Search Results (3,745)

Sleep disturbances are central to students’ experience of academic stress, yet their involvement in differentiated emotional, cognitive, and physical responses to academic demands requires further specification. This study tested a statistical mediation model in which sleep disturbances were specified as the statistical mediator between perceived academic stressors and irritability, negative thoughts, and physical exhaustion. Using a non-experimental cross-sectional design, data were collected from 1014 undergraduates at the University of Extremadura (M_age = 20.56, SD = 3.50), who completed the Academic Stressors Scale (E-CEA) and Academic Stress Responses Scale (R-CEA). Three mediation models were estimated with PROCESS Model 4, adjusting for gender, year of study, and field of study. Academic stressors were positively associated with sleep disturbances (β = 0.52, p < 0.001), which were positively associated with the three stress responses (β = 0.30–0.41, all p < 0.001). Academic stressors remained directly associated with these outcomes after accounting for sleep disturbances (β = 0.32–0.48, all p < 0.001). Indirect associations through sleep disturbances were observed for irritability (β = 0.19, 95% CI [0.15, 0.23]), negative thoughts (β = 0.16, 95% CI [0.12, 0.20]), and physical exhaustion (β = 0.21, 95% CI [0.17, 0.25]). Findings indicate partial cross-sectional statistical mediation and suggest that sleep-focused prevention may complement efforts to manage academic demands and student well-being. Full article

Cancer patient–informal caregiver dyads function as core collaborative units across the cancer trajectory from diagnosis to recovery. A central challenge for these dyads lies in managing illness uncertainty alongside the demands of dyadic coping, two interrelated factors that jointly shape long-term quality of life, psychological well-being, and disease adaptation. These two factors interact to shape their long-term quality of life, psychological well-being, and disease adaptation. Past studies have mostly examined dyadic coping and illness uncertainty separately. Employing a narrative review design, this study searched the PubMed database for literature published from 2021 to 2025, and synthesizes evidence on association pathways and moderating factors between dyadic coping and illness uncertainty among adult cancer patient–informal caregiver dyads. Existing research on dyadic coping has predominantly focused on the effects of interventions (e.g., enhanced spousal communication, joint exercise) on emotional health and relationship quality. Studies on illness uncertainty have largely examined its association with anxiety and depression, but have failed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the interactive pathways between the two constructs. This review addresses this gap by synthesizing evidence from three perspectives: interactive mechanisms, heterogeneous characteristics, and integrated intervention directions. Evidence from the reviewed literature suggests that illness uncertainty represents a critical antecedent of dyadic coping among cancer dyads. Illness uncertainty and dyadic coping share a bidirectional association, and this relationship is moderated by factors including cancer type, patient age, and cultural background. Most uncertainty management interventions effectively reduce illness uncertainty in specific populations. Synthesized evidence indicates that dyadic coping is a significant predictor of relationship satisfaction among couples coping with chronic illness. Interventions that are made for these couples need to include things like psychoeducation and skill-building parts that are about dyadic coping, so that they can improve the couples’ relationship satisfaction. Based on predominantly observational evidence with heterogeneous study designs, the authors propose that combining uncertainty management interventions with dyadic coping skills training represents a key direction for future clinical care optimization. This review provides evidence-based implications for developing targeted dyadic care strategies and advancing family-centered, full-course cancer care models. Full article

Trait emotional intelligence (EI) has been consistently associated with academic achievement, yet most empirical work has used global EI scores rather than examining how its four dimensions (well-being, self-control, emotionality, and sociability) contribute differentially. The present study addresses this gap through a dimensional analysis of trait EI as a correlate of English language achievement in a sample of 666 Saudi undergraduate students. Participants completed the Short Form of the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (TEIQue-SF), and their final English course grades served as the measure of language achievement. Global trait EI correlated positively with achievement (r = 0.32), and the four dimensions jointly accounted for 16.6% of the variance, more than the 10.5% accounted for by the global score alone. Emotionality showed the strongest unique association with achievement (β = 0.35), followed by self-control (β = 0.13), while the well-being coefficient was negative in the unadjusted dimensional model (β = −0.14). After adjustment for gender, age, and academic major, emotionality and self-control remained the only significant EI dimension-level correlates of grade. Overall, the findings support reporting trait EI at both global and dimensional levels, with the strongest interpretation placed on emotionality and self-control. Full article

Background: Male nurses form a minority group in many healthcare institutions and can face gender-based stereotypes, patient refusal, gender role assignment, marginalization in the workplace, and questioning of their suitability for working in caring professions. This scoping review examines the literature on gender discrimination, psychological well-being, and adaptation in professional contexts among male nurses and male nursing students. Methods: This scoping review was performed according to the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Searches were performed in Scopus and Web of Science databases and complemented with the use of pre-designed Google Scholar keyword searches. Included studies had a focus on male nurses, men in nursing, or male nursing students and were concerned with gender discrimination, stereotypes, discrimination, psychological well-being, emotional labor, professional identity, burnout, job satisfaction, adaptation, education, organizational support, or retention. Data were extracted and analyzed using narrative and thematic approaches. Results: Forty included studies were identified. Four major themes were revealed: (1) gender discrimination and stereotyping; (2) psychological and professional effects; (3) coping strategies and professional adaptation; and (4) organizational responses and support mechanisms. The included studies reported patient refusal, discomfort in intimate care, gendered role assignment, workplace marginalization, and masculinity-related stereotypes. These experiences were discussed in relation to emotional labor, identity conflict, reduced sense of belonging, burnout, job dissatisfaction, work engagement, and turnover intention. Conclusions: Gender discrimination against male nurses should be understood as both an interpersonal and organizational issue. Full article

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological condition that often requires long-term care provided by family members, particularly in low-resource settings. This responsibility places caregivers at risk of significant psychological burden, which remains underexplored in rural South African contexts. This study explored the psychological burden experienced by family caregivers of people with epilepsy in Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces, South Africa. A qualitative exploratory–descriptive design was employed. A total of 60 informal caregivers were snowball sampled from rural and peri-urban communities in Limpopo (n = 30) and Mpumalanga (n = 30). Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews conducted in participants’ preferred languages. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Three interrelated themes emerged, reflecting the psychological burden of caregiving: (1) persistent anxiety and fear related to unpredictable seizures, (2) emotional exhaustion and chronic stress, and (3) social isolation and psychological strain. Caregivers described constant worry, disrupted rest, and feelings of helplessness, often intensified by limited support and stigma associated with epilepsy. Caregivers of people with epilepsy experience a substantial psychological burden shaped by continuous caregiving demands and contextual challenges. There is a need for caregiver-focused mental health support and community-based interventions to reduce burden and improve well-being. Full article

Background/Objectives: Minimally verbal autistic children face profound communication challenges that significantly affect daily functioning, including social interaction, behavioral regulation, and overall well-being. Identifying effective interventions is a key clinical-educational priority. This systematic review examines communication-focused interventions for these children, including both spoken language approaches and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) strategies. Methods: The review was registered in PROSPERO and conducted following PRISMA-S guidelines. Four electronic databases were searched, and 18 studies met the inclusion criteria. Due to heterogeneity in study designs and outcome measures, a narrative synthesis was conducted, with subgroup analyses exploring sample characteristics, intervention types, targeted outcomes, and reported effects. Methodological quality of randomized controlled trials was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Results: Interventions were implemented across clinical, educational, and home settings, using strategies such as Joint Attention, Symbolic Play, and Emotion Regulation, often combined with AAC technologies. Most included studies reported improvements in at least one communication outcome, although findings were heterogeneous and several studies reported mixed, subgroup-specific, or non-significant effects. The most consistent improvements were observed in spontaneous communication, particularly in interventions integrating developmental approaches with technological support. Conclusions: These findings highlight the value of individualized interventions. Future research should establish standardized definitions of “minimally verbal”, assess long-term outcomes, and adopt broader measures capturing both language and social-emotional development to enhance quality of life and inclusion. Full article

This study applies Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) theory to music student psychology, with particular attention to the differentiated impacts of artificial intelligence across music student subgroups. Background: Music education requires intensive cognitive, motor, emotional, and social training. Methods: Employing a narrative literature review and conceptual framework approach, this paper draws on JD-R theory, technostress research, and cross-cultural scholarship to identify demands and resources in music education and examine their relationships with burnout and engagement. Results: Seven demands: technical, physical, temporal, performance, social–emotional, technostress, cultural identity. Resources: teacher support, peer collaboration, instruments, AI tools, curricula, and intrinsic motivation. Critically, AI-related demands and resources differ substantially across subgroups: composers face direct demand shocks (job displacement) and resource opportunities (creative augmentation) that vary by career stage, while performers experience more indirect impacts through recording market disruption and emerging self-media opportunities. Singers face a unique paradox whereby AI voice cloning creates short-term recording opportunities while potentially enabling long-term vocal replacement. Cultural identity demands arise from heritage-Western tensions in East Asia. Conclusions: This JD-R framework provides a nuanced lens for understanding music students’ well-being that accounts for subgroup-specific vulnerabilities and opportunities. Full article

Background/Objectives: Preoperative anxiety is a common issue among patients undergoing third-molar surgery, significantly impacting physiological stability, surgical outcomes, and recovery, highlighting the need for effective non-pharmacological interventions. This systematic review was performed to delineate the current literature regarding non-pharmacological interventions aimed at alleviating preoperative anxiety in patients undergoing an odontectomy. Methods: A comprehensive search was performed across major databases, including Cochrane, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, for studies published between 2011 and 2026. The inclusion criteria comprised original research, reviews, and clinical trials focused on non-pharmacological approaches to alleviating anxiety in patients undergoing an odontectomy. Results: A total of 28 studies were found via an electronic search. After screening, 11 studies were eligible for systematic review. This study demonstrates that preoperative anxiety is common in odontectomies, impacting both psychological and physiological stability. Instruments such as VAS, STAI, and MDAS demonstrate elevated anxiety levels prior to surgical procedures. This anxiety induces physiological responses that affect stability. Music therapy effectively lowers anxiety, as indicated by reduced VAS scores (F = 4.226, p < 0.05) and improved emotional well-being and parasympathetic activity. Conclusions: This review highlights both subjective and objective instruments for measuring anxiety as well as non-pharmacological approaches to mitigating preoperative anxiety in patients undergoing an odontectomy. While non-pharmacological interventions show potential, there is a lack of protocols and specific evidence, highlighting the need for integrated, culturally adapted strategies and regular anxiety screening. Full article

Infertility is a complex health issue that extends beyond biological mechanisms, encompassing significant psychological, relational, and social aspects. Advances in assisted reproductive technologies have improved the chances of conception, yet many couples discontinue treatment due to stress, stigma, and reduced quality of life. This narrative review explores the role of rehabilitation as a complementary approach to conventional fertility care, highlighting psychological, physical, and integrated interventions. Psychological rehabilitation strategies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based interventions, and couple-focused counseling, have been shown to reduce anxiety and depression, improve coping, and, in some cases, support better adherence to fertility treatments. Physical rehabilitation approaches, including pelvic floor muscle training, structured exercise for women with polycystic ovary syndrome, lifestyle and fitness interventions for men, yoga, and sexual rehabilitation, contribute to reproductive health, reduce pain, and enhance intimacy. Integrated models that combine psychological and physical components show the greatest promise, as they address the interaction between stress, physical function, and reproductive outcomes. Overall, the evidence suggests that infertility care should not focus solely on achieving conception. Rehabilitation offers opportunities to strengthen emotional resilience, improve sexual health, and support relationship stability, ensuring that patients benefit not only medically but also in terms of long-term well-being and quality of life. Full article

Mental health remains a global concern for which the burden of care frequently falls onto non-clinical platforms. This study employed Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to explore how Twitch.tv is unexpectedly being used to curate communities wherein mental health is discussed and supported. Using semi-structured interviews with six Twitch Partners, we generated three superordinate themes: 1. Positive Experiences of Streaming, 2. Negative Psycho-social Sense-making in Relation to Streaming, and 3. Emotional Dilemmas Regarding Stream-related Payments. Twitch Partners face challenges around balancing pressures of generating and maintaining communities, whilst addressing individual relationships and the needs of members within. This paper documents strategies that Twitch Partners employ to protect their own mental wellbeing whilst supporting their communities, and notes how monetised content can impact such strategies and generate additional stress. These findings highlight the need to explore and evaluate platform support for streamer wellbeing, including signposting, moderation resources, mental health guidance, and training. Full article

Mental health during childhood is a major public health concern, and physical activity has been proposed as a modifiable behaviour associated with psychological well-being and emotional health. This study examined the associations between physical activity and mental health indicators, including psychological well-being, anxiety symptoms, and everyday stress, in primary school children. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 207 children from two schools in Jaén (Spain). Physical activity, psychological well-being, anxiety, and stress were assessed using validated questionnaires. Pearson correlations and multiple linear regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, and socioeconomic status were performed. Physical activity was positively associated with all dimensions of psychological well-being and with total psychological well-being (r = 0.182, p = 0.009). Significant inverse correlations were observed between physical activity and all anxiety dimensions, as well as total anxiety (r = −0.145, p = 0.037), although the association with total anxiety was not significant after adjustment (β = −0.149, p = 0.112). Physical activity was also negatively associated with all stress dimensions and remained significantly associated with lower total stress after adjustment (β = −0.253, p = 0.007). These findings indicate that higher levels of physical activity are associated with greater psychological well-being and lower everyday stress in primary school children. However, given the cross-sectional design, these associations should not be interpreted as causal relationships. Longitudinal studies are needed to clarify the directionality of these associations. Full article

Place attachment contributes to urban resilience, identity, and well-being by fostering a sense of belonging and emotional connection to place. In contexts of urban transformation and socio-spatial inequality, understanding its determinants is essential for improving urban livability and inclusive urban environments. This study examines how women’s place attachment is influenced by individual, social, and built-environment factors in middle-income central and peri-central neighborhoods of Santiago, Chile. A key contribution is the inclusion of personal values in explaining place attachment, extending previous socio-spatial research. Data were collected through simple random sampling from 586 women residing in six middle-income neighborhoods of Santiago. Structural equation modeling was applied to analyze relationships between individual characteristics, personal values, social cohesion, accessibility, and subjective and objective built-environment conditions. Results show that working outside the home, length of residence, personal values, social cohesion, accessibility, aesthetic quality, and perceived comfort and insecurity significantly influence women’s place attachment. Built-environment characteristics related to accessibility and comfort emerge as key mechanisms shaping emotional attachment to urban neighborhoods. Findings highlight the importance of improving accessibility while maintaining neighborhood residential structure in middle-income areas undergoing urban transformation. Overall, the study provides empirical evidence on socio-spatial processes shaping women’s place attachment and contributes to understanding spatial equity, urban well-being, and inclusive urban environments in a Latin American metropolis. Full article

Violence against children constitutes a global public health emergency, necessitating innovative prevention strategies within the school environment. While the benefits of visual arts on socio-emotional development are well-documented, their specific impact on preventing interpersonal violence remains under-synthesized. This critical narrative review analyzes existing literature (2000–2025) through a corpus of 14 empirical studies (exclusive visual arts interventions and multimodal programs) conducted with children aged 5 to 12. The results reveal a dichotomy: while art-centered interventions demonstrate robust effects on emotional regulation and anger reduction (protective factors), evidence for a direct reduction in violent behaviors primarily stems from large-scale multimodal programs. Although promising as a lever for universal prevention and the facilitation of disclosure, the visual arts require further randomized controlled trials to validate their direct behavioral efficacy. This review proposes an Integrative Mechanisms Model (IMM) to structure future research on visual arts-based violence prevention and advances a renewed evaluative agenda centered on children’s possible selves and future-oriented identity development in the context of violence prevention. Full article

Objective: This paper investigates how Generation Z students perceive the quality, accessibility, and capacity of higher education in the Czech Republic, with relevance for the wider Visegrád (V4) region and for the design of educational platforms. Methodology: The study draws on a questionnaire survey of 819 students and analyses 38 Likert-type statements aggregated into five domains: digitalisation and technology, innovation in teaching, practical orientation and mobility, support and well-being, and capacity constraints and infrastructure. The analysis combines descriptive statistics, reliability and dimensionality checks, Pearson correlation analysis with normality and robustness diagnostics, and subgroup comparisons by gender, level of study, field of study, institution type, and age group. Results: Students report the strongest agreement with digitalisation and technology (M = 3.90) and practical orientation and mobility (M = 3.89), while support and well-being (M = 3.40) and capacity constraints and infrastructure (M = 3.36) remain weaker. Perceived adequacy of the student–teacher ratio is positively associated with perceived teacher availability (r = 0.37) and emotional support (r = 0.34), while teacher availability is positively associated with emotional support (r = 0.44). Subgroup tests indicate limited but meaningful differences, particularly by institution type, field of study, and age group. Conclusion: The findings suggest that Generation Z students value digitally enabled, practice-oriented and innovative educational platforms, but sustainable quality improvement also requires investment in human capacity, teacher availability, and student-facing support systems. Full article

Emerging adulthood may be particularly challenging for young people who have graduated from educational frameworks for adolescents at risk, many of whom have faced complex social, emotional, or familial hardships, alongside academic challenges such as school dropout, yet the mechanisms linking such adversity to well-being remain insufficiently understood. Drawing on Self-Determination Theory, this study examined whether satisfaction of three basic psychological needs (autonomy, competence, and relatedness) mediates the association between negative life events and mental well-being among emerging adults from at-risk educational backgrounds. Participants were 256 Israeli emerging adults (aged 18–25; 48.8% female) who had completed their secondary education in frameworks for youth at risk. Mental well-being was assessed across emotional, social, and psychological dimensions, alongside measures of negative life events and need satisfaction. Parallel mediation analyses indicated that exposure to a greater number of negative life events was associated with lower psychological need satisfaction. Direct effects of negative life events on well-being became nonsignificant once need satisfaction was included, whereas total indirect effects remained significant across outcomes. Competence emerged as the most consistent mediator, while autonomy was specific to emotional well-being and relatedness to social and psychological well-being. These findings identify need satisfaction as a key mechanism linking adversity to well-being and highlight the importance of maintaining supportive relational and developmental structures for young adults transitioning out of at-risk educational frameworks. Full article