Search Results (294)

Background/Objectives: Hope plays an important role in coping with difficulties and is predictive of resilience, improving the skills necessary to sustain life plans and well-being, and overcoming stressful situations in adulthood and especially in older age adults. We hypothesised that the dimensions of hope, including spirituality, are connected to personal, educational, and contextual conditions, and play a mediating role in fostering resilience and well-being after stressful events; this mediating role might differ in adulthood and among the elderly. Methods: The sample consisted of 100 adults without severe pathologies and living in their own homes, aged between 50 and 86 years (M = 66.08; SD = 8.48). They completed an online survey that included the Stress Event scale, the Comprehensive State Hope Scale, the Resilience Scale for Adults, and the Well-being Profile. The data were analysed using SPSS and JAMOVI software, applying the following statistical tests: t-test, ANOVA and mediational model. Results: Stressful events influence resilience and well-being differently in adulthood and old age, with non-significant differences due to gender and living conditions. Hope mediates between stress resulting from negative life events and resilience and well-being, but this mediation involves different hope components for adults (trust) and older adults (self-realisation and perception of social support in interpersonal relationships). Spirituality is a non-significant mediator in both age stages. Conclusions: Appropriate psychological and psychosocial supports are needed to enhance the mediating potential of hope between stressful events and resilience. The results of our study help clarify which components of hope specifically promote resilience in different conditions of normal old age, differentiating them from those more beneficial for adults. Full article

The construction sector is traditionally known for a harsh working culture characterized by uncertainty, frequent crises, and long working hours, which increase stress among employees at all organizational levels. The primary objective of the present research is to examine the extent to which workplace stress factors grouped under organisational/interpersonal, task and physical stressor categories influence professionals within the construction industry. A cross-sectional online survey of 185 construction professionals in Turkey was conducted between October 2024 and February 2025. Findings reveal that the task stressors category associated with increased workload exerts the most significant adverse effect on employees, while organisational/interpersonal stressors are the least impactful. The analysis also shows significant variations in perceptions across different demographic and workplace contexts. An overwhelming majority of significant differences between male and female employees occur within the “Organizational/Interpersonal Stressors”, with six out of the eight significant factors falling under this category. In particular, the most pronounced gender-based differences are observed in specific areas such as gender and age discrimination in promotion and development opportunities at work, fear of failure at the job/job insecurity and insufficient encouragement/support from managers. In addition, young professionals and employees of medium sized firms are found to be more severely influenced by task stressors. By highlighting the differing perceptions of stress factors among employees based on their demographic profiles, these findings provide insights for managers in formulating effective organizational policies. Establishing goals about streamlining tasks, reviewing hiring policies to reduce workloads, providing guidance and training for employees’ task prioritization skills, and implementing workload redistribution strategies are some of the strategies that may be considered by organisations in the construction industry. Full article

Emerging research highlights important distinctions in symptomatology between Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) resulting from a single, discrete event, complex interpersonal traumas in the past, and the pervasive effects of chronic, ongoing complex trauma. Despite these well-documented differences, much of the existing practice and professional guidelines for PTSD-focused interventions apply a uniform framework across the distinct clinical presentations resulting from different types and timing of trauma exposure. This gap carries significant clinical consequences, as individuals may be treated for PTSD and comorbid diagnoses or behavioral difficulties without recognition of the impact of persistent ongoing exposure to trauma. The present article is a clinical applications paper that directly builds upon a prior published theoretical and empirical literature review study that introduces the construct of persistent trauma. The objectives are to (1) examine the effects of persistent trauma; (2) explore four types of persistent trauma exposure differentiated by the predictability and preventability of past and current trauma; and (3) offer intervention strategies tailored to each type of persistent trauma. Using a composite case study methodology, we present intervention strategies to inform treatment for children and families who continue to experience each form of persistent trauma. Full article

Background/Objectives: Bipolar II disorder is frequently misdiagnosed as unipolar depression, particularly when depressive symptoms predominate and hypomanic features are subtle or overlooked. This case study describes a patient initially treated for postpartum depression who later developed antidepressant-induced hypomanic symptoms, leading to the correct diagnosis of bipolar II disorder. The objective is to illustrate diagnostic complexities and highlight the value of an integrated treatment approach. Methods: Clinical assessment included standardized mood rating scales, structured interviews, functional evaluations, and monitoring of sleep and physical health indicators. Treatment combined mood-stabilizing pharmacotherapy with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), psychoeducation, and interpersonal and social rhythm therapy (IPSRT). Lifestyle interventions targeted sleep hygiene, physical activity, and stress management. Results: The diagnosis of bipolar II disorder was supported by the emergence of hypomanic symptoms following antidepressant treatment. The integrated therapeutic plan resulted in sustained mood stabilization, normalization of sleep patterns, improved occupational and social functioning, and reductions in depressive and hypomanic symptom scores. Physical health indicators, including body mass index, also improved. Conclusions: This case underscores the importance of comprehensive assessment and careful interpretation of antidepressant response in suspected bipolar presentations. A multimodal treatment approach integrating medication, psychotherapy, and lifestyle modification contributed to significant clinical improvement and may serve as a model for managing complex bipolar II presentations. Full article

The current systematic review modified the Enduring Vulnerability Stress Adaptation model of relationship functioning and the Attachment System Activation model of individual functioning to incorporate various aspects of orgasmic functioning within the broader context of sexual health and sexual satisfaction. This provided conceptual frameworks for integrating the findings on a wide range of correlates of orgasms, sexual satisfaction, and other components of sexual health into comprehensive models of individual and interpersonal functioning to guide future research. A systematic search of the ProQuest, PubMed, and Web of Science databases (through September, 2025) for records linking sexual satisfaction with at least one other component of sexual health or at least one correlate (distress, well-being, physical health, relationship satisfaction, attachment avoidance, or attachment anxiety) yielded 3369 unique records, resulting in a final set of 228 records, representing 281 independent (sub)samples and a final combined sample of 248,021 participants. A total of 1201 effects were extracted, yielding 44 meta-analytic effects (using random effects modeling). Path analyses of meta-analytic correlation matrices revealed that dimensions of sexual health (i.e., sexual satisfaction, orgasms, sexual desire, lack of sexual pain, vaginal lubrication) demonstrated unique links to greater health, interpersonal functioning, and individual functioning (i.e., higher psychological well-being, physical health, and relationship satisfaction; lower psychological distress, attachment anxiety, and attachment avoidance). Meta-regression moderation analyses revealed that the effect linking orgasms to higher sexual satisfaction was especially pronounced for women and for individuals in clinical (sub)samples. In addition, the link between orgasms and lower distress was especially pronounced for older individuals. The findings were limited by the cross-sectional nature of the vast majority of the findings (96%), leaving the directions of causality unclear. Taken together, these results highlight the central role that sexual health might play in individual and relationship health, supporting the proposed conceptual models and highlighting directions for future research. Full article

Background/Objectives: Occupational stress among police officers has been widely studied internationally, yet little is known about how stressors manifest in smaller, post-transition European contexts such as Lithuania. The study aimed to identify key occupational stressors among Lithuanian police officers and to examine how stress patterns differ by gender, job position, and years of service, using a multidimensional framework of organizational and interpersonal factors. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2024–2025 among 381 police officers from five randomly selected Lithuanian police stations. Participants completed the validated Lithuanian version of the Health and Safety Executive Management Standards Indicator Tool (HSE-MSIT). Seven domains of occupational stress were analyzed: job demands, managerial and peer support, relationships, organizational change, work control, and role clarity. Statistical analyses included Mann–Whitney U test, univariate ANOVA, and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with multi-group invariance testing. Results: The CFA supported a second-order structure of job stress, although model fit indices showed moderate adequacy (CFI = 0.768, TLI = 0.751). Managerial support, change at work, and peer support were the strongest contributors to the overall stress construct. While gender-related differences were minimal, officers with longer tenure reported lower job demands and greater role clarity. Junior officers expressed a more positive perception of feedback from managers and organizational changes. Measurement invariance tests revealed some item-level non-invariance, suggesting that group comparisons should be interpreted with caution. Conclusions: Occupational stress among Lithuanian police officers is primarily shaped by organizational rather than individual factors. Enhancing managerial competence, communication transparency, and peer-support mechanisms could substantially improve officers’ psychological well-being and resilience within law enforcement institutions. Full article

At present, teachers face working environments characterised by high levels of stress, largely due to constant interaction with students and the multiple challenges inherent in the educational context. In this scenario, the development of socio-emotional competencies (SECs) becomes an essential component of their professional education, as it enables them to manage their emotions effectively and build positive interpersonal relationships within the educational community. Objective: The aim of this research was to analyse the dimensions, strategies, and success factors of education programmes in socio-emotional competencies (SECs) aimed at pre-service teachers. Method: A systematic literature review was carried out using the PRISMA method. Publications in English and Spanish, published between 2019 and 2024 in peer-reviewed academic journals and focused on the university level, were included. Conference proceedings, books, book chapters, and articles not centred on SECs were excluded. The search was conducted in the Web of Science (WOS), Scopus, and ERIC databases, with the final search date being 24 January 2025. After applying the inclusion criteria, eight empirical studies were selected. Results: The reviewed programmes demonstrated similarities in their methodological designs and in the socio-emotional competencies addressed. The practical sessions were based on cooperative methodologies that promoted experiential learning and reflection. The strategies used included video and text analysis, portfolios, role-playing, and simulations. The effectiveness of the programmes was assessed primarily through self-report techniques, such as questionnaires, scales, and interviews. In addition, some studies complemented these strategies with simulations using avatars, content analysis, and digital video recordings. This diversity of approaches reflects the absence of a uniform evaluation criterion; nevertheless, the findings consistently demonstrate the effectiveness of the programmes. Conclusion: The intervention programmes analysed proved effective in developing key competencies in future teachers, such as emotional awareness, self-regulation, empathy, and communication skills. Among the limitations identified in the intervention programmes are biases in sample selection, reflected in the participation of small or unrepresentative groups. This systematic review highlights the relevance of socio-emotional competences in pre-service teachers, addressing the gap caused by the limited number of longitudinal studies. The evidence consolidates current knowledge and underscores effective practices and interventions that enhance educational quality. Full article

Background: Medical education is highly demanding and often entails stress, pressure, and competition. Understanding what drives students’ satisfaction is essential to support learning and well-being. This study aims to identify factors associated with satisfaction with medical education among Polish medical students, focusing on motivation, personal circumstances, resilience, and the long-term impact of COVID-19. Methods: In a cross-sectional online survey, 334 students from years one, four, and six completed measures of satisfaction with medical studies (nineteen items), motivation (ten items), resilience (using the Brief Resilience Scale), self-rated health, financial situation, global life satisfaction, and study-related stress, plus eight items on COVID-19 impact. Associations were assessed using Spearman correlations and Mann–Whitney U tests. Results: Higher satisfaction was associated with intrinsic motivation (e.g., personal decision to study medicine or interest in medicine), more favorable personal circumstances (better health, financial situation, higher global life satisfaction, and lower stress), and greater individual resilience. Students reporting pandemic-related setbacks (knowledge gaps, reduced confidence, curtailed clinical exposure, and interpersonal skills) showed lower satisfaction with overall experience, relationships, theoretical and practical classes, and perceived future competence. Conclusions: Intrinsic motivation, resilience, and supportive personal circumstances were linked to higher satisfaction, whereas enduring pandemic disruptions coincided with lower satisfaction across domains. Targeted strategies that cultivate intrinsic motivation and resilience and address financial/health stressors and COVID-19 learning gaps may enhance student satisfaction. Full article

Background: Conflicts are an inevitable part of interpersonal relationships, and personality traits influence how they are resolved. In the nursing work environment, conflicts often arise from poor communication and stress, negatively impacting nurses’ well-being and quality of care. The “Big Five” personality model highlights how traits such as extraversion, agreeableness, and emotional stability shape conflict approaches. Understanding these traits aids in developing effective conflict management strategies. This study investigates intragroup conflicts among nurses by identifying their types and examining how sociodemographic factors and personality traits predict their occurrence. The aim is to provide insights that support targeted interventions and improve team dynamics in nursing practice. Methods: The study was conducted as a cross-sectional analysis within the University Hospital Centre Osijek from March to August 2024, involving nurses and technicians. Data was collected using structured questionnaires with clearly defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The questionnaire included the Process Conflict Scale, the Big Five Inventory, and a Demographic questionnaire. Appropriate statistical analyses were conducted, including descriptive statistics, normality testing with the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, non-parametric Spearman and Point-Biserial correlations, and linear regression to examine predictors of intragroup conflicts. All assumptions for regression were met, with significance set at p < 0.05, and analyses were performed using JASP software version 0.17.2.1. Results: The research reveals significant differences among various types of team conflicts, where personality traits such as neuroticism increase, while conscientiousness decreases conflicts. The professional competence of respondents also positively correlates with logistical conflicts, and personality explains the variance in conflicts among nurses. Conclusions: Intragroup conflicts among nurses, particularly task-related, stem from communication issues and high care standards. Neuroticism negatively affects team dynamics, while conscientiousness can reduce conflicts but may also lead to disagreements if expectations are unmet. Education on conflict management and clearly defined roles can improve teamwork and quality of care. Full article

Background: Sexual dysfunction (SD) is a common yet under-recognized consequence of traumatic brain injury (TBI), with significant implications for physical health, psychological well-being, interpersonal relationships and social reintegration. Although TBI research has largely focused on cognitive, motor and behavioral outcomes, the impact of SD remains insufficiently addressed in both clinical practice and rehabilitation programs. Objectives: This review aims to synthesize current evidence on the prevalence, mechanisms and management of SD following TBI, while emphasizing the importance of gender-sensitive and multidisciplinary approaches to care. Methods: A narrative review was conducted by searching PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science for English-language articles published between 2000 and 2025 using combinations of the following keywords: traumatic brain injury, sexual dysfunction, neuroendocrine dysfunction, psychological sequelae and rehabilitation. Priority was given to peer-reviewed clinical studies, systematic reviews and expert consensus guidelines that addressed neurological, endocrine, cognitive, psychological and social aspects of SD in TBI survivors. Exclusion criteria included case reports with insufficient clinical detail and non-peer-reviewed sources. Articles were screened for relevance to both pathophysiological mechanisms and therapeutic strategies. Results: The etiology of post-TBI SD is multifactorial, involving direct neurological injury, hypothalamic–pituitary dysfunction, emotional and cognitive impairments, as well as psychological challenges such as stigma and relationship strain. Men and women may present distinct symptom profiles; for instance, men more frequently report erectile dysfunction and hypogonadism, whereas women more commonly experience challenges with arousal, lubrication and psychological stress. Effective interventions include pharmacotherapy, hormone replacement therapy, psychotherapy and rehabilitative approaches designed to restore intimacy and quality of life. Optimal outcomes are achieved through multidisciplinary collaboration among neurology, endocrinology, psychiatry, psychology and rehabilitation medicine. Conclusions: Sexual dysfunction should be recognized as a critical component of TBI sequelae rather than a secondary concern. Routine screening, gender-sensitive assessment and the integration of individualized, multidisciplinary care pathways are essential to improving patient outcomes. Advancing clinical awareness and standardization in this area holds the potential to significantly enhance the holistic recovery and reintegration of TBI survivors. Full article

Background: Mental health issues among employees are a growing concern globally, particularly in high-stress environments such as Korean workplaces. This study was conducted to analyze the relationships between life stressors and depressive symptoms among Korean employees, focusing on the moderating effects of alcohol consumption and age. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 8432 Korean employees. The participants completed assessments for depressive symptoms, alcohol consumption, and seven major life stressors (workplace stress, family relationships, interpersonal conflicts, health problems, financial strain, traumatic events, and mannerisms). Moderation analyses were performed using Hayes’ PROCESS macro. Results: The severity of depressive symptoms significantly increased with higher levels of alcohol consumptions. The findings indicated that age moderated the relationship between interpersonal conflict stress and depressive symptoms, suggesting that the association between interpersonal stress and depression was weaker among older individuals. Conversely, alcohol consumption moderated the relationship between traumatic event stress and depressive symptoms, suggesting that higher alcohol use intensifies the impact of traumatic stress on depression. Conclusions: This study provides insights into the complex interactions between life stressors, alcohol consumption, and depressive symptoms in Korean employees. The findings highlight the need for age-specific mental health interventions and early intervention for excessive alcohol consumption, especially for individuals experiencing traumatic events. Full article

Background: Inter-brain synchrony (IBS)—the temporal alignment of neural activity between individuals during social interactions—has emerged as a key construct in social neuroscience, reflecting shared attention, emotional attunement, and coordinated behavior. Enabled by hyperscanning techniques, IBS has been observed across a range of dyadic contexts, including cooperation, empathy, and communication. This systematic review synthesizes recent empirical findings on inter-brain synchrony (IBS)—the temporal alignment of neural activity between individuals—across psychological and neurodevelopmental conditions, including stress, anxiety, depression, and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Methods: Drawing on 30 studies employing hyperscanning methodologies (EEG, fNIRS, fMRI), we examined how IBS patterns vary by clinical condition, dyad type, and brain region. Results: Findings indicate that IBS is generally reduced in anxiety, depression, and ASD, particularly in key social brain regions such as the dorsolateral and medial prefrontal cortices (dlPFC, mPFC, vmPFC), temporoparietal junction (TPJ), and inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), suggesting impaired emotional resonance and social cognition. In contrast, stress elicited both increases and decreases in IBS, modulated by context, emotional proximity, and cooperative strategies. Parent–child, therapist–client, and romantic dyads exhibited distinct synchrony profiles, with gender and relational dynamics further shaping neural coupling. Conclusions: Collectively, the findings support IBS as a potentially dynamic, condition-sensitive, and contextually modulated neurophysiological indicator of interpersonal functioning, with implications for diagnostics, intervention design, and the advancement of social neuroscience in clinical settings. Full article

Background: Repeat induced abortion (defined as ≥two lifetime procedures) is becoming more common worldwide, yet its independent influence on women’s psychological health remains contested, particularly in settings where access to modern contraception is restricted. Objectives: This review sought to quantify the burden of depression, anxiety, stress, and generic quality of life (QoL) among women with repeat abortions and to determine how barriers to contraceptive access alter those outcomes. Methods: Following the preregistered PRISMA-2020 protocol, PubMed, Embase and Scopus were searched from inception to 31 June 2025. Results: Eight eligible studies comprising approximately 262,000 participants (individual sample sizes up to 79,609) revealed wide variation in psychological morbidity. Prevalence of clinically significant symptoms ranged from 5.5% to 24.8% for depression, 8.3% to 31.2% for anxiety, and 18.8% to 27% for perceived stress; frequent mental distress affected 12.3% of women in neutral policy environments but rose to 21.9% under highly restrictive abortion legislation. Having three or more abortions, compared with none or one, increased the odds of depressive symptoms by roughly one-third (pooled OR ≈ 1.37, 95% CI 1.13–1.67). Contextual factors exerted comparable or stronger effects: abortions sought for socioeconomic reasons elevated depression odds by 34%, unwanted disclosure of the abortion episode increased depressive scores by 0.62 standard deviations, and low partner support raised them by 0.67 SD. At the structural level, every standard deviation improvement in a state’s reproductive rights index reduced frequent mental distress odds by 5%, whereas enactment of a near-total legal ban produced an absolute increase of 6.8 percentage points. QoL outcomes were less frequently reported; where measured, denied or heavily delayed abortions were associated with a 0.41-unit decrement on a seven-point life satisfaction scale. Conclusions: Psychological morbidity after abortion clusters where legal hostility, financial hardship, or interpersonal coercion constrain contraceptive autonomy while, in comparison, the mere number of procedures is a weaker predictor. Interventions that integrate stigma-free mental health support with confidential, affordable, and rights-based contraception are essential to protect well-being in women who experience repeat abortions. Full article

The university period is a transitional stage during which students develop heterogeneous interpersonal styles to navigate complex social demands. While prior studies have linked interpersonal functioning to adaptability and mental health, structural differences across interpersonal style groups remain underexplored. Therefore, the current research was designed to examine whether and how adaptability is differentially related to mental health symptoms when considered within the framework of distinct interpersonal style profiles. Using K-means clustering, we identified three distinct interpersonal profiles: the withdrawn and avoidant type, the overinvolved and compliant type, and the well-adjusted interpersonal type. Based on this classification, network analyses were conducted to examine how six dimensions of adaptability related to three core mental health symptoms within each group. The results showed a consistent pattern across all profiles, with emotional adaptability negatively associated with depression, anxiety, and stress. Subsequent network comparison analyses demonstrated that the withdrawn and avoidant group differed significantly in structure from the well-adjusted interpersonal group, particularly in the connections involving emotional, interpersonal, and economic adaptability. By uncovering meaningful differences in adaptability-mental health associations across interpersonal style, this study provides a foundation for designing targeted strategies that address the unique adaptabilities and mental health problems of distinct interpersonal profiles. Full article

Building psychological safety is vital for preventing workplace bullying and for sustaining employee well-being, organizational performance, and work engagement. This study developed and evaluated a short-term intervention promoting psychological safety and communication skills. The program provided strategies for addressing during high-stress situations and fostered a shared understanding of honest communication. A cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted in a pharmaceutical company, with departments assigned to intervention or control groups. The effects were examined using a generalized linear mixed-effect model. In the intervention group, psychological safety with supervisors and teams significantly increased, preceding a significant rise in consultation tendencies, whereas bullying and supervisor-related intimidation significantly decreased. Work engagement declined in the control group but remained stable in the intervention group. These findings demonstrate that the program enhanced psychological safety, enabling employees to express opinions without irrational fear, which in turn increased consultation, improved communication, reduced bullying, and sustained work engagement. The group-based format further emphasized mutual understanding and skill-sharing, providing broad organizational benefits. This study positions psychological safety as a proximal mechanism that facilitates consultation behaviors and demonstrates the feasibility of integrating brief, evidence-based training into routine organizational development. Full article