The Impact of Social Support on Loneliness and Worry Among University Freshmen in Sagaing District, Myanmar

The impact of social support buffers most of the psychological problems such as loneliness and worry in the transition period for university freshmen. This loneliness and worry can lead to many freshmen suffering in less confidence and difficulties in interactions as a university student. The greater perceiving social support can alleviate loneliness and worry. The main aim of this study is to investigate the impact of social support on loneliness and worry among university freshmen. In this study, a quantitative approach was used. The sample was composed of 500 freshmen from four universities, Sagaing Technological University, Sagaing University of Education, Co-operative University (Sagaing) and Sagaing University. Social support perceived by university freshmen was measured by using Interpersonal Support Evaluation List (ISEL) including four subscales that are appraisal support, tangible support, self-esteem support and belonging support which consisted of 40 items. The Loneliness of freshmen was examined by using the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale (RULS) consisted of 20 items. Freshmen’s worry was explored by using the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) which comprised of 16 items. According to descriptive statistics, all universities in the selected district gave the equal social supports to freshmen but freshmen felt that they perceived the appraisal support than other supports. The results of independent sample t-test showed that there were significant differences in social support, loneliness and worry by gender. Furthermore, the result of ANOVA showed that there were significant differences in loneliness and worry by universities. The result of correlation analyses described that there was significant interrelationship among social support, loneliness and worry. The results of this study highlighted that types of social support can impact on loneliness and worry of freshmen effectively. That is the main reason why social support should be provided as one of the effective ways to ease loneliness and worry for freshmen.

Download Full-text

The Impacts of Propensity to Worry and Fear of COVID-19 on Mental Health of University Students

International Journal of Psychology and Educational Studies ◽

10.52380/ijpes.2021.8.4.591 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 57-66

Author(s):

Hacer BELEN

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

University Students ◽

Emotional Stability ◽

Anxiety Symptoms ◽

Health Issues ◽

Penn State Worry Questionnaire ◽

Penn State ◽

State Worry ◽

The Impact ◽

The Relationship

Epidemics and pandemics are difficult periods for the affected community, specifically in the proliferation of mental health issues. In such adverse times, factors of psychological vulnerability such as propensity to worry and low emotional stability might have a detrimental effect on the mental health of the individuals. To investigate the impact of such factors on mental health, this study examined the impacts of propensity to worry and fear of COVID-19 on anxiety depending on the individuals’ levels of emotional stability. As a means of such investigation, this study was conducted based on quantitative data, and the research sample was selected using a convenient sampling method. Participants included 304 university students (71.6% were women and 28.4% were men; MAge = 22.37 ± 3.04) and responded to the Penn State Worry Questionnaire, Fear of COVID-19 Scale, Symptom Checklist-90 Revised, and 10-Item Personality Inventory. The moderated mediation analysis using PROCESS macro (Model 14) was performed to examine the study hypotheses. Results revealed that propensity to worry was associated with anxiety symptoms. Fear of COVID-19 mediated this link and emotional stability moderated the relationship between propensity to worry and anxiety. The findings showed that trait worry, trait emotional stability, and fear of COVID-19 are determinants of anxiety symptoms, suggesting that such factors are important in understanding these issues.

Download Full-text

Care Recipient Diagnosis Moderates the Relationship Between Caregiver Worry and Vigilance

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.3466 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 971-971

Author(s):

Katherine Craig ◽

Shirit Kamil-Rosenberg ◽

J Kaci Fairchild

Keyword(s):

Care Recipient ◽

Similar Relationship ◽

Care Recipients ◽

Penn State Worry Questionnaire ◽

People With Dementia ◽

Penn State ◽

State Worry ◽

The Impact ◽

The Relationship ◽

Linear Regressions

Abstract Family members of persons diagnosed with dementia or a traumatic brain injury (TBI) are often relied upon to provide daily support to their care recipients. However, research on the differing experiences of caregivers based on care recipient diagnosis is limited. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of worry and feelings of vigilance among caregivers of people with cognitive impairment due to either TBI or dementia. This sample included 61 caregivers (88.5% female, mean age 57.3±15.5) of persons with either a TBI (n = 32) or dementia (n = 29). Worry was assessed with the Penn State Worry Questionnaire and Vigilance was assessed with the Caregiver Vigilance Scale. Linear regressions revealed that after controlling for age, care recipient diagnosis moderated the relationship between worry and caregiver vigilance. Specifically, worry was significantly associated with caregiver vigilance in those caring for someone with dementia; however, a similar relationship was not seen in those caring for someone with a TBI. This suggests caregivers of people with TBIs have a different experience of worry and vigilance than caregivers of people with dementia. These findings demonstrate the need for more research on the unique needs of caregivers of people with TBIs. Additionally, this research suggests interventions targeting worry may be particularly effective in supporting caregivers of people with TBIs.

Download Full-text

Worries and concerns of patients with multiple sclerosis: development of an assessment scale

Multiple Sclerosis Journal ◽

10.1191/135248506ms1273oa ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 196-203 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

E W Thornton ◽

S Tedman ◽

S Rigby ◽

H Bashforth ◽

C Young

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Family Relationships ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Penn State Worry Questionnaire ◽

Penn State ◽

State Worry ◽

The Uk ◽

The Impact

This study examined the nature of worry in adult patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) in the UK. A measure of worry in MS was developed and the relationship between worry and standard scale measures of anxiety and depression was examined. Thirty-nine patients with MS and 40 controls completed the new worry scale (WQMS) that was psychometrically evaluated, together with the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) and a previously developed scale to assess self-efficacy in MS (SESMS). The scores for both anxiety ( t=2.34; p<0.05) and depression ( t=5.52; p<0.01) were higher in MS patients than controls, as was the new scale for worry - the WQMS. A factor analysis (explaining 65.73% of the variance) suggests that the worries of patients may be dichotomized into those concerned with the physical effects of the disease and those relating to the impact on social interaction, family relationships and daily activity in the home and/or work. Worry in patients with MS was associated with a decreased sense of being able to produce positive activities or effect positive outcomes (low self-efficacy). The questionnaire provides a framework for investigation in clinic of specific concerns and level of worry they engender.

Download Full-text

Examining social support and its relation to worry in Malaysia

Journal of Pacific Rim Psychology ◽

10.1017/prp.2019.18 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 13 ◽

Author(s):

Aneesa Binti Ahmad Saifuddin ◽

Cai Lian Tam ◽

Peng Chong Lim ◽

Gregory Bonn

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Sense Of Belonging ◽

Perceived Social Support ◽

Secure Base ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Penn State Worry Questionnaire ◽

Penn State ◽

Pathological Worry ◽

State Worry

Abstract This study examined the role of social support in managing worry among a sample of Malaysian adults. An online questionnaire was completed by 136 participants (age M = 34, SD = 7.65; 71% female, 29% male). Each wrote open-ended, essay-type descriptions of their experiences with social support in relation to worry, as well as completing measures of pathological worry (Penn State Worry Questionnaire), normal worry (Worry Domains Questionnaire), and perceived social support (Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support). Results indicated that young adults experienced a higher degree of normal worry compared to older adults, but pathological worry was not significantly different between the two groups. No significant differences in worry were found in relation to gender, ethnicity or marital status. Perceived social support was negatively related to levels of both normal and pathological worry. Qualitative analyses pointed towards four important roles for social support: providing a sense of belonging and security, providing emotional relief or catharsis, helping to reappraise situations, and facilitating problem-solving and decision-making. The role of social support as a secure base that facilitates emotion management and helps to ground thinking is discussed.

Download Full-text

Normative data for the Dutch version of the Penn State Worry Questionnaire

Netherlands journal of psychology ◽

10.1007/bf03080129 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 65 (2) ◽

pp. 69-75 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Colin van der Heiden ◽

Peter Muris ◽

Arjan E. R. Bos ◽

Henk van der Molen ◽

Martijn Oostra

Keyword(s):

Normative Data ◽

Dutch Version ◽

Penn State Worry Questionnaire ◽

Penn State ◽

State Worry

Download Full-text

Penn State Worry Questionnaire in emotional disorders: validation and normative data for Portuguese population

British Journal of Guidance and Counselling ◽

10.1080/03069885.2021.1897969 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-11

Author(s):

João Tiago Oliveira ◽

Divo Faustino ◽

Fátima Freitas ◽

Miguel M. Gonçalves ◽

Eugénia Ribeiro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Emotional Disorders ◽

Normative Data ◽

Portuguese Population ◽

Penn State Worry Questionnaire ◽

Penn State ◽

State Worry

Download Full-text

Worry and perceived risk of contagion during the COVID-19 quarantine in the Jalisco population: Preliminary Study

Salud Mental ◽

10.17711/sm.0185-3325.2020.035 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 43 (6) ◽

pp. 253-261

Author(s):

Jesua Iván Guzmán-González ◽

Franco Giordano Sánchez-García ◽

Saúl Ramírez-de los Santos ◽

Francisco Gutiérrez-Rodríguez ◽

David Palomino-Esparza ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Perceived Risk ◽

Preventive Measures ◽

Indirect Measure ◽

Health Crisis ◽

Penn State Worry Questionnaire ◽

Study Results ◽

Penn State ◽

The Face ◽

State Worry

Introduction. Preventive measures taken during periods of health crisis, specifically in pandemics, have consistently been associated with detrimental effects on mental health. Isolation and loneliness are indirect effects of these preventive measures. Given these premises, monitoring the behavior of the population in the face of these eventualities becomes important. Worry as an indirect measure of anxiety and stress enables one to recognize subjects who are vulnerable to phenomena of high uncertainty, since measures taken to avoid excessive contagion can have high costs for this population. This phenomenon has been consistently observed in other pandemics such as H1/N1 influenza. Objective. To determine the prevalence of worry and perceived risk of contagion in the Guadalajara population during the COVID-19 quarantine and to identify differentiating effects. Method. A total of 255 people from western Mexico (Guadalajara, Jalisco) voluntarily participated by answering the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) adapted to Mexican population. The average age of the respondents, aged between 18 and 70 years, was 31.71 (± 5.19). A total of 170 women and 85 men participated in the study. Results. 40.12% of the population scored high levels of worry, making them vulnerable to mental health conditions. Subjects favored the prevention of a contagion regardless of whether they were self-isolated. The only variable that had a differential effect was sex (p < .05), and there were no differences in educational attainment, occupational demandingness, and isolation between the groups. Discussion and conclusion. A preventive attitude was observed among the participants, and so it is important to implement strategies that will prevent mental health costs in those who express excessive worry to avoid saturating mental health services.

Download Full-text