scholarly journals The Healing Hearts at Home© Mobile Application Usability and Influence on Parental Perceived Stress

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 90-105
Author(s):  
Vanessa Ayer Miller ◽  
Jennifer Newcombe ◽  
Patricia Radovich ◽  
Flint Johnston ◽  
Ernesto Medina Jr. ◽  
...  

In this study, the Healing Hearts and Home© (HHH©) application was piloted to determine the usability and usefulness of the mobile application and whether the application had an effect on caregivers' coping and stress. A posttest consisting of the Systems Usability Scale (SUS), the Coping Health Inventory for Parents (CHIP), and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) was used to collect information on the application usability, coping patterns, and perceived stress. Key informants provided more insight into usefulness. The SUS rating was 86.94 (SD = 6.34). The excellent usability score did not translate into uptake, though interest remained. The PSS scores for the control group 17.11 (SD = 1.69) and the intervention group were 19.11 (SD = 6.51) were not statistically different. None of the CHIP subscales predicted the PSS score. The HHH© application shows potential to reduce stress and improve coping in caregivers in the absence of available in-person intervention.

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 1344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Smardz ◽  
Helena Martynowicz ◽  
Anna Wojakowska ◽  
Monika Michalek-Zrabkowska ◽  
Grzegorz Mazur ◽  
...  

Background and objectives: Sleep bruxism is a common phenomenon that can affect approximately 13% of adult population. It is estimated that bruxism can be caused by three types of factors: biological, psychological, and exogenous. There are many scientific reports about the coexistence of bruxism, stress, and psychoemotional disorders. The aim of this study is to evaluate the possible correlation between occurrence of sleep bruxism and perceived stress and depressive symptoms. Material and methods: The material of this study consisted of 77 patients of Clinic of Prosthetic Dentistry operating at the Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, Wroclaw Medical University, Poland in which after using guidelines of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine probable sleep bruxism was fund. Patients then underwent video-polysomnography. Exposure to perceived stress was evaluated with Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10). Occurrence of depressive symptoms was evaluated with Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI). Results: The analysis showed lack of statistically significant correlation between Bruxism Episodes Index (BEI) and Perceived Stress Scale–10 and Beck’s Depression Inventory scores (p = 0.64, p = 0.65; respectively), also when comparing study group (bruxers) and control group (non-bruxers) (p = 0.88, p = 0.77; respectively). Conclusion: Intensity of sleep bruxism was not statistically significantly correlated with self-reported perceived stress and depression. This issue requires further research.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanne Axelsen ◽  
Jacob Stig Jarnot Meline ◽  
Walter Staiano ◽  
Ulrich Kirk

Abstract Background Occupational stress has huge financial as well as human costs. Application of crowdsourcing might be a way to strengthen the investigation of occupational mental health. Therefore, the aim of the study was to assess Danish employees’ stress and cognition by relying on a crowdsourcing approach, as well as investigating the effect of a 30-day mindfulness and music intervention. Methods We translated well-validated neuropsychological laboratory- and task-based paradigms into an app-based platform using cognitive games measuring mind wandering and working memory and measuring stress via. Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale. A total of 623 healthy volunteers from Danish companies participated in the study and were randomized into three groups, which consisted of a 30-day intervention of either mindfulness or music, or a non-intervention control group. Results Participants in the mindfulness group showed a significant improvement in the coefficient of mind wandering, working memory capacity and perceived stress (p < .001). The music group showed a 38% decrease of self-perceived stress. The control group showed no difference from pre to post in the survey or cognitive outcome measures. Furthermore, there was a significant correlation between usage of the mindfulness and music app and elevated score on both the cognitive games and the Perceived Stress Scale. Conclusion The study supports the nascent field of crowdsourcing by being able to replicate data collected in previous well-controlled laboratory studies from a range of experimental cognitive tasks, making it an effective alternative. It also supports mindfulness as an effective intervention in improving mental health in the workplace.


2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paolla Gabrielle Nascimento Novais ◽  
Karla de Melo Batista ◽  
Eliane da Silva Grazziano ◽  
Maria Helena Costa Amorim

ABSTRACT Objective: to evaluate the effect of progressive muscle relaxation as a nursing procedure on the levels of stress for sufferers of multiple sclerosis. Method: random clinical trials conducted at the Neurology outpatients unit at a University Hospital. The sample consisted of 40 patients who were being monitored as outpatients (20 in a control group and 20 in an experimental group). The Progressive Muscle Relaxation technique was used. The control variables were collected through interviews that were recorded on forms and on the Perceived Stress Scale that we used. Five meetings were held every fortnight covering a period of eight weeks. The experimental group was advised to carry out daily progressive muscle relaxation activities. After eight weeks of these activities, they were evaluated again to measure their levels of stress. In order to analyze the data used, the software package Statistics for Social Sciences version 19.0 was used. Results: the application of the t test showed a significant reduction in the Perceived Stress Scale scores in the experimental group (p<0.001), which in turn proved that there was a reduction in the levels of stress after the application of the relaxation practic-es. Conclusion: the progressive muscle relaxation activities contributed to the reduction in stress levels for multiple sclerosis suffers and thus can be used in nursing for patients. Clinical Trials Identifier: NCT 02673827.


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Satvinder Singh Saini ◽  
Mandeep

It has been documented that elderly are more prone to psychological problems and depression is the commonest geriatric psychiatric disorders. In fact, the elderly in India face a multitude of psychological, social and physical health problems. In a cross-sectional study, it was found that in persons of 65 years and older, the perceived adequacy of emotional and tangible support was clearly associated with depressive symptoms. Aim and Objective: To study the relationship between Perceived Stress and Loneliness in Older People with and without Depression. Sample and Methodology: This study comprised of 60 (30 with depression and 30 without depression) participants of age 60 years or above. The sample was selected with purposive incidental sampling technique. Material used: Geriatric Depression Scale- 30, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and UCLA-loneliness scale were administered after taking consent from the participants. Results: Result shows the comparison of means between depressive (case-group) and non-depressive (control-group) as per the scores on Perceived Stress Scale and University of California Log Angeles Loneliness Scale. On UCLA-loneliness scale, the scores of depressive group were found to be statistically significant at 0.01 levels (t-value 19.547) in comparison to non-depressive group and on Perceived Stress Scale, the scores of depressive groups were also found to be statistically significant at 0.01 levels (t-value 14.716) in comparison to non-depressive group. Conclusion: In brief, the findings of the study show that perceived stress and loneliness are the contributory factors of depression. It has also been observed that depressed people perceive more stress, loneliness than non-depressed older people.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 138-144
Author(s):  
Radhika P ◽  
Angel Jose

Hypertension is a prevalent life style disease that causes cardiovascular diseases associated mortality worldwide. Being a devastating endemic, hypertension require special emphasis to be studied for its complications and consequences. Existing literatures provide robust evidences of the disastrous effects of hypertension on psychological stress separately, but there are least evidences comparing the same between hypertensive and normotensive adults. This study mainly concentrates on the effect of hypertension on stress levels and its comparison between hypertensive and normotensive individuals. Objective: To identify the differences of stress status among hypertensive and normotensive individuals. Methods: A CASE and a CONTROL group each constituting with a sample of 44 subjects between the age group 25-65 years were recruited in the study. The stress status of the study group was assessed by the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Data were statistically analyzed using SPSS (Version 20.0). Descriptive statistics were presented as frequencies, percentages and mean± S.D. Statistical differences between the stress status of case and control groups were conducted by Independent Sample T-test. Results: Majority (54.5%) of the hypertensive patients belonged to the age group of 56-65 years. The average Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) Scores of the case group were 26.68±6.03 and that of the control group were 10.43±6.57. The differences between the Average PSS scores of the case and control groups were found to be highly statistically significant (P-0.00). Conclusions: Hypertensive cases recruited for the study had moderate and high levels of stress when compared to the normotensive controls of the same age- group (25-65years). Key words: Hypertension; Normotension; Stress Status; Perceived Stress Scale.


2014 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 331-337 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle A. Dawson ◽  
Jennifer Jordan Hamson-Utley ◽  
Rodney Hansen ◽  
Michael Olpin

Context: Current holistic rehabilitation blends both physical and psychological techniques. However, validation of the usefulness of psychological strategies is limited in the literature. Objective: To quantify the effects of psychological strategies on both physiologic (salivary cortisol) and subjective assessments of stress. Design: Randomized controlled clinical trial. Setting: Laboratory. Patients or Other Participants: A total of 97 college-aged students (age = 20.65 ± 4.38 years), most with little to no experience with psychological strategies. Intervention(s): A 15-minute script via an iPod led the participant through visual imagery (cognitive relaxation) or deep breathing exercises (somatic relaxation) cues. The control group listened to 15 minutes of ambient nature sounds. Main Outcome Measure(s): Two samples (pretest, posttest) of salivary cortisol were analyzed using an enzyme immunoassay kit; the average was used for statistical analysis. Descriptive statistics and correlations were conducted to examine group differences in time of day, salivary cortisol, sex, Stress-O-Meter values, and Perceived Stress Scale scores. Results: Salivary cortisol levels were lower in the treatment group than the control group (F2,97 = 15.62, P &lt; .001). Females had higher scores on both the pretest Stress-O-Meter (5.15 ± 1.796) and the Perceived Stress Scale (18.31 ± 5.833) than males (4.25 ± 1.741 and 15.272 ± 5.390, respectively). Conclusions: Both cognitive and somatic relaxation strategies reduced cortisol levels. Participants who received verbal guidance achieved a larger cortisol reduction. However, the change in cortisol level was uncorrelated with the change in report of acute stress; females reported higher levels of stress. Clinical implications include attention to sex when assessing stress and providing coping skills during the rehabilitation process.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Hunting Pompon ◽  
Dagmar Amtmann ◽  
Charles Bombardier ◽  
Diane Kendall

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