Defensive Functioning Moderates the Effects of Nondirective Meditation

We have recently found that nondirective meditation facilitates stress reduction. This supplementary study investigated whether defensive functioning would moderate these beneficial effects. We explored the occurrence of defense mechanisms and the impact of defensive functioning on the outcome of companies’ stress management programs regarding worries nervousness, mental distress, sleep problems, and muscle pain. The sample was a population of active, working professionals recruited from Norwegian companies (n = 105). The intervention group obtained significant benefits on all outcome measures, but there were no effects in the control group. We analyzed defensive functioning with the self-report questionnaire, Life Style Index, at four time points. The healthy adults who participated had a low level of defense scores at the outset. There was a significant reduction in the level of defenses in both groups over the study period, 6 months. Defensive functioning significantly moderated the change of the outcome measures from baseline to follow-up in the intervention group, but not in the control group.

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Impact of regular chest percussion on outcome measures for infants with pneumonia

Journal of Nursing Education and Practice ◽

10.5430/jnep.v10n4p11 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 11

Author(s):

Eman Abdel Fattah Hassan ◽

Hoda Wahid Amer

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Oxygen Saturation ◽

Outcome Measures ◽

Respiratory Health ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Routine Care ◽

Control Group ◽

Significance Level ◽

Quasi Experimental ◽

The Impact

Objective: To evaluate the impact of regular chest percussion on outcome measures for infants with pneumonia.Methods: A two-group pre-post quasi-experimental design was conducted in the Pediatrics Medical Unit at Abu Elrish Children’s Hospital, Cairo University. The experiment involved 100 infants fifty (control group) followed the hospital routine care and other fifty applied regular chest percussion (intervention group). Chest condition was assessed subjectively and objectively throughout five days before and after the regular chest percussion using Pediatrics Respiratory Severity Scales. Physiological measurements of infant’s respiratory rate, heart rate, and temperature and oxygen saturation were assessed. All research ethics were applied.Results: The mean of Pediatric Respiratory Severity Score (PRSS), temperature, respiration, heart rate and oxygen saturation among infants was statistically improved throughout the intervention days than the control group 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th days post the regular chest percussion at a significance level as p < .05.Conclusions: The regular chest percussion had a significant improvement in the respiratory health conditions for infants with bacterial pneumonia. This study recommends regular chest percussion that should be applied in medicine and intensive care units. Further researches must be done to add more evidence -based practices regarding the effect of chest percussion for children with pneumonia.

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Accept Anxiety to Improve Sleep: The Impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown on the Relationships between Mindfulness, Distress and Sleep Quality

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph182413149 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (24) ◽

pp. 13149

Author(s):

Marco Mirolli ◽

Luca Simione ◽

Monica Martoni ◽

Marco Fabbri

Keyword(s):

Sleep Quality ◽

Sleep Problems ◽

Self Report ◽

Dispositional Mindfulness ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Mediating Role ◽

Leading Role ◽

Improve Sleep Quality ◽

The Impact

It has been recently proposed that mindfulness can improve sleep quality through the mediating role on psychological distress and that acceptance may play a pivotal role in mindfulness beneficial effects. The aim of the present work was to understand the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on dispositional mindfulness, sleep, and distress, and on their relationships. In particular, we wanted to test the hypothesis that the detrimental effects of lockdown on sleep depended on mindfulness and distress (including anxiety and depression) and that the acceptance facet of mindfulness played the leading role. A longitudinal study based on self-report questionnaires was conducted on 39 Italian adults (M age = 35.03, SD = 14.02; 21 men) assessing mindfulness, distress, and sleep quality before (23 December 2019–8 March 2020) and during (27 April 2020–10 May 2020) the first Italian COVID-19 lockdown. Lockdown decreased mindfulness while increasing distress and sleep problems. Path analysis showed that the effects of lockdown on sleep were fully mediated by mindfulness and distress. Furthermore, a more detailed analysis showed that these effects were mainly dependent on the acceptance component of mindfulness working through anxiety. The present study confirms, in the context of the COVID-19 lockdown, a model according to which mindfulness, and specifically acceptance, influences sleep through the mediating role of distress.

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The effect of daily walking exercise on sleep quality in healthy young adults

Sport Sciences for Health ◽

10.1007/s11332-020-00702-x ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Feifei Wang ◽

Szilvia Boros

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Sleep Quality ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Control Group ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Walking Intervention ◽

Walking Exercise ◽

Group B ◽

The Impact

Abstract Purpose Walking has beneficial effects on sleep quality in elderly population and patients in clinical settings. However, less is known whether walking improves sleep quality among healthy young adults. This study examined the effectiveness of a 12-week walking intervention on sleep quality among sedentary young adults. Methods Fifty-four healthy adults aged 19 to 36-years old participated a pedometer based aerobic walking intervention, a cross-over randomized control trial. Participants were assigned into two groups (group A and group B) randomly. The 12-week intervention was divided into three sessions equally. Sleep quality was assessed by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) before and after session 1 and session 3. Omron HJ-112 pedometer and daily walking diary facilitated the intervention process. Within group and between group comparisons were made for statistical analysis. Results Within group comparison by repeated measures showed that sleep duration (p < 0.01, F-test 22.79), sleep medication (p < 0.05, F-test 5.22), subjective sleep (p < 0.05, F-test 5.51) and global sleep quality (p < 0.01, F-test 12.19) were significantly improved. The comparison between intervention group and control group showed that sleep disturbance was significantly improved (p < 0.05). Conclusion Daily walking exercise has a significant effect on facilitating sleep quality and sleep components among young adults. Further studies are suggested to examine the impact of walking intensity on sleep quality.

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The Impact of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on Emotional Wellbeing and Glycemic Control of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Journal of Diabetes Research ◽

10.1155/2018/1986820 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2018 ◽

pp. 1-6 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

A. Armani Kian ◽

B. Vahdani ◽

A. A. Noorbala ◽

A. Nejatisafa ◽

M. Arbabi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Type 2 Diabetes ◽

Glycemic Control ◽

Stress Reduction ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Control Group ◽

Emotional Wellbeing ◽

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction ◽

The Impact

Objective. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) intervention on emotion regulation and glycemic control of patients with type 2 diabetes. Materials and Methods. Sixty patients with type 2 diabetes were recruited for this randomized controlled trial from an outpatient clinic at Imam Hospital in Iran. The intervention group participated in 8 sessions of MBSR, and the control group continued the treatment as usual. Fasting blood sugar and HbA1c were measured as two indices of glycemic control. Overall mental health, depression, and anxiety were measured using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS), respectively. All the assessments were performed at baseline and after 8 weeks and 3 months as follow-up. Results. In comparison with the control group, the MBSR intervention group showed a significant reduction on all outcome measures including FBS, HbA1C, HARS, and HDRS scores (p<0/05). Conclusion. MBSR had a remarkable improvement on emotional wellbeing and glycemic control of patients with type 2 diabetes.

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Impact of Lifestyle Intervention for Patients with Prostate Cancer

American Journal of Health Behavior ◽

10.5993/ajhb.44.1.10 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 44 (1) ◽

pp. 90-99 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Saengryeol Park ◽

Kwangnam Kim ◽

Hyun Kyu Ahn ◽

Jong Won Kim ◽

Gyurang Min ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Prostate Cancer ◽

Lifestyle Intervention ◽

Intervention Program ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Text Messages ◽

Self Report ◽

Control Group ◽

Accelerometer Data ◽

Promotion Of Physical Activity ◽

The Impact

Objectives: Androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) for prostate cancer (PCa) is associated with reduced physical function and quality of life (QoL). We investigated the impact of a structured lifestyle intervention on the promotion of physical activity (PA) and reduction of sedentary behavior (SB), and its effect on QoL in men on ADT. Methods: Patients with advanced PCa on long-term ADT were randomized to the intervention (N = 11) or a control arm (N = 10) between February 2018 and May 2019. The intervention group received a structured lifestyle intervention including motivational text messages for 8 weeks (maintenance visit at week 12). At each visit, self-report measures and accelerometer data were used to assess PA and SB, and questionnaires were used to measure QoL, life satisfaction, anxiety, and depression. Results: Significantly greater improvements in QoL and depression compared to baseline were reported in the intervention group compared to the control group. In addition, the intervention group also showed a significantly greater increase in self-reported light, as well as moderate-to-vigorous PA, and reduction in self-reported SB. Conclusions: Given its inherent advantage in improving QoL and reducing depression, a lifestyle intervention program should be offered to patients on ADT.

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Still facial photographs of long-term meditators are perceived by naïve observers as less neurotic, more conscientious and more mindful than non-meditating controls

10.31231/osf.io/3zjq7 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Simon Goldberg ◽

Matthew James Hirshberg ◽

Lawrence Y. Tello ◽

Helen Weng ◽

Lisa Flook ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stress Reduction ◽

Mindfulness Meditation ◽

Self Report ◽

Control Group ◽

Short Term ◽

Post Intervention ◽

Psychological Variables ◽

Observer Ratings ◽

The Impact

The impact of meditation training on self-report psychological variables is well-established. Although meditation training is purported to have interpersonal impacts, whether naïve observers perceive differences associated with long- and short-term meditation training is largely unknown. The current study provided a stringent test of this possibility through observer ratings of a very thin slice of expressive behavior: still photographs. Photographs were drawn from a larger study investigating differences between long-term meditators (LTM) and meditation naïve participants (MNP) who were exposed to one of three experi- mental conditions. Photographs of ninety-nine targets (16 LTMs, 83 MNPs) were taken at baseline, prior to the randomization of MNPs to an eight-week mindfulness meditation course (mindfulness-based stress reduction; n = 27), an active control comparison condition (health enhancement program; n = 29), or a waitlist control group (n = 27) and again after the training period. Pre- and post-intervention photographs were then rated by 25 meditation teachers and 86 undergraduate raters on five domains theoretically linked to meditation training. Results indicated that relative to MNPs, LTMs were rated as less neurotic and more conscientious, mindful, and “comfortable in their own skin” at baseline (ds = 0.61 to 0.70, ps < .050), although not more agreeable or attractive. Results were largely unchanged when controlling for five observable confounds (age, gender, race/ethnicity, body mass index, attractiveness). No evidence was found supporting experimental effects of short-term meditation training on observer ratings. Thus, it seems that if meditation is associated with observable differences in facial behavior, effects may be limited to long-term training.

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Effects of a documentary on consumer perception of the environmental impact of meat consumption

British Food Journal ◽

10.1108/bfj-02-2020-0138 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 123 (1) ◽

pp. 177-189

Author(s):

Andreas Bschaden ◽

Eduardo Mandarano ◽

Nanette Stroebele-Benschop

Keyword(s):

Environmental Impact ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Meat Consumption ◽

Self Report ◽

Control Group ◽

Content Type ◽

Consumption Frequency ◽

One Year ◽

The Impact

PurposeMeat consumption causes a large amount of global greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental problems. Studies showed that consumers underestimate the environmental impact of meat consumption compared to other food-related behaviours. A video intervention was conducted to investigate the effect of information on consumers' perception and behaviour.Design/methodology/approachTwo didactically different videos about meat and the environment and a control video were shown to 189 participants. Ratings about the environmental impact of different food-related behaviours as well as participants' meat consumption frequency were obtained directly before, one week later and one year after the screening by self-report questionnaires.FindingsMean rating of the environmental impact of meat consumption was second to the least important of the different food consumption patterns. In the first intervention group, the rating increased significantly (p = 0.001) after having watched the video. There was no such effect in the second intervention or the control group. Self-reported meat consumption frequency did not change significantly in any of the groups. No long-term differences between the groups could be found.Research limitations/implicationsThe results suggest that there is still a lack of knowledge concerning the environmental impact of meat consumption. Providing information can affect awareness, depending on the type of information delivery. The circumstances under which information encourages behaviour change need to be further explored.Originality/valueThis is the first study that investigated the impact of different videos about environmental impacts of meat consumption on consumer perceptions and behaviour.

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Promoting the Community's Ability to Detect and Respond to Suicide Risk Through an Online Bystander Intervention Model-Informed Tool

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910/a000708 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Karien Hill ◽

Shawn Somerset ◽

Ralf Schwarzer ◽

Carina Chan

Keyword(s):

Suicide Prevention ◽

Suicide Risk ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Bystander Intervention ◽

Self Report ◽

Innovative Technology ◽

Control Group ◽

Intervention Model ◽

Standard Material

Abstract. Background: The public health sector has advocated for more innovative, technology-based, suicide prevention education for the community, to improve their ability to detect and respond to suicide risk. Emerging evidence suggests addressing the bystander effect through the Bystander Intervention Model (BIM) in education material may have potential for suicide prevention. Aims: The current study aimed to assess whether BIM-informed tools can lead to improved readiness, confidence and intent in the community to detect and respond to suicide risk in others. Method: A sample of 281 adults recruited from the community participated in a randomized controlled trial comprising a factsheet designed according to the BIM (intervention group) and a standard factsheet about suicide and mental health (control group). Participants' self-reported detecting and responding to suicide risk readiness, confidence, and intent when presented with a suicidal peer was tested pre- and postintervention and compared across time and between groups. Results: The intervention group had significantly higher levels of detecting and responding to suicide risk readiness, confidence, and intent than the control group at postintervention (all p < .001) with moderate-to-large effect sizes. Limitations: The study was limited by a homogenous sample, too low numbers at follow-up to report, and self-report data only. Conclusion: This study demonstrates BIM-informed suicide prevention training may enhance the community's intervention readiness, confidence, and intent better than current standard material. Further testing in this area is recommended. While results were statistically significant, clinical significance requires further exploration.

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The effect of the implementation of a good medical practice booklet on nursing home residents’ drug prescriptions: a difference-in-differences analysis based on data from electronic pill dispensers (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.13507 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Stéphane Sanchez ◽

Cécile Payet ◽

Marie Herr ◽

Anne Dazinieras ◽

Caroline Blochet ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nursing Homes ◽

Medical Practice ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Medication Use ◽

Nursing Home Residents ◽

Control Group ◽

Multilevel Regression ◽

Difference In Differences ◽

Good Medical Practice ◽

The Impact

BACKGROUND The elderly are particularly exposed to adverse events from medication. Among the various strategies to reduce polypharmacy, educational approaches have shown promising results. OBJECTIVE We aimed to evaluate the impact of the implementation of a good medical practice booklet on polypharmacy in nursing homes. METHODS We identified nursing homes belonging to a geriatric care provider that had launched a policy of proper medication use using a good medical practice booklet delivered to prescribers and pharmacists. Data were derived from electronic pill dispensers. The effect of the intervention on polypharmacy was assessed with multilevel regression models, with a control group to account for natural trends over time. The main outcomes were the average daily number of times when medication was administered and the number of drugs with different presentation identifier codes per resident per month. RESULTS 96,216 residents from 519 nursing homes were included between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2014. The intervention group and the control group both decreased their average daily use of medication (-0.05 and -0.06). The good medical practice booklet did not have a statistically significant effect (exponentiated difference-in-differences coefficient 1.00, 95% confidence interval 0.99-1.02, P=.45). CONCLUSIONS Although the good medical practice booklet itself did not seem effective in decreasing medication use, our data show the effectiveness of a higher-level policy to decrease polypharmacy.

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Relaksasi Benson Untuk Durasi Tidur Pasien Penyakit Jantung Koroner

Jurnal Endurance ◽

10.22216/jen.v3i3.2788 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 3 (3) ◽

pp. 556

Author(s):

Mulyanti Roberto Muliantino ◽

Tuti Herawati ◽

Masfuri Masfuri

Keyword(s):

Cardiac Rehabilitation ◽

Sleep Duration ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Self Report ◽

Pharmacological Intervention ◽

Control Group ◽

P Value ◽

Short Sleep Duration ◽

Short Sleep ◽

Coronary Arterial Disease

Coronary Arterial Disease (CAD) is one of cardiovaskular disease that remain leading cause death and disability. Short sleep duration is the major symptoms in patients with CAD, during recovery period after cardiac events and during cardiac rehabilitation. Benson’s relaxation is one of relaxation as modalities therapy to increase sleep duration, however few studies related to this technique in planned intervention. This study was to measured the effectiveness of Benson’s relaxation in short sleep duration of CAD patients during cardiac rehabilitation. It was a quasi experimental pretest posttest control group design. This study included 29 respondens in Dr.M.Djamil Hospital were assigned to intervention group which receiving Benson’s relaxation technique (n=15) and control group with routine care (n=14). Benson’s relaxation technique was administered for 5 days 2 times a day, each 20 minutes to intervention group. Short sleep duration was measured using sleep diary (self report). The result indicated significant increasing in mean of sleep duration before and after Benson’s relaxation in intervention group (p value < 0,001). The study concluded that Benson’s relaxation technique is an effective non-pharmacological intervention to increase sleep duration in CAD patients. Penyakit jantung koroner menjadi masalah kardiovaskular yang mengakibatkan angka mortalitas yang tinggi. Durasi tidur pendek termasuk salah satu keluhan utama pasien penyakit jantung koroner pada masa recovery setelah serangan dan menjalani rehabilitasi fase 2. Relaksasi Benson merupakan teknik relaksasi sebagai terapi modalitas untuk mengurangi keluhan durasi tidur pendek, namum belum banyak penelitian terkait intervensi ini. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengidentifikasi pengaruh relaksasi Benson terhadap durasi tidur pasien penyakit jantung koroner yang menjalani rehabilitasi fase 2. Penelitian ini menggunakan desain Quasi Eksperimen dengan pendekatan control group pretest posttest design pada 29 responden di RSUP. Dr.M.Djamil Padang yang dibagi dalam dua kelompok (kelompok intervensi dan kelompok kontrol). Hasil penelitian menunjukan ada perbedaan rerata durasi tidur yang signifikan antara sebelum dan setelah dilakukan intervensi relaksasi Benson pada kelompok intervensi (p value < 0,001). Simpulan hasil penelitian ini dapat menjadi salah satu terapi modalitas bagi perawat untuk mengatasi masalah durasi tidur pendek pada pasien penyakit jantung koroner.

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