Experience of Stress and Burnout among Pastors in China

A quantitative survey was conducted among a convenience sample of 164 church ministers in China to test a model relating experience of stress, clergy burnout, and clergy health. Results indicated that respondents experience relatively low levels of stress and burnout. The burnout score was 2.73 on a seven-point scale. Stress from family was a significant predictor of overall burnout. The experience of emotional exhaustion was a significant predictor of the occurrence of adverse health symptoms.

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Entrepreneurs and Burnout. How Hardy Pesonality works in this process

Psychological Reports ◽

10.1177/0033294121996978 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 003329412199697

Author(s):

Laura Quiun ◽

Marta Herrero ◽

Maria del Carmen Yeo Ayala ◽

Bernardo Moreno-Jiménez

Keyword(s):

Emotional Exhaustion ◽

Descriptive Analysis ◽

Working Hours ◽

Burnout Syndrome ◽

Hierarchical Regression ◽

Occupational Factors ◽

Low Levels ◽

And Performance ◽

The Impact ◽

The Relationship

Background Considering the importance of entrepreneurship and the impact of burnout on workers’ health, this study aims to explore the presence of burnout in entrepreneurs and the interaction of hardy personality (HP) in this process. Method The sample included 255 Spanish entrepreneurs. Occupational factors, working hours, labour immersion, HP, burnout syndrome (i.e. Emotional exhaustion, Depersonalization and Lack of accomplishment) and burnout consequences were assessed. Results Descriptive analysis showed that entrepreneurs had low levels of occupational factors, burnout syndrome and consequences. Hierarchical regression exploratory results indicated that working hours, labour immersion, and Emotional exhaustion were the most relevant predictors of the consequences. Besides, mediation models with PROCESS macro (v.3.0) highlighted the indirect effect of occupational factors and showed that emotional exhaustion was the only component of burnout that mediated in between the predictors and the consequences. As well, HP moderated the relationship between occupational factors and emotional exhaustion. Conclusions Occupational factors are the main predictor of burnout in entrepreneurs and HP could prevent their effect on Emotional exhaustion. The results suggest the importance of training to promote HP for better health and performance of entrepreneurs.

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Governance quality indicators for organ procurement policies

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0252686 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (6) ◽

pp. e0252686

Author(s):

David Rodríguez-Arias ◽

Alberto Molina-Pérez ◽

Ivar R. Hannikainen ◽

Janet Delgado ◽

Benjamin Söchtig ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Organ Procurement ◽

Policy Support ◽

Sample Survey ◽

General Tendency ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

Quantitative Survey ◽

Ethical Implications ◽

National Differences ◽

Opt Out ◽

Governance Quality

Background Consent policies for post-mortem organ procurement (OP) vary throughout Europe, and yet no studies have empirically evaluated the ethical implications of contrasting consent models. To fill this gap, we introduce a novel indicator of governance quality based on the ideal of informed support, and examine national differences on this measure through a quantitative survey of OP policy informedness and preferences in seven European countries. Methods Between 2017–2019, we conducted a convenience sample survey of students (n = 2006) in Austria (AT), Belgium (BE), Denmark (DK), Germany (DE), Greece (GR), Slovenia (SI) and Spain (ES), asking participants about their donation preferences, as well as their beliefs and views about the policy in place. From these measures, we computed indices of informedness, policy support, and fulfilment of unexpressed preferences, which we compared across countries and consent systems. Results Our study introduces a tool for analyzing policy governance in the context of OP. Wide variation in policy awareness was observed: Most respondents in DK, DE, AT and BE correctly identified the policy in place, while those in SI, GR and ES did not. Respondents in opt-out countries (AT, BE, ES and GR) tended to support the policy in place (with one exception, i.e., SI), whereas those in opt-in countries (DE and DK) overwhelmingly opposed it. These results reveal stark differences in governance quality across countries and consent policies: We found a preponderance of informed opposition in opt-in countries and a general tendency towards support–either informed or uninformed–in opt-out countries. We also found informed divergence in opt-in countries and a tendency for convergence–either informed or uninformed–among opt-out countries. Conclusion Our study offers a novel tool for analyzing governance quality and illustrates, in the context of OP, how the strengths and weaknesses of different policy implementations can be estimated and compared using quantitative survey data.

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Elevated Indoor Volatile Organic Compound Exposure in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph15091939 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 15 (9) ◽

pp. 1939 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kalé Kponee ◽

Jamaji Nwanaji-Enwerem ◽

Xianqiang Fu ◽

Iyenemi Kakulu ◽

Marc Weisskopf ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Niger Delta ◽

World Health ◽

Delta Region ◽

Cancer Risks ◽

Groundwater System ◽

Health Symptoms ◽

Adverse Health ◽

Niger Delta Region ◽

Volatile Organic ◽

Reported Health

The implications of environmental contamination on human health in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria remain a topic of growing international public health interest. To better understand ongoing air pollution and initiate remediation efforts, the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) report recommended the monitoring of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) across different media (water, soil, and air) in Ogoniland, an at-risk population in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. In this pilot study, we measured indoor VOC concentrations in the indoor air of 20 households in Ogale, an Ogoniland community whose groundwater system is contaminated with benzene at levels 900 times the World Health Organization guidelines and evaluated self-reported health conditions and predicted cancer risks and hazards from inhalation exposure to VOCs. We detected higher concentrations of benzene (mean = 25.7 μg/m3, SD = 23.2 μg/m3) and naphthalene (mean = 7.6 μg/m3, SD = 13.8 μg/m3) than has been reported in other regions. Although study participants reported health symptoms consistent with VOC exposure, we were underpowered to detect a significant association between select indoor VOCs and these self-reported health symptoms using univariate logistic regression models. These findings suggest that that the health symptoms reported by participants may be poor proxies for the underlying disease processes associated with adverse health outcomes due to VOC exposure in this community and that the burden of adverse health effects due to VOC exposure may stem from the contaminated groundwater system. We estimated a non-cancer hazard quotient of 3 from exposure to naphthalene and lifetime excess cancer risks from exposure to naphthalene, benzene, p-dichlorobenzene, carbon tetrachloride, and ethylbenzene of 3 × 10−4, 2 × 10−4, 6 × 10−5, 6 × 10−6, and 1 × 10−5, respectively. These results exceed common risk benchmarks in the United States, suggesting a need for further studies to characterize VOC exposures, sources, and associated health risks in the Niger Delta.

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Self-Compassion Moderates the Mediating Effect of Self-Criticism in the Link Between Childhood Maltreatment and Psychopathology

Journal of Interpersonal Violence ◽

10.1177/08862605211062994 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 088626052110629

Author(s):

Dana Lassri ◽

Ateret Gewirtz-Meydan

Keyword(s):

Childhood Maltreatment ◽

Significant Interaction ◽

Psychological Symptoms ◽

Mediating Effect ◽

Self Report ◽

Integrative Model ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

Self Blame ◽

Self Compassion ◽

Low Levels

Childhood maltreatment (CM) has been associated with psychological symptoms (i.e., psychopathology) among clinical and nonclinical samples. The mechanisms underlying this link have been understudied, especially among well-functioning adults. Arguably, exposure to CM may be translated into negative and critical self-appraisals and self-blame, reflected in high self-criticism. CM may also result in difficulty in extending kindness towards oneself, that is, low self-compassion. These characteristics are linked with elevated psychopathology. Nevertheless, no study has yet tested the extent to which self-criticism and self-compassion may serve as independent mechanisms linking CM and psychopathology and whether in this context self-compassion buffers the link between self-criticism and psychopathology. Here, we tested an integrative model in which the relation between CM and psychopathology was mediated by self-compassion and self-criticism, and the path between self-criticism and psychopathology was moderated by self-compassion. A convenience sample of 914 individuals completed online self-report questionnaires. Results indicated that CM was related to psychopathology through the mediation of self-compassion and self-criticism, with a significant interaction between self-criticism and self-compassion. Showing a moderated-mediational effect, the link between self-criticism and psychopathology was weaker under high than under low levels of self-compassion. Our findings highlight the importance of self-compassion, a robust resilience factor related to reduced psychopathology and moderating the link between self-criticism, a potent transdiagnostic risk factor, and psychopathology in the context of CM. These results thus provide empirical evidence for the relevance of compassion and mindfulness in counseling settings, particularly with CM survivors, who are at greater risk for psychopathology.

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When and Why Demands Reveal Their Challenging Potential during Change

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph182413076 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (24) ◽

pp. 13076

Author(s):

Charlotte Blum ◽

Thomas Rigotti

Keyword(s):

Emotional Exhaustion ◽

Work Engagement ◽

Organisational Change ◽

Change Processes ◽

Regression Analyses ◽

Moderating Effects ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

New Perspective

This study contributes to a better understanding of the complexity of the demands that arise during organisational change. We investigated classic and change-specific demands in relation to emotional exhaustion and work engagement within the challenge–hindrance framework. We focused on workload and individual job impact and tested trust and autonomy as moderators. Data were collected via a cross-sectional online questionnaire. The convenience sample consisted of 388 employees experiencing organisational change at the time of responding. We conducted regression analyses to test for both direct and moderating effects. The results indicate that workload and individual job impact exhibit challenge and hindrance qualities. We also identified the significant moderating effects of trust and autonomy on individual job impact. This study integrates the challenge–hindrance framework into the job demands–resources model and offers a new perspective by applying this framework in the context of organisational change. We examined the specific roles of autonomy and trust regarding demands during change processes, and their potential in channelling challenging qualities is examined, offering new perspectives on the buffering of change demands.

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A “Bird’s Eye View” on Communication Acts in a Classroom of Low Literacy Adults

International Journal on Integrating Technology in Education ◽

10.5121/ijite.2021.10204 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 39-53

Author(s):

Carlos Luís ◽

Helena Afonso ◽

Maria José Marcelino

Keyword(s):

Learning Process ◽

Low Literacy ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

Communicative Acts ◽

Contextual Design ◽

Educational Challenges ◽

Training Courses ◽

Low Levels ◽

Teaching Learning

This paper starts by discussing the relevance of dialogues in Adult Education and Training courses with low levels of literacy. In this group, the educational challenges are complex, and innovating the knowledge creation process involves a better understanding of the teaching/learning process. With these case study, we pretend to understand which Communicative Acts are effective in adult learning process, mainly in adults with low literacy. Based on a mixed methods, applied to a convenience sample, we used an ethnographic approach, and the Grounded Theory Methodology. Using the Contextual Design approach, we developed several models of the context (work models) and got a bird's-eye view of the way the communicational acts and the dynamic acts flow in the classroom. The results showed that it was important to integrate the learners' emotions in an existing framework, the SEDA Framework. We found also essential to expand the Communicative Acts coding, with a new set of 17 codes organized in 3 categories in order to understand better the flow of communication in the classroom.

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Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Maslach Burnout Inventory

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027/1015-5759/a000392 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 35 (2) ◽

pp. 217-224 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Leon T. de Beer ◽

Renzo Bianchi

Keyword(s):

Emotional Exhaustion ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Factor Model ◽

Maslach Burnout Inventory ◽

Personal Accomplishment ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

Factorial Structure ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

Ml Estimation ◽

Bayesian Structural Equation Modeling

Abstract. In the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), burnout is conceptualized as a combination of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment. However, the factorial structure for the MBI remains controversial. We examined the factorial structure of the MBI, relying on Bayesian structural equation modeling (BSEM). BSEM allows the investigator to take into account sources of influence such as approximately-zero factor cross-loadings and between-item residual covariances. Data from a convenience sample of 5,575 French teachers were mobilized. One-, two-, three-, and bi-factor models were tested using BSEM. Maximum likelihood (ML) estimation was also implemented to examine the robustness of the BSEM analysis. The BSEM analysis showed that a two-factor model, consisting of a burnout factor combining emotional exhaustion and depersonalization and a separate personal accomplishment factor, best fitted the data. ML estimation showed a substantial enhancement of model fit when information derived from the BSEM analysis was incorporated. The MBI appears to be underlain by a unified factor involving the emotional exhaustion and depersonalization items and a separate factor involving the personal accomplishment items. These findings are compatible with a research practice that involves combining the emotional exhaustion and depersonalization dimensions of burnout and considering personal accomplishment individually.

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Adverse Health Complaints of Adults Exposed to Benzene After a Flaring Disaster at the BP Refinery Facility in Texas City, Texas

Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness ◽

10.1017/dmp.2017.59 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 232-240 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Mark A. D’Andrea ◽

G. Kesava Reddy

Keyword(s):

Gastrointestinal Symptoms ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Health Complaints ◽

Future Health ◽

Health Symptoms ◽

Adverse Health ◽

Cardiac Symptoms ◽

Health Complications ◽

Beta 2 Microglobulin ◽

Texas City

AbstractObjectiveThe objective of this study was to assess the adverse health symptoms experienced by adult subjects who were exposed to benzene after a flaring disaster at the BP refinery in Texas City, Texas.MethodsA total of 2162 adults aged 18 years or older and exposed to benzene were included. Using the patients’ medical charts, we collected and analyzed data on health complaints as well as the patients’ serum levels of beta-2-microglobulin and urinary excretion of phenol.ResultsA total of 11,368 health symptom complaints were reported in 2162 adults exposed to benzene. Neurological symptoms occurred most frequently (174%), followed upper respiratory symptoms (115%), cough (31%), painful joints (30%), cardiac symptoms (28%), dermatological symptoms (28%), gastrointestinal symptoms (27%), diarrhea (25%), vision symptoms (21%), and nausea/vomiting (19%). Logistic regression analysis indicated that urinary symptoms (R2=0.65) and painful joints (R2=0.44) were positively associated with increasing age in benzene-exposed subjects.ConclusionAdult subjects exposed to benzene experience a range of adverse health symptoms and an altered profile of urinary phenol, thus indicating they are at high risk of developing serious future health complications. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2018;12:232–240)

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Using Accelerometers to Measure Physical Activity in Older Patients Admitted to Hospital

Current Gerontology and Geriatrics Research ◽

10.1155/2018/3280240 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2018 ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Peter Hartley ◽

Victoria L. Keevil ◽

Kate Westgate ◽

Tom White ◽

Søren Brage ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Functional Ability ◽

Older Patients ◽

Lower Leg ◽

Recording Time ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

Postural Changes ◽

Low Levels ◽

Patients Perspective ◽

Vector Magnitude

Background. Low levels of physical activity in older patients during hospitalization have been linked to loss of functional ability. Practical methods of measuring physical activity are needed to better understand this association and to measure the efficacy of interventions. The aims of this study were to evaluate the feasibility of using accelerometers to discriminate between lying, sitting, standing, and standing and moving and to determine the acceptability of the method from the patients’ perspective. Methods. A convenience sample of 24 inpatients was recruited. Participants wore accelerometers on their thigh and on their lower leg (just above the ankle) for 48 hours during their hospitalization. Postural changes and movement during the 48 hours were differentiated using derived pitch angles of the lower leg and thigh, and nongravity vector magnitude of the lower leg, respectively. Results. On average, patients were lying for 61.2% of the recording time, sitting for 35.6%, standing but not moving 2.1%, and standing and moving 1.1%. All participants found the accelerometers acceptable to wear. Conclusions. The methodology described in this study can be used to differentiate between lying, sitting, standing, and moving and is acceptable from a hospitalized older person’s perspective.

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