scholarly journals School-Related Stressors and the Intensity of Perceived Stress Experienced by Adolescents in Poland

Author(s):  
Maria Kaczmarek ◽  
Sylwia Trambacz-Oleszak

Higher stress reactivity during adolescence is a vulnerability marker of exposure to various environmental stressors. This study aimed to investigate the association between a high level of perceived stress experienced by adolescents and stressful stimuli induced from school environment, peer, and parental relationships. The data used were from a cross-sectional, observational study conducted in a stratified sample of 1846 adolescents (13–18 years) in the Wielkopolska province, Poland. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires and anthropometric measurements. Perceived stress was assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). The association of a high level of perceived stress with school-induced exposures was determined using multivariate logistic regression after adjusting for gender, age, height and weight status and interpersonal relationships (STATISTICA 13.1). It was found that girls were over three times more likely than boys to experience a high level of perceived stress. Moreover, girls appeared to be more vulnerable than boys to school-related stressors and weight status, while boys to stressors that can arise from interpersonal relationships. School environment was the only predictor factor of high perceived stress level with a large effect size in both boys (OR = 4.45; 95% CI: 3.11–6.36) and girls (OR = 6.22; 95% CI: 4.18–7.59). Given the findings of the present study, preventive programs are critical to mitigate the effect of stress from school on adolescents’ health and well-being.

2021 ◽  
pp. 109019812098294
Author(s):  
Aikaterini Kanellopoulou ◽  
Venetia Notara ◽  
George Antonogeorgos ◽  
Maria Chrissini ◽  
Andrea Paola Rojas-Gil ◽  
...  

Children’s health literacy is a crucial pillar of health. This study is aimed to examine the association between health literacy and weight status among Greek schoolchildren aged 10 to 12 years old. A population-based, cross-sectional observational study enrolling 1,728 students (795 boys), aged 10 to 12 years old, was conducted during school years 2014–2016. A health literacy index (range 0-100) was created through an item response theory hybrid model, by combining a variety of beliefs and perceptions of children about health. The mean health literacy score was 70.4 (±18.7). The majority of children (63.8%) had a “high” level (i.e., >67/100) of health literacy, 30.5% had a “medium” level (i.e., 34–66/100) of health literacy, while a small proportion of children (5.7%) had a “low” level (i.e., <33/100). Girls exhibited a higher level of health literacy than boys (71.7 ± 18.3 vs. 68.8 ± 19.1, p < .01). Regarding body weight status, 21.7% of children was overweight and 5.0% was obese. Linear regression models showed that the health literacy score was inversely associated with children’s body mass index (regression coefficient [95% CI]: −0.010 [−0.018, −0.001]), after adjusting for dietary habits, physical activity levels, and other potential confounders. Health literacy seems to be a dominant characteristic of children’s weight status; therefore, school planning, as well as public health policy actions should emphasize on the ability of children’s capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information.


Author(s):  
Carolina Mendoza ◽  
Helena Poggi ◽  
Mónica Flores ◽  
Cristóbal Morales ◽  
Alejandro Martínez-Aguayo

Introduction: Transgender (TG) children and adolescents experience problems in school as well as with family and social relationships that can adversely affect their physical and psychosocial health and impair their quality of life (QOL). This study aims to assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in TG children. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study comparing HRQoL in gender nonconforming (Trans) and gender conforming (CIS) children and adolescents using the Spanish version of KIDSCREEN-52 in 120 Chilean Trans and CIS children (aged 8–18 years) and their parents. All scores were standardized according to the KIDSCREEN manual. Results: Among the 100 questionnaires answered, 38 corresponded to children and adolescents aged 8.4–18 years. Twenty-one of them were TG (71% trans males) and 17 were CIS (76% females). Sixty-two parents answered the questionnaires: 33 from families of TG children (PTrans) and 29 from families of CIS children (PCis). Trans children had lower HRQOL scores in all domains compared to CIS children. The lowest-scoring domains for TG children were “Moods and Emotions”, “Psychological Well-Being” and “Social Acceptance”, and the highest-scoring domain was “School Environment”. The PTrans group had significantly higher scores than the Trans group for 3 of the 10 domains: “Psychological Well-Being”, “Moods and Emotions”, and “Parent Relations and Home Life”. Conclusion: Our results revealed that TG children and adolescents have lower QOL than their CIS counterparts, especially regarding items related to mental health. Furthermore, their parents may underestimate their well-being, confirming the vulnerability of the TG population. This finding underlies the need to perform early assessments of QOL for early detection and intervention in aspects that could deteriorate their quality of life.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Huan Xu ◽  
Ling-Ming Zhou ◽  
Eliza Lai-Yi Wong ◽  
Dong Wang

BACKGROUND Although previous studies have shown that a high level of health literacy can improve patients’ ability to engage in health-related shared decision-making (SDM) and improve their quality of life, few studies have investigated the role of eHealth literacy in improving patient satisfaction with SDM (SSDM) and well-being. OBJECTIVE This study aims to assess the relationship between patients’ eHealth literacy and their socioeconomic determinants and to investigate the association between patients’ eHealth literacy and their SSDM and well-being. METHODS The data used in this study were obtained from a multicenter cross-sectional survey in China. The eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS) and Investigating Choice Experiments Capability Measure for Adults were used to measure patients’ eHealth literacy and capability well-being, respectively. The SSDM was assessed by using a self-administered questionnaire. The Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used to compare the differences in the eHEALS, SSDM, and Investigating Choice Experiments Capability Measure for Adults scores of patients with varying background characteristics. Ordinary least square regression models were used to assess the relationship among eHealth literacy, SSDM, and well-being adjusted by patients’ background characteristics. RESULTS A total of 569 patients completed the questionnaire. Patients who were male, were highly educated, were childless, were fully employed, were without chronic conditions, and indicated no depressive disorder reported a higher mean score on the eHEALS. Younger patients (SSDM<sub>≥61 years</sub>=88.6 vs SSDM<sub>16-30 years</sub>=84.2) tended to show higher SSDM. Patients who were rural residents and were well paid were more likely to report good capability well-being. Patients who had a higher SSDM and better capability well-being reported a significantly higher level of eHealth literacy than those who had lower SSDM and poorer capability well-being. The regression models showed a positive relationship between eHealth literacy and both SSDM (<i>β</i>=.22; <i>P</i>&lt;.001) and well-being (<i>β</i>=.26; <i>P</i>&lt;.001) after adjusting for patients’ demographic, socioeconomic status, lifestyle, and health status variables. CONCLUSIONS This study showed that patients with a high level of eHealth literacy are more likely to experience optimal SDM and improved capability well-being. However, patients’ depressive status may alter the relationship between eHealth literacy and SSDM. CLINICALTRIAL


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 233339281985539
Author(s):  
Elaina Vivian ◽  
Hellen Oduor ◽  
Laurie Lundberg ◽  
Allison Vo ◽  
Parvez S Mantry

Background and Aims: Perceived stress and mindfulness can impact medical decision-making in both patients and clinicians. The aim of this study was to conduct a cross-sectional evaluation of the relationships between stress, mindfulness, self-regulation, perceptions of treatment conversations, and decision-making preferences among clinicians. Also, perceptions of treatment conversations and decision-making preferences among patients with cancer were evaluated. Methodology: Survey instruments were developed for clinicians and patients incorporating previously published questions and validated instruments. Institutional review board approval was obtained. Patients, physicians, and advanced practice providers from a tertiary referral center were asked to complete surveys. Continuous variables were evaluated for normality and then bivariate relationships between variables were evaluated using χ2, Fisher's exact test, Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel (CMH) row mean scores differ statistic, or Kruskal-Wallis tests, where appropriate. Significance was defined at P < .05. All tests were conducted using SAS v.9.4. Results: 77 patients and 86 clinicians (60.1% and 43% response rates, respectively) participated in the surveys. More clinicians who reported feeling “great/good” said they always/sometimes had enough time to spend with patients (66.1%) compared to those that hardly ever/never had enough time (26.3%), χ2(1, N = 75) = 6.62, P = .0101; CMH row mean scores differ statistic). Interestingly, 40.3% of patients preferred a paternalistic style of decision-making compared to 6.3% of clinicians, χ2(2, N = 146) = 27.46, P < .0001; χ2 test. Higher levels of dispositional mindfulness (Mindful Attention Awareness Scale) were found among clinicians who reported they felt “great/good” (median = 4.5) as compared to those who reported that they were “definitely stressed/stressed out” (3.3), χ2(2, N = 80) = 10.32, P = .0057; Kruskal-Wallis test. Higher levels of emotional self-regulation (Emotional Regulation Questionnaire—Cognitive Reappraisal facet) were found among clinicians who reported they felt “great/good” (median = 31.0) compared to those who reported that they were “definitely stressed/stressed out” (20.0), χ2(2, N = 79) = 8.88, P = .0118; Kruskal-Wallis test. Conclusion: In order to have meaningful conversations about treatment planning, an understanding of mental well-being and its relationship to decision-making preferences is crucial for both oncology patients and clinicians. Our results show that for clinicians, lower perceived stress was associated with higher levels of mindfulness (experiencing the present moment), emotional self-regulation, and spending more time with patients. Larger prospective studies are needed to validate these findings.


Author(s):  
Supa Pengpid ◽  
Karl Peltzer

AbstractBackgroundVigorous physical activity (VPA) may be beneficial for mental health. The aim of the study was to investigate cross-sectional associations between VPA, perceived stress, sleep quality and quantity and mental health among university students.MethodsIn a cross-sectional study, using anonymous questionnaires, data was collected from 15122 (42.1% male and 57.9% female) university students [mean age 20.6, standard deviation (SD) = 2.0] from 23 countries in the Americas, Africa and Asia. They were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (short version), and measures of sociodemographic, health status, health behaviour and anthropometrics.ResultsStudents who met VPA recommendations were less likely to report perceived stress, more likely to report subjective good health and depression than students without VPA. There was no association between VPA and sleep quality and quantity and PTSD symptoms.ConclusionThis study only found partial benefits of VPA in relation to well-being of university students.


Author(s):  
Lars Göran Wallgren

Using the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model, this cross-sectional study tests whether the direct effects and interaction effects of job demand and motivators affect the level of perceived stress among information technology (IT) consultants. A web-based questionnaire survey was conducted among 380 IT consultants at ten IT consultancy companies in Sweden. The results showed that job demands, autonomy, and motivators are important factors that explain perceived stress among the IT consultants. Those consultants with a high level of job demands and a low level of autonomy had a four times higher risk of perceived stress than the consultants with the theoretically lowest level of strain. However, the interaction effect of job demands/autonomy and the interaction effect of job demands/motivators on perceived stress were non-significant. It is suggested that IT consultants’ autonomy exists within the demands dictated by others - Theory Y embedded in Theory X. Future avenues for research are suggested.


Author(s):  
Manuel Gómez-López ◽  
Javier Courel-Ibáñez ◽  
Antonio Granero-Gallegos

The aim of this study was to identify distinctive profiles (clusters) of high-level, young handball players according to their motivation, fear of failure and competitive state anxiety. In addition, we examined differences in the distribution of gender, age, and players’ position within each profile. The study participants were 479 young handball players. The age range was 16–17 years old. Players were administered a battery composed of Sport Motivation Scale, Performance Failure Appraisal Inventory and Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2R, to measure the above-mentioned theoretical constructs. Results showed three different player profiles that the discriminant analysis with canonical correlations grouped into two functions. Function 1 was characterized by those players with the highest values of motivation and self-confidence, and function 2 included those players with lower self-determined motivation, more amotivation, more fear of failure and the highest levels of anxiety. The results provide relevant information for coaches, as they will help them design individualized training programs that will improve athletes' performance, while ensuring their health and well-being.


2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 346-352
Author(s):  
Melody D. Reibel ◽  
Marianne H. Hutti

Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disorder characterized by uncertainty in etiology, symptomatology, diagnosis, treatment, and outcome. The high level of illness uncertainty that results from fibromyalgia is a risk factor for maladjustment to illness. A cross-sectional survey design was used to examine the relationships among illness uncertainty, helplessness, and subjective well-being in 138 women with fibromyalgia. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine a predictive model for mediation. We found illness uncertainty is negatively associated with subjective well-being and that helplessness strongly influences the impact of illness uncertainty on subjective well-being in women with fibromyalgia.


2016 ◽  
Vol 49 (8) ◽  
pp. 933-955 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Smith ◽  
F. Kinnafick ◽  
S. J. Cooley ◽  
G. M. Sandal

Results from previous studies suggest that stressful environmental conditions such as those faced on expedition may result in psychological growth. Building on previous research, the present cross-sectional study examined the role of personality and perceived stress in relation to post-expedition growth. Eighty-three participants who had completed a mountaineering expedition responded to measures of stress, personality, growth, well-being, and resilience. Findings implicate perceived stress, and personality dimensions of agreeableness and openness, in post-expedition growth. Growth was associated with well-being but distinct from psychological resilience, highlighting the need to consider growth and resilience independently. Present findings support the proposition that stressful expedition environments may promote positive psychological adjustment and identify factors that may influence this change. Research is needed to delineate the impact of other variables, such as coping, on changes that occurs during the post-expedition phase. Such research holds relevance for maintaining health following immersion in extreme and unusual environments.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Liu ◽  
Lie Wang ◽  
Jie Chen

Although underground coal miners are quite susceptible to depressive symptoms due to a highly risky and stressful working environment, few studies have focused on this issue. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of depressive symptoms and to explore its associated factors in this population. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in a coal-mining population in northeast China. A set of self-administered questionnaires was distributed to 2500 underground coal miners (1,936 effective respondents). Depressive symptoms, effort-reward imbalance (ERI), overcommitment (OC), perceived physical environment (PPE), work-family conflict (WFC), and some demographic and working characteristics were measured anonymously. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 62.8%, and the mean level was 20.00 (9.99). Hierarchical linear regression showed that marital status, education, monthly income, and weekly working time were significantly associated with depressive symptoms. A high level of depressive symptoms was significantly associated with high ERI, PPE, WFC, and OC. Accordingly, most Chinese underground coal miners probably have depressive symptoms that are mainly predicted by some occupational psychosocial factors. Efforts should be made to develop strategies to reduce ERI and OC, improve physical working environment, and care for workers’ family well-being, thereby mitigating the risk of depression among Chinese underground coal miners.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document