Gaming Behaviors among Polish Students with Visual Impairment.

The access of people with disabilities to digital solutions promotes their inclusion and participation in many aspects of life. Computer games based on hearing or haptic devices have been gaining popularity among persons with visual impairment (VI), and players tend to display improved spatial and abstract reasoning skills, as well as better social interaction and self-confidence, after playing these games. However, a recent survey suggested that excessive gaming could represent a public health concern as a harmful form of behavior in young people associated with risk factors of negative psychosomatic and physical complaints. Young persons with VI are regular users of various technologies, but little is still known about their media patterns. This study aimed to determine the characteristics of the variables associated with gaming for adolescents with VI. The participants were 490 students, aged 13-24 years, from special schools for students with VI. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. The current survey indicated a tendency towards excessive gaming in a significant proportion of young persons with VI. Sociodemographic variables are important in predicting gaming prevalence or screen time, but further research focused on establishing possible mediators (such as parental attitudes towards media) are necessary for identifying problematic gaming behaviors among students with VI.

Correlates of respiratory admissions frequency in patients with obstructive lung diseases: coping styles, personality and anxiety. / Profil osobowosci, poziom leku i style radzenia sobie ze stresem a liczba hospitalizacji i konsultacji specjalistycznych u osób z chorobami obturacyjnymi pluc.

OBJECTIVES: Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are associated with a huge financial burden on the budget and healthcare in the world. Personality traits, ways of coping with stress and anxiety levels affect the functioning of sick people. Objective of the study was to evaluate correlation between those features and the frequency of hospital and outpatient clinic admissions among people with chronic pulmonary diseases. METHODS: Participants (n=100) with asthma and COPD were subjected to: a sociodemographic urvey, NEO-FFI Personality Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Brief COPE Inventory. RESULTS: There was a relationship between the hospital admission frequency and neuroticism (positive correlation). The frequency of visits to the outpatient clinic was positively correlated with the level of conscientiousness, use of emotional support and negatively with cessation of action. CONCLUSIONS: The obtained results may indicate the need to offer patients with respiratory diseases psychotherapeutic activities aimed at building a more constructive functioning, reducing anxiety, increasing the sense of control.

Burnout and Quality of Life Among Massage Therapists with Visual Impairment.

Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of burnout syndrome and quality of life (QoL) among Polish massage therapists, and determine their relationship with sociodemographic and work-related variables. Methods A group of 43 participants aged 28-63, who were blind or poor-sighted were recruited for the study. They were surveyed with sociodemographic data questionnaire and the Polish versions of the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey and WHOQOL-BREF. Results The overall level of exhaustion was 6.79 ± 4.45, cynicism was estimated at 7.30 ± 3.43, and professional efficacy was 23.3 ± 5.44. Regarding QoL, the psychological domain was the highest (73.6 ± 10.0), while the physical domain was the lowest (61.1 ± 6.94). None of the sociodemographic variables or occupational factors had any statistical relationship with any burnout subscale. Significant correlations were found between the psychological domain of QoL and marital status (H = 6.570; p = 0.037), years of practice (ρ = 0.315; t = 2.124; p = 0.039), hours of practice per week (ρ = 0.364; t = 2.505; p = 0.016) and private practice (z = 2.393; p = 0.017). Significant relationships were found between the environmental domain of QoL and the place of residence (H = 5.977; p = 0.050) and between hours of practice per week (ρ = 0.335; t = 2.276; p = 0.028). A significant positive correlation was noted between professional efficacy and the social relationship domain (ρ = 0.306; t = 2.056; p = 0.046). Conclusion Job activity plays a crucial function in the psychosocial rehabilitation of massage therapists with visual impairment. This was confirmed by the low risk of burnout, and the psychological domain being the highest of QoL.

The online behavior of pupils with visual impairment: A preliminary report.

BACKGROUND: Young people with special educational needs are also users of new media. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine whether pupils with visual impairment spend more time on Internet use than pupils without visual impairment and whether youngsters from the study group are engaged in behaviors which could increase risk of problematic Internet use. METHODS: The study is based on a total of 191 pupils: a study group of 66 partially-sighted pupils and a control group comprised 125 pupils who do not have visual impairment. A self-report questionnaire was constructed for the needs of this study. RESULTS: Pupils with visual impairment spent significantly less time on Internet use than their peers from the reference groups. Twice as many pupils from the study group as controls reported no symptoms suggesting potentially problematic Internet use. In addition, the study group more frequently used online social networking services and e-mails or used the Internet for assignments. CONCLUSIONS: Little difference exists between students with visual impairment and those without with regard to Internet use.

Personality traits, level of anxiety and styles of coping with stressin people with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - a comparative analysis. / Cechy osobowosci, poziom leku i style radzenia sobie ze stresem u osób chorych na astme oskrzelowa i przewlekla obturacyjna chorobe pluc ­ analiza porównawcza.

OBJECTIVES: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma are a challenge to public health, with the sufferers experiencing a range of psychological factors affecting their health and behavior. The aim of the present study was to determine the level of anxiety, personality traits and stress-coping ability of patients with obstructive lung disease and comparison with a group of healthy controls. METHODS: The research was conducted on a group of 150 people with obstructive lung diseases (asthma and COPD) and healthy controls (mean age = 56.0 ± 16.00). Four surveys were used: a sociodemographic survey, NEO-FFI Personality Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Brief Cope Inventory. Logistic regression was used to identify the investigated variables which best differentiated the healthy and sick individuals. RESULTS: Patients with asthma or COPD demonstrated a significantly lower level of conscientiousness, openness to experience, active coping and planning, as well as higher levels of neuroticism and a greater tendency to behavioral disengagement. Logistic regression found trait-anxiety, openness to experience, positive reframing, acceptance, humor and behavioral disengagement to be best at distinguishing people with lung diseases from healthy individuals. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate the need for intervention in the psychological functioning of people with obstructive diseases.

Illness acceptance degree versus intensity of psychopathological symptoms in patients with psoriasis.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis have undoubtedly a negative impact on the patients' quality of life. Many of them may face various limitations in their psychosocial lives because of symptoms indicating the presence of psychopathological phenomena. Mental disorders in patients with skin diseases occur much more frequently than in the general population. Studies show that a considerable percentage (30-60%) of dermatological patients suffers from mental disorders (depressive and anxiety disorders being the most common). A person's attitude towards illness, its acceptance, and also the recognition of its limitations may be of a great importance in the process of the disease control. AIM: To evaluate of the relationship between the illness acceptance degree, and the presence and intensity of psychopathological symptoms in patients with psoriasis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The research was conducted on a group of 54 people (23 men and 31 women), who were treated for psoriasis in the Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Medical University of Lodz and in the Department of Dermatology, Pediatric Dermatology and Oncology, Medical University of Lodz. The following research methods were used: a questionnaire prepared for the purpose of the research, Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS) and Symptom Checklist (SCL-90). RESULTS: It was found that there was a relationship between the skin illness acceptance degree and intensity of psychopathological symptoms in patients with psoriasis (negative correlations). CONCLUSIONS: The higher the degree of illness acceptance is, the better mental condition of patients with psoriasis is. The intensity of psychopathological symptoms is also affected by the duration of illness, other people's attitude to the skin disease, age and education level of the patients examined.