Teaching evaluation: antecedents of teachers’ perceived usefulness of follow-up sessions and perceived stress related to the evaluation process

Abstract Study Objectives This study examines the cross-sectional and two-year follow-up relationships between sleep and stress and total hippocampal volume and hippocampal subfield volumes among older adults. Methods 417 adults (aged 68.8±7.3; 54% women) from the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing completed an interview, a questionnaire and multiparametric brain MRI. The relationships between self-reported sleep duration, sleep problems, perceived stress and total hippocampal volume were examined by using ordinary least squares regressions. Linear mixed-effects models were used to investigate the relationships between sleep duration, sleep problems, perceived stress, changes in these measures over two-years and hippocampal subfield volumes. Results No cross-sectional and follow-up associations between sleep and total hippocampal volume and between stress and total hippocampal volume were found. By contrast, Long sleep (≥9-10 hours / night) was associated with smaller volumes of molecular layer, hippocampal tail, presubiculum and subiculum. The co-occurrence of Short sleep (≤6 hours) and perceived stress was associated with smaller cornu ammonis 1, molecular layer, subiculum and tail. Sleep problems independently and in conjunction with higher stress, and increase in sleep problems over 2 years were associated with smaller volumes of these same subfields. Conclusion Our study highlights the importance of concurrently assessing sub-optimal sleep and stress for phenotyping individuals at risk of hippocampal subfield atrophy.

Download Full-text

A Virtual Reality-Based Self-Help Intervention for Dealing with the Psychological Distress Associated with the COVID-19 Lockdown: An Effectiveness Study with a Two-Week Follow-Up

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18158188 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (15) ◽

pp. 8188

Author(s):

Giuseppe Riva ◽

Luca Bernardelli ◽

Gianluca Castelnuovo ◽

Daniele Di Lernia ◽

Cosimo Tuena ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Virtual Reality ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Outcome Measures ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Social Connectedness ◽

Primary Outcome ◽

Post Intervention ◽

Stress Levels ◽

Secondary Outcomes

The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of a novel self-administered at-home daily virtual reality (VR)-based intervention (COVID Feel Good) for reducing the psychological burden experienced during the COVID-19 lockdown in Italy. A total of 40 individuals who had experienced at least two months of strict social distancing measures followed COVID Feel Good between June and July 2020 for one week. Primary outcome measures were depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms, perceived stress levels, and hopelessness. Secondary outcomes were the experienced social connectedness and the level of fear experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Linear mixed-effects models were fitted to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention. Additionally, we also performed a clinical change analysis on primary outcome measures. As concerning primary outcome measures, participants exhibited improvements from baseline to post-intervention for depression levels, stress levels, general distress, and perceived stress (all p < 0.05) but not for the perceived hopelessness (p = 0.110). Results for the secondary outcomes indicated an increase in social connectedness from T0 to T1 (p = 0.033) but not a significant reduction in the perceived fear of coronavirus (p = 0.412). Among these study variables, these significant improvements were maintained from post-intervention to the 2-week follow-up (p > 0.05). Results indicated that the intervention was associated with good clinical outcomes, low-to-no risks for the treatment, and no adverse effects or risks. Globally, evidence suggests a beneficial effect of the proposed protocol and its current availability in 12 different languages makes COVID Feel Good a free choice for helping individuals worldwide to cope with the psychological distress associated with the COVID-19 crisis, although large scale trials are needed to evaluate its efficacy.

Download Full-text

AN ASSESSMENT OF TEACHERS’ COPING MANAGEMENT OF PERCEIVED STRESS AND FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN

Psikoislamedia Jurnal Psikologi ◽

10.22373/psikoislamedia.v5i2.8106 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 217

Author(s):

Merissa Braza Ocampo

Keyword(s):

Perceived Stress ◽

Negative Impact ◽

The Philippines ◽

The Body ◽

Educational Institutions ◽

Body Of Knowledge ◽

Educational Processes ◽

Negative Impacts ◽

Global Uncertainty

Amidst the burgeoning research currently conducted on the effects of COVID-19, this study looks particularly at teachers’ stress and anxiety during a time of heightened global uncertainty, which also strongly affects educational processes. The paper draws on data provided through online questionnaires, and follow-up interviews with teachers at a variety of educational institutions in Japan, the Philippines, and eight other countries. Findings from 100 respondents include details regarding the extent and distribution of various behaviors and emotional tendencies gained from quantitative analysis, and additional follow up questions, all conducted online. Numerous strategies for combatting the negative impact of COVID-19 are presented, and a variety of individual responses to this predicament is stressed. The study confirms that COVID-19 is having an unprecedented impact on education, affecting not only students but teachers as well. Thus, the study aims to both assist in alleviating the negative impacts on teachers’ wellbeing and to provide helpful insights that contribute to the body of knowledge on teachers’ coping management of perceived stress and anxiety.

Download Full-text

Stress-Recovery Management: A Pilot Study Using a Single-Subject Experimental Design

Behavior Modification ◽

10.1177/0145445518825363 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 44 (3) ◽

pp. 449-466 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Niclas Almén ◽

Jan Lisspers ◽

Lars-Göran Öst

Keyword(s):

Experimental Design ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Critical Factor ◽

Single Subject ◽

Stress Recovery ◽

The European Union ◽

Management Intervention ◽

Stress Symptoms ◽

Recovery Management

Work-related stress is considered one of the biggest health and safety challenges among the member states of the European Union. A critical factor is recovery between periods of stress. The primary purpose of this study was to investigate whether a brief behaviorally oriented stress-recovery management intervention delivered in an individual setting could reduce stress symptoms among individuals with high levels of perceived stress. A single-subject experimental design with multiple baselines across three individuals was used. The results indicate, with at least moderate experimental control, a temporal relation between the start of the intervention and beneficial changes from baseline in continuous self-recordings of stress symptoms. The changes were maintained at 1-year and 5-year follow-up assessments. Also, self-reporting inventories measuring perceived stress, worry, anxiety, depression, burnout, type A behavior, unwinding and recuperation from work stress, and insomnia showed overall changes in beneficial directions at post-assessment, as well as the two follow-up assessments. The results indicate that a behaviorally oriented stress-recovery management intervention delivered in an individual setting can reduce stress symptoms in individuals with high levels of perceived stress. However, for firm conclusions to be drawn, further research is needed.

Download Full-text

Do Depressive Symptoms Shape Blacks’ Perceptions of Stress Over Time?

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa022 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (5) ◽

Author(s):

DeAnnah R Byrd ◽

Roland J Thorpe ◽

Keith E Whitfield

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Ordinary Least Squares ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Stressful Events ◽

Age Group ◽

The Impact ◽

Over Time

Abstract Background and Objectives Previous studies have linked stress to multiple negative mental health outcomes, including depression. This established stress–depression association is typically examined in one direction and cross-sectionally. This study examined the bidirectional relationships between depressive symptoms and changes in perceived stress over time in Blacks. Research Design and Methods The present study uses a community-dwelling sample of 450 Black adults, aged 51–96 years old, who participated in the Baltimore Study of Black Aging—Patterns of Cognitive Aging. Perceived stress—measured by the Perceived Stress Scale—and depressive symptoms—measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale—were both assessed at baseline and follow-up 33 months later. Ordinary least squares regression was used to examine 2 bidirectional longitudinal relationships between (1) stress–depression and (2) depression–stress, and whether these associations are modified by age. Results Initial analyses testing the typical stress–depression relationship showed an effect in the expected direction, that is stress leading to more depressive symptoms over time, adjusting for model covariates, but the effect was not statistically significant (b = 0.014, p = .642). After accounting for baseline perceived stress level, age, sex, education, and chronic health conditions, depressive symptoms were positively associated with follow-up stress (b = 0.210, p < .000). The depression–stress association further varied by age group such that the impact of baseline depression on changes in perceived stress was greatest in Blacks in their 60s versus those in their 50s (b = 0.267, p = .001), controlling for model covariates. Discussion and Implications Contrary to previous work, the results suggest that an individual’s mental health shapes his/her perception of stressful events and this relationship varies by age group. While the typical finding (stress impacting depression) was not significant, the findings reported here highlight the importance of considering the possible bidirectional nature of the relationships between psychosocial measures of stress and mental health in later life among Blacks.

Download Full-text

Perceived stress, social functioning and quality of life in first‐episode psychosis: A 1‐year follow‐up study

Early Intervention in Psychiatry ◽

10.1111/eip.13092 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Laura Ortega ◽

Itziar Montalvo ◽

Rosa Monseny ◽

Maria Dolors Burjales‐Martí ◽

Lourdes Martorell ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Social Functioning ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

First Episode Psychosis ◽

First Episode ◽

Follow Up Study ◽

Episode Psychosis

Download Full-text

Effectiveness and perceived usefulness of follow-up classroom observations after school inspections in Northern Germany

Studies In Educational Evaluation ◽

10.1016/j.stueduc.2020.100913 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 67 ◽

pp. 100913

Author(s):

Inga Wagner

Keyword(s):

Perceived Usefulness ◽

After School ◽

Classroom Observations ◽

Northern Germany ◽

School Inspections

Download Full-text

Study on English Teaching Evaluation System in Higher Vocational Colleges

Advances in Higher Education ◽

10.18686/ahe.v2i2.1101 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Yanhong Zhao

Keyword(s):

International Education ◽

Evaluation System ◽

Evaluation Process ◽

Teaching Quality ◽

Teaching Evaluation ◽

Point Of View ◽

Strategic Choices ◽

English Teaching ◽

Stage Of Development ◽

Vocational Colleges

After decades of development, vocational education in our country has gradually entered a new stage of development and is faced with new opportunities for development and strategic choices. Especially in the 21st century, the domestic demand for skilled professionals increases year by year. Under such circumstances, how to further optimize the teaching system of higher vocational colleges and strengthen the guidance and management has become an urgent need for education. English curriculum, as an international education course, are the key steps for students to learn foreign cultures, touch new things and go to the world stage. The quality of teaching is inextricably linked with English teaching evaluation system. The article, from the overall point of view and the part of the higher vocational colleges , fully elaborates English teaching evaluation system; and analyzes the problems in the evaluation process, as well as the actual situation in major vocational colleges and puts forward the establishment of appropriate English teaching evaluation system for the purpose of improving teaching quality and training more English professionals to meet the needs of society and the country.

Download Full-text