For the love of reading: Recreational reading reduces psychological distress in college students and autonomous motivation is the key

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shelby L. Levine
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
College Students ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Longitudinal Design ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Psychological Needs ◽  
Basic Psychological Needs ◽  
Recreational Reading ◽  
School Year

Objective: Reading is often cited as beneficial for one’s mental health, but the research on this topic is limited. The goal of the present research was to examine whether recreational reading is beneficial for mental health during college, and to determine what motivates recreational reading. Participants: Participants were 231 university students from a large Canadian University.Methods: A longitudinal design was employed and students completed online surveys on recreational reading, motivation, psychological distress and need frustration at the beginning and end of the academic year. Results: Recreational reading was associated with reduced psychological distress over the school year. Recreational reading seemed to buffer against the frustration of one’s basic psychological needs which led to improved mental health over the school year. Students who were more autonomously motivated reported reading more books recreationally. Conclusion: Recreational reading is a simple and cost-effective tool to help college students cope with mental health problems.

scholarly journals PACE Study Protocol

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jana Volkert ◽  
Svenja Taubner ◽  
Anna Berning ◽  
Hannah Wiessner ◽  
Julia Holl
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Longitudinal Design ◽  
Community Sample ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Valuable Insight ◽  
Personality Functioning

Background: Since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, psychological distress is increased. Transdiagnostic mechanisms, including trauma, personality functioning, mentalizing and emotion regulation are considered relevant to the development and maintenance of mental health problems and therefore may play a role in individuals’ reactions to the pandemic. Aim: To identify moderating and mediating factors associated with pandemic-related distress and mental health problems in adults and families, we aim to investigate the interactions of interpersonal trauma (childhood trauma and domestic violence), psychological capacities (personality functioning, mentalizing and emotion regulation) and pandemic-related adversity on psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, we aim to investigate behavioral and cognitive consequences of the pandemic (e.g., media consumption, vaccination status, conspiracy beliefs).Methods: Using an online-based cross-sectional and longitudinal design, we will investigate a sample of adult participants recruited via online platforms in German-speaking countries over the course of one year with four measurements points via self-report instruments (personality functioning: PID5BF+; mentalizing: MentS, PRFQ; emotion regulation: DERS-SF; mental health problems: PHQ-9, GAD-7; a composite pandemic-related stress score). Structural equation and multi-level modeling will be performed for data analyses.Implications: This study will provide data on the moderating and mediating effects of trauma, personality functioning and mentalizing during the pandemic in a large community sample, particularly on vulnerable groups like families. Identifying transdiagnostic mechanisms of psychopathology in the course of a pandemic crisis may provide valuable insight for the development of pre- and intervention measures for potential psychological distress during and post the pandemic.

scholarly journals The Effects of Pandemics on Mental Health

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 423-443
Author(s):  
Vesna Antičević
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Psychological Needs ◽  
Basic Psychological Needs ◽  
Economic Consequences ◽  
Bibliographic Databases ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Psychological Resilience ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Indirect Contact

The aim of this paper was to present the existing scientific knowledge about the effects of a pandemic on psychological needs and mental health. A search of bibliographic databases (WoS, Scopus, Medline) found numerous studies published in various publications by entering the keywords: COVID-19 OR pandemic AND psychological needs AND mental health AND hardiness. The results of the research indicated that the fear of infecting oneself and loved ones, the consequences of social distancing and the economic consequences of a pandemic could have a significant effect on mental health. The following groups have been identified as particularly vulnerable to pandemic stressors: (a) people who have been in direct or indirect contact with the virus; (b) people with previous psychiatric problems; (c) health professionals and (d) people who constantly follow pandemic news. The consequences of a pandemic threaten basic psychological needs such as physiological needs, the need for safety, and the need for love and intimacy. The most common mental health problems that have been identified since the onset of the pandemic are anxiety, depression, symptoms of post-traumatic stress and substance abuse. In conclusion, since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, a large number of risk factors that can endanger mental health have been identified, as well as protective factors, such as psychological resilience.

scholarly journals Transdiagnostic Mechanisms of Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic on Adults and Families in Germany: Study Protocol of a Cross-Sectional and 1-Year Longitudinal Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jana Volkert ◽  
Svenja Taubner ◽  
Anna Berning ◽  
Laura Kling ◽  
Hannah Wießner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Longitudinal Design ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Valuable Insight ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Personality Functioning

Background: Since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, psychological distress is increased. Transdiagnostic mechanisms, including trauma, personality functioning, mentalizing and emotion regulation are considered relevant to the development and maintenance of mental health problems and therefore may play a role in individuals’ reactions to the pandemic.Aim: To identify moderating and mediating factors associated with pandemic-related distress and mental health problems in adults and families, we aim to investigate the interactions of interpersonal trauma (childhood trauma and domestic violence), psychological capacities (personality functioning, mentalizing and emotion regulation) and pandemic-related adversity on psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, we aim to investigate behavioral and cognitive consequences of the pandemic (e.g., media consumption, vaccination status, conspiracy beliefs).Methods: Using an online-based cross-sectional and longitudinal design, we will investigate a sample of adult participants recruited via online platforms in German-speaking countries over the course of 1 year with four measurements points via self-report instruments (personality functioning: PID5BF +; mentalizing: MentS, PRFQ; emotion regulation: DERS-SF; mental health problems: PHQ-9, GAD-7; a composite pandemic-related stress score). Structural equation and multi-level modeling will be performed for data analyses.Implications: This study will provide data on the moderating and mediating effects of trauma, personality functioning and mentalizing during the pandemic in a large community sample, particularly on vulnerable groups like families. Identifying transdiagnostic mechanisms of psychopathology in the course of a pandemic crisis may provide valuable insight for the development of pre- and intervention measures for potential psychological distress during and post the pandemic.

scholarly journals Motivational Processes Influencing Mental Health Among Winter Sports Athletes in China

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinran Wu ◽  
Nor Eeza Zainal Abidin ◽  
Rafidah Aga Mohd Jaladin
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Psychological Needs ◽  
Basic Psychological Needs ◽  
Motivational Factors ◽  
Winter Sports ◽  
Controlled Motivation ◽  
Winter Sport ◽  
Autonomous And Controlled Motivation

This study examined the association between motivational processes, psychological distress (depression, anxiety, and stress), and burnout among winter sports athletes within the Hierarchical Model of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation (HMIEM). A total of 685 winter sport athletes participated in this study (377 males, 308 females, age range 18–25 years), from three sport universities across nine winter sports. They completed five psychometric inventories related to motivational factors and mental disorders. Overall, a task-oriented climate showed a positive association with basic psychological needs, eliciting a positive pathway to autonomous and controlled motivation. In contrast, an ego-oriented climate showed a negative association with basic psychological needs, eliciting a negative pathway to amotivation. Autonomous and controlled motivation were negatively associated with symptoms of psychological distress and burnout, while amotivation was positively associated with symptoms of psychological distress and burnout. These findings highlight the complex relationships between various motivational factors and mental health disorders among winter sport athletes, and support the essential requirement for adding mental health factors to the outcomes of the HMIEM sequence.

Physical and Psychological Benefits of Written Emotional Expression

2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 242-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Éva Kállay
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Expressive Writing ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Psychological Benefits ◽  
Cost Effective Treatment ◽  
Meta Analyses

Abstract. The last several decades have witnessed a substantial increase in the number of individuals suffering from both diagnosable and subsyndromal mental health problems. Consequently, the development of cost-effective treatment methods, accessible to large populations suffering from different forms of mental health problems, became imperative. A very promising intervention is the method of expressive writing (EW), which may be used in both clinically diagnosable cases and subthreshold symptomatology. This method, in which people express their feelings and thoughts related to stressful situations in writing, has been found to improve participants’ long-term psychological, physiological, behavioral, and social functioning. Based on a thorough analysis and synthesis of the published literature (also including most recent meta-analyses), the present paper presents the expressive writing method, its short- and long-term, intra-and interpersonal effects, different situations and conditions in which it has been proven to be effective, the most important mechanisms implied in the process of recovery, advantages, disadvantages, and possible pitfalls of the method, as well as variants of the original technique and future research directions.

scholarly journals Psychological Needs Satisfaction, Self-Rated Health and the Mediating Role of Exercise Among Testicular Cancer Survivors

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 155798832110126
Author(s):  
Anika R. Petrella ◽  
Catherine M. Sabiston ◽  
Madison F. Vani ◽  
Andrew Matthew ◽  
Daniel Santa Mina
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Testicular Cancer ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Psychological Needs ◽  
Basic Psychological Needs ◽  
Exercise Behavior ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Needs Satisfaction ◽  
Testicular Cancer Survivors

Exploring tenets of basic psychological needs theory, the objective of this study was to examine the association between psychological needs satisfaction, exercise behavior, and physical and mental health among testicular cancer survivors. The present study investigated whether psychological needs satisfaction was directly associated with increased self-rated health, and if this relationship was mediated by engagement in exercise. Testicular cancer survivors ( N = 135; Mage = 32.45; SD = 7.63) self-reported current psychological needs satisfaction, exercise behavior, and perceived global physical and mental health during routine oncology visits. Associations were examined using path analysis. Psychological needs satisfaction was a positive correlate of both self-rated physical and mental health in this sample, and exercise mediated the association between needs satisfaction and self-rated physical health. This study supports the assumptions underpinning basic psychological needs theory in this unique clinical population. Based on the findings, exercise engagement represents one mechanism associated with perceived health after cancer. Supportive care interventions should aim to enhance satisfaction of psychological needs and investigate exercise as a mechanism underpinning the relationship between needs satisfaction and perceived health in testicular cancer survivors.

scholarly journals Acculturation Stress, Satisfaction, and Frustration of Basic Psychological Needs and Mental Health of Chinese Migrant Children: Perspective from Basic Psychological Needs Theory

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 4751
Author(s):  
Qiang Ren ◽  
Shan Jiang
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Psychological Needs ◽  
Need Satisfaction ◽  
Basic Psychological Needs ◽  
Migrant Children ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Acculturation Stress ◽  
Children’S Depression ◽  
Needs Theory

Acculturation stress is prevalent among migrant populations. The current study examines whether acculturation stress influences migrant children’s mental health through the mediators of the satisfaction and frustration of basic psychological needs for autonomy, relatedness, and competence. A sample of 484 migrant children is obtained in Kunming, China using a multi-stage cluster random sampling. Data are analyzed through structural equation modeling in Mplus 8.0. Results indicate that acculturation stress has a direct impact on children’s depression but no significant direct effect on children’s happiness. Acculturation stress also has indirect effects on depression and happiness via the mediators of need satisfaction and frustration. Acculturation stress is negatively associated with need satisfaction and positively associated with need frustration, which is further significantly predictive of children’s happiness and depression. Overall, this study validates the basic psychological needs theory in the context of China’s internal migration. Findings contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms that underlie the relationship between acculturation stress and psychological outcomes and provide practical implications for future interventions.

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