scholarly journals SOCIAL SUPPORT AND RELATIONSHIP SATISFACTION AS PREDICTORS OF POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE AFFECT IN INFERTILE WOMAN DURING IVF TREATMENT

Author(s):  
Milica Mitrović ◽  
Jelena Opsenica Kostić ◽  
Damjana Panić

Infertility is a medical problem, but it can have significant consequences for mental health. Emotional problems caused by infertility are very common, so infertility can be called a life crisis. Therefore, it is very important to identify protective and risk factors that would determine the psychological adjustment to infertility. The aim of this study was to examine the differences in perceived social support, relationship satisfaction, and positive and negative affect between women undergoing IVF treatment and women who do not have fertility problems. The research also aims to examine whether perceived social support and relationship satisfaction were significant predictors of positive and negative affect in both groups. The study included 292 women – 163 who were undergoing the IVF treatment at the time of assessment and 129 without fertility problems who made up the control group. The following instruments were applied: the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, the Relationship Satisfaction Scale, and the Serbian Inventory of Affect based on PANAS. The results show statistically significant differences between the examined groups in the level of negative affect, which is more pronounced in the group of women undergoing IVF treatment. Regarding positive affect, there is a trend of a more frequent experience of positive emotions in the women from the control group. Perceived social support and relationship satisfaction are significant predictors of both positive and negative affect for the women undergoing IVF treatment. As for the control group, the results of the regression analysis show that perceived social support and relationship satisfaction are significant predictors of negative affect, while in the case of positive affect, relationship satisfaction stands out as a significant predictor. The results indicate that perceived social support and relationship satisfaction can be important protective factors when it comes to psychological adjustment to infertility, which can serve as a guideline for mental health professionals who work with infertile couples.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingyi Ou ◽  
yunhanqi ◽  
Ke Zhang ◽  
Yuexiao Du ◽  
Yihang He ◽  
...  

The social isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic exerts lasing impacts on people’s mental health. However, whether and how people’s pre-existing positive social relationships can serve as stable reserves to alleviate people psychological distress following the disaster remains unknown. To address the question, the current study examined whether pre-pandemic relationship satisfaction would predict post-pandemic COVID-19 anxiety through middle-pandemic perceived social support and/or gratitude using four-wave data in China (N = 222, 54.50% female, Mage = 31.53, SD = 8.17). Results showed that people’s COVID-19 anxiety decreased from the peak to the trough pandemic stage; perceived social support increased markedly from the pre-pandemic to the peak and remained stable afterwards, while relationship satisfaction remained unchanged throughout. Further, it was middle-pandemic perceived social support, but not gratitude, mediated the association between pre-pandemic relationship satisfaction and post-pandemic COVID-19 anxiety, indicating perceived social support played a more crucial role than gratitude in this process. Last, it is suggested to distinguish perceived social support from gratitude as two different components of social interactions.


10.2196/25867 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. e25867
Author(s):  
Amanda L Myers ◽  
Caroline Collins-Pisano ◽  
Joelle C Ferron ◽  
Karen L Fortuna

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a global mental health crisis, highlighting the need for a focus on community-wide mental health. Emotional CPR (eCPR) is a program and practice developed by persons with a lived experience of recovery from trauma or mental health challenges to train community members from diverse backgrounds to support others through mental health crises. eCPR trainers have found that eCPR may promote feelings of belonging by increasing supportive behaviors toward individuals with mental health problems. Thus, clinical outcomes related to positive and negative affect would improve along with feelings of loneliness. Objective This study examined the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of eCPR. Methods We employed a pre-post design with 151 individuals, including peer support specialists, service users, clinicians, family members, and nonprofit leaders, who participated in virtual eCPR trainings between April 20, 2020, and July 31, 2020. Instruments were administered before and after training and included the Herth Hope Scale; Empowerment Scale; Flourishing Scale (perceived capacity to support individuals); Mindful Attention Awareness Scale; Active-Empathic Listening Scale (supportive behaviors toward individuals with mental health challenges); Social Connectedness Scale (feelings of belonging and connection with others); Positive and Negative Affect Schedule; and University of California, Los Angeles 3-item Loneliness Scale (symptoms and emotions). The eCPR fidelity scale was used to determine the feasibility of delivering eCPR with fidelity. We conducted 2-tailed paired t tests to examine posttraining improvements related to each scale. Additionally, data were stratified to identify pre-post differences by role. Results Findings indicate that it is feasible for people with a lived experience of a mental health condition to develop a program and train people to deliver eCPR with fidelity. Statistically significant pre-post changes were found related to one’s ability to identify emotions, support others in distress, communicate nonverbally, share emotions, and take care of oneself, as well as to one’s feelings of social connectedness, self-perceived flourishing, and positive affect (P≤.05). Findings indicated promising evidence of pre-post improvements (not statistically significant) related to loneliness, empowerment, active-empathetic listening, mindfulness awareness, and hope. Nonprofit leaders and workers demonstrated the greatest improvements related to loneliness, social connectedness, empathic listening, and flourishing. Peer support specialists demonstrated the greatest improvements related to positive affect, and clinicians demonstrated the greatest improvements related to mindfulness awareness. Conclusions Promising evidence indicates that eCPR, a peer-developed and peer-delivered program, may increase feelings of belonging while increasing supportive behaviors toward individuals with mental health problems and improving clinical outcomes related to positive and negative affect and feelings of loneliness.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda L Myers ◽  
Caroline Collins-Pisano ◽  
Joelle C Ferron ◽  
Karen L Fortuna

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a global mental health crisis, highlighting the need for a focus on community-wide mental health. Emotional CPR (eCPR) is a program and practice developed by persons with a lived experience of recovery from trauma or mental health challenges to train community members from diverse backgrounds to support others through mental health crises. eCPR trainers have found that eCPR may promote feelings of belonging by increasing supportive behaviors toward individuals with mental health problems. Thus, clinical outcomes related to positive and negative affect would improve along with feelings of loneliness. OBJECTIVE This study examined the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of eCPR. METHODS We employed a pre-post design with 151 individuals, including peer support specialists, service users, clinicians, family members, and nonprofit leaders, who participated in virtual eCPR trainings between April 20, 2020, and July 31, 2020. Instruments were administered before and after training and included the Herth Hope Scale; Empowerment Scale; Flourishing Scale (perceived capacity to support individuals); Mindful Attention Awareness Scale; Active-Empathic Listening Scale (supportive behaviors toward individuals with mental health challenges); Social Connectedness Scale (feelings of belonging and connection with others); Positive and Negative Affect Schedule; and University of California, Los Angeles 3-item Loneliness Scale (symptoms and emotions). The eCPR fidelity scale was used to determine the feasibility of delivering eCPR with fidelity. We conducted 2-tailed paired <i>t</i> tests to examine posttraining improvements related to each scale. Additionally, data were stratified to identify pre-post differences by role. RESULTS Findings indicate that it is feasible for people with a lived experience of a mental health condition to develop a program and train people to deliver eCPR with fidelity. Statistically significant pre-post changes were found related to one’s ability to identify emotions, support others in distress, communicate nonverbally, share emotions, and take care of oneself, as well as to one’s feelings of social connectedness, self-perceived flourishing, and positive affect (<i>P</i>≤.05). Findings indicated promising evidence of pre-post improvements (not statistically significant) related to loneliness, empowerment, active-empathetic listening, mindfulness awareness, and hope. Nonprofit leaders and workers demonstrated the greatest improvements related to loneliness, social connectedness, empathic listening, and flourishing. Peer support specialists demonstrated the greatest improvements related to positive affect, and clinicians demonstrated the greatest improvements related to mindfulness awareness. CONCLUSIONS Promising evidence indicates that eCPR, a peer-developed and peer-delivered program, may increase feelings of belonging while increasing supportive behaviors toward individuals with mental health problems and improving clinical outcomes related to positive and negative affect and feelings of loneliness.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasmin M. Alves ◽  
Alexandra G. Yunker ◽  
Alexis DeFendis ◽  
Anny H. Xiang ◽  
Kathleen A. Page

AbstractWe investigated how emotional responses (positive and negative affect), physical activity (PA), and sedentary behaviors related to anxiety among US children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sixty-four typically-developing children (63% girls) age 9-15 years old completed two virtual visits during height of “stay-at-home” measures between April 22 – July 29, 2020. Children completed 24-hour PA recalls, state portion of State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC), and the shortened 10-item Positive and Negative Affect Schedule for Children (PANAS-C). Children reported state anxiety scores that were more than 5 standard deviations greater than values from healthy pediatric populations prior to the pandemic. Children with higher positive affect and who reported more time in PA reported less state anxiety. Sedentary and leisure screen time were positively correlated with negative affect. Our findings suggest that maintaining positive affect, engaging in PA, and limiting leisure screen time may be important for child mental health during stressful periods.Statement of RelevanceThere is increasing concern regarding how the COVID-19 pandemic may impact the psychological and physical health of children. To date, studies on mental health during the pandemic in children are limited. We investigated links between activity levels and psychological outcomes in children during the height of the “stay-at-home” measures. We found that children had anxiety scores that were more than 5 standard deviations greater than normative values from healthy pediatric populations prior to the pandemic, and 94% of children exceeded the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations on leisure screen time. Positive affect and physical activity were associated with reduced anxiety levels in children during the pandemic. These findings highlight the important mental health benefits of maintaining positive affect, engaging in physical activity, and limiting leisure screen time for children, especially during stressful periods.


2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S151-S151
Author(s):  
Seung-Ho Jang ◽  
Won-Myong Bahk ◽  
Young-Joon Kwon ◽  
Bo-Hyun Yoon ◽  
Kwanghun Lee ◽  
...  

Abstract Background This study was to investigate the Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and emotional response to positive and negative audiovisual stimulation in patients with chronic schizophrenia and healthy control group. Methods Among 253 chronic schizophrenic patients, 104 patients were informed about this research and consented. 35 healthy control consisted of peoples that did not have past and present history of mental and physical illness. Positive and negative affect and HRV were compared between chronic schizophrenia and healthy control groups, and positive and negative affect and HRV to positive and negative audiovisual stimulation were measured. Positive and negative audiovisual stimulation was defined by an art therapy professionalist and a psychiatrist as 10 positive and negative pictures. 3 positive and negative musics were shown to two groups for 4 minutes simulta¬neously. Positive and negative audiovisual stimulation were shown to two groups during 1-week intermission. HRV was measured with Ubpulse H3, an equipment for autonomic nervous system test made by Laxtha company and also analyzed by frequency domain analysis. Emotional Empathy Scale(EES) and Positive Affect and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) of two groups were measured at baseline and after positive and negative audiovisual stimulation. Global Assessment of Functioning Scale(GAF) and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS) of chronic schizophrenia group were measured by a psychiatrist. Results Positive affect of patients group were significantly lower than control group, negative affect of patients group were significantly higher than control group. Low Frequency (LF), High Frequency (HF), and Total Power (TP) of HRV in patients group were significantly lowered than control group at baseline. 7 subscales of emotional empathy scale were lowered in patients group compared to control group. Positive affect of patients group was significantly less increased compared to the control group after positive audiovisual stimulation, negative affect of patients group was significantly less decreased to the control group after positive audiovisual stimulation. Positive affect of patients group was increased after negative audiovisual stimulation, but positive affect of control group was significantly decreased compared to the patients group after negative audiovisual stimulation. There was no significant difference in negative affect between two groups after audiovisual stimulation. LF of patients group was significantly higher than control group after positive audiovisual stimulation, HF and TP of patients group were significantly lowered than control group after positive audiovisual stimulation. LF of patients group was significantly higher than control group after negative audiovisual stimulation, HF and PT of patients were significantly lowered than control group after negative audiovisual stimulation. Discussion Audiovisual stimulation in integrative arts therapy program for schizophrenia might have avoid overactive sympathetic stimulation and recommend activate parasympathetic stimulation. Integrative art therapy for schizophrenia must be sufficiently relaxed, empathetic, and promote positive affect during therapeutic process.


Psihologija ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 395-407 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zdenka Novovic ◽  
Aleksandra Kovac ◽  
Veljko Djuric ◽  
Miklos Biro

Research regarding the illusion of control was dominated by the studies examining the effect of depressive affect on the overestimation of control over uncontrollable events. However, the relative contributions of high Negative Affect (NA) and low Positive Affect (PA), as underlying dimensions of depressive states, has remained unclear. This study researched how both PA and NA had affected the illusion of control. Two weeks before illusion induction, trait PA and NA of 54 first-year university students were assessed, and just before and after illusion induction task their state forms were estimated. The induction consisted of solving unsolvable tasks and obtaining positive feedback for all the answers. The illusion of control was significantly correlated with all three PA scores, and none of the NA. After controlling for trait measures, the PA after illusion induction remained the only significant predictor of illusion. The relation of positive affect and illusory judgement in maintaining mental health were discussed.


Author(s):  
Neetu Singh ◽  
Jyotsna Singh

Background: Motherhood is a bliss in women’s lives and thus infertility is considered as a social stigma. In present study, we measure the effect of socio-demographic and personal factors on infertility as well as the status of social support and mental health in infertile women.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study comprising 90 infertile women and 90 women in the control group, conducted at Ram Prakash Gupta Memorial Mother and Child State Referral Centre of RMLIMS, Lucknow, India. The questionnaires used were Socio-demographic and personal characteristics, General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) to assess mental health, Perceived Social Support Questionnaire (PSSQ). To determine the relationship between socio-demographic characteristics, personal characters, mental health, and social support with infertility, Chi-square test was used.Results: Age, education, and occupation had statistically significant (p<0.05) relation with infertility, high BMI, and caffeine intake also had the significant adverse effect on fertility outcomes (p<0.05). Infertility patients had poor mental health status (higher mean GHQ-12 score 20.8±4.2) and poor perceived social support (lower mean PSSQ score 29.7±7.0).Conclusions: In present study, the socio-demographic factors, lifestyle factors, social support and mental health status is associated with fertility outcomes. Their modifications have the potential to improve reproductive performances. A structured programme of education, social support, and counselling by specialist health professionals should be formulated to improve the quality of life as well as fertility outcomes in infertile patients.


1992 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 232-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeff Field

A main objective of this study was to compare the emotional well-being of mothers who had already experienced a reunion with children relinquished two to four decades ago, with that of mothers who were still awaiting the possibility of such re-contact. A nationwide postal survey was carried out in New Zealand of the relinquishment experiences and subsequent adjustment of 238 women who had been able to re-contact their children and of 206 women who had not as yet made contact. The two subgroups did not differ on two standardised measures of psychological well-being (GHQ-28 and global self esteem). However, the post-reunion women reported significantly greater improvements in their feelings connected with “adoption events”, and also reported higher levels of perceived social support than did the pre-reunion women. Women who still lacked any information about their relinquished child showed significantly more negative affect and poorer psychological well-being than those who had at least obtained some non-identifying information.


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