Search Results (486)

This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of psychological distress among medical students in Spain, a growing concern given the high prevalence rates of anxiety, depression, and burnout reported across multiple medical schools and universities. To assess the scope and key characteristics of this phenomenon, a thorough literature search was conducted in the PubMed, ProQuest, and Web of Science (WoS) databases. Studies published between 2010 and 2024 in peer-reviewed scientific journals, written in English or Spanish, and specifically focused on medical students enrolled in Spanish universities were considered for inclusion. A total of 14 studies were analysed. The findings indicate that psychological distress often emerges early in medical training and tends to intensify as students progress academically. Female medical students are consistently more affected, as most of the studies reviewed indicate that they exhibit higher levels of depressive symptoms, trait anxiety, and perceived stress. Some research also suggests greater levels of burnout among female students compared to their male peers. Key contributing factors include academic overload and dissatisfaction, sleep deprivation, and the use of maladaptive coping strategies. Although awareness of the issue is increasing, available evidence suggests that institutional responses remain limited, and that only a small number of universities have implemented structured mental health programmes. Overall, the results underscore the urgent need for institutional reforms in Spanish medical education to safeguard students’ mental wellbeing. Key priorities include revising curricula, implementing structured emotional support programmes, and ensuring accessible services—requiring coordinated, long-term commitment across academic, healthcare, and policy sectors. Future research should explore longitudinal trends and the effectiveness of targeted interventions. Full article

Background/Objectives: International students pursuing higher education in the United States face unique challenges that increase their risk of food insecurity, including limited financial resources, employment restrictions, and cultural barriers. While food insecurity among domestic students has been widely studied, limited research focuses on the lived experiences of international graduate students. This study explores the challenges, perceptions, and coping strategies related to food insecurity among international graduate students at a large public university in North Texas. Methods: This qualitative, ethnographic study involved 20 semi-structured interviews with international graduate students who were clients of the university’s food pantry. Participants were recruited using purposive convenience sampling. Interviews focused on students’ experiences with food access, financial constraints, campus resources, and cultural food preferences. Data were analyzed using thematic coding in MAXQDA. Two standardized food insecurity measures—the USDA and FAO scales—were also administered and analyzed using SPSS. Results: Findings revealed that 85% of participants experienced limited access to nutritious and culturally appropriate foods, with 70% reporting hunger due to financial constraints. Themes included lack of cooking skills, limited campus food options, difficulty accessing familiar groceries, and limited job opportunities. Students expressed that food insecurity significantly impacted their physical health, mental well-being, and social lives, though many continued to prioritize academics over personal nourishment. Conclusions: Food insecurity among international graduate students is multifaceted, shaped by financial, cultural, and institutional barriers. Addressing this issue requires culturally sensitive interventions, improved access to diverse food options, tailored student support services, and institutional efforts to better understand and meet the needs of international students. Full article

Background: Mental health issues among medical students have gained increasing attention globally, with studies indicating a high prevalence of psychological disorders within this population. The use of antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications has become a common response to these mental health challenges. However, it is crucial to understand the extent of their usage and associated effects on students’ mental health and academic performance. This cross-sectional study explored the use of antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs and their impact on the mental health of medical students in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 561 medical students from 34 universities was conducted between March and July 2024. An anonymous online questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic, mental health, and medication usage-related information. Results: Most of the participants were female (71.5%) and aged 21–25 years (62.7%). Approximately 23.8% of them used antidepressants, 5.6% reported using anti-anxiety medications, and 14.0% used both types of medication. Among the medication users, 71.7% were using selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and 28.3% were using other medications. Adverse drug reactions were reported by 58.8% of the participants, and 39.6% changed drugs with inadequate efficacy. Notably, 49.0% of the respondents who have ever used medications discontinued their medication without consulting a healthcare professional. Despite these challenges, 62.0% of the participants felt that their medications had a positive impact on their academic performance, 73.4% believed that the benefits outweighed the drawbacks, and 76.2% expressed a willingness to continue taking their medication. In particular, 77.6% agreed that treatment with these drugs could prevent mental breakdowns. Sleep duration, physical activity, and family history of psychiatric disorders were significantly associated with medication use, with p values of 0.002, 0.014, and 0.042, respectively. Conclusions: These results shed light on the need to understand the prescribing practices of antidepressant and anti-anxiety drugs among medical students while promoting the appropriate use of these medications among the students. There is a need to incorporate mental health interventions into counseling services and awareness programs to support students. Future longitudinal studies are needed to explore long-term trends. Full article

Background/Objectives: Pharmacists are highly accessible healthcare providers who have frequent, repeated contact with diverse patient populations. They are poised to offer expanded and comprehensive healthcare, including mental health services. One potential barrier to this is a lack of knowledge, confidence, or training in mental health, which may be overcome with a program like Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to fill this gap in knowledge by critically evaluating all studies of MHFA training for pharmacists or pharmacy students that report on knowledge, attitudes, or self-efficacy outcomes. Methods: A systematic review was performed to identify all relevant studies. Data was extracted and a random-effects meta-analysis was performed for knowledge and attitudes/self-efficacy outcomes, respectively. Subgroup analyses were performed based on survey question type, geographic location, and population studied. Results: Overall, MHFA training significantly increased pharmacists’ and pharmacy students’ knowledge (Hedges’ g = 0.228) and combined attitudinal/self-efficacy measures (Hedges’ g = 0.376). Subgroup analyses based on question type, study quality, design, population studied, and location showed similar, significant effects. Conclusions: MHFA training appears to have significant effects on pharmacist and pharmacy student knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy. Future work should establish the durability of these effects. Full article

Background: International migration is a growing global phenomenon involving diverse groups, such as labor migrants, international marriage migrants, refugees, and international students. International migrants face unique mental health challenges influenced by adversities such as social isolation and limited access to mental health services. This study employs bibliometric methods to systematically analyze the global body of literature on international migrants’ mental health. Methods: The literature on the mental health of international migrants published until October 2024 was searched using the Web of Science database. The search terms included (‘International migrants’ OR ‘migrant workers’ OR ‘international students’ OR ‘refugees’ OR ‘asylum seekers’ OR ‘smuggled migrants’) AND ‘mental health’. VOSviewer was used to conduct bibliometric analysis, focusing on co-authorship patterns, keyword co-occurrence, and citation networks. Results: Over the past four decades, research on the mental health of international migrants has grown substantially, with major migration destinations such as the United States, Europe, and Australia playing prominent roles in this field. ‘Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)’ was the most frequent keyword in publications, with strong links to ‘trauma’ and ‘depression’. In recent years, with the impact of global socioenvironmental changes and emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the research focus has gradually shifted towards social support, service accessibility, and cultural adaptation. Conclusions: International migration is a far-reaching global phenomenon, and addressing the mental health of migrant populations is essential for advancing public health, social cohesion, and sustainable development. This study provides the first bibliometric overview of research in this domain, mapping its thematic evolution and collaborative structure. The findings offer valuable insights into the field’s development and may support future interdisciplinary collaboration and the formulation of culturally informed, evidence-based approaches in migrant mental health. Full article

Anxiety is a significant mental health concern in universities worldwide. This study examines the structure of anxiety symptoms and their relationship with contextual stressors among pre-service English teachers. The sample included 269 students enrolled in a Teaching English as a Foreign Language program at a public university in Manabí, Ecuador. Data were collected using the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale and a custom-designed questionnaire identifying anxiety triggers. Results showed that while most students reported normal or mild anxiety levels, a considerable portion exhibited moderate to severe symptoms. Cluster analysis revealed three emotional profiles, with the high-anxiety group strongly associated with stressors such as economic hardship and job insecurity. Academic pressure and financial instability emerged as the strongest predictors of anxiety. These findings highlight the urgent need to develop and evaluate targeted psycho-educational strategies to prevent and reduce anxiety within teacher training programs in higher education. Full article

Suicide is a growing public health concern in Brazil, with significant increases in mortality rates over the last decade and disparities among vulnerable populations. This study aimed to systematically synthesize the recent literature reviews on suicidality and suicide prevention in Brazil, providing an overview of key findings, research gaps, and implications for future studies. This systematic review of reviews follows a pre-registered PROSPERO protocol (CRD42024561892). Searches across five databases (MEDLINE, Scopus, CINAHL, SciELO and LILACS) identified 10 eligible reviews, published between 2019 and 2024, including systematic, integrative, narrative reviews, and meta-analyses. The reviews examined populations such as Indigenous peoples, adolescents, university students, older adults, and healthcare professionals. Findings showed that the risk of suicidal behavior was associated with mental health conditions, social vulnerability, and limited access to mental health services. Particularly high suicide rates were observed among Indigenous populations and adolescents. Across reviews, a lack of interventional studies, limited geographical coverage, and the inadequate training of health professionals were recurrent themes. This review highlights the urgent need for culturally sensitive suicide prevention strategies, greater research investment in underserved populations, and improved healthcare training and coordination. These findings aim to support the development of more effective national suicide prevention policies. Full article

Society’s adaptation to shared mobility services is a growing topic that requires detailed understanding of the local circumstances of potential and current users. This paper focuses on analyzing barriers to the adoption of urban bike-sharing systems in post-industrial cities, using a case study of the Silesian agglomeration in Poland. Methodologically, the article integrates quantitative survey methods with multivariate statistical analysis to analyze the demographic, socioeconomic, and motivational factors that underline the adoption of shared micromobility. The study highlights a detailed segmentation of users by income, age, professional status, and gender, as well as the observation of profound disparities in access and perceived usefulness. Of note is the study’s identification of a highly concentrated segment of young, low-income users (mostly students), which largely accounts for the general perception of economic and infrastructural barriers. These include the use of factor analysis and regression to plot the interaction patterns between individual user characteristics and certain system-level constraints, such as cost, infrastructure coverage, weather, and health. The study’s findings prioritize problem-specific interventions in urban mobility planning: bridging equity gaps between user groups. This research contributes to the current literature by providing detailed insights into the heterogeneity of user mobility behavior, offering evidence-based recommendations for inclusive and adaptive options for shared transportation infrastructure in a changing urban context. Full article

This study examines how medically disqualified NCAA Division I student-athletes experience the abrupt end of their athletic careers and how those experiences reflect broader cultural and psychological dynamics within college sport. Utilizing an interpretive phenomenology analysis, we explore if the experiences of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I student-athletes, who become medically disqualified, can be conceptualized by researchers through the stages of the Kübler-Ross model addressing grief responses. Unlike the prior research criticizing the application of the model to injured athletes, we found ample support for the possible applicability of each emotional stage; however, our study findings also reveal that the staged transitions do not necessarily follow in sequential order, as suggested by Kübler-Ross. Thus, the model applies as a general framework of grief from loss, but not as a fixed set of grieving processes for elite student-athletes who become medically disqualified. We conclude with implications for NCAA policy, athlete mental health services, and the cultivation of exit cultures that prioritize human well-being over athletic productivity. Full article

In Korea, the Public Health Center Mobile Healthcare Project was implemented in 2016. This project utilizes Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and big data to establish a health-related service foundation and a healthcare service operation system. Equipment and methods: This study recruited 1261 adolescents (660 males (13.40 ± 1.14 years, 156.12 ± 10.59 cm) and 601 females (13.51 ± 1.23 years, 154.45 ± 7.48 cm)) from 22 public health centers nationwide. Smart bands were provided, and the ‘Future Health’ application (APP) was installed on personal smartphones to assess body composition, physical fitness, and physical activity. Results: A paired sample t-test revealed height, 20 m shuttle run, grip strength, and long jump scores significantly differed after 24 weeks in males. Females exhibited significant height, 20 m shuttle run, grip strength, sit-ups, and long jump differences. Moderate physical activity (MPA, p < 0.001), vigorous physical activity (VPA, p < 0.001), and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA, p < 0.001) were significantly different after 24 weeks in adolescents. These results establish that an ICT-based health promotion service can provide adolescent students with individual information from a centralized organization to monitor health behaviors and receive feedback regardless of location in South Korea. Full article

In the Hexaflex model of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), psychological flexibility refers to the ability to openly embrace difficult thoughts and emotions while acting in alignment with personal values. In contrast, psychological inflexibility involves rigid avoidance and control strategies that hinder adaptive functioning. Although previously studied, more culturally relevant evidence is needed to inform interventions that promote well-being and mental health among Latin American students. This study explored manifestations of psychological flexibility and inflexibility in 15 undergraduate students from the University of Magdalena in Colombia (mean age = 20.13 years; 53.33% female) through semi-structured, face-to-face interviews (~45 min each). Data were analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), focusing on how participants described and made sense of their experiences. A total of 25 emergent themes were identified and grouped into 12 subordinate themes, mapped onto the 6 core ACT processes. The participants reported efforts to control or avoid distressing internal experiences, often resulting in difficulty acting in accordance with their values. The findings highlight a recurring ambivalence between avoidance and acceptance, and barriers to committed action, underscoring the dynamic interplay between flexibility and inflexibility. These results support the relevance of ACT-based interventions, such as structured group sessions that foster acceptance, mindfulness, and values-based behavior. Integrating this training into counseling and academic support services could enhance students’ well-being and performance. Future research should examine these dynamics longitudinally and across diverse contexts. Full article

Background/Objectives: Healthcare institutions, similar to other service providers, should prioritize their clients—in this case, patients—to effectively meet their needs. However, fulfilling this objective becomes increasingly challenging due to numerous factors. Therefore, this study explores student patient satisfaction by examining the effects of environmental quality dimensions (Internal Spaces, External Spaces, And Social Environment) and green practices, as well as investigating how environmental knowledge moderates the relationship between green practices and patient satisfaction. Methods: Given the latent nature of the variables investigated, structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed. Some variables were conceptualized as hierarchical constructs comprising higher-order and lower-order components. Before testing the relationships among variables, reliability and validity assessments were performed. For this purpose, the SmartPLS 4 software was used. Since the focus of the research was on students’ health in general, the sample consisted of 280 students from the University of Novi Sad (Republic of Serbia). Results: Among the three environmental quality dimensions, only the Social Environment had a significant and positive influence on patient satisfaction. Furthermore, the green practices emerged as a significant determinant of patient satisfaction. However, the moderating effect of environmental knowledge on this relationship was found to be non-significant. Conclusions: This research underscores the significance of patient satisfaction as a critical objective for healthcare institutions. Special attention should be directed toward enhancing positive interactions between medical staff and patients and adopting green practices. Consequently, certain managerial aspects related to human resource management (such as adequate staffing and organization of personnel) should be considered. In addition, issues concerning financial challenges and benefits regarding the implementation of green practices in healthcare were presented. Full article

This study presents the findings of an academic extension project focused on promoting oral health and diagnosing oral lesions in institutionalized elderly individuals. The project involved visits by students and faculty to two nursing homes in southern Brazil. Data collection included extraoral and intraoral clinical examinations and educational activities such as lectures and the distribution of printed materials on oral and denture hygiene. According to caregiving staff, oral hygiene, including denture cleaning, was generally performed once daily during morning showers. A total of 118 older adults (68 males and 50 females; mean age 76.1 ± 8.6 years) were examined. Forty-nine used dentures, of whom only 24 (49%) reported satisfaction with their prostheses. In total, 42 oral lesions were identified, mainly angular cheilitis (8), inflammatory fibrous hyperplasia (7), irritation fibroma (7), frictional hyperkeratosis (7), prosthetic stomatitis (5), actinic cheilitis (3), traumatic ulcers (3), and leukoplakia (2). Educational sessions also targeted caregivers, offering practical guidance for improving hygiene practices. The results underscore the need for better oral care and improved access to dental services for institutionalized elderly populations. Academic extension activities play a valuable role in health promotion and in training future professionals in elderly care. Full article

Maternal mortality and morbidity are critical health challenges in the U.S., and building the perinatal workforce is a key to providing high-quality maternal medical care and services. Texas Southern University (TSU), home to a Doctor of Pharmacy program, launched the first Maternal Health Education and Research Training (MHERT) program to educate a cohort of high school, pharmacy, and health sciences students. Aiming to raise awareness of maternal health issues, build research skills, and promote action-based solutions. MHERT integrated online self-paced interactive lessons with hands-on research or community projects. Topics included maternal health epidemiology, causes of morbidity and mortality, research methods, literature reviews, and the development of action plans addressing maternal health challenges. Assessment tools included quizzes, open-ended reflection responses, training surveys, and course evaluations. Running from 3 June to 26 July 2024, the program enrolled 22 students. All participants completed both course components. Course evaluations showed strong and consistent satisfaction with the program, with teaching effectiveness rated at 95% and 96% for mid-program and final evaluations, respectively. MHERT enhanced participants’ understanding of maternal health, improved research skills, and encouraged community engagement and interdisciplinary collaboration. It offers a scalable model to strengthen public health education among high school, pharmacy, and health sciences students. Full article

This article presents a structured review of literature published between 2015 and 2025 on the experiences of rural LGBTQIA+ youth. Using targeted search terms—including “LGBT*,” “rural,” “country,” “young people,” “sexual and gender minority (SGM),” “small town,” “youth,” and “students”—a research team identified 26 peer-reviewed articles that met inclusion criteria. Through team-based thematic analysis, six core themes emerged: (1) gaps in intersectional analysis, (2) mental health outcomes, (3) culturally responsive services and resources, (4) community climate and context, (5) experiences of victimization, and (6) policy. Across these themes, the review highlights the resilience, agency, and strength of LGBTQIA+ youth navigating rural environments. The literature consistently demonstrates how experiences of victimization are closely linked to mental health outcomes, while access to social support—particularly from affirming adults in systems (such as schools)—can mitigate harm and foster well-being. Implications for social work research, practice, and policy are discussed, with an emphasis on supporting LGBTQIA+ youth in U.S. Southern rural settings. Full article