Testing the indirect effect of trait mindfulness on adolescent cigarette smoking through negative affect and perceived stress mediators

Abstract Objectives The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic is appraised as a stressor influences perceived stress (PS) and psychological well-being during the event. Here, the association of older adults’ expectations concerning the pandemic’s duration and impact with PS and negative affect (NA) is investigated. Based on the stress and coping framework, PS is expected to mediate the association between COVID-19 expectations and NA. Methods Seven hundred fourteen residents of the United States and aged 60 and older completed an anonymous online survey in late March 2020 reporting PS, NA, and expectations regarding the pandemic. Results Regression analyses controlling for demographic factors revealed that more dire pandemic expectations significantly predicted PS and NA directly, and the effects on NA were significantly mediated by PS. Discussion Findings provide evidence that expectations about a pandemic influence the extent to which older adults experience stress and NA in the midst of a pandemic event. Implications for mental health are discussed.

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Female nursing graduate students’ stress and health: the mediating effects of sense of coherence and social support

BMC Nursing ◽

10.1186/s12912-021-00562-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Yu Jin Jeong ◽

Chin Kang Koh

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Health Status ◽

Graduate Students ◽

Direct Effect ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Indirect Effect ◽

Mediating Effects ◽

Nursing Graduate ◽

Positive Direct ◽

Stress And Health

Abstract Background Ninety-five percent of nursing graduate students in South Korea are women, and most are often engaged in both academic coursework and work outside of the academic environment. Nursing graduate students often experience stress leading to physical and mental health problems that negatively affect their academic performance and persistence during graduate programs. The purpose of this study was to test multiple mediation effects of sense of coherence (SOC) and social support in the relationship between stress and health status of nursing graduate students. Methods The participants of this study were 231 female nursing graduate students from 14 universities. Data were collected using an online survey conducted between August and October 2019. Bootstrap techniques using the PROCESS macro for SPSS software were applied to assess the multi-mediating effects. Results The total effect (B = − 12.29, p < .001) and direct effect (B = − 7.07, p < .001) of perceived stress on health status were significant. Perceived stress had negative direct effects on social support (B = − 0.41, p < .001) and SOC (B = − 5.77, p < .001). SOC had a positive direct effect on health status (B = 0.59, p < .001). However, social support was not a significant predictor of health status (B = 1.24, p = .232). In addition, there was a positive direct effect of social support on SOC (B = 5.23, p < .001). Furthermore, the indirect effect of perceived stress on health status through SOC was significant (B = − 3.42, 95% CI = − 5.2616, − 1.8906). There was also a significant indirect effect of perceived stress on health status through social support and SOC (B = − 1.28, 95% CI = − 2.1663, − 0.5992). Conclusion It is necessary to create strategies that enhance nursing graduate students’ SOC and social support to reduce their perceived stress and to improve their health status.

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A faith-based mind–body intervention to improve psychosocial well-being among rural adults

Translational Behavioral Medicine ◽

10.1093/tbm/ibz136 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 546-554

Author(s):

Scherezade K Mama ◽

Nishat Bhuiyan ◽

Melissa J Bopp ◽

Lorna H McNeill ◽

Eugene J Lengerich ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Negative Affect ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Underserved Populations ◽

Well Being ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Faith Based ◽

Rural Adults

Abstract Churches are well positioned to promote better mental health outcomes in underserved populations, including rural adults. Mind–body (MB) practices improve psychological well-being yet are not widely adopted among faith-based groups due to conflicting religious or practice beliefs. Thus, “Harmony & Health” (HH) was developed as a culturally adapted MB intervention to improve psychosocial health in urban churchgoers and was adapted and implemented in a rural church. The purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of HH to reduce psychosocial distress in rural churchgoers. HH capitalized on an existing church partnership to recruit overweight or obese (body mass index [BMI] ≥25.0 kg/m2) and insufficiently active adults (≥18 years old). Eligible adults participated in an 8 week MB intervention and completed self-reported measures of perceived stress, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and positive and negative affect at baseline and postintervention. Participants (mean [M] age = 49.1 ± 14.0 years) were mostly women (84.8%), non-Hispanic white (47.8%) or African American (45.7%), high socioeconomic status (65.2% completed ≥bachelor degree and 37.2% reported an annual household income ≥$80,000), and obese (M BMI = 32.6 ± 5.8 kg/m2). Participants reported lower perceived stress (t = −2.399, p = .022), fewer depressive symptoms (t = −3.547, p = .001), and lower negative affect (t = −2.440, p = .020) at postintervention. Findings suggest that HH was feasible, acceptable, and effective at reducing psychosocial distress in rural churchgoers in the short-term. HH reflects an innovative approach to intertwining spirituality and MB practices to improve physical and psychological health in rural adults, and findings lend to our understanding of community-based approaches to improve mental health outcomes in underserved populations.

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Age Moderates Perceived COVID-19 Disruption on Well-Being

The Gerontologist ◽

10.1093/geront/gnaa106 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Amy Knepple Carney ◽

Allyson S Graf ◽

Grace Hudson ◽

Ellen Wilson

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Negative Affect ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Large Scale ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Well Being ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Age Related ◽

Design And Methods

Abstract Background and Objectives It is not fully understood how large-scale events affect well-being. Older adults showed the highest levels of resilience following the September 11th (9/11) terrorist attacks, but during the severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak, there were no age-related differences in well-being. The current study examined the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) disruption on well-being throughout adulthood. Research Design and Methods Perceived stress and affect were examined in 166 community-dwelling adults (Mage = 35.65; SD = 15.53; range = 18–79) in relation to the perceived disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic to their lives. Results A significant moderation was found for age and COVID-19 disruption on perceived stress [F(5, 153) = 8.88, p < .05, R2 = .22] and negative affect [F(5, 154) = 4.91, p < .05, R2 = .14], but not for positive affect. For participants over 50, those who rated COVID-19 as a low or high disruption had similar scores on stress and negative affect, but with younger aged participants, perceiving high disruption corresponded with higher levels of stress and negative affect. Discussion and Implications Findings are consistent with the strength and vulnerability integration (SAVI) model, wherein older adults try to maintain positive emotional well-being, with middle-aged and older adults in the current study having experienced less negative impact on well-being. Middle-aged and older adults may be better able to regulate negative emotions from COVID-19 than younger adults. SAVI proposes a greater negative impact on older adults when they experience sustained stressors; as the challenges with COVID-19 continue, further data will need to be examined.

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Alexithymia and Negative Affect: Relationship to Cigarette Smoking, Nicotine Dependence, and Smoking Cessation

Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics ◽

10.1159/000288884 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 61 (3-4) ◽

pp. 156-162 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Mark A. Lumley ◽

Karen Downey ◽

Laurence Stettner ◽

Francine Wehmer ◽

Ovide F. Pomerleau

Keyword(s):

Smoking Cessation ◽

Cigarette Smoking ◽

Negative Affect ◽

Nicotine Dependence

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Exploring Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice Associated With Meditation Among Patients With Melanoma

Integrative Cancer Therapies ◽

10.1177/1534735417699514 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 17 (2) ◽

pp. 237-247 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Lahiru Russell ◽

Liliana Orellana ◽

Anna Ugalde ◽

Donna Milne ◽

Meinir Krishnasamy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Perceived Stress ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Trait Mindfulness ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Self Reflection ◽

Attitudes And Practices ◽

Potential Benefits ◽

Meditation Experience ◽

Main Barrier ◽

The Relationship

Aim: To explore the knowledge, attitudes, and practices associated with meditation among people with melanoma and investigate the relationship between perceived stress, trait mindfulness, and meditation. Factors associated with interest to participate in an online meditation program were also explored. Methods: A survey-based cross-sectional study of 291 patients attending a melanoma outpatient clinic assessed knowledge of meditation, attitudes toward meditation using Determinants of Meditation Practice Inventory (DMPI), and meditation experience. Perceived stress and trait mindfulness were measured using the Perceived Stressed Scale and Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale, respectively. Results: Participants who had tried meditation (43%) were likely to be younger, female, and have completed higher education or be employed. Perceived stress score was higher among women, younger participants, and those treated in the past year but did not differ by melanoma stage. Participants reported a good understanding of the potential benefits of meditation, but even among people with meditation experience, common misconceptions prevailed. The main barrier to meditation was a perceived lack of knowledge about meditation . Higher DMPI scores were associated with lower education, moderate to low access to service centers, or living in disadvantaged neighborhoods . Participants practicing meditation that involved self-reflection reported less stress and higher trait mindfulness compared with participants practicing another type of meditation. People interested in participating in an online meditation-based program reported higher perceived stress than those not interested. Conclusion: A meditation-based intervention teaching self-reflective practices, targeted at people with melanoma, may have the potential to assist them with managing their stress.

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The Indirect Effect of Cigarette Smoking on e-Cigarette Progression via Substitution Beliefs

Journal of Adolescent Health ◽

10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.07.007 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Janet Audrain-McGovern ◽

Daniel Rodriguez ◽

Shannon Testa ◽

Stephen Pianin

Keyword(s):

Cigarette Smoking ◽

Indirect Effect

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Preliminary Evidence That Yoga Practice Progressively Improves Mood and Decreases Stress in a Sample of UK Prisoners

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1155/2015/819183 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2015 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Amy C. Bilderbeck ◽

Inti A. Brazil ◽

Miguel Farias

Keyword(s):

Negative Affect ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Psychological Symptoms ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Preliminary Evidence ◽

Mental Wellbeing ◽

Yoga Practice ◽

Class Attendance ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Prison Populations

Objectives. In the first randomized controlled trial of yoga on UK prisoners, we previously showed that yoga practice was associated with improved mental wellbeing and cognition. Here, we aimed to assess how class attendance, self-practice, and demographic factors were related to outcome amongst prisoners enrolled in the 10-week yoga intervention.Methods. The data of 55 participants (52 male, 3 female) who completed a 10-week yoga course were analysed. Changes in pre- and postyoga measures of affect, perceived stress, and psychological symptoms were entered into linear regression analyses with bias-corrected and accelerated bootstrap confidence intervals. Class attendance, self-practice, demographic variables, and baseline psychometric variables were included as regressors.Results. Participants who attended more yoga classes and those who engaged in frequent (5 times or more) self-practice reported significantly greater decreases in perceived stress. Decreases in negative affect were also significantly related to high frequency self-practice and greater class attendance at a near-significant level. Age was positively correlated with yoga class attendance, and higher levels of education were associated with greater decreases in negative affect.Conclusions. Our results suggest that there may be progressive beneficial effects of yoga within prison populations and point to subpopulations who may benefit the most from this practice.

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Being Mindful at University: A Pilot Evaluation of the Feasibility of an Online Mindfulness-Based Mental Health Support Program for Students

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2020.581086 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Miroslav Světlák ◽

Pavla Linhartová ◽

Terezia Knejzlíková ◽

Jakub Knejzlík ◽

Barbora Kóša ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Mental Health ◽

Negative Affect ◽

University Students ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Effect Size ◽

Self Compassion ◽

Mental Health Support ◽

Health Support

University study can be a life period of heightened psychological distress for many students. The development of new preventive and intervention programs to support well-being in university students is a fundamental challenge for mental health professionals. We designed an 8-week online mindfulness-based program (eMBP) combining a face-to-face approach, text, audio, video components, and support psychotherapy principles with a unique intensive reminder system using the Facebook Messenger and Slack applications in two separate runs (N = 692). We assessed the program’s effect on mindful experiencing, perceived stress, emotion regulation strategies, self-compassion, negative affect, and quality of life. The results of the presented pilot study confirmed that eMBP is a feasible and effective tool in university students’ mental health support. The students who completed the eMBP reported a reduction of perceived stress with a large effect size (pη2 = 0.42) as well as a decrease of negative affect experience frequency and intensity (pη2 = 0.31), an increase of being mindful in their life (Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire subscales:pη2 = 0.21, 0.27, 0.25, 0.28, 0.28), and a higher rate of self-compassion (pη2 = 0.28) with a medium effect size. A small effect size was found in the frequency of using a cognitive reappraisal strategy (pη2 = 0.073). One new result is the observation of an eMBP effect (pη2 = 0.27) on the decrease in attributed importance to the quality-of-life components replicated in two consecutive runs of the program. The study affirms that mindfulness-based interventions can be effectively delivered in an eHealth form to university students.

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