Negative emotions and quality of life among adolescents: A moderated mediation model

The feasibility of a psychological first aid intervention as a supportive tactic for feelings of psychological distress and mental health recovery outcomes among earthquake survivors in Northern Syria

AIM

This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of implementing a psychological first aid intervention for psychological distress, resilience capacity, quality and meaning of life among survivors affected by earthquake adversity in Northern Syria.

METHODS

A quasi-experimental, pre-posttest, two-group research design was utilized. A convenience sample of 95 survivors (46 in the study group and 49 in the control group) was recruited for the psychological First Aid intervention at a 1:1 ratio. The psychological first aid intervention was delivered in 10 sessions, twice weekly, followed by 3-month follow-up.

RESULTS

A statistically significant improvement in the mean scores of resilience capacity, quality and meaning of life among survivors, along with a significant reduction in psychological distress, was registered among the study group compared with the control group.

CONCLUSION

Our work verified the suitability of implementing psychological first aid following the catastrophic temblors which struck Northern Syria. Given that the psychological first aid intervention is grounded in psychological safety, cognitive reframing, mobilization of social support and installation of hope, the feasibility of its path following public health emergency, traumatic events or even a personal crisis can be favourable.

mHealth Service Effects for Negative Emotions Among Parents of Preterm Infants: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

PURPOSE

This review aims to ascertain the effects of mHealth on negative emotions among parents of preterm infants and analyze the current state of mHealth services in this context.

BACKGROUND

Caring for preterm infants often engenders negative emotions in parents, such as anxiety, depression, and stress. Mobile Health (mHealth) services offer potential benefits for preterm infant care. However, there are several uncertainties regarding the impact of mHealth services on parental emotions.

METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN

Randomized controlled trial (RCT) and quasi-RCT were published in English and Chinese until 2023 and are available in the electronic databases of MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINHAHL), Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, and China Science and Technology Journal Database were reviewed. Review Manager 5.4 was employed for random-effects meta-analysis.

RESULTS

Seven RCTs and 6 quasi-RCTs with high risks were included, most of them were based on small sample size and single-centered. Meta-analysis demonstrated that mHealth interventions mitigated negative emotions, including anxiety (standard mean difference [SMD] = -1.07; 95% confidence interval [CI], -1.47 to -0.66; P< 0.0001), depression (SMD = -1.94; 95% CI, -3.01 to -0.86; P< 0.0001), and stress (SMD = -1.24; 95% CI, -2.07 to -0.40; P< 0.0001), among parents of preterm infants.

CONCLUSIONS

It is recommended to develop independent specialized software for mHealth, enhance theoretical underpinnings, and standardize practical protocols. Incorporating early recognition and screening of negative emotions within mHealth could offer comprehensive support for the mental health of parents with preterm infants.

IMPLICATIONS

The mHealth-based interventions are needed to focus on the parents' emotional needs and minimize the impacts associated with mental stress.

Correlations among nicotine dependence, health-related quality of life, and depression in current smokers: a cross-sectional study with a mediation model

Background

Although the negative impact of smoking and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) on depression has been confirmed in various studies, There has been little exploration of how HRQoL mediates the relationship between smoking and depression. The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationship between smoking and depression in the Chinese current smokers with nicotine dependence and the mediating role of HRQoL.

Methods

A cross-sectional study named "Psychology and Behavior Investigation of Chinese Residents" was conducted from July 10 to September 15, 2021 in China. Nicotine dependence, HRQoL and depression were measured by Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND), the European Five Dimensional Five Level Health scale (EQ-5D-5L) and the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) respectively. Information on age, gender, place of residence, household registration, education level, marital status, employment status, average family monthly income, drinking frequency, living status, BMI, multiple chronic conditions were also collected. Pearson's correlation test and logistic regression analysis were conducted to explore the association between nicotine dependence, HRQoL and depression and a mediation analysis was applied to explore the mediating effect of the HRQoL on this relationship.

Results

A total of 1,381 current smokers were included in the study. The participants showed a moderate level of nicotine dependence with a mean of 1.36(SD=1.50), a relatively high level of HRQoL scores (Mean=0.94, SD=0.13), and a depression score with a mean of 6.48(SD=6.09). Approximately 22.74% (314/1,381) of the participants were considered to indicate depression. In the univariable regression model, it was found that nicotine dependence was positively associated with depression (OR:1.094, 95%CI: 1.008-1.187), while HRQoL was negatively associated with depression (OR:0.011, 95%CI: 0.004-0.033). In the multivariable regression model, HRQoL was still notably associated with depression (OR:0.008, 95%CI: 0.002-0.027), however, the positive association was not observed between nicotine dependence and depression. The Pearson's correlation test demonstrated that nicotine dependence was negatively correlated with HRQoL(rs= -0.147, P<0.001) and HRQoL was negatively correlated with depression(rs= -0.275, P<0.001). In contrast, nicotine dependence was positively correlated with depression(rs= 0.136, P<0.001). Mediation analysis found that HRQoL moderated the relationship between nicotine dependence and depression with a mediating effect of 26.49%.

Conclusions

The findings support that nicotine dependence is positively associated with depression and HRQoL is negatively associated with depression in current smokers. HRQoL mediated the relationship between nicotine dependence and depression. The well-established imperative interventions aimed at promoting smoking cessation and improving quality of life may benefit for alleviation of depression in current smokers.

Infertility-related stress is associated with quality of life through negative emotions among infertile outpatients

Infertility is not a fatal disease but it really produces infertility-related stress and affects individuals' quality of life to a great extent. This study aims to investigate the relations among infertility-related stress, negative emotions and quality of life in infertile outpatients, and suppose gender difference as well as Dark Triad, which contained three dark personality traits: Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy, would moderate the relations. 105 infertile outpatients age range 20-49 completed a cross-sectional questionnaire on the Fertility Quality of Life scale, the Fertility Problem Inventory, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale a the Chinese version of Dirty Dozen. Results showed that negative emotions mediated the relations between infertility-related stress and quality of life. Dark Triad could not moderate the relations between infertility-related stress, negative emotions, and quality of life, but gender can moderate the associations between infertility-related stress and negative emotions. Specifically, the association between infertility-related stress and negative emotions was stronger in men than in women. Infertility-related stress has direct and indirect effects on infertile outpatients' quality of life. It is important to consider the important roles of emotions and gender difference between patients, and delivering targeted intervention programs.

Comparative Analysis of Academic, Behavioral, and Psychophysiological Variables in Male and Female Vocational Training Students

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether or not there are notable differences between male and female vocational training students in terms of academic, behavioral, and psychophysiological characteristics.

METHODS

A total of 411 vocational training students, 210 of whom were male and 201 of whom were female, participated in an online survey that assessed academic, behavioral, and psychophysiological patterns.

RESULTS

In terms of extraversion and openness to experience, our research revealed that no statistically significant differences were noticed. When it came to agreeableness, however, significant differences were seen, with female students getting higher marks than male students. Furthermore, we found that there were significant gender differences in terms of neuroticism and conscientiousness, with female students achieving higher scores than male students. When compared to their male counterparts, females displayed higher performance in terms of academic success. They also demonstrated superior values in terms of reported stress, anxiety, and cognitive inflexibility.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this study provide a more in-depth understanding of the numerous factors that have an impact on students engaging in vocational training. This will serve as a foundation for the development of individualized instructional and support programs.

The Effect of Psychoeducation on Attitudes toward Violence and Risky Behaviors among Refugee Adolescents

This study was conducted to examine the effect of psychoeducation on attitudes toward violence and risky behaviors among refugee adolescents. This was a randomized controlled experimental study conducted with refugee adolescents (n = 101) studying in a high school in southern Turkey. After psychoeducation, it was determined that there was a significant decrease in the prevalence of antisocial behaviors, alcohol use, suicidal thoughts, unhealthy eating habits, and school dropout thoughts among adolescents according to the subdimensions of the risky behavior scale. Psychoeducation was found to be effective in reducing attitudes toward violence and preventing risky behaviors among refugee adolescents.

The relationship between the psychological resilience and post-traumatic growth of college students during the COVID-19 pandemic: a model of conditioned processes mediated by negative emotions and moderated by deliberate rumination

BACKGROUND

The mental health of university students during the COVID-19 pandemic has attracted the attention of researchers. For the present study researchers constructed a mediation model to explore the relationship between psychological resilience and post-traumatic growth, the mediating role of negative emotions and the moderating role of deliberate rumination in students.

METHODS

The Psychological Resilience Scale, Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale (DASS-21) and Event Related Rumination Inventory were used in a survey of 881 college students. The data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 and the PROCESS plugin (version 3.3).

RESULTS

(1) Psychological resilience is positively related with post-traumatic growth. Deliberate rumination is positively related to psychological resilience, posttraumatic growth, and negative emotions. Psychological resilience, post-traumatic growth and negative emotions are negatively related. (2) Negative emotions mediated the relationship between psychological resilience and post-traumatic growth. (3) Deliberate rumination plays a moderating role in psychological resilience affecting negative emotions. Deliberate rumination plays a moderating role in the extent to which psychological resilience influences PTG through negative emotions.

CONCLUSIONS

Psychological resilience affects post-traumatic growth directly and also indirectly through negative emotions. With the increase of mental resilience, the level of negative emotion tended to decrease. When individuals are experiencing negative emotions, high levels of active rumination are more likely to promote post-traumatic growth. This study helps to explore the factors affecting the mental health of college students during the epidemic, thus providing guidance for appropriate mental health interventions.

How Social Support Affects Resilience in Disadvantaged Students: The Chain-Mediating Roles of School Belonging and Emotional Experience

This study aims to utilize data from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), 2018, conducted in four provinces and cities in China, to investigate the impact of social support on the resilience of disadvantaged students. It specifically focuses on the chain-mediated effects of school belonging and emotional experiences. To achieve this, the study selected 2997 disadvantaged students as participants and employed path analysis to examine the mediating effects. The results indicate that teacher support, parental support, school belonging, and positive emotional experiences significantly positively influence the resilience of disadvantaged students, while fear of failure significantly negatively affects resilience. Additionally, teacher and parental support indirectly impact the resilience of disadvantaged students through the chain-mediated effects of school belonging and positive emotional experiences. Similarly, teacher and parental support also influence the resilience of disadvantaged students through the chain-mediated effects of school belonging and fear of failure. To enhance the resilience development of disadvantaged students, it is recommended that teachers and parents provide active attention and support to these students. Simultaneously, there should be increased focus on the psychological well-being of disadvantaged students by strengthening their mental health education.

Why is Smartphone Addiction More Common in Adolescents with Harsh Parenting? Depression and Experiential Avoidance's Multiple Mediating Roles

Purpose

Harsh parenting is positively correlated with adolescents' smartphone addiction, according to a growing corpus of studies. The various mediating processes that could underlie this link, however, are not well understood. Based upon the experiential avoidance model, the current research aimed to identify the relation between harsh parenting and adolescents' smartphone addiction and the mediating roles of adolescents' depression and experiential avoidance.

Methods

We recruited 456 adolescents (female = 52.6%; Mage = 13.19 years, SD = 0.85) at a public junior high school in China to complete the harsh discipline scale, 90-item Hopkins symptom checklist, acceptance and action questionnaire version II, and smartphone addiction scale short version. SPSS24.0 was used to conduct independent samples t-test, descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis and common method bias test, PROCESS were used to conduct a significance test of the chain mediation effect on the data. Age, gender, and grade were used as con-founders that were controlled in order to make cautious predictions.

Results

The results showed that (1) harsh parenting was positively correlated with adolescents' depression, experiential avoidance, and smartphone addiction; (2) both depression and experiential avoidance fully mediated the link between harsh parenting and smartphone addiction; and (3) depression and experiential avoidance also sequentially mediated the link between harsh parenting and smartphone addiction. These findings have significant implications for the prevention and intervention of adolescents' smartphone addiction.

Conclusion

These findings suggested that harsh parenting may have an indirect impact on smartphone addiction in both a simple way (parallel mediation) and a complicated way (serial mediation). In addition, these studies shed light on smartphone addiction prevention and intervention.

Solutions-Based Approach to Urban Cat Management-Case Studies of a One Welfare Approach to Urban Cat Management

Urban free-roaming cats create concern about their impacts on wildlife and human health, leading to the use of trap-adopt-kill methods to manage these populations. This method is ineffective at decreasing the free-roaming cat population and has a negative impact on cat caregivers' well-being. Using semi-structured interviews, this study explored the relationship that semi-owners (people who feed cats but do not perceive ownership) and owners of multiple cats have with the cats they care for, and the social and psychological impacts of an alternative assistive-centered approach to urban cat management. This approach to semi-owned and owned cats provided free sterilization and preventative healthcare. Our findings demonstrate that the caregivers had a strong emotional bond with the cats they cared for. The caregivers also experienced a positive impact on their quality of life, and indicated an improvement in the cats' welfare after having the cats sterilized through this program. Additionally, the cat caregivers indicated that they had a negative view of agencies, such as the municipal council. It is recommended that an assistive-centered approach to urban cat management be prioritized by local councils and welfare agencies to improve caregivers' quality of life and psychological well-being, whilst also improving cat welfare. The implementation of this assistive-centered management approach could improve the relationship between communities and the agencies involved, leading to the continuous reporting of free-roaming cats for sterilization. This assistive-centered approach has the potential to reduce the free-roaming cat population, their effects on wildlife, nuisance complaints, and council impoundments, and is aligned with the One Welfare philosophy.

The mediating role of negative emotions in the relationship between smoking and health-related quality of life among Chinese individuals: A cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION

Although the negative impact of smoking on health has been confirmed in various studies, few have explored psychological factors mediating the relationship between smoking and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). This study aimed to investigate the relationship between smoking and HRQOL in the Chinese population and the mediating role of negative emotions (NEs).

METHODS

Survey data were derived from a cross-sectional study conducted in China from 20 June to 31 August 2022. We recruited participants from 148 cities across the country using a stratified multistage sampling method. The HRQOL of the dependent variable was measured using the Chinese version of European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D-5L). The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-4) were used to measure NE parameters including depression, anxiety, and perceived stress, as the intermediate variables. A multiple parallel mediation model was used to analyze the mediating role of NEs in smoking and HRQOL.

RESULTS

A total of 21916 valid questionnaires were collected, of which 3010 (13.7%) and 18906 (86.3%) were categorized into smokers and non-smokers, respectively. The HRQOL (EQ-VAS score) of smokers (71.70 ± 23.08) was lower than that of non-smokers (73.69 ± 21.32), whereas the depression and anxiety levels of smokers were higher than those of non-smokers (all p<0.001). Moreover, smoking, NEs (depression and anxiety), and HRQOL showed pairwise correlations. According to the mediation analysis, depression (β= -0.461; 95% BCa CI: -0.664 - -0.268) and anxiety (β= -0.279; 95% BCa CI: -0.435 - -0.138) mediated the relationship between smoking and HRQOL after adjusting for demographic and life factors.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings emphasize the necessity of studying the interaction between smoking, HRQOL, and Nes, and complementing the research on the impact of psychological factors on the HRQOL of smokers. Public health activities should focus on mental health and take targeted measures for the prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of smokers.

Relationship between depression and quality of life among students: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The objectives of this systematic review were to estimate the prevalence of depression and to identify the relationship between depression and quality of life (QOL) among high school and university students. Literature search was performed in the Scopus, Embase, PubMed, Scielo, CINAHL and Web of Science databases, following the PRISMA methodology. The results were presented through descriptive approaches and meta-analysis. Thirty-six studies met the eligibility criteria, and twenty-six were included in the meta-analysis. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 27% (95% CI 0.21-0.33) among students, being high school and university students was 25% (95% CI 0.14-0.37) and 27% (95% CI 0.20-0.34), respectively, and most studies have shown that depression was associated with low QOL. Among the limitations of the study is the difficulty of generalizing the results found, considering the large sample of health students. New studies should be conducted considering the severity, duration, and patterns of depressive symptoms in high school and university students, to better understand the relationship between depression and QOL.

Dark side of leadership and information technology project success: the role of mindfulness

Purpose

The success of projects is a major challenge for information technology (IT) project-based businesses (PBOs). Employees' negative emotions (NE) disrupt the employees' usual work activities by creating obstacles to routine operations. Organizations should take steps to lessen these NE. The current study assessed the mediating role of NE and the moderating influence of employee mindfulness in the association between despotic leadership (DL) and IT project success (PS).

Design/methodology/approach

Time-lagged data were collected from 341 employees working in various IT-based project organizations in Pakistan using purposive sampling.

Findings

Results were consistent with the authors' hypothesized framework, as DL increases employees' NE, which in turn negatively affects IT PS. In addition, mindfulness plays a buffering role in mitigating the damaging impact of DL on NE.

Originality/value

Previous researchers focused on the positive aspects of leadership and its influence on PS and paid limited attention to the dark leadership style. The authors' study's findings help understand how project-based organizations can reduce employees' NE.

Association between secondhand smoke exposure and negative emotions among 12-15-year-old non-smoking adolescents from 63 low- and middle-income countries

BACKGROUND

Secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure is associated with negative emotions in adolescents, but the association between SHS exposure and negative emotions has been understudied, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Hence, we studied the association between SHS exposure and negative emotions among 12-15-year-old non-smoking adolescents from 63 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

METHODS

We calculated the pooled prevalence of SHS exposure, loneliness, and anxiety in 12-15-year-old non-smoking adolescents. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate country-specific associations between SHS exposure and negative emotions, after adjusting for important confounders. Meta-analyses were performed to evaluate the overall, regional, and country-income level pooled associations.

RESULTS

Of the adolescents included in the analysis, 34.88 % had less than daily SHS exposure and 13.41 % were exposed to SHS daily. The overall prevalence of loneliness and anxiety in the adolescents was 10.51 % and 8.95 %, respectively. Exposure to SHS in the past 7 days was associated with loneliness and anxiety, with odds ratios (95 % confidence intervals) of 1.15 (1.09-1.21) and 1.24 (1.17-1.31), respectively. These positive associations were observed in girls, but not in boys. In addition, there was a positive dose-response relationship between the day of exposure to SHS and loneliness and anxiety.

LIMITATIONS

The GSHS data were obtained from a self-report questionnaire and the participants were only adolescents in school.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study revealed a positive association between SHS exposure and negative emotions among non-smoking adolescents from LMICs.

The mediating role of anxiety between negative feelings and depression among students with congenital physical disabilities

Congenital physical disability is associated with various psychological challenges, including negative feelings, anxiety, and stress. These challenges will, in turn, predict significant negative emotional well-being among students with congenital physical disabilities, but the mechanisms of these effects are not well known. This study examined whether Negative Emotional Wellbeing Anxiety (NEWA) would mediate the effect of Negative Feelings (NF) and Negative Emotional Wellbeing Depression (NEWD) among students with congenital physical disabilities. Forty-six students with congenital physical disabilities (mean age: 20 years, SD = 2.05; 45.65% females) completed self-rating measures that included sociodemographic variables (age and sex), emotional state for Children to assess negative feelings, and an emotional distress protocol to assess NEWA and NEWD. Results show that NF was positively correlated with NEWA (r = .69, p < .001) and NEWD (r = .69, p < .001), and NEWA was positively correlated with NEWD (r = .86, p < .001). Findings further reported that NEWA significantly mediated the positive relationship between NF and NEWD (a*b = .37, Bootstrap CI95 = .23 and .52) [Sobel test statistic of 4.82 (p < .001)] among students with congenital physical disabilities. The results highlight the importance of screening students with congenital physical disabilities for common psychological challenges and providing suitable interventions.

Associations of social jetlag and insomnia symptoms with depressive symptoms among Chinese adolescents: A large population-based study

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the associations of social jetlag and insomnia symptoms with depressive symptoms among adolescents.

METHODS

A total of 37,871 junior high students completed an online survey between May 24th and Jun 5th, 2022. Insomnia symptoms were assessed by three items based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria. Social jetlag and depressive symptoms were evaluated by the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire and the Patient Health Questionnaire, respectively. Restricted cubic splines were used to explore the relationship between social jetlag and depressive symptoms. Joint effects of social jetlag and insomnia symptoms on depressive symptoms were estimated using additive interaction models.

RESULTS

The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 13.1%. Depressive symptoms were more common in adolescents with social jetlag ≥2 h (OR: 1.51, 95% CI: 1.39-1.65) and insomnia symptoms (OR: 6.91, 95% CI: 6.41-7.44). There was a J-shaped relationship between social jetlag and depressive symptoms when we took social jetlag as a continuous variable. Moreover, a positive additive interaction of social jetlag ≥2 h and insomnia symptoms on depressive symptoms was found in female adolescents (RERI: 2.30, 95% CI: 0.11-4.49).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggested that social jetlag ≥2 h and insomnia are related to the occurrence of depressive symptoms in adolescents. Their coexistence additively enhances the strength of the association with depressive symptoms. Early screening and intervention for insomnia, as well as methods to reduce social jetlag, should be comprised as part of preventive strategies for depression in adolescents.

Network analysis of the relationships between problematic smartphone use and anxiety, and depression in a sample of Chinese college students

Background

Problematic smartphone use (PSU) is associated with both anxiety and depression. However, the relationships between components of PSU and symptoms of anxiety or depression have not been investigated. Hence, the aim of this study was to closely examine the relationships between PSU and anxiety and depression to identify the pathological mechanisms underpinning those relationships. A second aim was to identify important bridge nodes to identify potential targets for intervention.

Methods

Symptom-level network structures of PSU and anxiety, and PSU and depression were constructed to investigate the connections between the variables and evaluate the bridge expected influence (BEI) of each node. Network analysis using data from 325 Chinese healthy college students was performed.

Results

Five strongest edges appeared within the communities in both the PSU-anxiety and PSU-depression networks. The "Withdrawal" component had more connections with symptoms of anxiety or depression than any other PSU node. In particular, the edges between "Withdrawal" and "Restlessness" and between "Withdrawal" and "Concentration difficulties" were the strongest cross-community edges in the PSU-anxiety network and PSU-depression network, respectively. Furthermore, "Withdrawal" had the highest BEI in the PSU community in both networks.

Conclusions

These findings provide preliminary evidence of the pathological pathways linking PSU with anxiety and depression, with "Withdrawal" linking PSU with both anxiety and depression. Hence, "Withdrawal" may be a potential target for preventing and intervening in cases of anxiety or depression.

Physical activity, sleep quality and life satisfaction in adolescents: A cross-sectional survey study

Background

Physical activity, sleep is an important component of adolescents' 24-h movement behavior, and life satisfaction predicts adolescent physical and mental health. However, few studies have explored the relationship between the two variables among Chinese high school students. Consequently, this study aimed to explore the relationship between sleep quality and life satisfaction among Chinese high school students.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted in October 2020 in five high schools in Xuchang City, China. High school students from senior 1 to senior 3 were asked to fill up a questionnaire of demographic characteristics and validated screen instructions for sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) and life satisfaction (Satisfaction with Life Scale). The multivariate regression model was applied to explore the association between sleep quality and life satisfaction.

Results

A total of 1127 individuals (51.1% males) participated in this survey, and the prevalence of poor sleep quality was 42.3%. The mean score on the Satisfaction with Life Scale was 16.72 ± 5.67, according to the corresponding scoring criteria, with 15-19 being generally dissatisfied. After controlling for demographic variables, the contribution of subjective sleep quality (β = - 0.181, p < 0.01), sleep duration (β = - 0.080, p < 0.01) and daytime dysfunction (β = - 0.311, p < 0.01) to life satisfaction of high school students increased to 23.2%, indicating that subjective sleep quality, sleep duration, and daytime dysfunction were 22.9% predictive of life satisfaction among high school students. And also, physical activity on schooldays and weekend days were associated with better sleep quality and higher life satisfaction (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Among Chinese high school students, the prevalence of sleep problems was high, and the majority of students held moderate life satisfaction. Sleep quality was positively correlated with life satisfaction among Chinese high school students, with better sleep quality resulting in higher life satisfaction among students.

How beliefs and unpleasant emotions direct cyberbullying intentions

This study aims to investigate the role of emotions and beliefs of perceived severity about cyberbullying behavior in the relationship between bystanders' personal moral beliefs and their behavioral intentions in cyberbullying. A group of 402 fifth to twelfth graders (M age = 13.12; SD = 2.19; 55.7% were girls) participated and we ran exploratory factorial analyses of the instruments. A group of 676 fifth to twelfth grade students (M age = 14.10; SD = 2.74; 55.5% were boys) participated and we performed confirmatory factor analyses. A group of middle school students (N = 397; Mage = 13.88 years; SD = 1.45; 55.5% girls) participated and we ran the final analyses aimed to test the research hypotheses. Results from self-report measures showed that unpleasant emotions mediated personal moral beliefs and adolescent bystanders' intentions to help cybervictims. Normative beliefs of severity mediated the relation between personal moral beliefs and intentions to cyberbully others.

The relationship between negative life events and quality of life in adolescents: Mediated by resilience and social support

Background

Quality of life has become an important indicator for assessing the health care of adolescents. This study aimed to explore the relationship between negative life events and quality of life in adolescents and the potential mediating roles of resilience and social support.

Methods

A stratified cluster sampling technique was used to select 3,860 adolescents as study participants. The Adolescent Self-Rating Life Events Checklist, the Resilience Scale for Chinese Adolescents, the Social Support Rating Scale, and the Adolescent Quality of Life Scale were used by participants to rate their negative life events, resilience, social support, quality of life, respectively. The correlations between study variables were analyzed by the Pearson correlation analyses. The AMOS 26.0 software was used to explore the mediating roles of resilience and social support in negative life events and quality of life.

Results

There was a negative correlation between negative life events and quality of life (β=-0.745, P < 0.05); resilience and social support played an important mediating role in the relationship between negative life events and quality of life (β_Resilience = -0.287, P < 0.05; β_{Social support} = -0.124, P < 0.05). The emotional adjustment dimension of resilience (β = -0.285, P < 0.05) and the subjective support dimension of social support (β = -0.100, P < 0.05) played the largest mediating roles, respectively.

Conclusion

Negative life events were negatively correlated with adolescents' quality of life. Strengthening resilience and social support is expected to weaken and reduce the adverse effects of negative life events on adolescents and further maintain and improve their quality of life.

Relationships between Dark Triad and negative emotions during COVID-19 lockdown: The chain mediating roles of negative coping and state boredom

Personality is distal vulnerability of negative emotions and vital to mental health. Dark Triad was significantly correlated with negative emotions, whereas the mechanisms beneath the relationships were less clear. Based on life history strategy theory (LHS) and cognitive vulnerability-transactional stress model, the study explored the relationships between Dark Triad and negative emotions and investigated the roles of negative coping style and state boredom in the relationships aforementioned during the strict period of COVID-19 lockdown in China. 464 participants (M age = 36.78 years; SD = 10.53) finished a package of measurements online including Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), Short Dark Triad (SD3), Multidimensional State Boredom Scale (MSBS), and Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ). The results showed there were positive relationships between Dark Triad and depression, anxiety and stress. Moreover, the relationships between Dark Triad and negative emotions were sequentially mediated by negative coping style and state boredom. The present study offered fascinating perspectives in the relationships between Dark Triad and negative emotions, and revealed how Dark Triad affected depression, anxiety and stress during the initial phase of COVID-19 pandemic and strict lockdown among Chinese population. The present results may provide important implications for the prevention and intervention of depression, anxiety and stress during COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown. Specifically, the intervention strategies that focus on reducing Dark Triad, negative coping and boredom may help offset occurrence of negative emotional states.

Depressive Symptoms and Their Associated Factors in Vocational-Technical School Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The objectives of this study were to compare the prevalence of depressive symptoms, behavioral habits, and QoL in students from two vocational-technical schools, and to determine the association of depressive symptoms with behavioral habits and quality of life (QoL) in these students during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with students attending the institution of the Brazilian Federal Network of Professional, Scientific and Technological Education. The students answered a questionnaire on sociodemographic variables, situations related to the COVID-19 pandemic, behavioral habits, QoL, and depressive symptoms. The outcome variable was the presence of depressive symptoms, assessed using the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI). Poisson regression analysis with robust variance was performed. A total of 343 students participated in this study (women, 55.7%; mean age of 16.1 ± 0.93 years). The prevalence of depressive symptoms among students was 43.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 38.0-49.0), and these symptoms were significantly associated with being female (prevalence ratio [PR] 1.72; 95% CI: 1.31-2.27); being in the 10th grade (PR: 1.80; 95% CI: 1.18-2.76) and 9th grade (PR 2.08; 95% CI: 1.37-3.18); social isolation (PR: 2.04; 95% CI: 1.00-4.14); hunger due to a lack of food at home (PR: 1.78; 95% CI: 1.33-2.39); low physical activity levels (PR: 1.68; 95% CI: 1.09-2.59); and moderate (PR: 2.87, 95% CI: 1.68-4.89) and low QoL (PR: 5.66; 95% CI: 3.48-9.19). The results emphasize the importance of interventions aimed mainly at female students and those in the initial years of high school, in addition to the importance of physical activity, food safety, and QoL to improve the mental health of students.

Quality of Life and Community Wellbeing of Members Associated With Village Savings and Loans Associations as a Model of Sharing Economy in the Least Developing Countries: A Case of Mzuzu City in Northern Malawi, Southern Africa

This study was aimed at examining the impacts of the Sharing economy on the individual and community Quality of Life (QOL) and wellbeing by looking at their associated influencing factors using Village Savings and Loans Associations as a model of sharing economy in Malawi. An online community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted from November 2020 through January 2021. In the survey, 402 Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) members from the Mzuzu City area participated, recruited using snowball and respondent-driven sampling techniques. The sample size was computed using a single population proportion using the Yamane formula. Descriptive statistics and ordinal logistic regression model techniques were also employed. Additionally, we used the Chi-Square test, two-way ANOVA, and Ordinal regression model to determine statistical associations between socioeconomic data and QOL and wellbeing variables with a 5% level of significance. On the aspect of community wellbeing, the findings of our study indicated that income (levels and disposal) provided members with options to live a better QOL and wellbeing within the community by either facilitating payment for better education, eating healthier foods, acquiring assets, etc. Further, the absence of discrimination provided a platform for voice, inclusion, and social trust, enhancing freedom of expression. We also found that education facilitated better earnings and knowledge of public health-related issues. As for the contribution to the sharing economy, our study has emphasized the role played by trust in enhancing sharing economy. We recommend and encourage people to join these VSLAs so as to improve their QOL and wellbeing. However, there is a need to replicate the study on a larger scale to validate our study findings for effective policy formulation and implementation geared to improving the overall quality of people's lives. Based on these findings, we further recommend that authorities reinstate programs like National Strategy for Financial Inclusion 2016-2020 and Savings and Loan Groups Best Practice Guidelines (SLG BPGs) 2016-2017 that could further enhance the future of VSLAs, which are vital for QOL and community wellbeing of the people in developing countries like Malawi.

Gender Differences in Psychological Stress Factors of Physical Therapy Degree Students in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

(1) Background: The aim of the study was to investigate how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the mental health and quality of life of male and female physical therapy students at the European University of Madrid. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted including a range of tests capturing different domains: 36-item Short Form Health Survey, six-item state version of the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory, Acceptance and Action Questionnaire, Three Items Loneliness Scale, four-item version of the Perceived Stress Scale, Beck Depression Inventory revised version, and Sleep Quality Numeric Rating Scale. (3) Results: A total of 151 students completed the study, consisting of 78 females and 73 males. Gender differences were observed on most of the domains evaluated. Female participants showed worse levels of general health perception, quality of life, depression symptoms, anxiety, stress, experiential avoidance and psychological inflexibility, sleep quality and loneliness compared to male physical therapy students. (4) Conclusions: The results of this study support the need of psychological interventions as preventive programs in situations such as COVID-19 pandemic. The aims of this study comprise of improving knowledge, awareness, and self-coping strategies or other psychological domains oriented to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on mental health and health-related quality of life in university students, especially among female ones.

Smartphone addiction and depression, anxiety: The role of bedtime procrastination and self-control

BACKGROUND

Owing to the widespread use of smartphones, researchers have an increasing interest in smartphone addiction. The purpose of this study is to look into the outcomes of smartphone addiction while answering when and how smartphone addiction may predict university students' depression and anxiety.

METHODS

Primary data were collected from 355 students studying in different universities in China. Participants completed Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV), Bedtime Procrastination Scale (BPS), Self-control Scale (SCS) and Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale (DASS). PROCESS macros in SPSS24.0 were used to examine the moderated mediating effects.

RESULTS

Smartphone addiction Scale scores were positively correlated with depression, anxiety among university students through bedtime procrastination. Self-control was found to play the moderating role such that the mediated relationships were weak for students with high self-control.

LIMITATIONS

This study is a cross sectional study, so we cannot make causal inferences.

CONCLUSIONS

Individuals with smartphone addiction are inclined to postpone their bedtime and further experience more depression and anxiety. Self-control serves as a protective factor for bedtime procrastination, depression and anxiety.

Adolescent Life Satisfaction Explained by Social Support, Emotion Regulation, and Resilience

Adolescence is a stage characterized by many biological and psychosocial changes, all of which may result in a decrease in subjective well-being. It is therefore necessary to identify those factors that contribute to increased life satisfaction, in order to promote positive development among young people. The aim of this study is to examine the dynamics of a set of variables that contribute to life satisfaction. A total of 1,188 adolescents (aged between 12 and 16 years) completed the Perceived Social Support from Family and Friends and Perception of the School Environment Questionnaires, the Trait Meta Mood Scale (TMMS), Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale-10 (CD-RISC), and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) for social support, emotion regulation, resilience, and life satisfaction. By applying structural equation modeling (SEM), the results reveal a direct prediction of family support, emotion regulation, and resilience on life satisfaction. Support from friends and emotion regulation was also found to explain resilience, and support from family and teachers was found to predict emotion regulation. In conclusion, emotion regulation and social support were found to indirectly affect life satisfaction among adolescents through resilience. The theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed.

Quality of Life of Children and Adolescents with Multiple Sclerosis-A Literature Review of the Quantitative Evidence

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system that also develops in patients under 18 years of age. The disease negatively affects the quality of life (QoL) of children and adolescents. We conducted a literature review. The aim of the review was to identify the QoL of pediatric patients with MS and assess the factors determining their QoL. Methods: We analyzed studies published between 2000 and 2020 in PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science, and EBSCO databases. Results: In all, 17 studies were included in the review. The most common tool in assessing QoL was the generic module PedsQL. The range of mean/median global score of QoL was 53.8–81.7. The worst QoL was dominantly reported in the school and emotional spheres, on the contrary, the disease’s least determined area of QoL was the social and physical dimension. In particular, disability and fatigue were important predictors of QoL. Conclusions: MS negatively affects the school and emotional spheres in particular, so it is important to pay greater attention to these spheres of life of MS patients. As the review studies pay insufficient attention to the analysis of positive factors and their impact on the QoL of MS patients, research should integrate these phenomena. The use of MS-targeted tools in future research in the pediatric MS population is also appropriate.

Access to Epidemic Information and Life Satisfaction under the Period of COVID-19: the Mediating Role of Perceived Stress and the Moderating Role of Friendship Quality

The present study mainly focused on college students amidst the COVID-19 outbreak and aimed to develop and examine a moderated mediation model between access to epidemic information and life satisfaction. Friendship quality as a moderator, and perceived stress as a mediator. A sample of 1032 college students participated in this study and completed questionnaires regarding access to epidemic information, perceived stress, friendship quality, and life satisfaction. Findings indicated that 1) access to epidemic information was strongly related to life satisfaction; 2) perceived stress acts as a mediator in the positive relationship between access to epidemic information and life satisfaction; 3) friendship quality moderated the relationship between access to epidemic information and perceived stress as well as perceived stress and life satisfaction, and such that there was a stronger association between access to epidemic information and perceived stress for college students with high friendship quality. But the relationship between perceived stress and life satisfaction became weaker for college students with high friendship quality. The results illuminate the mechanism to theoretical and practical implications for improving college students' life satisfaction during the pandemic.

Active school travel is associated with fewer suicide attempts among adolescents from low-and middle-income countries

Background/Objective: This study explored the association between active school travel (AST) and suicide attempts among adolescents in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Method: We used the data from the Global School-based Health Survey, including 127,097 adolescents aged 13-17 years from 34 LMICs. A self-reported survey was used to collect data on AST and suicide attempts as well as some variables. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess the association between AST and suicide attempts. A meta-analysis with random effects was undertaken to identify the difference in the association between AST and suicide attempts. Results: Across all the adolescents, the prevalence of AST was 37% and the prevalence of suicide attempts was 11.60%. Adolescents who engaged in AST were less likely to have suicide attempts irrespective of gender. The country-wise analysis indicated a large inconsistency in the association between AST and suicide attempt across the countries. Conclusions: AST would appear to be a protective factor for reducing suicide attempts among adolescents. However, the association between AST and suicide attempts varied greatly across the countries. Future studies should confirm the association between AST and suicide attempts.