scholarly journals Mind training, stress and behaviour—A randomised experiment

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. e0258172
Author(s):  
Yonas Alem ◽  
Hannah Behrendt ◽  
Michèle Belot ◽  
Anikó Bíró
Keyword(s):  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Time Preferences ◽  
The Other ◽  
Physiological Measures ◽  
Psychological Training ◽  
Weak Evidence ◽  
Training Stress ◽  
Mind Training

In this paper, we evaluate the effects of a psychological training, called Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) on stress and risk and time preferences. MBSR is a well-known psychological technique, which is believed to improve self-control and reduce stress. We conduct the experiment with 139 participants, half of whom receive the MBSR training, while the other half are asked to watch a documentary series, both over 4 consecutive weeks. Using a range of self-reported and physiological measures (such as cortisol measures), we find evidence that mindfulness training reduces perceived stress, but we only find weak evidence of effects on risk and inter-temporal attitudes.

scholarly journals Socio-psychological Training for Readiness for Interaction in Professional Activity of Employers and Specialists with Blindness

Pedagogika ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (2) ◽  
pp. 224-236
Author(s):  
Yevhenii Klopota ◽  
Olha Klopota ◽  
Vytautas Gudonis
Keyword(s):  
Visual Impairment ◽  
Experimental Analysis ◽  
Self Control ◽  
The Other ◽  
Professional Activity ◽  
Self Identity ◽  
Professional Career ◽  
Professional Activities ◽  
Psychological Training ◽  
Emotional Component

The article contains the results of an experimental analysis of the peculiarities and prospects of the interaction of specialists with blindness with their potential employers. Young people with blindness and chiefs of different organizations and institutions (potential employers) took part in the experimental analysis of the readiness for interaction in professional activities. We have received positive dynamics in influencing the emotional component of self-identity of people with profound visual impairment; tendency on a behavior, focused on solving the problem; increasing the level of self-control and independence of other people‘s estimation. On the other hand, the most of potential employers have proven themselves in full capability of people with visual impairment, who can provide a productive professional career.

scholarly journals The effect of online multimedia psychoeducational interventions on the resilience and perceived stress of hospitalized patients with COVID-19: a pilot cluster randomized parallel-controlled trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryam Shaygan ◽  
Zahra Yazdani ◽  
Adib Valibeygi
Keyword(s):  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Psychological Techniques ◽  
Psychological Pressure ◽  
Cluster Randomized ◽  
High Level ◽  
Psychoeducational Interventions

Abstract Background There is evidence suggesting that quarantine might have undesirable psychological impacts on the patients. Therefore, it is important to seek for ways to increase the resilience and alleviate the psychological pressure of the patients who are quarantined due to infection with COVID-19. The present study was conducted to assess an online multimedia psychoeducational intervention regarding the feasibility, adherence, patient satisfaction and effectiveness on resilience and perceived stress of patients hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19. Method This was a pilot cluster randomized parallel-controlled trial with hospital wards as the units of randomization. Participants in this fully online trial were 50 consecutive patients who were hospitalized in 2 hospitals in Shiraz, after being diagnosed with COVID-19. Before the beginning of the intervention, four inpatient wards inside two of the hospitals were randomly assigned to either intervention or control conditions. All eligible participants in the wards allocated to the intervention condition received online multimedia psychoeducational interventions during the 2 weeks, whilst the patients in the wards allocated to the control condition were offered the opportunity to receive telephone-based psychological counseling if needed. Psychoeducational interventions mainly included cognitive–behavioural techniques, stress management techniques, mindfulness-based stress reduction and positive psychotherapy. The patients were assessed regarding resilience and perceived stress at baseline and after two weeks. Results Of 27 patients starting multimedia psychoeducational interventions, 26 (96.29%) completed post-assessments. A high level of adherence (80.76%) and satisfaction (Mean = 29.42; SD = 4.18) with the online multimedia psychoeducational interventions was found. Compared with the control group, the patients who used online multimedia psychoeducational interventions reported greater resilience (Meanintervention = 81.74; Meancontrol = 72.86; adjusted t (46) = 2.10; p = 0.04; CI: 0.39 to 17.38; dppc2 = 0.83) and fewer perceived stress (Meanintervention = 22.15; Meancontrol = 29.45; adjusted t (46) = 2.66; p = 0.01; CI: − 12.81 to − 1.78; dppc2 = − 0.77) after 2 weeks. Discussion The findings of the present study provided a successful first attempt at implementing feasible online multimedia psychoeducational interventions to promote resilience and mitigate stress among the patients who were hospitalized due to infection with COVID-19. The present results could help mental health professionals to determine which psychological techniques should be emphasized to promote patients’ resilience in the context of COVID-19 disease. Trial registration Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials, IRCT20201001048893N1. Retrospectively registered, 29 Jan 2021.

scholarly journals Stress in obstructive sleep apnea

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasmine L. Wong ◽  
Fernando Martinez ◽  
Andrea P. Aguila ◽  
Amrita Pal ◽  
Ravi S. Aysola ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Obstructive Sleep Apnea ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Sleep Apnea ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
General Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Obstructive Sleep

AbstractPeople with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) often have psychological symptoms including depression and anxiety, which are commonly treated with anti-depression or anti-anxiety interventions. Psychological stress is a related symptom with different intervention targets that may also improve mental state, but this symptom is not well characterized in OSA. We therefore aimed to describe stress in relation to other psychological symptoms. We performed a prospective cross-sectional study of 103 people, 44 untreated OSA (mean ± s.d. age: 51.2 ± 13.9 years, female/male 13/31) and 57 healthy control participants (age: 46.3 ± 13.8 years, female/male 34/23). We measured stress (Perceived Stress Scale; PSS), excessive daytime sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale; ESS), depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire; PHQ-9), and anxiety symptoms (General Anxiety Disorder; GAD-7). We compared group means with independent samples t-tests and calculated correlations between variables. Mean symptom levels were higher in OSA than control, including PSS (mean ± s.d.: OSA = 15.3 ± 6.9, control = 11.4 ± 5.5; P = 0.002), GAD-7 (OSA = 4.8 ± 5.0, control = 2.1 ± 3.9; P = 0.02), PHQ-9 (OSA = 6.9 ± 6.1, control = 2.6 ± 3.8; P = 0.003) and ESS (OSA = 8.1 ± 5.3, control = 5.0 ± 3.3; P = 0.03). Similar OSA-vs-control differences appeared in males, but females only showed significant differences in PHQ-9 and ESS, not PSS or GAD-7. PSS correlated strongly with GAD-7 and PHQ-9 across groups (R = 0.62–0.89), and moderately with ESS. Perceived stress is high in OSA, and closely related to anxiety and depressive symptoms. The findings support testing stress reduction in OSA.

scholarly journals Investigating the Impact of Brief Outings on the Welfare of Dogs Living in US Shelters

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 548
Author(s):  
Lisa M. Gunter ◽  
Rachel J. Gilchrist ◽  
Emily M. Blade ◽  
Rebecca T. Barber ◽  
Erica N. Feuerbacher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Physiological Measures ◽  
Urinary Cortisol ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Animal Shelters ◽  
Time Out ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Activity Measures ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Low Activity

Social isolation likely contributes to reduced welfare for shelter-living dogs. Several studies have established that time out of the kennel with a person can improve dogs’ behavior and reduce physiological measures of stress. This study assessed the effects of two-and-a-half-hour outings on the urinary cortisol levels and activity of dogs as they awaited adoption at four animal shelters. Dogs’ urine was collected before and after outings for cortisol:creatinine analysis, and accelerometer devices were used to measure dogs’ physical activity. In total, 164 dogs participated in this study, with 793 cortisol values and 3750 activity measures used in the statistical analyses. We found that dogs’ cortisol:creatinine ratios were significantly higher during the afternoon of the intervention but returned to pre-field trip levels the following day. Dogs’ minutes of low activity were significantly reduced, and high activity significantly increased during the outing. Although dogs’ cortisol and activity returned to baseline after the intervention, our findings suggest that short-term outings do not confer the same stress reduction benefits as previously shown with temporary fostering. Nevertheless, it is possible that these types of outing programs are beneficial to adoptions by increasing the visibility of dogs and should be further investigated to elucidate these effects.

Preferred versus Nonpreferred Treatment, and Self-Control Training versus Determination Raising as Treatments of Obesity: A Pilot Study

1976 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 191-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. C. Murray
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Treatment Group ◽  
Self Control ◽  
The Other ◽  
Significant Weight Loss ◽  
Overweight Women

Of 12 overweight women half received 10 wk. of self-control training and the rest received an equal period aimed at increasing determination to lose weight. Half of each treatment group had expressed a preference for the type of treatment they received and half for the other type of treatment. Both groups lost a statistically significant amount of weight, and at a 3-mo. follow-up there was still a significant weight loss. Follow-up at 6 mo. on 9 of the 12 original subjects indicated both groups regained much of their lost weight. There was no evidence that either type of treatment or receiving one's preferred type of treatment was related to weight loss.

The Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program (MBSR) Reduces Stress-Related Psychological Distress in Healthcare Professionals

2010 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 897-905 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrés Martín-Asuero ◽  
Gloria García-Banda
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Training Programs ◽  
The Other ◽  
Reduction Program ◽  
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction

This semi-experimental study examines how Mindfulness facilitates a distress reduction in a group of health professionals. The sample comprises 29 professionals seeking stress reduction who undertook an 8 weeks psico-educative intervention, involving 28 hours of class, based on a program called Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction or MBSR. Results show a 35% reduction of distress, from percentile 75 to 45, combined with a 30% reduction in rumination and a 20% decrease in negative affect. These benefits lasted during the 3 months of the follow up period. The correlation analysis indicates that the decrease in distress is significantly related to the other two variables. These results confirm the effectiveness of MBSR to decrease distress and its applicability in training programs for health professionals.

Peirce’s legacy for contemporary consciousness studies, the emergence of consciousness from qualia, and its evanescence in habits

Semiotica ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Winfried Nöth
Keyword(s):  
Phenomenological Approach ◽  
Self Control ◽  
The Other ◽  
Detailed Account ◽  
Human Consciousness ◽  
States Of Mind ◽  
Self Reflection ◽  
Physical Universe ◽  
Consciousness Studies ◽  
Nonhuman Animals

Abstract The paper argues that contemporary consciousness studies can profit from Charles S. Peirce’s philosophy of consciousness. It confronts mainstream tendencies in contemporary consciousness studies, including those which consider consciousness as an unsolvable mystery, with Peirce’s phenomenological approach to consciousness. Peirce’s answers to the following contemporary issues are presented: phenomenological consciousness and the qualia, consciousness as self-controlled agency of humans, self-control and self-reflection, consciousness and language, self-consciousness and introspection, consciousness and the other, consciousness of nonhuman animals, and the question of a quasi-consciousness of the physical universe. A detailed account of Peirce’s three modes of consciousness is presented: (1) primisense, qualisense or feeling-consciousness, (2) altersense (consciousness of the other), and (3) medisense, the consciousness of cognition, thought, and reasoning. In contrast to consciousness studies that establish a rather sharp dividing line between conscious and unconscious states of mind, Peirce adopts the principle of synechism, the theory of continuity. For him, consciousness is a matter of degree. An important difference between Peirce’s concept of qualia and current theories of qualia in human consciousness is discussed. The paper shows how consciousness, according to Peirce, emerges from unconscious qualia and vanishes into equally unconscious habits. It concludes with a study of the roles of qualia, habit, and self-control in Peirce’s theory of signs, in particular in qualisigns and symbols, and the question of signs as quasi-conscious agents in semiosis.

scholarly journals The «I—Other» Relations in One Special Situation of Communication

2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 290-306
Author(s):  
A.N. Krichevets ◽  
M.V. Solodushkina
Keyword(s):  
Group Leader ◽  
Self Control ◽  
The Other ◽  
Special Situation ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
The Individual ◽  
And Control

The individual ways of the stutter correction group participants are considered in the article. We see this situation as difficult and even antinomical for participant because it requires the his partial rejection of self-control and a trust in handing over his consciousness to the group leader. We assume that this aspect of communication is expressed only stronger in the situation considered here, but is presented in all kinds of communication. On the other hand, not only psychology, but also our culture lacks in adequate measures for understanding and control of such a processes in the communication. Our analysis of participant’s interviews shows that the participant’s way in the correctional process depends on ones attitudes towards the problem of handing control over one’s condition to the group leader.

scholarly journals Perceived Stress and Coping Strategies of Healthcare Workers in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 64-83
Author(s):  
T.V. Doronina ◽  
A.E. Okulova ◽  
E.V. Arcishevskaya
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Coping Behavior ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Practical Experience ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Medical Professionals ◽  
Behavior Strategies

In 2020, the world faced the COVID-19 pandemic. Medical workers who are fighting for the lives and health of patients in the "red zones" were on the front line in this struggle. The huge level of responsibility, the increasing duration of shifts, difficult working conditions, fears for their health and the health of their loved ones, and many other factors determined the fact that doctors themselves began to need support for their physical and psychological well-being. The purpose of our work was to study the level of perceived stress in the context of the features of coping strategies in medical professionals with different practical experience (students, practicing doctors) in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. The total number of study participants was 59 people, including 35 experienced medical workers aged 33 to 72 years (M=47,88; SD=9,44) and 24 medical students aged 20 to 29 years (M=24,16; SD=3,21) without professional experience, but who voluntarily went to work in the "red zones" during the pandemic. As a result of the study, data were obtained on high levels of perceived stress and overstrain by medical professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic, which is especially pronounced in students. The differences between experienced doctors and medical students were revealed according to the criterion of their preference for certain coping strategies, namely, the predominance of "Escape–avoidance" coping among students. The connection of dominant coping behavior strategies with the level of perceived stress is also established: students who resort to confrontational coping experience a higher level of perceived stress, and a decrease in their level of overexertion is associated with a greater degree of self-control strategy. Experienced doctors do not have both of these connections.

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