in Brazilian University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Emotional self-regulation is a relevant factor for human development capable of minimizing emotional difficulties in the face of adverse events, as was particularly useful during the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study aimed to evaluate emotional self-regulation in Brazilian health science university students and its relationship with positive psychology constructs (subjective well-being, hope, optimism, spirituality, self-compassion, and self-efficacy) and psychological distress (depression, anxiety, and stress). This was a prospective, cross-sectional, observational, analytic study of 1062 Brazilian undergraduate students with data collected using self-administered online questionnaires. Students in the first years of their undergraduate degree programs had significantly higher dysregulation scores than those in the final years. Multiple linear regression yielded a model that explained 71.8% of the variation in emotion dysregulation. The correlations of emotion dysregulation were significant and strong, scoring negatively with self-compassion, optimism, and subjective well-being and positively with psychological distress.

Development, feasibility testing and perceived benefits of a new app to help with adherence to antiretroviral therapy in people living with HIV in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Despite the availability of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in many countries, people living with HIV still experience difficulties with treatment. We propose a new smartphone mobile application to assist in adherence to ART. This study aimed to describe this new mobile application's development (content construction and usability), feasibility testing (recruitment, retention rates [attendance], satisfaction) and primary perceived benefits. METHODS: Two consecutive studies were conducted. First, people living with HIV, health care workers and experts in information technology provided feedback to improve the content and usability of the app. After changes in the app were implemented according to the feedback, a second study was performed to assess the feasibility and perceived benefits. Effects on self-reported adherence and perceived well-being were also assessed. RESULTS: Scores of participants (N = 11) showed differences in adherence (effect size .43) and well-being (effect size .45) after using the app. However, the differences did not reach statistical significance. Observing scores individually, six out of 11 participants improved their overall adherence scores, and seven out of 11 participants improved their perceived well-being scores. Recruitment was 95%, and attendance at sessions was 62.5%. In general, the participants were satisfied with the intervention and viewed the app as an informative tool. CONCLUSION: The results are promising and allow us to recommend further studies with the app.

Positive attributes in elderly people with different degrees of depression: a study based on network analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Depression in aging may lead to loss of autonomy and worsening of comorbidities. Understanding how positive attributes contribute to healthier and happier aging has been one of the purposes of Positive Psychology. However, the literature still lacks studies that evaluate how depression in the elderly is related to constructs considered positive. OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed comparing scores of constructs of spiritual well-being, social support, self-esteem, life satisfaction, affection, optimism, and hope in the elderly with minimal, mild, moderate, and severe depression and healthy controls in order to investigate possible indirect and mediated relationships between positive constructs and depression. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with elderly, 62 of whom were diagnosed with different severity of Major Depression (DSM-V) (minimum, mild, moderate, and severe according to the Beck Depression Inventory - BDI) and 66 healthy controls matched by age, sex and schooling. The instruments used were adapted and validated versions of the Spirituality Self-Rating Scale, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Medical Outcomes Social Scale of Support, the Life Satisfaction Scale, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, the Revised Life Orientation Test, and the Adult Dispositional Hope Scale. After comparing the means of scores between groups, an analysis of normalized partial association networks was performed to investigate the direct and mediated relationships between depression and other evaluated constructs. RESULTS: Scores of spiritual well-being, social support, self-esteem, life satisfaction, positive affect, optimism, negative affects, and hope differed significantly between the control group and the degrees of depression (p < 0.001). The analysis of normalized partial association networks has shown that the relations of depression with the constructs of life satisfaction, self-esteem, and social support are mediated, while the constructs of dispositional hope, positive affect, spiritual well-being, and optimism are indirectly related to depression. The social class was also positively related to depression. CONCLUSION: Depression in different degrees is associated with a reduction in the scores of instruments that evaluate positive attributes. The constructs directly associated with depression are spiritual well-being, optimism, positive affect, and dispositional hope. The others had mediated relationship. These results may contribute to the planning of future interventions for the prevention of depression among the elderly.

Positive attributes in elderly people with different degrees of depression: a study based on network analysis

Abstract Introduction Depression in aging may lead to loss of autonomy and worsening of comorbidities. Understanding how positive attributes contribute to healthier and happier aging has been one ofthe purposes of Positive Psychology. However, the literature still lacks studies that evaluate how depression in the elderly is related to constructs considered positive. Objective The present study aimed comparing scores of constructs of spiritual well-being, social support, selfesteem, life satisfaction, affection, optimism, and hope in the elderly with minimal, mild, moderate, and severe depression and healthy controls in order to investigate possible indirect and mediated relationships between positive constructs and depression. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with elderly, 62 of whom were diagnosed with different severity of Major Depression (DSM-V) (minimum, mild, moderate, and severe according to the Beck Depression Inventory - BDI) and 66 healthy controls matched by age, sex and schooling. The instruments used were adapted and validated versions of the Spirituality Self-Rating Scale, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Medical Outcomes Social Scale of Support, the Life Satisfaction Scale, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, the Revised Life Orientation Test, and the Adult Dispositional Hope Scale. After comparing the means of scores between groups, an analysis of normalized partial association networks was performed to investigate the direct and mediated relationships between depression and other evaluated constructs. Results Scores of spiritual well-being, social support, self-esteem, life satisfaction, positive affect, optimism, negative affects, and hope differed significantly between the control group and the degrees of depression (p < 0.001). The analysis of normalized partial association networks has shown that the relations of depression with the constructs of life satisfaction, self-esteem, and social support are mediated, while the constructs of dispositional hope, positive affect, spiritual well-being, and optimism are indirectly related to depression. The social class was also positively related to depression. Conclusion Depression in different degrees is associated with a reduction in the scores of instruments that evaluate positive attributes. The constructs directly associated with depression are spiritual well-being, optimism, positive affect, and dispositional hope. The others had mediated relationship. These results may contribute to the planning of future interventions for the prevention of depression among the elderly.

Estudos para construção e propriedades psicométricas da escala contextual de depressão em idosos / Studies for construction and psychometric properties of the contextual scale of depression in elderly

Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo construir uma escala contextual de depressão em idosos baseando-se na importância das intervenções primárias em saúde. Concebeu-se uma versão inicial do instrumento com vinte e sete itens para depressão geriátrica, que foram preenchidos pelo público idoso. A amostra foi constituída por 95 idosos, com idade entre 60 e 83 anos, sendo 22 homens e 73 mulheres. O instrumento construído foi aplicado junto à Escala de Depressão Geriátrica de Yesavage e a Overall Life Satisfaction. Após análises de Curva ROC, quinze itens foram considerados satisfatórios a partir da correlação com o construto de depressão geriátrica e validade discriminante, aferida entre a população com e sem sintomas depressivos. Esses itens passaram pela análise fatorial exploratória, encontrando-se uma solução com quatro fatores e 54% de variância explicada. O instrumento final apresentou Alpha de Cronbach no valor de 0,77. Devido a algumas limitações técnicas, sugere-se a continuação do estudo.

This research aimed to build a contextual scale of depression in the elderly, accordingly with the importance of primary interventions in health care. A version of the instrument was developed with twenty seven risk factors for geriatric depression that were met by the elderly population. The study sample consisted of 95 elderly subjects, 22 men and 73 women, from 60 to 83 years old. The developed instrument was applied amongst the Yesavage’s Geriatric Depression Scale and Overall Life Satisfaction. After statistical analysis, fifteen items were considered satisfactory accordingly with the correlation with the construct of geriatric depression and discriminant validity, measured amongst the population with and without depressive symptoms. These items went through an exploratory factorial analysis, and a solutionwas found within four factors and 54% explained variance. The final instrument presented Cronbach’s Alpha in the value of 0,77. Due to some technical limitations, the development of the study is suggested.

Estudos para construção e propriedades psicométricas da escala contextual de depressão em idosos / Studies for construction and psychometric properties of the contextual scale of depression in elderly

Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo construir uma escala contextual de depressão em idosos baseando-se na importância das intervenções primárias em saúde. Concebeu-se uma versão inicial do instrumento com vinte e sete itens para depressão geriátrica, que foram preenchidos pelo público idoso. A amostra foi constituída por 95 idosos, com idade entre 60 e 83 anos, sendo 22 homens e 73 mulheres. O instrumento construído foi aplicado junto à Escala de Depressão Geriátrica de Yesavage e a Overall Life Satisfaction. Após análises de Curva ROC, quinze itens foram considerados satisfatórios a partir da correlação com o construto de depressão geriátrica e validade discriminante, aferida entre a população com e sem sintomas depressivos. Esses itens passaram pela análise fatorial exploratória, encontrando-se uma solução com quatro fatores e 54% de variância explicada. O instrumento final apresentou Alpha de Cronbach no valor de 0,77. Devido a algumas limitações técnicas, sugere-se a continuação do estudo. (AU)

This research aimed to build a contextual scale of depression in the elderly, accordingly with the importance of primary interventions in health care. A version of the instrument was developed with twenty seven risk factors for geriatric depression that were met by the elderly population. The study sample consisted of 95 elderly subjects, 22 men and 73 women, from 60 to 83 years old. The developed instrument was applied amongst the Yesavage’s Geriatric Depression Scale and Overall Life Satisfaction. After statistical analysis, fifteen items were considered satisfactory accordingly with the correlation with the construct of geriatric depression and discriminant validity, measured amongst the population with and without depressive symptoms. These items went through an exploratory factorial analysis, and a solutionwas found within four factors and 54% explained variance. The final instrument presented Cronbach’s Alpha in the value of 0,77. Due to some technical limitations, the development of the study is suggested. (AU)