What is related to the well-being of the siblings of patients with schizophrenia: An evaluation within the Lazarus and Folkman's Transactional Stress and Coping Model

Fear of COVID-19, workplace phobia, workplace deviance and perceived organizational support: A moderated mediation model

This paper aims to test a moderated-mediation model examining therelationships between Fear of COVID-19, workplace phobia, work deviance behaviourand perceived organizational support among hotel employees. An online questionnaire was administered to collect data, to which 481 responded. Data was collected from full-time frontline employees working in the Maldivian hospitality industry. The moderated-mediation model explained 44% of the variance in workplace deviance behaviourscan be predicted bythe fear of COVID-19, perceived organisational support and workplace phobia. The findingsshowthat perceived organizational support reduces the negative impact of COVID-19 fear on workplace phobia and deviance. Results suggest that to reduce the negative effect of the pandemic, organisations should adopt support measures across different managerial levels at different scales rather than providing one-size-fits-all solutions.

Distress, burden, and wellbeing in siblings of people with mental illness: a mixed studies systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Family members of people with mental illness (MI) may experience a host of psychological adversities such as increased stress, burden, and reduced wellbeing. However, relatively little is known about siblings. This study aimed to characterise the experience of distress (viz. depressive and anxiety symptoms), burden, and wellbeing in siblings of people with MI.

METHODS

Studies reporting on quantitative measures of depression, anxiety, burden, or wellbeing in siblings; and/or qualitative findings on siblings' experience were eligible. The literature search was conducted up until 20th October 2022.

RESULTS

Sixty-two studies comprising data from 3744 siblings were included. The pooled mean percentage of depressive symptoms fell in the mild range at 15.71 (k = 28, N = 2187, 95% CI 12.99-18.43) and anxiety symptoms fell in the minimal range at 22.45 (k = 16, N = 1122, 95% CI 17.09-27.80). Moderator analyses indicate that siblings of people with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder experience greater depressive symptoms than siblings of people with other types of MI (β = -16.38, p < 0.001). Qualitative findings suggest that individuals may be particularly vulnerable during their siblings' illness onset and times of relapse. Limited communication, confusion about MI, and the need to compensate may contribute to siblings' distress and/or burden. Siblings' experience of wellbeing and caregiving were closely related.

CONCLUSION

This review highlights the complex psychological experience of siblings and the need for greater research and clinical support for this important yet often overlooked cohort.

Relationship Between Married Individuals' Relations with Their Family of Origin and Coping Styles with Stress

This study aims to determine the relationship between the family of origin relations and coping styles with stress in the married individuals. This research, which was conducted as a relational screening model was carried out with 150 married and at least high school graduates living in Ankara, selected with a purposeful sample. The data was obtained using the Information Form, Family of Origin Relations Inventory (FORI) and Styles of Coping Inventory (SCI). In married individuals,(n=150) the mean total score of SCI was 78.32±7.98; The mean total score of the FORI was found to be 26.51±4.50. There was no significant relationship between the total scores of FORI and SCI; It was determined that there is a positive correlation between the self-confident approach, helpless approach and submissive approach, which are the sub-dimensions of SCI, and the total score of the FORI. As a result, it was found that there was no relationship between family of origin relations and stress coping styles in married individuals, but as the relations with the family of origin relations improved, the use of self-confident approach, helpless approach and submissive approach increased among coping styles. For this reason, it is recommended to plan psychosocial interventions that will raise awareness about the relationship between their family of origin relations and their coping styles in order to enable married individuals to cope functionally.

Investigating employees' deviant work behavior in the hotel industry during COVID-19: Empirical evidence from an emerging country

Employees in the hotel industry are among the most vulnerable groups that have been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Anchored on the general strain theory, transactional theory of stress and coping, and theory of justice, this study investigates the mechanism through which hotel employees' perceived job insecurity affects their deviant work behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic. A survey method was used to collect three-wave sample data from 988 hotel employees in popular tourist destinations in Vietnam. Multivariate data analysis reveals a positive relationship between perceived job insecurity and deviant work behavior, and this relationship is mediated by psychological distress. Furthermore, abusive supervision positively moderates the association between psychological distress-deviant work behavior and the indirect influence of perceived job insecurity on deviant work behavior through psychological distress. These findings are useful for hotel managers seeking to manage and develop employees in a global health crisis such as COVID-19.

Predictors of family caregiving burden of persons with schizophrenia with and without transition of primary caregivers from 1994 to 2015 in rural China

BACKGROUND

Little is known about how sociodemographic and clinical factors affect the caregiving burden of persons with schizophrenia (PwSs) with transition in primary caregivers.

AIMS

This study aimed to examine the predictive effects of sociodemographic and clinical factors on the caregiving burden of PwSs with and without caregiver transition from 1994 to 2015 in rural China.

METHOD

Using panel data, 206 dyads of PwSs and their primary caregivers were investigated in both 1994 and 2015. The generalised linear model approach was used to examine the predictive effects of sociodemographic factors, severity of symptoms and changes in social functioning on the caregiving burden with and without caregiver transition.

RESULTS

The percentages of families with and without caregiver transition were 38.8% and 61.2%, respectively. Among families without caregiver transition, a heavier burden was significantly related to a larger family size and more severe symptoms in PwSs. Deteriorated functioning of 'social activities outside the household' and improved functioning of 'activity in the household' were protective factors against a heavy caregiving burden. Among families with caregiver transition, younger age, improved marital functioning, deteriorated self-care functioning, and better functioning of 'social interest or concern' were significant risk factors for caregiving burden.

CONCLUSIONS

The effects of sociodemographic and clinical correlates on the caregiving burden were different among families with and without caregiver transition. It is crucial to explore the caregiver arrangement of PwSs and the risk factors for burden over time, which will facilitate culture-specific family interventions, community-based mental health services and recovery.

Psychosocial Stress, Social Support, and the Escalation of Schizotypal Symptoms

ABSTRACT

Although research suggests that psychosocial stress is associated with an increase in schizotypal symptoms, the type of stressor associated with increased symptomatology is unclear, and no study has examined whether social support might mitigate the effects of stress on symptom change. In this study, 131 young adults completed measures of schizotypal symptoms, major life events, daily hassles, and perceptions of social support at baseline, and measures of stress and symptoms again 4 to 6 weeks later. Results indicated, after controlling for baseline measures, that for those scoring low on schizotypal measures at baseline, only low levels of social support were associated with increased symptoms. For those scoring high on the schizotypal scales at baseline, however, both major life events and daily hassles were associated with increased symptomatology, but only when perceptions of social support at baseline were low. The results suggest that it is important to assess both perceptions of social support and baseline symptomatology when examining whether major life events and daily stress are associated with increased psychotic symptoms. Both types of psychosocial stress are associated with an increase in symptoms, but only for those who are already showing above average symptoms and only when social support is low.

Finding the positives from the COVID-19 pandemic: factors associated with posttraumatic growth among nurses in Hong Kong

BACKGROUND

Due to active involvement with patients for COVID-19 treatments, nurses are susceptible to adverse psychological outcomes amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the distress, studies have suggested that nurses are able to experience positive changes (i.e. posttraumatic growth; PTG) during the pandemic. Research on other populations has also indicated that COVID-19-specific worries and work-related coping resources are associated with people's positive changes during the pandemic.

OBJECTIVE

This study examined how socio-demographic characteristics, COVID-19-related worries, and work-related variables (satisfaction with work and workplace pandemic guidelines) were associated with PTG among nurses in Hong Kong.

METHODS

Nurses (N = 1510) working in hospitals and community settings were recruited through nursing associations in Hong Kong between 8 August 2020 and 22 September 2020. They were invited to complete a cross-sectional survey measuring their sociodemographic characteristics, COVID-19 worries, and satisfaction with work and workplace pandemic-control measures.

RESULTS

Results from hierarchical regressions found that those working non-full-time (β = -0.06), affiliating with a religion (β = 0.24), having higher COVID-19-related worries and psychological distress (βs ranging from 0.12-0.15), and having higher work satisfaction (β = 0.14) were associated with higher PTG (ps < .05). Moreover, a significant interaction between psychological distress and satisfaction with workplace pandemic control guidelines emerged in explaining PTG (β = 0.08, p < .05), such that guideline satisfaction was only associated with higher PTG among those with higher distress (β = 0.09, p = .03), but not those with lower distress (β = -0.05, p > .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Nurses in Hong Kong did report positive changes amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Future studies could focus on the contributing factors of PTG to design for effective strategies to enhance resources for nurses to promote positive psychosocial outcomes.

The experiences of family caregivers of people with severe mental illness in the Middle East: A systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative data

Background

There is a wealth of literature exploring the experiences of family caregivers of people with severe mental illness (SMI) in western countries, however, this topic has been neglected in the Middle East, despite families being the main source of caregiving in this context. The purpose of this review was to conduct a systematic review and qualitative meta-synthesis to explore the experiences of family caregivers living in countries in the Middle East caring for a relative with severe mental illness.

Methods

A systematic review and meta-synthesis were conducted, to comprehensively gain a thorough and detailed overview of what is known about family caregivers’ experiences from published qualitative research in the Middle East geographical area from inception to May 2021. The review protocol was pre-registered with PROSPERO (Ref: CRD42020165519).

Results

The review identified twelve qualitative studies that explored caregivers’ experiences of caring for relatives with SMI in Middle East countries. Family caregivers’ experiences were captured under seven overarching themes. The participants across all studies reported negative consequences of providing care, increased burden and emotional distress. Many experienced issues with family/marital relationships and stigmatizing attitudes and behaviours from their communities. Caregivers expressed the need for increased support which was perceived to have a critical role in improving family caregivers’ experiences.

Conclusions

The meta-synthesis revealed many challenges and issues that affect caregivers of people with SMI in the Middle East. Family caregivers experienced distress and burden, and reported significant impact on their psychological well-being. Their experiences highlight the urgent need to provide more support for family caregivers in Middle East countries.

Cooperation or Tension? Dyadic Coping in Cystic Fibrosis

Following a rise in the life expectancy of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, many adults with CF form couple relationships. Yet, dyadic coping has not been previously examined in people with CF. This study examined how adults with CF and their partners cope as a couple with the illness, and what meanings each partner and the couple as a unit attribute to the experience. Seventeen adult CF patients and their partners participated in separate semi-structured in-depth interviews. Two main patterns of dyadic coping with CF were identified as follows: cooperation and tension. For couples in cooperation, the marital relationship served as a resource for adaptive coping. These couples were characterized by similarities in their perception of the place of CF in their lives and of their roles in the marital relationship. Couples in tension described the couple relationship as strained by difficulty of accepting the disease, proliferation of negative emotions, and a sense of burden and loneliness in the process of coping. Findings point to the importance of mutual empathy, clear and accepted division of roles between the partners, and open communication for facilitating coping as a couple.

Finding the silver linings: Psychosocial correlates of posttraumatic growth among husbands of Chinese breast cancer survivors

OBJECTIVES

Caregiving does not have to be a totally negative experience for the husband caregivers of breast cancer survivors (BCS). There are growing interests in exploring the positive psychological changes (aka posttraumatic growth; PTG) among husbands of BCS. Western studies have shown that coping resources, cognitive appraisal, and coping strategies are associated with PTG among caregivers of BCS. Studies in the Chinese context are limited. This study examined the psychosocial correlates of PTG among husbands of Chinese BCS.

METHODS

Husbands of Chinese BCS (N = 176) were recruited from two hospitals in Weifang, China to complete a cross-sectional survey. Their levels of caregiving burden, marital satisfaction, cognitive appraisals, coping strategies, and PTG were measured.

RESULTS

After controlling for covariates, hierarchical regression results indicated that higher caregiving burden (β = .29), marital satisfaction (β = .27), challenge appraisal (β = 016), and social support seeking (β = .23) were associated with higher PTG (Ps < .05). Additionally, a significant interaction between caregiving burden and positive reframing emerged in explaining PTG (β = .17, P < .05). Positive reframing was only associated with higher PTG among those with higher caregiving burden (β = .25, P = .03), but not those with lower caregiving burden (β = -.09, P > .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Stress and coping variables significantly contributed to PTG among husbands of Chinese BCS. Our findings implied that addressing those husband caregivers' marital satisfaction, challenge appraisal toward the impact of breast cancer, and social support seeking could be intervention strategies to facilitate their PTG. Among husbands having higher caregiving burden, positive reframing may also facilitate their PTG.

Designing and psychometric properties of coping strategies scale for family caregivers of hemodialysis patients

The present study tries to design and evaluate the psychometric properties of coping strategies scale for family caregivers of hemodialysis patients. This study consisted of two phases: phase one was a qualitative study to analyze the experiences of coping strategies of hemodialysis patients' family caregivers' (N = 14). Then, the items were extracted from the interviews and the literature. Phase two was a psychometric assessment including face validity, content validity, construct validity (N = 245) and reliability. In phase one, 89 items were extracted and after face and content validity, 56 items remained. Construct validity of the scale, based on exploratory factor analysis, removed another 22 items. The remaining 34 items contained nine subscales (active coping, positive thinking, appeal to spirituality, help-seeking, altruism, acting out, self-blaming, seeking isolation, and intentional forgetting). The reliability of the scale with Cronbach's Alpha was 0.91 and its stability was obtained through test-retest (ICC = 0.9). Coping strategies scale for family caregivers of hemodialysis patients has an acceptable validity and reliability. The tool can be used to assess effective and ineffective coping strategies in family caregivers of hemodialysis patients that may be useful for facilitating management and education of efficient coping strategies to family caregivers of hemodialysis patients.

Non-psychopathology Related Outcomes Among Siblings of Individuals with Mental Illness: A Systematic Review

The current study consists of a systematic review of the quantitative literature on siblings of individuals with mental illness (MI). Despite the prevalence of mental illness, little is known about how siblings are specifically affected in areas of psychosocial, emotional, and behavioral outcomes. The review yielded 56 studies that examined outcomes such as behavior problems, the sibling relationship, caregiving experiences, and knowledge of mental illness among siblings. The majority of studies from the initial search were focused on siblings-as-comparison group, examining siblings for risk factors for developing mental illness. In total, the study samples covered a sibling age range of 6-81 and a patient age range of 4-84. About half (k = 27) of the included studies had samples primarily composed of siblings of individuals with schizophrenia, leaving other MI diagnoses such as depression, anxiety, and mood disorders underrepresented. However, results from comparison studies were mixed-half found that the MI-Sibs had fewer negative outcomes than the comparison group, and half found that MI-Sibs had more negative outcomes. Multiple factors, including female sibling gender, greater severity of MI symptoms, and belief in the patient's ability to control their own behavior, were all related to more negative outcomes for MI-Sibs. Future work will focus on expanding the representativeness of MI-Sibs samples and analyzing experiences of both the sibling and the individual with MI.