Novelty-seeking and avoidant coping strategies are associated with academic stress in Korean medical students

Factors affecting COVID-19's mental health impact on college students in the southeastern United States

Emerging evidence confirms COVID-19's negative impact on college students' mental health; however, more research is needed to identify factors that promoted or hindered college students' mental health early in the pandemic. This exploratory study addressed this need. Participants were 697 students attending a large, state, urban university in the southeastern United States. Using a cross-sectional survey design, participants completed an anonymous, online survey assessing socio-demographic variables, mental health issues, and activities during the lockdown period in 2020. Findings suggest college students in the southeastern US who were women or transgender men and had pre-existing mental health conditions, fewer routine activities, and high exposure to COVID-19 news reported more mental health problems early in the pandemic. Students who exercised daily had fewer symptoms of anxiety and post-traumatic stress than students who exercised monthly, but there were no differences in emotional responses to COVID-19 based on exercise frequency. Tailored strategies to address college students' needs in response to the current or future pandemics are needed and should take into consideration factors that promote or hinder mental health. Patient or Public Contribution: College students were participants in this study. College students who were not participants in this study assisted with the implementation of this study.

Key Factors Affecting Mathematics Teachers' Well-Being and Stress Levels: An Extended Engagement Theory

The mathematics teachers' profession often has many challenges. It also occupies important positions at the K-12 education level, in which mathematics knowledge is the basis of all scientific fields. This tends to cause high-stress levels and a negative effect on well-being. Mathematics teachers' well-being has been less examined, and therefore this study aims to determine the factors affecting mathematics teachers' well-being and stress levels. The 210 data points collected from Chinese mathematics teachers using a web-based questionnaire were analyzed for reliability and validity, then model fit and SEM were applied for model validation after removing 3 invalid data points and incomplete responses. The results showed that behavioral and cognitive engagements significantly affect teachers' well-being, while the affective engagement was insignificant. The TPMK was the strongest significant predictor that had a positive impact on improving well-being and reducing stress levels. In addition, the stress level of mathematics teachers was influenced by gender and age. Finally, it was proven that teachers' well-being significantly reduced stress levels. This study's implication was to provide information on how to reduce stress levels.

The Relationships of Creative Coping and College Students' Achievement Emotions and Academic Stress: The Mediating Role of Psychological Capital

Creative coping is the use of creativity as a positive strategy when facing stress. The existing empirical investigation of creative coping is scarce, particularly in the field of educational psychology. The present study aims to explore the relationships of college students' creative coping and their achievement emotions and academic stress as well as the underlying mechanism. The sample included 780 Chinese college students. The Creative Coping Scale, Positive Psychological Capital Questionnaire, Learning Stress Inventory for College Students, and the short version of the Achievement Emotions Questionnaire were used. Statistical results showed that creative coping was positively related with students' positive achievement emotions and negatively related with negative achievement emotions, but insignificantly with academic stress. Moreover, psychological capital played a mediating role in the relationship between creative coping and achievement emotions and in the relationship between creative coping and academic stress with a suppression effect.

Coping strategies of healthcare professional students for stress incurred during their studies: a literature review

BACKGROUND

Stress in healthcare professional students is well-documented, however coping strategies and their relationship with stress has not been comprehensively reviewed. It is necessary for students to use positive coping strategies to effectively reduce stress levels.

AIMS

The aim of this review is to identify coping strategies of healthcare professional students and their consequences.

METHODS

Studies conducted from 2010 to 2020 on coping strategies utilised by healthcare students were reviewed. An electronic database search was performed in January 2020 of three databases CINAHL, SCOPUS and PubMed.

RESULTS

Twenty-two studies were included in this review, using a wide range of survey instruments including the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (Brief COPE) Inventory and the Coping Behaviour Inventory Common coping strategies utilised by healthcare students include problem-focused strategies such as planning, problem-solving and active coping. Coping strategies tended to vary depending on student's location, year of their course, gender and age. Positive coping strategies, such as problem-focused strategies, were associated with reduced stress levels and improved psychological health. Other emotion-focused coping strategies identified included acceptance, self-distraction, and optimism.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings may provide direction for third-level institutions in designing interventions (such as encouraging exercise) promoting the use of positive coping strategies.

Exploring the Effects of Temperament on Gray Matter Volume of Frontal Cortex in Patients with Mood Disorders

BACKGROUND

Patients with bipolar disorder (BD) and patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) have relatively specific temperament and structural abnormalities of brain regions related to emotion and cognition. However, the effects of temperament factors on the structure of frontal and temporal cortex is still unclear. The aims of this study were to explore the differences and relationships between temperament characteristics and the gray matter volume of frontal and temporal cortex in patients with BD or MDD.

METHODS

T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data, demographic and clinical information were obtained from 279 depressed patients (90 patients with BD, 189 patients with MDD) and 162 healthy controls (HC). Temperament was assessed with the Chinese short version of Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa and San Diego - Auto questionnaire (TEMPS-A). The Desikan-Killiany atlas was used for yielding gray matter volume by FreeSurfer 6.0 software suite. A total of 22 frontal and temporal regions were chosen as regions of interest (ROIs).

RESULTS

Compared with patients with MDD, patients with BD had higher TEMPS-A total scores and scores on cyclothymic, irritable and hyperthymic subscales. The gray matter volume in bilateral rostral middle frontal gyrus (RMFG), left temporal pole and right superior frontal gyrus were reduced in patients with BD. Patients with MDD only had lower gray matter volume in bilateral temporal pole. In the pooled patients, there were negative associations between hyperthymia and gray matter volume in right RMFG.

CONCLUSION

Patients with BD and MDD had different temperament characteristics. The prominent temperament subscales in patients with BD were cyclothymia, irritable and hyperthymia. Patients with greater hyperthymia had lower gray matter volume in right frontal gyrus. Temperament may reflect an endophenotype in patients with mood disorders, especially in BD.

Depression, Suicidal Ideation and Perceived Stress in Italian Humanities Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Mental health issues are common among university students. Nevertheless, few studies focused on Italian students. This study aimed to assess prevalence and associated factors of perceived stress (PS), depressive symptoms (DS) and suicidal ideation (SI) in an Italian sample. A cross-sectional study was conducted amongst a convenience sample of students in humanities field (2018). Questionnaires were self-administered. Outcomes were assessed through Beck Depression Inventory-II (DS, SI) and Perceived Stress Scale (PS). Multivariable regressions were performed (p-value < 0.05 significant; sample size = 203). DS and SI prevalence was 30.6% and 8.8%. PS median score was 20 (IQR = 11), 87.7% reported moderate/severe PS. DS likelihood was increased by psychiatric disorders family history and not attending first year of course and decreased by not thinking that university hinders personal activities. Chronic disease and higher stress score increased SI probability; good/excellent family cohesion reduced it. Being female, thinking that university hinders resting/relaxing, seeing a psychologist/psychiatrist were positively associated with PS; having no worries about future was negatively associated. A high prevalence of mental health issues was reported, with miscellaneous associated factors that were linked to both private and social aspects. Universities must be aware of this to provide efficient preventive measures.

Associations of Temperament and Character with Coping Strategies among Office Workers

OBJECTIVE

Coping can be defined as the reactions to harm or distress individuals take to reduce stress. This study aimed to determine how an individual's temperament and character is correlated with the person's main coping method.

METHODS

The Korean version of the Ways of Coping Questionnaire and Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised-Short Version were used to evaluate the coping strategies and temperament and character of 1,035 people. Four hierarchical linear regression analyses with the scores of each coping strategy subscale as a dependent variable were performed.

RESULTS

High persistence, cooperativeness, self-transcendence, and low harm avoidance were associated with using a problem-focused coping strategy. Being female, high novelty seeking, reward dependence, and self-transcendence were associated with using a supportseeking coping strategy. High novelty seeking, self-transcendence, and low self-directedness were associated with using emotion-focused coping strategy. Being female, high novelty seeking, persistence, cooperativeness, and self-transcendence were associated with using a hopeful-thinking coping strategy.

CONCLUSION

Our results show that there may be specific personality features guiding what kind of coping strategy an individual might use in a given situation.

Investigation of burnout syndrome among electrical and building technology undergraduate students in Nigeria

BACKGROUND

The investigation of burnout among undergraduate students is yet to receive the same amount of attention as burnout in employees. Despite the negative effects of burnout among students, there is dearth of literature on burnout problem among electrical and building technology undergraduate students. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the burnout levels and the effect of rational-emotive behavior therapy (REBT) on symptoms of burnout among electrical and building technology undergraduate students in South-East zone of Nigeria.

METHOD

A group randomized trial design involving a treatment group versus no-treatment group was adopted for this study. One hundred fifty four undergraduate students of electrical and building technology who met the study's inclusion criteria were selected from public universities in the South-East zone of Nigeria. The intervention consisted of 10 weeks of REBT treatment and 8 weeks of follow-up meetings conducted at 4 months. A self-report questionnaire was used for data collection. Repeated-measures analysis of variance, paired sample t test, and Chi-Squared were used for data analysis.

RESULTS

The outcome indicated that the levels of burnout syndrome among the students are high and REBT had a significant effect on the symptoms of burnout syndrome among the electrical and building technology students in the treatment group compared to their counterparts in the no-treatment group. Finally, the positive gains were significantly maintained by the treatment group at follow-up.

CONCLUSION

The current study suggests that an REBT program can be effective for dealing with burnout syndrome among the population of undergraduate students of electrical and building technology in Nigeria.

Temperament profile and its association with the vulnerability to smartphone addiction of medical students in Indonesia

Two dimensions of temperament, namely, (high levels of) novelty seeking and (low levels of) harm avoidance are related to substance addictions. However, their implications for smartphone addiction remain unexplored. Medical students are heavy smartphone users. Accordingly, screening for the risk of smartphone addiction based on individual differences in temperament can facilitate the identification of the best possible prevention strategy. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the relationship between temperament and the vulnerability to smartphone addiction among medical students in Jakarta, Indonesia. The research study adopted a cross-sectional research design and used a simple random sampling technique. The Indonesian versions of the Temperament and Character Inventory and the Smartphone Addiction Scale were used to measure the study variables. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the relationships between demographic factors, patterns of smartphone use, temperament, and vulnerability to smartphone addiction. A majority of the 185 participants were found to have the following temperament profile: low levels of novelty seeking and high levels of reward dependence and harm avoidance. The average duration of daily smartphone use was 7.83 hours (SD = 4.03) and the age at first smartphone use was 7.62 years (SD = 2.60). The respondents used smartphone to communicate with other people and access social media. A high level of harm avoidance was significantly associated with the risk of smartphone addiction (Odds Ratio [OR] = 2.04, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 1.12, 3.70). The findings suggest that smartphone addiction is comparable to other addictive behaviors. Further, harm avoidance increases the risk of smartphone addiction. Therefore, the risk of smartphone addiction among medical students must be ascertained based on their temperament profiles.

A group-focused rational emotive behavior coaching for management of academic burnout among undergraduate students: Implications for school administrators

BACKGROUND

High-stress level affects students' health and many of them experiencing high levels of stress are at risk of burnout. School administrators are often concerned about the experiences and negative effects of burnout among students and staff. Burnout is described as a psychological reaction to chronic stress. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of a group-focused intervention (rational emotive behavior coaching, REBC) on academic burnout among undergraduate students attending public universities in Southeast Nigeria.

METHODS

A group randomized controlled trial design was adopted for this study. A total of 52 convenient samples of undergraduate students (with a high degree of burnout symptoms) took part in the research. We used a group REBT program manual for the management of burnout which was complemented with REBC techniques. Data were gathered with the aid of the perceived stress scale (PSS-10) and Oldenburg Burnout inventory-student (OLBI-S). Data were analyzed using ANOVA and paired t test at .05 probability level.

RESULTS

Results showed that the group-focused REBC program significantly alleviated burnout symptoms among students in the treatment group compared to students in the control group as measured by OLBI-S subscales: exhaustion (F(1,51) = 41.789, P = .000, (Equation is included in full-text article.), ΔR = 0.634, SE = 1.00), and disengagement (F(1,51) = 196.036, P = .000, (Equation is included in full-text article.), ΔR = 0.869, SE = 0.69). The students who benefitted from the group-focused REBC program maintained reduced symptoms of burnout after three months when the researchers conducted a follow-up as measured by OLBI-S subscales: exhaustion (F(1,51) = 34.012, P = .000, (Equation is included in full-text article.), ΔR = 0.467, SE = 1.21), and disengagement (F(1,51) = 108.941, P = .000, (Equation is included in full-text article.), ΔR = 0.765, SE = 0.85).

CONCLUSION

This research indicates that group-focused REBC can be applied to reduce burnout symptoms among undergraduate students. The group-focused REBC intervention may be adapted to overcome employee burnout and school administrators' burnout. Researchers may need to investigate the possibility of storing and harnessing data from studies on REBC and burnout and delivering computer-based/internet REBC program following evidence-based computing strategies and principles.

The effects of personality traits on academic burnout in Korean medical students

Background

Previous studies suggest that personality traits play an important role in academic burnout. The aim of this study was to investigate how Cloninger’s temperament and character traits explain academic burnout in a highly competitive environment of medical school.

Methods

A total of 184 Korean medical students participated in the survey. The Cloninger’s Temperament and Character Inventory was measured around the beginning of the semester and Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey at the end of the semester. The correlations and stepwise regression analysis were conducted to explain the association between personality traits and academic burnout. In addition, latent profile analysis and profile analysis were employed to distinguish and explain differences of personality traits among latent academic burnout subgroups.

Results

The higher harm avoidance of temperament and lower self-directedness and cooperativeness of character predicted the subscales of academic burnout in medical students. The Temperament and Character Inventory personality profile of high, middle, and low latent burnout subgroups were significantly different.

Conclusion

This study showed that personality might account for the burnout level in medical education. The importance of character dimension for modulating the effects of temperament traits on academic burnout was discussed for future research.

Mindfulness based stress reduction for medical students: optimising student satisfaction and engagement

BACKGROUND

Medical practitioners and students are at increased risk of a number of personal and psychological problems. Stress and anxiety due to work-load and study requirements are common and self-care methods are important in maintaining well-being. The current study examines perceptions of and satisfaction ratings with a mindfulness based stress reduction (MBSR) programme for 1(st) year (compulsory) and 2(nd) year (optional) Graduate Entry Medical School students.

METHODS

A mixed method pre and post study of Year 1 (n = 140) and Year 2 (n = 88) medical students completing a 7 week MBSR course compared student satisfaction ratings. Thematic analysis of feedback from the students on their perception of the course was also carried out.

RESULTS

Year 1 students (compulsory course) were less satisfied with content and learning outcomes than Year 2 students (optional course) (p < .0005). Thematic analysis of year 1 student feedback identified themes including great concept, poorly executed; and less discussion, more practice. Year 2 themes included session environment and satisfaction with tutors.

CONCLUSIONS

The MBSR course was associated with high levels of satisfaction and positive feedback when delivered on an optional basis. Catering for the individual needs of the participant and promoting a safe environment are core elements of a successful self-care programme.

PTSD Symptoms Mediate Academic Stress and Drinking to Cope in College Students

Heightened perceptions of academic stress may increase college alcohol use behaviors, namely problem drinking and drinking to cope. Leading from prior research, the current study examined posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms as a mediator between academic stress and alcohol use behaviors. Undergraduate participants (N=200) completed an online survey battery. Results indicated that posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms mediated the relationship between academic stress and drinking to cope. Findings maintained after excluding the small portion of the sample without prior trauma. Results suggest that early trauma exposure may increase stress sensitivity, which is associated with elevated nontraumatic academic stress and stress-related symptoms. An increase in stress symptoms likely promotes drinking as a method of coping. Information on the role of trauma and stress may be incorporated into alcohol intervention programs.

Graduate entry and undergraduate medical students' study approaches, stress levels and ways of coping: a five year longitudinal study

BACKGROUND

Incorporating graduate students into undergraduate medical degree programs is a commonly accepted practice. However, it has only recently been recognized that these two types of students cope with their studies in various ways. The aim was to compare the learning approaches, stress levels and ways of coping of undergraduate (UG) and graduate entry medical students (GEMP) throughout their medical course.

METHODS

From 2007-2011 each of the five year cohorts of undergraduate and GEMP students completed four components of the study. The components included demographics, The Biggs' R-SPQ-2 F questionnaire which determines students' approaches to learning, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) used to rate students perceived stress during the past four weeks, and the Ways of Coping (WOC) questionnaire used to assess students' methods of coping with everyday problems.

RESULTS

There was a consistent difference between UG and GEMP students approaches to learning over the five years. GEMP students preferred a deep approach while the UG students preferred a superficial approach to learning. This difference became more obvious in the clinical years. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in stress levels. There were consistent differences in the ways the two groups coped with stress.

CONCLUSIONS

There were significant differences in approaches to learning and ways of coping with stress between the UG and the GEMP students. These need to be considered when introducing curriculum change, in particular, redesigning an UG program for post graduate delivery.

Coping styles and its association with sources of stress in undergraduate medical students

CONTEXT

The two ubiquitous factors that have been identified in medical courses to underlie mental health are stress and different coping styles adopted to combat stress.

AIM

To find the association between coping styles and stress in undergraduate medical students.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN

A medical college in Central Kerala. A cross-sectional study design was adopted.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Source and Severity of Stress Scale, Medical Student Version, was used to assess the source and nature of stress. Brief Cope was used to find out the coping styles adopted.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

The statistical analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20 and SAS. Chi-square analysis was used to find the association between coping styles and stress domains and with the overall stress score.

RESULTS

There is a significant positive association between overall stress score and coping styles (P=0.001) of 'Negative cope', 'Blame', and 'Humor'. 'Positive cope' and 'Religion' has significant positive association with 'Academics' (P=0.047) and 'self Expectations' (P=0.009). 'Blame' (P<0.001) has very high significant positive association with 'Academics', 'self expectation', and 'Relationships'. Very high significant positive association is further found between 'Humor' (P<0.001) and 'self expectations', 'Living conditions', and 'Health and Value conflict'. 'substance Use' is positively associated in high significance to 'Health and Value conflict' (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The outcome of the study emphasizes the need for stress management techniques in the medical school.