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Bruno F, Lau C, Tagliaferro C, Marunic G, Quilty LC, Liuzza MT, Chiesi F. Effects of cancer severity on the relationship between emotional intelligence, perceived social support, and psychological distress in Italian women. Support Care Cancer 2024; 32:142. [PMID: 38308080 PMCID: PMC10837266 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-024-08346-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aims to understand the association between emotional intelligence, perceived social support, and psychological distress (i.e., anxiety, depression, stress) in women with cancer at different stages. Specifically, the aims of this study were to investigate: i) the links between emotional intelligence and psychological distress (i.e., symptoms of anxiety, stress and depression); ii) the mediating role of perceived social support provided by family members, friends, and significant others in the relationship between emotional intelligence and psychological distress; iii) the impact of cancer type and cancer stage (I-II vs III-IV) in moderating these relationships, among Italian women. METHODS The research sample consisted of 206 Italian women (mean age = 49.30 ± 10.98 years; 55% breast cancer patients) who were administered a questionnaire to assess emotional intelligence, perceived social support, and psychological distress. Structural equation model (SEM) analysis was carried out to confirm the hypothetical-theoretical model. RESULTS Emotional intelligence had a positive association with perceived social support, which in turn prevented psychological distress only in women with early-stages cancers. The type of cancer has no effect on these relationships. CONCLUSIONS The findings of this study indicate a pressing need to screen and recognize women with lower emotional intelligence and perceived social support, as they may be more prone to experiencing psychological distress. For such individuals, our results recommend the implementation of psychological interventions aimed at enhancing emotional intelligence and fortifying their social support networks, with consideration for the stage of cancer they are facing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Bruno
- Regional Neurogenetic Centre (CRN), Department of Primary Care, ASP Catanzaro, Lamezia Terme, Catanzaro, Italy.
- Association for Neurogenetic Research (ARN), Lamezia Terme, Catanzaro, Italy.
- Academy of Cognitive Behavioral Sciences of Calabria (ASCoC), Lamezia Terme, Catanzaro, Italy.
| | - Chloe Lau
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada
| | - Carlotta Tagliaferro
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug, and Child's Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of Psychology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Georgia Marunic
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug, and Child's Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of Psychology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Lena C Quilty
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Marco Tullio Liuzza
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, "Magna Graecia" University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Francesca Chiesi
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug, and Child's Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of Psychology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
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Shivak SM, Caissie DM, Power HA, Asmundson AJN, Wright KD. The relationship between maladaptive health beliefs, pandemic-related stress, and health anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY REPORT 2023; 12:69-78. [PMID: 38425889 PMCID: PMC10900977 DOI: 10.5114/hpr/169169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Research has demonstrated that people experience specific distress and anxiety regarding COVID-19. This distress may consist of interconnected symptom categories corresponding to a COVID stress syndrome. Susceptibility to COVID stress syndrome may be related to one's maladaptive health beliefs; however, no research has investigated the association between maladaptive health beliefs and COVID stress. The present study explored the impact of health beliefs on COVID stress, health anxiety, and associated psychological constructs. PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE This cross-sectional survey study included 221 adults (M age = 20.59, SD = 2.28). Participants completed an online survey including demographic questionnaires and self-report measures of health beliefs, COVID stress, health anxiety, and related psychological constructs. RESULTS Health anxiety, anxiety sensitivity, state/trait anxiety, intolerance of uncertainty, and depression accounted for significant variance in COVID stress (F(6, 214) = 11.18, R2 = .24, p < .001). Health beliefs (i.e., perceived likelihood of illness, medical service inadequacy, and difficulty coping) were associated with greater COVID stress, although health beliefs were not found to mediate the relationship between health anxiety and COVID stress. CONCLUSIONS Health beliefs were associated with greater COVID stress, although health beliefs did not mediate the relationship between health anxiety and COVID stress. The relationship between health anxiety and COVID stress may be better explained by other COVID-related cognitions (e.g., vaccine efficacy, dangerousness of COVID-19). The findings highlight the importance of peoples' health beliefs during the pandemic. Given anxiety's influence on peoples' behavioural responses to the pandemic, further research should identify COVID-specific cognitions for prevention of COVID stress and health anxiety.
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Shek DTL, Chai W, Zhou K. Risk Factors and Protective Factors of Internet Addiction in University Students during the Pandemic: Implications for Prevention and Treatment. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:5952. [PMID: 37297556 PMCID: PMC10253014 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20115952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
While the prevalence rates of Internet addiction (IA) amongst young people during the pandemic are disturbing, few studies have investigated the risk and protective factors of IA in Hong Kong university students under COVID-19. In this study, we examined the relationship between COVID-19-related stress and IA and the role of psychological morbidity and positive psychological attributes in the relationship. In summer 2022, 978 university students completed a survey assessing pandemic-related stress, psychological morbidity, and positive psychological attributes. While psychological morbidity was indexed by depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and suicidal behavior, positive psychological attributes included life satisfaction, flourishing, adversity beliefs, emotional competence, resilience, and family functioning measures. Results showed that stress and psychological morbidity positively predicted IA, and psychological morbidity mediated the association between stress and IA. Positive psychological attributes negatively predicted stress and IA, and mediated the connection between stress and IA. Positive psychological attributes moderated the mediating effect of psychological morbidity on the relationship between stress and IA. In addition to theoretical contributions, this study contributes to IA prevention and treatment: reducing psychological morbidity and promoting positive psychological attributes are promising strategies to address IA issues in young people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel T. L. Shek
- Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
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Baluku MM, Nansubuga F, Kibanja GM, Ouma S, Balikoowa R, Nansamba J, Ruto G, Kawooya K, Musanje K. Associations of psychological inflexibility with posttraumatic stress disorder and adherence to COVID-19 control measures among refugees in Uganda: The moderating role of coping strategies. JOURNAL OF CONTEXTUAL BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE 2023; 28:278-288. [PMID: 37197224 PMCID: PMC10163792 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcbs.2023.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Refugees are vulnerable to developing mental health problems. The unprecedented appearance and rapid spread of COVID-19 exacerbated this vulnerability, especially in low-income countries where refugees survive on humanitarian aid and live in congested settlements. These appalling living conditions are a stressor, making adherence to COVID-19 control measures impractical and an additional psychological strain for refugees. The present study examined how psychological inflexibility is associated with adherence to COVID-19 control measures. A sample of 352 refugees from Kampala City and Bidibidi settlements were recruited. Refugees with high levels of psychological inflexibility reported higher PTSD symptom severity and low adherence to COVID-19 control measures. Moreover, PTSD severity mediated the association between psychological inflexibility and adherence, while avoidance coping moderated both direct and indirect effects. Interventions for reducing psychological inflexibility and avoidance coping may be essential in boosting adherence to measures relevant to the current and future status of the pandemic, along with other crises that refugees face.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Samuel Ouma
- Makerere University, School of Psychology, Uganda
| | | | | | - Grace Ruto
- Makerere University, Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF) Secretariat, Uganda
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Bruno F, Tagliaferro C, Canterini S, Laganà V, Contrada M, Fioravanti C, Altomari N, Pistininzi R, Tarantino F, Placanica A, Greco EM, Capicotto F, Spadea S, Coscarella AM, Bonanno M, Scarfone F, Luchetta-Mattace S, Filice A, Pettinato A, Avramovic A, Lau C, Marunic G, Chiesi F. Positive Touch Deprivation during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Effects on Anxiety, Stress, and Depression among Italian General Population. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13040540. [PMID: 37190505 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13040540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Physical distancing due to the COVID-19 Pandemic has limited the opportunities for family members, friends, and significant others to show physical affection (i.e., hugs, kisses, caresses, holding hands) during social interactions. The present study investigated the effects of positive touch and psychological distress in 991 Italian participants (Mage = 34.43, SD = 14.27). Results showed the frequency of hugs with the cohabiting partner significantly decreased the symptoms of depression (β = −1.187, p = 0.018, eβ = 0.30, 95% CI = 0.11–0.82), whereas the frequency of caresses with cohabiting relatives predicted the symptoms of anxiety (β = 0.575, p = 0.034, eβ = 1.78, 95% CI = 1.04–3.03). The frequency of hugs (β = −0.609, p = 0.049, eβ = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.30–1.00), and kisses (β = 0.663, p = 0.045, eβ = 1.94, 95% CI = 1.01–3.71) with non-cohabiting relatives predicted the symptoms of anxiety (χ2 = 1.35, df = 5, p = 0.93). These results suggest the importance of positive touch on psychological well-being in the social context.
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Xu M, Tian R, Fu C, Li J, Bi D, Wang Y. The impact of family function on post-traumatic reactions of Chinese adolescents infected with COVID-19: a latent profile study. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1153820. [PMID: 37213623 PMCID: PMC10192572 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1153820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Since the end of 2019, Corona Virus Disease 2019, also known as COVID-19, has broken out in various countries. However, the change of China's COVID-19 prevention and control policy and the sharp increase in the number of infected people are making the teenagers have post-traumatic reactions. Negative post-traumatic reactions include: post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety. Positive post-traumatic reaction mainly refers to post-traumatic growth (PTG). The purpose of this study is to explore the post-traumatic reaction, which refers to PTSD, depression, anxiety and the co-occurrence pattern of growth after trauma and to further explore the influence of family function on different categories of Post-traumatic Reactions. Methods Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to explore the co-occurrence of PTSD, depression, anxiety, and PTG. Multiple logistics regression was used to analyze the influence of family function on different categories of post-traumatic response. Results There were three categories of post-traumatic reactions in adolescents infected with COVID-19 adolescents infected with COVID-19, namely: growth class, struggling class, and pain class. Multivariate Logistic regression showed that the growth class and struggling class were affected by problem solving and behavior control in family function, while the growth class and pain class were affected by problem solving, roles, behavior control, and general functioning. Multiple logistic regression showed that the growth class and struggling class were affected by problem solving and roles. Conclusions The findings of this study provide evidence for the identification of high-risk individuals and the provision of effective interventions in clinical practice, as well as the influence of family functioning on the different categories of PTSD among adolescents infected with COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingtu Xu
- Department of Mental Health, First Affiliated Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Runhui Tian
- Department of Mental Health, First Affiliated Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
- *Correspondence: Runhui Tian
| | - Cong Fu
- Department of Mental Health, First Affiliated Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jingyang Li
- Department of Mental Health, First Affiliated Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Dingyu Bi
- Department of Politics and Education, Jilin Experimental Middle School, Changchun, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Affiliated Middle School of Jilin University, Changchun, China
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