Search Results (710)

External resources, digital competence, and psychological characteristics have each been linked to Artificial Intelligence (AI) literacy, but almost always in isolation, so the unique contribution of any one domain remains unknown. Grounded in social cognitive theory, this study models all three domains jointly. Data were collected from 303 undergraduates at a liberal arts university in Hong Kong and analysed using hierarchical multiple regression. Perceived resources and perceived teacher support explained 29% of the variance in AI literacy; prior digital competence added a further 3%; and personal innovativeness, technology anxiety, and growth mindset in technology added a further 6%, with all three being significant in the final model (total R² = 0.39). The external predictors remained significant throughout but attenuated substantially, indicating that institutional provision is necessary but not sufficient. Technology anxiety, which correlated negatively with AI literacy at the zero-order level, emerged as a positive predictor once other determinants were controlled. Analyses of the five AI literacy subdimensions localised this effect to critical evaluation and ethical competence and found no association with the three performance-oriented dimensions, suggesting that anxiety operates through heightened vigilance rather than enhanced operational skill. These findings, which no single-domain design could have produced, indicate that fostering AI literacy requires attention to students’ psychological readiness and foundational digital skills alongside the provision of infrastructure. Full article

Context: Previous studies and reviews in adult patients have shown that hope is an important coping mechanism in patients with serious health problems. Although there are individual studies in pediatric patients, there is a lack of a systematic review of how hope manifests and how it can be supported in children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. Objectives: This systematic review aims to identify the key factors that are associated with the experience of hope in pediatric palliative care. It examines how hope is fostered or diminished in children with life-limiting illnesses, their parents, and other family members. Methods: A systematic search was conducted across major medical databases for studies published between 1990 and 2024. Thematic analysis was used to identify factors associated with hope. The quality of the included studies was critically appraised. Results: Out of 1373 identified records, 105 studies met the inclusion criteria. Most studies were qualitative in design and met a high proportion of the applicable criteria in their respective design-specific appraisal tools. Factors associated with increased hope included open and empathetic communication, trusting relationships with healthcare providers, strong social and family support, spiritual and religious faith, effective symptom management, involvement in care decisions, and access to practical resources. Conversely, reduced hope was associated with poor communication, social isolation, uncontrolled symptoms, uncertainty, caregiver distress, financial strain, and negative healthcare experiences. These factors were consistent across cultural and diagnostic contexts, with some variation in emphasis. Conclusions: Hope in pediatric palliative care is associated with relational, psychological, spiritual, and systemic factors. Many of these are modifiable. A family-centered and multidisciplinary approach is essential to sustaining hope in pediatric palliative contexts. Full article

Loneliness and social isolation are related but distinct experiences, and their relative contributions to mental health among men who have sex with men (MSM) remain insufficiently studied in Portugal. This cross-sectional online survey of 641 cisgender MSM (age 18–74 years; M = 38.51, SD = 12.83) examined associations among loneliness, objective connectivity, interpersonal belonging, LGBTQIA+ community belonging, social-network composition, negative affect, and psychological distress, using the UCLA Loneliness Scale, the Social Isolation Scale, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21, and a short Portuguese Positive and Negative Affect Schedule. LGBTQIA+ community belonging and LGBTQIA+ network representation were assessed with single items. Correlations, multiple regressions, and two moderation models were estimated with heteroscedasticity-consistent standard errors and sensitivity analyses. Loneliness was the strongest independent correlate of psychological distress (β = 0.509, p < 0.001, R² = 0.353) and negative affect (β = 0.398, p < 0.001, R² = 0.193). Interpersonal belonging showed a small, borderline inverse association with distress (β = −0.10, p = 0.050) that did not survive covariate adjustment. Neither LGBTQIA+ community belonging nor LGBTQIA+ network representation moderated the loneliness–distress association. Subjective loneliness was more closely tied to distress than objective connectivity or broad community integration. These cross-sectional findings are consistent with the value of examining interventions that address the quality and reciprocity of close relationships alongside affirming community resources. Full article

This study examined the applicability of forest therapy in alleviating psychological distress among socially isolated young adults, with a particular focus on their associations with the mindfulness. A total of 159 socially isolated young adults were recruited from the community and participated in a two-day, one-night forest therapy program. Psychological distress (depression, anxiety, loneliness, and stress) and mindfulness were assessed before and after the program. Multilevel analyses were conducted to examine changes in psychological distress and mindfulness following participation, as well as whether the five mindfulness subcomponents (nonreactivity, observing, acting with awareness, describing, and non-judging) were associated with individual differences in changes in these outcomes. The results indicated reductions in depression, anxiety, stress, and loneliness, along with an increase in overall mindfulness after the program. Among the mindfulness subcomponents, reductions in psychological distress over time occurred most closely in parallel with changes in nonreactivity, non-judging, and acting with awareness, whereas the parallel was weaker for describing and observing. These findings suggest that forest therapy may be a promising intervention for reducing psychological distress among socially isolated young adults, and that incorporating activities designed to cultivate mindfulness skills—particularly nonreactivity, non-judging, and awareness—could further enhance its mental health benefits. As this study did not include a control group, randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these effects. Full article

Background: Family caregivers play a central role in supporting people with colorectal cancer (CRC) and often manage complex physical, emotional, and practical demands. However, evidence regarding their experiences and supportive care needs in Kazakhstan remains limited. This qualitative study explored caregiving experiences, caregiving burden, caregivers’ needs, and coping strategies. Methods: A qualitative descriptive design was used, involving semi-structured interviews with 21 family caregivers caring for patients with CRC. Participants were recruited purposively from the Medical Center of West Kazakhstan Marat Ospanov Medical University and outpatient clinics in Aktobe between December 2025 and March 2026. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using inductive reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Most family caregivers of patients with colorectal cancer were women (95.2%). Five main themes developed: emotional challenges, transformation of daily life, caregiving tasks, caregivers’ needs and support gaps, and coping strategies and resilience. Diagnosis was described as a distressing experience characterized by shock, fear, and uncertainty. Caregiving substantially disrupted employment, financial stability, and family roles, often requiring work adjustment or leaving the workforce. Caregivers reported insufficient preparation for stoma care and expressed a strong need for structured training. Social isolation was common, as both caregivers and patients experienced a shrinking of their social support networks. Despite substantial burden, caregivers described adaptive responses to ongoing emotional and practical demands, and resilience was a prominent theme. Conclusions: Family caregivers of patients with colorectal cancer in Kazakhstan face interconnected emotional, informational, physical, and system-level challenges, while also drawing on resilience. The findings highlight priorities for support, including structured stoma care education, psychological services, recognition of caregivers’ roles, and improved discharge and transitional care. Full article

Social disconnection has become a public-health concern, but it remains unclear whether mental-health symptoms are more closely related to limited social contact or to the subjective experience of loneliness. This cross-sectional study examined 632 self-selected adults living in Portugal, recruited online, and explored whether loneliness helps explain the association between social isolation and psychological distress across small, medium, and large cities. Participants completed self-report measures of loneliness, social isolation, depression, anxiety, stress, and positive and negative affect. Loneliness was a salient experience: the mean score was close to the scale midpoint, and 36.2% of participants scored above it. Higher loneliness was associated with greater psychological distress, greater social isolation, lower positive affect, and higher negative affect. When loneliness was considered together with social isolation, the direct link between isolation and distress became minimal, suggesting that distress was more closely connected to how social disconnection was experienced than to contact frequency alone. This pattern was similar across city sizes, and average levels of loneliness, isolation, distress, and affect did not meaningfully differ between small, medium, and large cities. Overall, the findings are consistent with loneliness as a candidate target for mental-health promotion in this sample of Portuguese adults, although longitudinal studies are needed to clarify causal pathways. Full article

Background: Over the past decades, the global onset of menarche has progressively advanced, driven by complex interactions between metabolic, psychosocial, and environmental factors. Beyond its reproductive significance, menarche represents a critical developmental milestone that coincides with increased vulnerability to mental health difficulties. Contemporary determinants such as childhood obesity, early-life adversity, and exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) may accelerate pubertal timing while simultaneously shaping adverse psychological trajectories during adolescence. Objectives: This review aims to provide a translational and clinically oriented synthesis of modern determinants of earlier menarche and their associations with mental health outcomes in girls and adolescents, highlighting implications for early identification, prevention, and integrated clinical care. Methods: We conducted a narrative review mapping a scoping literature search conducted using PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and PsycINFO, focusing on literature from the last decade (2016–2026), with emphasis on systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and longitudinal cohort studies. Evidence was synthesized across biological, psychosocial, and environmental domains. Results: Accumulating evidence indicates that higher childhood adiposity, psychosocial stress, and EDC exposure are consistently associated with advanced pubertal timing. Earlier menarche correlates with an elevated risk of depressive symptoms, anxiety, self-harm, and body image-related distress, although effect sizes vary across populations. Emerging longitudinal data suggest that the peri-menarcheal period represents a critical window for symptom exacerbation. These associations appear to be mediated by biological mechanisms (e.g., hormonal shifts, hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis reactivity) and social processes including peer-comparison dynamics and premature sexualization. Conclusions: Earlier menarche acts as a biopsychosocial sentinel event rather than an isolated gynecological milestone. Integrating mental health screening and anticipatory guidance into pediatric and gynecological care is essential for early risk detection. A multidisciplinary, equity-oriented approach is required to address both individual vulnerability and broader environmental determinants. Full article

Chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) is a complex and highly prevalent condition among older adults that contributes to suffering and disability. It is frequently underestimated and normalized as part of aging. This scoping review aimed to identify and describe the consequences of CNCP on the daily lives of older adults. A scoping review was conducted following the Arksey and O’Malley framework and the PRISMA-ScR reporting guidelines. Searches were performed in five databases (CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and PubMed) and in grey literature between January and February 2026. The protocol was registered in the Open Science Framework (OSF). The level of evidence was appraised using the Center for Evidence-Based Medicine criteria. Forty-four articles were included that met the established inclusion criteria. CNCP exerted a multidimensional negative impact. Physically, it was associated with increased frailty, higher risk of falls, and disability in activities of daily living. Psychologically, it correlated with anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances. Socially, it contributed to isolation and created financial barriers that limited access to health services. CNCP represents a critical barrier to older adults’ wellbeing. Nursing should prioritize early detection and avoid the normalization of pain in clinical practice. Knowledge gaps remain regarding gender perspectives and mental health outcomes. Full article

Human societies depend on prestige hierarchies that confer status on demonstrated competence, alongside the dominance hierarchies that rely on coercion and that humans share with other primates. The same neural processes that support cooperative learning under prestige are hypothesized to participate in rivalry, polarization, and ideological hostility when their operating environments depart from those in which they evolved. This selective narrative review proposes a candidate integrative framework, the Hypothesized Neural Integration Model of Prestige and Pride, drawing on converging but largely indirect evidence from affective neuroscience, neuroeconomics, evolutionary psychology, and social neuroscience. The framework groups five categories of functionally pluripotent processing, each understood as engaging nodes within overlapping large-scale brain networks rather than as a localized regional mechanism: valuation-related processing implicating orbitofrontal and ventromedial prefrontal cortex, reward-learning signals indexed in the ventral striatum, self-referential and identity-relevant processing engaging medial prefrontal cortex within the default-mode network, threat- and salience-related processing involving the amygdala and anterior cingulate cortex within the salience network, and neuroendocrine output regulated through the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis and modulated by gonadal and neuropeptide systems. Consistent with Poldrack on reverse inference and with Marr on levels of analysis, the framework is presented at an integrative implementational level with candidate algorithmic mappings specified for each category, not as a computational specification of the constructs themselves, and treats high-level constructs such as prestige, status, and sacred value as emergent phenomena arising from dynamic network interactions, bodily states, cultural contexts, and historical contingencies rather than as properties localized to single regions. Because few neuroimaging paradigms isolate freely conferred deference from generic social rank, claims specific to prestige are deliberately restricted throughout, and the evidence base is presented as one concerning social rank unless a paradigm operationalizes prestige directly. Material ownership, sacred values, religious belief, and digital prestige metrics are treated as candidate domains of application, with explicit separation of direct neural evidence, behavioral evidence, and theoretical extrapolation. Symbolic escalation in consumer markets, sacred-value absolutism, and amplified social feedback on digital platforms are interpreted as candidate environmental amplifiers of ancestral status mechanisms rather than demonstrated causal pathways. Nine operational study designs are proposed to guide future preregistered tests, including one designed to establish whether a prestige-specific neural claim can be made at all. Intervention strategies are mapped to candidate processing and network targets using an explicit evidence-grading scheme, with structural and institutional measures weighted equally alongside cognitive and contemplative ones. The framework relies on correlational neuroimaging subject to reverse-inference constraints, draws primarily from samples from Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic populations, and should be evaluated as a hypothesis-generating account rather than as a confirmed neural architecture. Full article

Construction employees in extreme environments face demanding tasks, harsh natural conditions, spatial isolation, and safety-critical coordination. Drawing on the Job Demands-Resources model and the challenge-hindrance framework, this study examines how work stressors are associated with employee resilience in extreme-environment construction projects. Survey data were obtained from 235 project employees at high-altitude sites in western China. Regression-based conditional process analysis estimated direct, indirect, and moderated associations, while fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) examined the configurational patterns linked to high resilience. Challenge stressors were positively associated with resilience, whereas hindrance stressors were negatively associated with resilience. Psychological safety statistically accounted for part of both associations. Perceived digital safety support strengthened the positive challenge-stressor association with psychological safety and the negative hindrance–stressor association with psychological safety. The fsQCA analysis identified three near-threshold patterns associated with high resilience, but the overall solution consistency was 0.7966 and should be interpreted cautiously. The results suggest that project organizations should preserve manageable challenges, reduce avoidable hindrances, support psychologically safe communication, and ensure that digital safety systems provide practical assistance. These findings primarily concern technical and managerial project employees and do not establish causal effects or intervention efficacy. Full article

Human-centered design has taken on an increasingly central role in the 21st century. However, most research on spatial perception has focused on above-ground environments. In contrast, the enclosed nature of underground spaces often induces a sense of insecurity among users, yet it has received far less attention. To address this gap, this study adopts an embodied perspective and focuses on the underground commercial space of the Golden Eagle district in Xuzhou. We selected 22 experimental sites and collected 660 sets of psychological and physiological data from 30 participants. Principal component analysis extracted four principal components: spatial isolation, commercial atmosphere, visual perception, and functional diversity. Correlation and regression analyses showed that spatial isolation and commercial atmosphere were positively associated with subjective safety perception; commercial atmosphere and functional diversity were negatively correlated with electrodermal activity and pupil diameter, suggesting an association with physiological tension; and although the overall linear effect of the visual perception factor was not significant, its constituent indicators exhibited mutually offsetting antagonistic relationships. The conclusions drawn from the data highlight perceptual differences between underground and above-ground spaces and confirm the practical value of this study. The findings suggest, within the specific context of the Golden Eagle underground commercial district, a positive association between spatial isolation/commercial atmosphere and subjective safety perception, and correlated with lower physiological arousal levels and visual vigilance responses, thereby making people feel safer and more comfortable. Full article

Background: Hospitalization and incarceration are distinct institutional experiences, but both may involve reduced autonomy, externally regulated routines, uncertainty, restricted privacy, and disruption of meaningful social relationships. This systematic review examined shared and setting-specific psychological outcomes and associated factors across the two environments. Methods: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library were searched from database inception to 30 January 2026. Of 1149 identified records, 22 studies met the eligibility criteria. Methodological quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool 2018, and findings were synthesized narratively because substantial clinical and methodological heterogeneity precluded meta-analysis. Results: Ten studies examined incarcerated populations and twelve examined hospitalized populations. Across incarceration studies, reported estimates ranged from 14.9% to 72.6% for depressive symptoms or mood disorders and from 23.3% to 77.8% for anxiety symptoms or disorders. Across hospitalization studies, corresponding estimates ranged from 5.1% to 41.0% and from 5.8% to 60.0%, respectively. These ranges reflect heterogeneous screening instruments, diagnostic procedures, populations, and outcome definitions and were not statistically pooled. In both settings, poorer psychological outcomes were associated with reduced perceived control, disrupted routines, uncertainty, limited social support, and individual vulnerability. Setting-specific factors included prison climate, coping style, shame, and sentence-related circumstances in incarceration, and illness severity, functional impairment, prognostic uncertainty, isolation precautions, and prolonged or repeated admission in hospitalization. Findings concerning exposure duration were inconsistent in both settings. Conclusions: Hospitalization and incarceration should not be regarded as psychologically equivalent. Nevertheless, they may share experiential conditions associated with distress, particularly when autonomy, privacy, predictability, and social connectedness are reduced. Because the evidence was heterogeneous and predominantly observational, causal conclusions and direct quantitative comparisons cannot be made. Full article

Suicidal ideation among college students is a multicausal public health concern shaped by individual, family, social, and academic factors. Although prior research has consistently documented associations between psychological distress and suicide risk in this population, most studies analyze risk factors in isolation, leaving the joint contribution of variables across ecological levels insufficiently understood. The present study, framed within Bronfenbrenner’s ecological model of human development and Joiner’s interpersonal theory of suicide, examined the simultaneous influence of clinical, protective, academic, and victimization variables on suicidal ideation in college students. A cross-sectional design was employed with a sample of 553 undergraduate and graduate students (68.9% women; mean age = 20.93 years, SD = 3.81) from the University of Málaga (Spain), recruited through snowball and convenience sampling. Participants completed validated self-report measures of suicidal ideation (Paykel Suicide Scale), depression and anxiety (HADS), eating disorders (CBCAR), self-esteem (RSE), academic stress (SISCO), academic procrastination (APS-SF), bullying, cyberbullying, and social exclusion (QAEU), social support (QFSSS), family satisfaction, healthy habits, and family history of mental illness. Data were analyzed through Pearson and Spearman correlations and a robust multiple linear regression (ordinary least squares with HC3 robust standard errors and bias-corrected and accelerated bootstrap confidence intervals from 5000 resamples), complemented by an ordinal regression as a sensitivity analysis. The regression model accounted for 44.1% of the variance in suicidal ideation, with depression, anxiety, eating disorders, family history of mental illness, and bullying showing significant positive associations and self-esteem the strongest protective association. An ordinal regression sensitivity analysis yielded a consistent pattern, supporting the robustness of these findings. Family and social support, although correlated with lower ideation, lost statistical weight in the multivariate models, suggesting that their contribution operates indirectly, mainly through depression and self-esteem. Findings support the integration of clinical, social, and personal-resource components into college prevention programs, prioritizing early detection of psychopathology, anti-bullying protocols, interventions to strengthen self-esteem, and greater visibility of campus psychological services. Full article

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries represent one of the most common and disruptive conditions in sport. Effective return-to-play (RTP) monitoring requires multidimensional approaches capturing physical, psychological, and sport-specific components rather than reliance on isolated benchmarks. This study aimed to longitudinally examine the RTP process of a female varsity basketball athlete following ACL reconstruction, using a framework integrating physical performance (capacity), biomechanical sport-specific (capability), and psychological (confidence) components relative to pre-injury benchmarks. Data collection included countermovement jump testing with force plates, on-court inertial measurement unit (IMU) monitoring of limb-loading, and psychological questionnaires, analyzed relative to the athlete’s pre-injury baseline, with post-surgical change interpreted against that individualized reference using minimal detectable change thresholds. Pre-injury monitoring indicated stable movement profiles with minor fluctuations. Following ACL reconstruction, jump height recovered within seven weeks of RTP initiation, but notable inter-limb asymmetries persisted in force plate and IMU measures despite high confidence scores. Symmetry improved over time, yet variability in on-court loading remained after clinical clearance. These findings highlight the value of integrated, multidimensional monitoring to detect residual deficits that may be overlooked by traditional outcome-based assessments. This study demonstrates that integrating athlete-specific biomechanical, psychological, and sport-specific assessments relative to pre-injury baselines can support RTP decision-making to enhance individualized recovery trajectories in female athletes. Full article

Youth football academies increasingly utilize physical testing, athlete monitoring, anthropometric profiling, and performance analysis to support athlete development and training management. During adolescence, rapid biological maturation, fluctuating neuromuscular coordination, variable recovery capacity, and ongoing psychological development may substantially influence physical and football-specific performance over time. Consequently, athlete-management decisions based exclusively on isolated testing outcomes may inadequately reflect the developmental needs of young players. This narrative review presents a developmentally informed framework for applied athlete management in youth football academies. The review discusses the interaction between football-specific technical and tactical qualities, physical performance characteristics, biological maturation, somatometric profile, psychological and perceptual-cognitive factors, recovery management, and monitoring strategies during adolescent development. Particular emphasis is placed on practical implementation within real-world academy environments, including low-cost monitoring approaches, intra-club bio-banding, multidisciplinary communication, and athlete-specific intervention planning. Overall, the proposed framework positions athlete monitoring as a continuous support process designed to guide training adjustment, recovery management, and sustainable football progression within youth football development pathways. Full article