The implementation and effectiveness of Integrated Psychological Therapy (IPT) in chronic middle-aged inpatients with schizophrenia.

Introduction: Cognitive rehabilitation is essential for schizophrenia treatment since it improves function. Moreover, the relationship between cognitive rehabilitation and functioning is significantly affected by negative symptoms and social cognition. Integrated Psychological Therapy (IPT) is a promising approach that integrates interventions in neurocognition, social cognition, and functional level. This study examines IPT's efficacy in chronic middle-aged inpatients. Methods: A randomized controlled study involved 44 individuals with schizophrenia. Twenty-one IPT participants received 50 biweekly sessions and medication, while twenty-three control participants received treatment as usual/supportive therapy and pharmacotherapy. Pre- and post-intervention and six- and twelve-month follow-ups were arranged to assess neurocognition, social perception, psychopathology, and functioning using the Matrics Consensus Cognitive Battery, Social Perception Scale, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, and Global Assessment of Functioning. Results: Speed of processing, attention/vigilance, overall composite, and neurocognitive composite scores improved significantly in the IPT group. Social Perception Scale performance improved in all areas after the intervention and persisted for 6 months. Positive, negative, and total psychopathology symptoms decreased significantly post-intervention and at the 12-month follow-up, whereas participants' functioning improved significantly. Conclusions: Middle-aged chronic inpatients with schizophrenia may benefit from IPT in neurocognition, social perception, psychopathology, and functioning. This field of study may provide insight into schizophrenia treatment, hence further research is encouraged.

Bridging Gaps in Shared Decision-Making for Anxiety Disorders: A Commentary on Villena et al.

This commentary reflects on the recent study by Villena et al., which addresses the need for enhanced shared decision-making (SDM) for individuals with anxiety disorders. As a psychiatrist with expertise in anxiety management, I commend the study's emphasis on patient involvement and its alignment with real-world clinical challenges. The findings, particularly regarding patients' preferences for psychological interventions and the current trend towards pharmacological treatments, highlight the need to better align treatment approaches with evidence-based guidelines. Additionally, the study underscores the importance of psychoeducation and active coping strategies like exposure techniques. These insights offer valuable contributions towards improving patient-centred care and SDM in anxiety disorder treatment.

Cross-Validation of the Financial Exploitation Vulnerability Scale.

OBJECTIVES: The present study is a cross-validation of the Financial Exploitation Vulnerability Scale (FEVS), a measure of contextual risk for financial exploitation. METHODS: The sample was drawn from both the community and the SAFE program, a service for older adults who have been financially scammed. FEVS was administered within a larger assessment battery. The total score ability to differentiate exploitation groups and its correlates were examined. ROC analysis and logistic regression evaluated the clinical utility of the FEVS to detect exploitation. Results were compared to the initial validation study. RESULTS: FEVS score was significantly higher for those who were exploited and correlated with age. ROC analysis revealed adequate detection of financial exploitation. FEVS total score remained a strong predictor of exploitation when compared to demographic factors and several measures of cognitive functioning. CONCLUSIONS: Cross-validation demonstrates strong evidence that the FEVS detects financial exploitation in older adults, beyond the ability of many known risk factors. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: FEVS is an evidence-based tool for identifying exploitation and is accessible to many professionals working with older adults. Items query contextual factors that allow professionals to support clients with the appropriate standard of care.

Internalized weight stigma and psychological distress mediate the association of perceived weight stigma with food addiction among young adults: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Perceived weight stigma (PWS) and internalized weight stigma (IWS) are both associated with psychological distress and food addiction (FA). Using the previously proposed 'cyclic obesity/weight-based stigma' (COBWEBS) model, the present study extended the framework to investigate the mediating effects of IWS and psychological distress in the association between PWS and FA among young adults. Given that individuals who are overweight/have obesity have different vulnerabilities, this population was separately analyzed alongside the total study population. METHODS: An online survey comprising the Perceived Weight Stigma Scale, Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS), Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), and modified Yale Food Addiction Scale Version 2 was completed by 601 participants (59.6% females; mean age 29.3 years [SD = 6.07]). A total of 219 participants were categorized as being overweight/having obesity. RESULTS: A direct correlation was found between PWS and FA (standardized coefficient [ß] = 0.28, p < 0.001) among both populations, and was mediated by IWS and psychological distress (ß [95% CI] = 0.03 [0.01, 0.05] for WBIS score and 0.10 [0.06, 0.14] for DASS-21 score) among the total participants, but only mediated by psychological distress among participants who were overweight/had obesity (ß [95% CI] = 0.14 [0.06, 0.24]). CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrated novel perspectives by showing the direct association between PWS and FA and the mediating roles of IWS and psychological distress. Treatment strategies such as psychological acceptance and psychoeducation could be used to reduce weight stigma, which could have positive downstream benefits of ameliorating FA. Future research may seek to study strategies for reducing weight stigma and psychological distress, to investigate their efficacy in improving disordered eating.

Dyadic effects of perceived stress, relationship satisfaction and distress disclosure on emotional distress in colorectal cancer patients and their family caregivers: An actor-partner interdependence mediation model.

Objective: This study adopted a dyadic analysis method to examine the effect of perceived stress on emotional distress and determine whether relationship satisfaction and distress disclosure act as mediators in colorectal cancer (CRC) enterostomy patient-caregiver dyads. Methods: A total of 312 patient-caregiver dyads completed measures assessing perceived stress, relationship satisfaction, distress disclosure, and emotional distress. The data were analyzed using the actor-partner interdependence mediation model. Results: This study found that the perceived stress of patients and caregivers both had direct and indirect actor effects on emotional distress (through relationship satisfaction). Another important finding is that perceived stress had indirect actor-partner effects (through distress disclosure) on emotional distress. Conclusions: This study highlights that perceived stress, relationship satisfaction, and distress disclosure of patients and their caregivers are key factors that can be considered for improving emotional distress. It also partially confirmed the interdependence of patients with CRC and their caregivers.

The impact of negative COVID-19 experiences on cancer survivors' health-related quality of life and psychological distress: a moderated mediation model.

Introduction: Cancer survivors experienced poorer health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and greater psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic than those without cancer. However, the underlying mechanisms that may explain how negative experiences during the pandemic are associated with distress and HRQoL remain unknown. We examined whether psychosocial risk factors (i.e., healthcare disruption, disruption to daily activities and social interaction [DDASI], and financial hardship) mediated the relationship between negative COVID-19-related experiences and cancer survivors' HRQoL and psychological distress (i.e., depressive symptoms, and anxiety) and whether the mediating effects were moderated by psychosocial protective factors (i.e., stress management ability and social support). Methods: A total of 9,651 cancer survivors completed a questionnaire assessing negative COVID-19-related experiences, psychosocial and practical experiences, and HRQoL. Conditional process analysis was used to evaluate the proposed moderated mediation models. Results: Participants had a mean age of 63.8 years (SD = 12.3) and were mostly non-Hispanic White (82.3%). DDASI and financial hardship mediated the relationship between negative COVID-19-related experiences and cancer survivor's HRQoL and psychological distress. Stress management ability buffered the indirect effect of DDASI on cancer survivors' HRQoL and psychological distress. Social support buffered the indirect effect of financial hardship on HRQoL and depressive symptoms. Conclusion: Financial resources and social interactions may buffer negative effects of major disruptions such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Future studies should assess the longitudinal impact of these associations.

Quality of life and psychological distress in end-stage renal disease patients undergoing hemodialysis and transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Among diverse profound impacts on patients' quality of life (QoL), end-stage renal disease (ESRD) frequently results in increased levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. Renal replacement therapies such as hemodialysis (HD) and transplantation (TX) are intended to enhance QoL, although their ability to alleviate psychological distress remains uncertain. This research posits the existence of a significant correlation between negative emotional states and QoL among ESRD patients, with varying effects observed in HD and TX patients. AIM: To examine the relationship between QoL and negative emotional states (depression, anxiety, and stress) and predicted QoL in various end-stage renal replacement therapy patients with ESRD. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included HD or TX patients in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia. The 36-item Short Form Survey and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS) was used for data collection, and correlation and regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: The HD and TX transplantation groups showed statistically significant inverse relationships between QoL and DASS scores. HD patients with high anxiety levels and less education scored low on the physical component summary (PCS). In addition, the results of the mental component summary (MCS) were associated with reduced depression. Compared with older transplant patients, TX patients' PCS scores were lower, and depression, stress, and negative working conditions were highly correlated with MCS scores. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study revealed notable connections between well-being and mental turmoil experienced by individuals undergoing HD and TX. The PCS of HD patients is affected by heightened levels of anxiety and lower educational attainment, while the MCS of transplant patients is influenced by advancing age and elevated stress levels. These insights will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of patient support.

Effect of psychological nursing intervention on anxiety level and quality of life in patients with gastrointestinal peptic ulcer.

BACKGROUND: Peptic ulcer is a common gastrointestinal disease, and psychological intervention has an important influence on its occurrence and development. AIM: To investigate the effect of psychological nursing intervention on the anxiety level and quality of life of patients with gastrointestinal peptic ulcers. METHODS: Two groups of patients with peptic ulcer were selected from January to December 2012, with 60 cases in each group, and psychological nursing intervention and routine treatment were respectively performed. Psychological nursing interventions include cognitive behavioral therapy, psychological support and relaxation training. Self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and quality of life questionnaire were used to evaluate the anxiety level and quality of life of patients before, during and after treatment. RESULTS: The SAS scores of the experimental group significantly decreased over the course of treatment, from 52.3 before treatment to 30.5 after treatment, while SAS scores of the control group did not change significantly. Meanwhile, the experimental group's quality of life score (SF-36) significantly improved over the course of treatment, from 65.2 to 85.2, while the control group remained stable. Further analysis showed that sex and age had no significant influence on the effect of psychotherapy. Both men and women, young and old, showed similar trends in anxiety relief and improved quality of life after treatment. CONCLUSION: Psychological nursing-based intervention program has a positive effect on the anxiety level and quality of life of patients with gastrointestinal peptic ulcer.

[Prevalence and underdiagnosis of burn out syndrome in critical services in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic] / Prevalencia y subdiagnóstico del síndrome de burn out en servicios criticos en el contexto de la pandemia COVID-19.

Introduction: The importance of knowing the impact of work on people's health has increased after the COVID-19 pandemic. Burn Out (BO) syndrome arises from the tension emerging from the conflictive interaction between the worker and his or her employment. The objective was to describe the prevalence and frequency of diagnosis of BO in the health human resources of critical services of the Bahía Blanca Municipal Hospital in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: Descriptive, cross-sectional study. The study population was the medical and nursing staff of the Intensive Care (IT), Emergency Medicine (SMU) and Clinic services who worked with COVID-19 during 2021. The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) questionnaire was used and complementary closed questions to identify, among these cases, those that were diagnosed and treated by the institution.Results: Of the 219 workers, 55.3% (121/219) were nurses. In the SMU, 25% (24/96) of respondents had BO, followed by 20.4% (11/54) in Clinic and 8.7% (6/69) in IT (p value=0.004). Only 5.5% (12/219) of the total were diagnosed with BO by the institution and of this group, two people (0.9%) had previously consulted for characteristic symptoms.Discussion: A high prevalence of BO and a marked underdiagnosis were evident at the institutional level during the pandemic. Although the IT Service had the highest demand for attention, it was the one that presented the lowest BO values in relation to other services.

Introducción: La importancia del conocimiento del impacto del trabajo en la salud de las personas se ha acrecentado tras la pandemia por COVID-19. El síndrome de Burn Out (BO) nace de la tensión emergente de la interacción conflictiva entre el trabajador y su empleo. El objetivo fue describir la prevalencia y frecuencia de diagnóstico del BO en el recurso humano en salud de servicios críticos del Hospital Municipal de Bahía Blanca en el contexto de la pandemia COVID-19. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo, de corte transversal. La población de estudio fue el personal médico y de enfermería de los servicios de Terapia intensiva (TI), Médico de Urgencias (SMU) y Clínica que trabajaron con COVID-19 durante el 2021. Se empleó el cuestionario Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) y preguntas cerradas complementarias para identificar, entre estos casos, aquellos que fueron diagnosticados y tratados por la institución. Resultados: De los 219 trabajadores, el 55,3% (121/219) fueron enfermeros. En el SMU el 25% (24/96) de encuestados tenía BO, seguido por un 20,4% (11/54) en Clínica y un 8.7% (6/69) en TI (valor p=0.004). Sólo el 5,5% (12/219) del total fue diagnosticado con BO por la institución y de este grupo, dos personas (0,9%) habían consultado previamente por síntomas característicos. Discusión: Se evidenció una elevada prevalencia de BO y un marcado sub-diagnóstico a nivel institucional durante la pandemia. A pesar de que el Servicio de TI tuvo la mayor demanda de atención, fue el que presentó los valores más bajos de BO en relación a otros servicios.

[Translation, adaptation and initial validation of the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI) in Río de la Plata health personnel] / Traducción, adaptación y validación inicial de Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI) en personal de salud rioplatense.

The study addresses the translation, cross-cultural adaptation and initial validation of the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI) questionnaire into Spanish, particularly for the context of health personnel. The OLBI, based on the Job Demands - Resources Model, evaluates burnout and job disengagement. After a rigorous methodological process, two versions of the questionnaire were carried out, followed by a pilot test and cognitive interviews. Comprehension problems were identified in a question related to work disconnection. Adjustments were made to the final version, which was validated with a multiprofessional pediatric palliative care group. The results showed adequate reliability for the Exhaustion scale and acceptable for the Disconnection scale. The importance of considering the particularities of the work context in adapting the instrument was highlighted. Although limitations, such as sample size, are acknowledged, it is suggested that the OLBI ­ UY version is promising and can be used in future studies for a more comprehensive psychometric analysis. This study represents an original contribution by addressing the adaptation of a relevant instrument for measuring burnout in Spanish-speaking health personnel in the Río de la Plata.

El estudio aborda la traducción, adaptación transcultural y validación inicial del cuestionario Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI) al español, en particular para el contexto del personal de salud. El OLBI, basado en el Modelo Demandas del Trabajo - Recursos, evalúa agotamiento y desconexión laboral. Tras un proceso metodológico riguroso, se realizaron dos versiones del cuestionario, seguidas de una prueba piloto y entrevistas cognitivas. Se identificaron problemas de comprensión en una pregunta relacionada con la desconexión laboral. Se realizaron ajustes en la versión final, que fue validada con un grupo multiprofesional de cuidados paliativos pediátricos. Los resultados mostraron adecuada confiabilidad para la escala de Agotamiento y aceptable para la de Desconexión. Se destacó la importancia de considerar las particularidades del contexto laboral en la adaptación del instrumento. Aunque se reconocen limitaciones, como el tamaño de la muestra, se sugiere que la versión OLBI - UY es prometedora y puede utilizarse en estudios futuros para un análisis psicométrico más exhaustivo. Este estudio representa un aporte original al abordar la adaptación de un instrumento relevante para la medición del burnout en personal de salud de  habla hispana del Río de la Plata.

Patient experiences in high-grade gliomas: from symptoms to radiotherapy.

OBJECTIVES: Little is known in the literature about felt experience and supportive care needs of patients with new diagnosis of adult-type diffuse gliomas Central Nervous System WHO grades 3 and 4. The purpose of this study is to influence clinicians' attitudes and facilitate the referral process and the development of support services by better understanding the patient's journey. METHODS: Adult patients with a new histopathological diagnosis of high-grade glioma, who underwent radiotherapy, participated in a semistructured, face-to-face interview. Different segments of the patient's journey were explored focusing on patient's emotions, interactions with healthcare providers, satisfaction during the process and access to supports. Descriptive thematic analysis in the tradition of grounded theory was performed. RESULTS: Fifteen patients were interviewed, and four themes were emerged from the analysis. First, information conveyed by the medical team was frequently disconnected from patients' understanding regarding diagnosis and treatment. Second, specific events created a lasting impression that the medical system, and at times medical care providers, lacked empathy. Third, patients' perceptions of shortcomings within the medical system led to decreased trust, particularly regarding the follow-up process. Finally, although respondents identified multiple inadequacies during their journey, they nonetheless acknowledged the great support and quality of services they received. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides insight into patients' experiences and perceived shortcomings of the medical system, from the time of presentation until the end of radiotherapy treatment in patients with new diagnosis of high-grade glioma. These findings should influence clinicians' attitudes and guide systematic changes including delivery of information and the referral process.

Association of Psychological Safety with Burnout and Intent to Leave Among Physician Faculty in New York City.

BACKGROUND: Data on the potential protective effect of psychological safety (PS) on well-being and satisfaction among physicians are lacking. OBJECTIVE: We sought to examine (1) prevalence of PS; (2) relationship between PS, burnout, and intent to leave one's job (ILJ); and (3) demographic and occupational factors associated with PS within our physician faculty. DESIGN: Participants: An institution-wide survey was sent to all faculty within our eight-hospital health system, between July and September 2022. MAIN MEASURES: PS was assessed using the seven-item Fearless Organization Questionnaire and burnout with the Maslach Burnout Inventory-2. Demographics and a measure of ILJ were assessed. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine associations between PS, burnout, ILJ, and demographic and occupational correlates of PS. KEY RESULTS: A total of 867 out of 3086 total estimated clinical faculty members (28.1%) participated in the survey. The majority were 40 and older (67.4%), female (51.9%), white (60.0%), and married/partnered (80.4%); worked in ambulatory care departments (53.7%); and ranked assistant or associate professors (75.8%). On average, 57.6% of physicians evaluated their workplace as psychologically safe (range across items = 40.9-69.9%), with 35.2% screening positive for burnout and 13.4% reporting ILJ. After adjusting for demographic and occupational characteristics, each standard deviation unit increase in PS scores was associated with 27% lower odds of screening positive for burnout (odds ratio (OR) = 0.73, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.63-0.84) and 38% lower odds of ILJ (OR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.52-0.74). Female gender was associated with lower scores of PS. CONCLUSIONS: A majority of faculty physicians reported working in a psychologically safe environment. Greater PS was associated with lower odds of burnout and ILJ. Investment in gender and diversity equity training may be one concrete step in advancing PS in the workplace.

Understanding the relationship between childhood emotional abuse and neglect and psychological distress in pregnant women: the role of prenatal attachment.

BACKGROUND: Childhood abuse and neglect pose important risk factors for the development of psychopathology during pregnancy. However, only a few studies have assessed the effects of a specific type of abuse during the perinatal period, namely, psychological maltreatment, which includes emotional abuse and neglect. These studies have found that women who have experienced psychological maltreatment exhibit higher levels of antenatal depressive symptoms and greater difficulties forming attachment with their babies than women who have not experienced this kind of adversity. The aim of this study was to examine how emotional abuse and neglect experiences may favor the occurrence of psychological distress in pregnant women, and whether prenatal attachment might explain this association. METHODS: Participants comprised 128 Italian pregnant women ranging in age from 21 to 46 years (Mage = 33.4; SD = 6.10). Women responded to the following self-report instruments: CECA.Q and CTQ-SF, for the assessment of psychological maltreatment experiences; MAAS, for the evaluation of prenatal attachment; and PAMA, for the assessment of perinatal psychological distress. RESULTS: Pearson correlations revealed a positive association between childhood neglect and perinatal psychological distress and a negative association between childhood neglect and prenatal attachment scores. No significant correlations were found for emotional abuse. Perinatal psychological distress was negatively associated with prenatal attachment. Mediation analyses showed significant associations between childhood neglect and the dimensions of perinatal affectivity and prenatal maternal attachment. Prenatal maternal attachment mediated the relationship between neglect and perinatal psychological distress. CONCLUSIONS: The transition to motherhood is a sensitive period, particularly for women who have experienced abuse and neglect during childhood. These experiences may negatively impact a woman's disposition to emotionally and behaviorally engage in the formation of a bond with their unborn baby. These results may have important prevention and clinical implications and thus warrant further exploration.

Correlation between psychological stress and depressive symptoms among Japanese university students: a cross-sectional analysis.

[Purpose] Higher education students face significant environmental changes, placing them at heightened risk of developing depressive symptoms that have been exacerbated by the coronavirus infectious disease pandemic. This study examined the association between psychological stress and depressive symptoms among Japanese university students. [Participants and Methods] We conducted an online and face-to-face questionnaire survey with 145 Japanese university students studying rehabilitation sciences. Depressive symptoms and psychological stress were evaluated using the Self-rating Depression Scale and Stress Response Scale-18, respectively. [Results] Among the participants, 88 had depressive symptoms. Compared to the non-depressive symptom group, the depressive symptom group experienced higher psychological stress and comprised significantly more women and individuals with insomnia. Logistic regression analysis revealed that psychological stress and insomnia were independent predictors of depressive symptoms. [Conclusion] Psychological stress is independently associated with depressive symptoms. The correlation between insomnia, stress, and depressive symptoms requires further investigation. Future research should explore the causal relationship between psychological stress and depressive symptoms and consider the factors that may influence this relationship.

The mediating roles of psychological resilience and psychological well-being of caregivers for the older adults.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the mediating effects of psychological resilience and psychological well-being for caregivers at nursing homes on the relationship between insomnia and elder maltreatment. As the world is aging quickly and the number of older individuals cared for by formal caregivers has been increasing, this study's results could help create intervention programs to minimize the occurrence of older people's maltreatment. Materials and Methods: A total of 431 care workers who met all criteria, from 21 care service centers for older adults in Fukuoka, Japan, completed the Conditions of Maltreatment Scale, Caregivers' Belief in Ideal Care, Insomnia Severity Index, WHO-5 Well-Being Index, and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale-10. Results: A multivariate analysis of variance revealed that participants with no insomnia had greater resilience, higher psychological well-being, and greater belief in ideal care and to treated older clients less roughly compared to participants with insomnia. Psychological resilience and well-being were significant mediators in the relationship between insomnia, rough care, and beliefs in ideal care. Conclusion: As formal caregivers are in urgent demand, society should take care of them. The most effective and successful intervention for improving their physical and psychological well-being should be initiated at the individual and organizational levels.

Psychological and social difficulties in young non-help-seeking adolescents at risk for psychosis: insights from a large cohort study.

Background: This study used data from the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort Study (MoBa), and explored the psychological and social challenges of 14-year-olds who report psychotic symptoms. Research on help-seeking youths indicates comorbid symptoms of depression, anxiety, and social deterioration, but less is known about non-help-seeking individuals who may not use healthcare services, possibly skewing comorbidity profiles. Also, findings suggest that adolescents manifesting psychotic symptoms refrain from pursuing help. This gap underscores the necessity of studying non-help-seeking adolescents to better understand their needs and the risks they face without intervention. Methods: We analyzed responses from adolescents who completed the 14-year questionnaire in MoBa (N = 127), identifying those as at risk by their high scores on psychosis-risk items, within the top 0.4% (N = 58). Comparative analyses were conducted against matched controls to assess differences in psychological and social functioning (N = 69). Results: Results indicated that the at-risk adolescents experience significantly more depression and anxiety and have lower self-esteem and poorer social functioning than controls. Social functioning parameters, including leisure activities, social competence, quality of parental relationship, and sense of school belonging, were significantly worse than those observed in controls. The results indicate a pronounced vulnerability among non-help-seeking adolescents at-risk, similar to issues seen in help-seeking youths. Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance of early identification and intervention strategies that reach beyond traditional clinical settings, suggesting the efficacy of population or community-based screenings to prevent long-term adverse outcomes. The study proposes a broader understanding of psychosis risk, stressing the importance of inclusive approaches to support at-risk adolescents effectively.

Mitigating psychological distress in the workplace: The role of perceived insider status in leader-follower cognitive style congruence.

This study examines the impact of leader-follower cognitive style congruence on employee psychological distress, with a specific emphasis on the mediating role of perceived insider status. Using data from a major financial institution in China, the findings reveal that higher cognitive style alignment between leaders and followers is associated with a significant reduction in employee psychological distress. Grounded in Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, the study demonstrates that cognitive style congruence enhances predictability and facilitates the conservation of psychological resources, effectively mitigating psychological distress. Notably, employees led by intuitive leaders report lower distress levels compared to those led by analytic leaders. These results underscore the critical importance of cognitive style congruence in fostering employee well-being and offer actionable insights for enhancing organizational practices.

Early appearance concerns after burns: Investigating the roles of psychological flexibility and self-compassion.

Few qualitative studies have explored appearance concerns soon after burn injuries. This study aimed to understand the early experiences of appearance concerns after burns, through the lens of psychological flexibility and self-compassion. Template analysis informed data collection and analysis. Fifteen adults (nine female, six male) with appearance concerns were interviewed within three months of their burns. Three superordinate themes were identified: (1) Need for social connection; (2) Distress through difference; and (3) Experiential avoidance and self-criticism in response to early appearance concerns. Findings highlighted that early appearance concerns are influenced by the need for social acceptance and the desire to conform to societal ideals. Internalised gender and appearance ideals and concerns about rejection and stigma were activated by the burn, and individuals had difficulty responding to their early appearance concerns with psychological flexibility and self-compassion. Instead, attempts to avoid distress (experiential avoidance) occurred. Self-criticism in response to distress was evident which, for some, extended to the event leading to their burns. Early interventions to enhance psychological flexibility and self-compassion (e.g., acceptance and commitment therapy, mindful self-compassion), to help individuals respond to appearance concerns with less experiential avoidance and self-criticism, would likely promote adjustment to changes in appearance after burns.

Exploring the relationship between social media use, sharenting practices, and maternal psychological well-being.

BACKGROUND: This study examined the correlation between social media usage, sharenting practices (sharing parenting-related content on social media), and psychological well-being among 130 mothers whose children visited Baskent University Hospital between April 2020 and January 2021. METHODS: The participants completed an online questionnaire that assessed their social media usage, sharenting practices on Instagram, as well as their levels of depression, life satisfaction, and psychological resilience. Additionally, the researchers created an Instagram account and followed the mothers' social media activities. RESULTS: The findings revealed that Instagram was the most commonly used social media platform, with mothers using it an average of 5.8 times per day and spending an average of 75 min per day on the platform. Sharing privacy-violating photos of their children was positively correlated with the mothers' own depressive symptoms (r = 0.285, p < 0.01) and negatively correlated with their life satisfaction (r=-0.274, p < 0.01). Similarly, sharing children's photos containing identifiable information was positively correlated with mothers' depressive symptoms (r = 0.373, p < 0.01) and negatively correlated with their life satisfaction (r=-0.282, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: These findings indicate a significant relationship between social media usage, sharenting practices, and the psychological well-being of mothers. The study underscores the importance of raising awareness about the potential risks associated with social media use, particularly among mothers who engage in sharenting practices.

A multi-centre prospective cohort study investigating the roles of psychological flexibility and self-compassion in appearance concerns after burn injuries.

OBJECTIVES: Appearance concerns following burn injuries are common. Psychological factors are important in maintaining such concerns. However, there is a lack of longitudinal or prospective research investigating their development. This study investigated whether psychological flexibility and self-compassion at hospital admission predicted subsequent appearance concerns. DESIGN: A multi-centre prospective cohort study across six burn services. METHODS: Adults (n = 175; 67% male) in hospital following burn injuries were recruited. Questionnaires measuring appearance concerns, psychological flexibility, self-compassion, post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and perceived noticeability were completed during hospital admission and two- and six-months later. Demographic and burn injury information was collected. RESULTS: Correlational analyses showed that increased psychological flexibility and self-compassion at admission were associated with decreased appearance concerns cross-sectionally and prospectively at two- and six-month follow-up. These associations remained significant when controlling for key covariates (i.e. gender, age, ethnicity, percentage total body surface area burnt, perceived noticeability, PTSD symptoms). Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that psychological flexibility and self-compassion predicted appearance concerns during hospital admission. Although psychological flexibility significantly predicted appearance concerns over time, it became non-significant when controlling for baseline appearance concerns. CONCLUSIONS: Psychological flexibility has a protective role against appearance concerns soon after burn injuries, although this protective role is reduced when accounting for baseline appearance concerns. Early interventions targeting psychological flexibility (i.e. acceptance and commitment therapy) may be beneficial after burns if adapted to address appearance-related concerns.