scholarly journals Effects of a Single Yoga Session on Cardiac Interoceptive Accuracy and Emotional Experience

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 1572
Author(s):  
Christine Schillings ◽  
Dana Schultchen ◽  
Olga Pollatos
Keyword(s):  
Negative Affect ◽  
Emotional Experience ◽  
Positive And Negative Affect ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Interoceptive Accuracy ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Clinical Populations

Background: There is an increasing body of research supporting the idea that cardiac interoceptive accuracy (IAc) can be improved by training. Findings concerning the effects of a single yoga session on IAc and the related construct emotional experience are sparse. The aim of this study was to examine if a single yoga session increases IAc and improves emotional experience. Methods: 137 students were randomly assigned to a 20-min yoga session (n = 47), an endurance session (n = 46), or an inactive control condition (n = 44). IAc and emotional experience were assessed before and after the sessions. Results: There were no significant changes in IAc, or positive and negative affect. IAc at baseline and the change in positive effect were found as predictors for IAc after the yoga session. Conclusion: A 20-min yoga session seems to be not applicable to improve IAc and emotional experience. Future studies should investigate long-term interventions and diverse healthy and clinical populations.

scholarly journals Brief Online Focused Attention Meditation Training: Immediate Impact

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 395-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathi J. Kemper ◽  
Nisha Rao
Keyword(s):  
Negative Affect ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Online Training ◽  
Focused Attention ◽  
Positive And Negative Affect ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Relaxation Stress

Background. There is increasing interest in brief, online training in mind-body skills to improve resilience in health professionals. Methods. We analyzed data from an online training program in focused attention meditation. Resilience, relaxation, stress, positive and negative affect, and flourishing were measured before and after training using standardized scales. Results. The 379 participants included nurses (31%), physicians (21%), social workers and psychologists (10%), and others (38%). At baseline, participants reported high levels of stress (mean 16.7 compared with population norms of 12-14). Completing modules was associated with small but significant improvements in relaxation, resilience, stress, positive and negative affect, and flourishing ( P <. 01 for all) Conclusion. Online focused attention meditation training reaches diverse health professionals and is associated with improvements in relaxation, resilience, stress, affect, and flourishing. Additional research is warranted to compare the long-term cost-effectiveness of different amounts and types of mind-body training on clinician burnout and quality of care.

scholarly journals The Demerger Impact upon Sustainable Development of Economic Entities: Evidence from Romania

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 8316
Author(s):  
Camelia Mirela Baba ◽  
Constantin Duguleană ◽  
Marius Sorin Dincă ◽  
Liliana Duguleană ◽  
Gheorghița Dincă
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Business Strategies ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Ex Post ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Almost All ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Profitability Ratios ◽  
Positive Effect

The Covid-19 induced economic crisis has significantly affected almost all businesses from nearly every sector, causing severe financial problems, lack of cash assets, and decrease of revenues. In this context, the economic entities were forced to look for adjustment and rescue solutions of their activities. One possible solution for the recovery and reorganization of economic entities’ activities is demerger. This paper evaluates the impact of demerger upon the sustainable development of economic entities in terms of economic efficiency and financial performances. To achieve this goal, a statistical analysis of profitability ratios before and after the demerger, as well as a structural analysis of 268 demerger projects for the April 2012–April 2021 period, were performed. The results attest there are no significant differences between the ex-ante and ex-post financial performances. However, demerger seems to have a positive effect upon analyzed companies helping them to overcome economic hardships, rethink their business strategies, and continue their activity in the medium and long-term time horizon.

scholarly journals Influence on Forgiveness, Character Strengths and Satisfaction with Life of a Short Mindfulness Intervention via a Spanish Smartphone Application

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 802
Author(s):  
Juan Pablo Pizarro-Ruiz ◽  
Nuria Ordóñez-Camblor ◽  
Mario Del-Líbano ◽  
María-Camino Escolar-LLamazares
Keyword(s):  
Negative Affect ◽  
Satisfaction With Life ◽  
Character Strengths ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Smartphone Application ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Psychological Practice ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Reducing Stress ◽  
Positive Effect

Mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) are a recognized effective psychological practice characterized by attention control, awareness, acceptance, non-reactivity, and non-judgmental thinking obtained through the practice of meditation. They have been shown to be useful in reducing stress and enhancing well-being in different contexts. In this research, the effectiveness of an MBI was evaluated on variables that can promote successful job performance such as mindfulness trait, positive and negative affect, forgiveness, personality strengths and satisfaction with life. The intervention was carried out through a smartphone application called “Aire Fresco” (Fresh Air) during 14 days in the middle of the quarantine produced by the Covid-19 pandemic. The study sample was composed of 164 Spanish people who were distributed in two groups: control group and experimental group, which were evaluated before and after the intervention. The MANCOVA performed showed an overall positive effect of the intervention on the variables evaluated. The different ANCOVAs carried out showed that the intervention was beneficial in increasing mindfulness trait, reducing negative affect or increasing life satisfaction, among others. Our study is, as far as we know, the first to demonstrate the effectiveness of a brief intervention in mindfulness conducted using a smartphone application in Spanish.

An Experimental Investigation into the Effect of State-Anxiety on State-Paranoia in People Experiencing Psychosis

2018 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-66
Author(s):  
Megan Cowles ◽  
Lorna Hogg
Keyword(s):  
Negative Affect ◽  
State Anxiety ◽  
Mood Induction ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Anxiety State ◽  
Negative State ◽  
Neutral Mood ◽  
Before And After ◽  
State Affect ◽  
Clinical Populations

Background:There is strong evidence to suggest that anxiety is associated with paranoia in clinical and non-clinical samples. However, no research to date has directly manipulated anxiety to investigate if state-anxiety has a causal role in state-paranoia in clinical populations.Aims:To investigate whether an anxious-mood induction leads to greater paranoia than a neutral-mood induction in people experiencing psychosis and paranoia and, if so, whether this is predicted by anxiety over and above other variables.Method:22 participants with a psychosis-spectrum diagnosis took part in a two condition cross-over experimental design. Participants underwent a neutral-mood and an anxious-mood induction with levels of state-anxiety, state-affect and state-paranoia being measured before and after each condition.Results:State-paranoia was significantly higher after the anxious condition compared with the neutral condition. State-anxiety and negative-affect were significant predictors of levels of state-paranoia after the anxious condition. When both predictors were included in a regression model, only negative-affect was a significant predictor of state-paranoia after the anxious condition. There were a number of methodological limitations.Conclusions:State-anxiety and negative-affect may both be involved in the maintenance of paranoia in clinical populations, as predicted by cognitive models. Negative-affect may be the strongest predictor of state-paranoia in clinical populations. Reasons for this are discussed, as well as the implications. Interventions that seek to reduce negative state-affect may be beneficial in managing state-paranoia. Further research is warranted to explore the suggested clinical and theoretical implications of these findings.

scholarly journals The Relationship between Natural Environment Relatedness and Emotional Well-Being: A Systematic Review and Proposed Conceptual Framework Experience

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 77-98
Author(s):  
Noorlila Ahmad ◽  
Siti Fatimah Abd Rahman
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Natural Environment ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Spiritual Values ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Key Variables ◽  
Nature Connectedness ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Positive Effect

The influence of the natural environment on emotional well-being has been highlighted at the peak of the Covid 19 pandemic that saw most countries impose prolonged total lockdowns and movement restrictions on their citizens. While researchers have recently emphasized the need to focus not only on students’ academic achievement but also on their inner needs, which include their emotional well-being, studies have found nature connectedness has a positive effect on emotional well-being and physical health. Many studies on nature and well-being have focused on physiological and psychological experimental research to examine before and after exposure to nature. However, there is still a need for further investigation how emotional connection between nature environments in the aspect of restorativeness and spiritual values improve mental health.  This paper systematically reviewed previous studies about the relationship between exposure to the natural environment and well-being focusing on key variables, underpinning theories, methodological processes and samples. As a result of the review, a conceptual framework is proposed for future studies on relationship between exposure to the natural environment and well-being. We hope that the proposed framework will be empirically tested in future studies.

scholarly journals Laboratory Evaluation of Sustainable PMA Binder Containing Styrene-Isoprene-Styrene (SIS) and Thermoplastic Polyurethane

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (23) ◽  
pp. 10057
Author(s):  
Hyun Hwan Kim ◽  
Mithil Mazumder ◽  
Soon-Jae Lee ◽  
Moon-Sup Lee
Keyword(s):  
Thermoplastic Polyurethane ◽  
Asphalt Binder ◽  
Asphalt Binders ◽  
Laboratory Evaluation ◽  
Creep Recovery ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Multiple Stress Creep Recovery ◽  
Compaction Processes ◽  
Positive Effect

In this study, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and styrene-isoprene-styrene (SIS) were utilized to enhance asphalt binder properties. Superpave asphalt binder tests and multiple stress creep recovery (MSCR) were conducted to evaluate the physical and rheological performance (viscosity, rutting, and cracking properties) of the asphalt binders before and after short-term aging and after the long-term aging process. The results showed that (i) TPU has a positive effect on workability, including the mixing and compaction processes, which was evident from the reduced binder viscosity; (ii) asphalt binders with TPU and SIS showed better rutting resistance compared to the SIS binders without TPU; (iii) the cracking resistance of asphalt binders was found to be improved significantly with the addition of TPU; and (iv) TPU has the potential to be considered as a sustainable polymer modifier for producing bearable asphalt binders by improving rutting and crack resistance without increasing the melting temperature of the asphalt binders.

Individual Differences in Cognitive Reappraisal Predict Emotional Experience Prior to Achievement Situations

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 144-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefania Balzarotti ◽  
Valentina Chiarella ◽  
Maria Rita Ciceri
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Negative Affect ◽  
Indirect Effect ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Longitudinal Design ◽  
Emotional Experience ◽  
Negative Emotions ◽  
Cognitive Reappraisal ◽  
Positive And Negative Affect ◽  
Time Points

Abstract. In the present study, we examined whether individual differences in the use of cognitive reappraisal predict the experience of more positive and less negative emotions prior to an evaluative task, as well as whether reappraisal is associated with better performance. In a longitudinal design, 130 students were asked to report their spontaneous use of reappraisal as well as the emotions experienced at three time points prior to an academic exam. Results showed that the use of cognitive reappraisal measured when students began to study predicted less negative and more positive emotions in the following two weeks. Further, positive and negative affect were significant predictors of the grade achieved. Finally, cognitive reappraisal had a significant indirect effect on the grade students achieved. These findings suggest that cognitive reappraisal can be effective in regulating emotions while approaching evaluative stressors.

scholarly journals Does Taking a Short Break from Social Media Have a Positive Effect on Well-being? Evidence from Three Preregistered Field Experiments

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew K. Przybylski ◽  
Thuy-vy T. Nguyen ◽  
Wilbert Law ◽  
Netta Weinstein
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Negative Affect ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Positive And Negative Affect ◽  
Social Relatedness ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Social Media Platforms ◽  
Positive Effect

AbstractConcerns about the consequences of social media use on well-being has led to the practice of taking a brief hiatus from social media platforms, a practice known as “digital detoxing.” These brief “digital detoxes” are becoming increasingly popular in the hope that the newly found time, previously spent on social media, would be used for other, theoretically more rewarding, activities. In this paper, we test this proposition. Participants in three preregistered field experiments (ntot = 600) were randomly assigned to receiving each of two conditions on each of two different days: a normal-use day or an abstinence day. Outcomes (social relatedness, positive and negative affect, day satisfaction) were measured on each of the two evenings of the study. Results did not show that abstaining from social media has positive effects on daily well-being (in terms of social relatedness, positive and negative affect, day satisfaction) as suggested by the extant literature. Participants reported similar well-being on days when they used social media and days when they did not. Evidence indicated that abstinence from social media had no measurable positive effect on well-being, and some models showed significant deficits in social relatedness and satisfaction with one’s day. We discuss implications of the study of social media hiatus and the value of programmatic research grounded in preregistered experimental designs.

scholarly journals The Psychological Impacts of a COVID-19 Outbreak on College Students in China: A Longitudinal Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (11) ◽  
pp. 3933 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hong Yan Li ◽  
Hui Cao ◽  
Doris Y. P. Leung ◽  
Yim Wah Mak
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Negative Affect ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Positive And Negative Affect ◽  
Online Surveys ◽  
P Values ◽  
Before And After ◽  
College Population

An outbreak in Wuhan, China in late 2019 of a highly infectious new coronary pneumonia (COVID-19) led to the imposition of countrywide confinement measures from January to March 2020. This is a longitudinal study on changes in the mental health status of a college population before and after their COVID-19 confinement for the first two weeks, focusing on states of psychological distress, depression, anxiety and affectivity. The influence of possible stressors on their mental health were investigated, including inadequate supplies and fears of infection. Five hundred and fifty-five undergraduate students were recruited from Hebei Agricultural University in Baoding, China. The participants completed two online surveys—on anxiety and depression, and on positive and negative affect. One survey was conducted before the confinement and the other was conducted 15–17 days after the start of the confinement. Increases in negative affect and symptoms of anxiety and depression (p-values < 0.001) were observed after 2 weeks of confinement. Inadequate supplies of hand sanitizers, a higher year of study, and higher scores on anxiety and depression were common predictors of increased negative affect, anxiety, and depression across the confinement period. The results suggest that healthcare policymakers should carefully consider the appropriate confinement duration, and ensure adequate supplies of basic infection-control materials.

Relationship Satisfaction Can Help to Maintain the Positive Effect of Childbirth on Parental Self-Esteem

2020 ◽  
pp. 194855062097153
Author(s):  
Mario Wenzel ◽  
Doris Staab ◽  
Zarah Rowland ◽  
Manon A. van Scheppingen
Keyword(s):  
Relationship Satisfaction ◽  
Transition To Parenthood ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Adaptive Processes ◽  
Baseline Levels ◽  
Positive Effect

The transition to parenthood is accompanied by declined self-esteem levels, which may be explained by parents’ relationship satisfaction. However, prior research examined self-esteem only shortly before and after childbirth and had no or only unmatched childless respondents as a control group, limiting the possibility to examine long-term adaptive processes and the causal interpretation of the associations. Thus, we used panel data (10 years, 4,075 individuals, and 16,122 observations) to compare self-esteem and relationship satisfaction trajectories of parents with matched childless respondents using propensity score matching. We found a quadratic trajectory for parents’ self-esteem, which declined and increased before birth and declined and returned to baseline levels after birth. In contrast, matched childless respondents’ self-esteem decreased linearly before childbirth and then recovered. The quadratic postpartum process in parents was significantly associated with reduced relationship satisfaction. Thus, a fulfilling relationship may help to maintain the positive effects of childbirth on self-esteem in parents.

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