The associations between workplace bullying and physical or psychological negative symptoms: Anxiety and depression as mediators

Workplace bullying is a critical issue for its negative consequences on victims’ health and well-being. This study aimed at examining the intermediate roles of anxiety and depression, in the relations between workplace bullying as a predictor, and physical and psychological negative symptoms as outcomes. In particular, it was hypothesized that workplace bullying would be associated with higher anxiety and depression and, through them, with higher physical and psychological negative symptoms. We sampled 151 Italian employees, who called on a workplace bullying public clinical center as victims and filled a paper-and-pencil questionnaire. Results of bootstrapped regressions showed that only anxiety mediated the association of workplace bullying with negative physical symptoms while both anxiety and depression mediated its association with negative psychological symptoms. The results have implications for the development of appropriate intervention strategies for both prevention and clinical treatment. In particular, timely diagnosing and treating anxiety and depression could prevent subsequent problems related to psychological and physical symptoms such as colitis, headache, tiredness, nervousness, etc. Organizational interventions in terms of primary prevention are also discussed. From an empirical standpoint, the study contributed to disentangling the differential roles of anxiety and depression with respect to physical and psychological symptoms; moreover, overcoming a common limit of workplace bullying research, the current study was carried out on actual victims.

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Toward a dynamic model of Gelotophobia: Social support, workplace bullying and stress are connected with diverging trajectories of life and job satisfaction among Gelotophobes

Current Psychology ◽

10.1007/s12144-020-01046-y ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Willibald Ruch ◽

Alexander G. Stahlmann

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Job Satisfaction ◽

Panel Data ◽

Work Stress ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Workplace Bullying ◽

Well Being ◽

Negative Consequences ◽

Dynamic Framework ◽

And Performance

Abstract Recent theoretical advances have grounded gelotophobia (Greek: gelos = laughter, phobos = fear) in a dynamic framework of causes, moderating factors, and consequences of the fear of being laughed at. This understanding corresponds to that of vulnerability and translates gelotophobia into a distinguishable pattern of lacking resources (i.e., misinterpretation of joy and laughter) that can result in negative consequences (e.g., reduced well-being and performance) if individuals have no access to further resources (e.g., social support) or are exposed to severe stressors (e.g., workplace bullying). Based on the panel data provided by the Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research LIVES (N = 2469 across six measurement intervals), this study takes the first step toward empirically testing this model’s assumptions: First, we computed exemplary zero-order correlations and showed that gelotophobia was negatively connected with social support (resource) and life and job satisfaction (consequences) and positively connected with perceived stress, work stress, and workplace bullying (stressors). Second, we used longitudinal cluster analyses (KmL; k-means-longitudinal) and showed that the panel data can be clustered into three stable patterns of life and job satisfaction and that gelotophobia is primarily related to the two clusters marked by lower levels of satisfaction. Third, we computed partial correlations and showed that social support, perceived stress, and work stress (but not workplace bullying) can weaken or completely resolve gelotophobia’s relationships with such diverging trajectories of life and job satisfaction. We concluded that seeing gelotophobia through the lens of vulnerability is useful and that such research warrants further attention using more dedicated, theoretically grounded projects.

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Cancer and Complementary Therapies: Current Trends in Survivors’ Interest and Use

Integrative Cancer Therapies ◽

10.1177/1534735418762496 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 17 (3) ◽

pp. 844-853 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Maryam Qureshi ◽

Erin Zelinski ◽

Linda E. Carlson

Keyword(s):

Perceived Stress ◽

Stress Reduction ◽

Complementary Therapies ◽

Well Being ◽

Physical Symptoms ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Efficacy Trials ◽

Current Trends ◽

Spiritual Well Being ◽

Relaxation Exercises

Background. Cancer survivors use complementary therapies (CTs) for a variety of reasons; however, with interest and use reportedly on the rise and a widening range of products and practices available, there is a need to establish trends in and drivers of interest. We aimed to determine (1) frequencies of use, level of interest, and barriers for 30 specific CTs and (2) whether physical symptoms, perceived stress (PS), or spiritual well-being were related to interest levels. Method. A total of 212 cancer outpatients were surveyed at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary, Canada. Results. Overall, up to 75% of survivors already used some form of CTs since their diagnosis. The most highly used were the following: vitamins B12 and D, multivitamins, calcium, and breathing and relaxation exercises. Those who had not used CTs indicated highest interest in massage, vitamin B12, breathing and relaxation, mindfulness-based stress reduction, and antioxidants. The most frequently reported barriers for all CTs were not knowing enough about what a therapy was and not having enough evidence on whether it worked. High PS predicted higher interest for all CTs, but spirituality was not significantly related to any. Physical symptoms, anxiety, and depression were significant predictors of interest for some CTs. Conclusion. These findings provide a blueprint for future clinical efficacy trials and highlight the need for clinical practice guidelines.

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Physical and Psychological Impact of the Phase One Lockdown for COVID-19 on Italians

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2020.563722 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Marco Tommasi ◽

Francesca Toro ◽

Simone Arnò ◽

Angelo Carrieri ◽

Marco Maria Conte ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Psychological Health ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

Well Being ◽

Physical Symptoms ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Psychological Conditions ◽

Natural Catastrophes ◽

Physical And Psychological Health ◽

At Home

The exceptional pandemic due to the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has obliged all Italians to stay at home. In the literature, there are evidences that traumatic global events, such as natural catastrophes and pandemic, have negative effects on the physical and psychological health of the population. We carried out a survey to analyze the physical and psychological conditions of Italians during the pandemic. Due to the severe limitations in moving during the phase one lockdown, the survey was administered by internet. Results show that Italians followed the provisions established by the Italian government to avoid contamination, but 43% of them declared to have suffered from physical symptoms, in particular migraine, sleep disorders, persistent exhaustion, and difficulty of concentration. They have great fear to be contaminated or that relatives or friends can be contaminated, and they actively take actions to avoid contamination. Participants declared that they had suffered a lot of inconveniences due to restrictions in their movements, and that their life habits were strongly changed. They spent their time at home in different activities, but their psychological well-being was strongly impaired by the lockdown. The level of anxiety tripled, in relation to the prepandemic period, and 30% of males and 41% of females declared to have severe levels of depression. Participants with high levels of optimism and hopefulness show a stronger resilience against anxiety and depression. In addition, there is a negative correlation between anxiety and depression and the five factors of personality. These results show that psychological diseases must not be neglected, and that people in lockdown do need support for their psychological health, also with the help of internet and communication technologies.

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Self-compassionate Aging: A Systematic Review

The Gerontologist ◽

10.1093/geront/gny108 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 59 (4) ◽

pp. e311-e324 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Lydia Brown ◽

Jeff C Huffman ◽

Christina Bryant

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Older Adults ◽

Psychological Symptoms ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Later Life ◽

Well Being ◽

Physical Symptoms ◽

Search Term ◽

Self Compassion ◽

The Impact

Abstract Abstract Background and Objectives There is considerable heterogeneity in experiences of aging, with some experiencing greater well-being and adapting more successfully to the challenges of aging than others. Self-compassion is a modifiable psychological skill that might help explain individual differences in well-being and adjustment in later life. The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature on self-compassion and well-being outcomes in studies of older adults aged 65 and older. Research Design and Methods This systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines, using databases PsycINFO, Medline, and Embase. The search term self-compassion was paired with terms relating to well-being, psychological symptoms, and adjustment. Meta-analysis was used to synthesize results on the relationship between self-compassion and four outcomes including depression, anxiety, hedonic well-being, and eudaimonic well-being. Results Eleven studies met inclusion criteria for this review. Meta-analysis revealed that self-compassion was associated with lower levels of depression (r = −.58, 95% CI [−.66, −.48]) and anxiety (r = −.36, 95% CI [−.60, −.07]), and higher levels of hedonic (r = .41, 95% CI [.15, .62]) and eudaimonic (r = .49, 95% CI [.41, .57]) well-being. Further, three studies found self-compassion weakened the impact of physical symptoms on well-being outcomes. Discussion and Implications We found preliminary evidence that self-compassion is associated with well-being outcomes in older adults, and that self-compassion may buffer the psychological sequelae of health symptoms in later life. Higher quality studies with uniform outcome measures are needed to replicate and extend these results.

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Quality of Life After Transhiatal Compared With Extended Transthoracic Resection for Adenocarcinoma of the Esophagus

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2004.11.102 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 22 (20) ◽

pp. 4202-4208 ◽

Cited By ~ 119

Author(s):

A.G.E.M. de Boer ◽

J.J.B. van Lanschot ◽

J.W. van Sandick ◽

J.B.F. Hulscher ◽

P.F.M. Stalmeier ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Psychological Symptoms ◽

Well Being ◽

Physical Symptoms ◽

Activity Level ◽

Gradual Improvement ◽

Global Quality ◽

Global Quality Of Life ◽

Generic Quality

PurposeTo assess 3 years of quality of life in patients with esophageal cancer in a randomized trial comparing limited transhiatal resection with extended transthoracic resection.Patients and MethodsQuality-of-life questionnaires were sent at baseline and at 5 weeks; 3, 6, 9, and 12 months; and 1.5, 2, 2.5, and 3 years after surgery. Physical and psychological symptoms, activity level, and global quality of life were assessed with the disease-specific Rotterdam Symptom Checklist. Generic quality of life was measured with the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-20.ResultsA total of 199 patients participated. Physical symptoms and activity level declined after the operation and gradually returned toward baseline within the first year (P < .01). Psychological well-being consistently improved after baseline (P < .01), whereas global quality of life showed a small initial decline followed by continuous gradual improvement (P < .01). Quality of life stabilized in the second and third year. Three months after the operation, patients in the transhiatal esophagectomy group (n = 96) reported fewer physical symptoms (P = .01) and better activity levels (P < .01) than patients in the transthoracic group (n = 103), but no differences were found at any other measurement point. For psychological symptoms and global quality of life, no differences were found at any follow-up measurement. A similar pattern was found for generic quality of life.ConclusionNo lasting differences in quality of life of patients who underwent either transhiatal or transthoracic resection were found. Compared with baseline, quality of life declined after the operation but was restored within a year in both groups.

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Effects of animal-assisted visits on quality of life during multi-modal radiation therapy: Chemotherapy regimens.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2013.31.15_suppl.e20607 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 31 (15_suppl) ◽

pp. e20607-e20607

Author(s):

Stewart Barry Fleishman ◽

Victoria Rosenwald ◽

Peter Homel

Keyword(s):

Radiation Therapy ◽

Psychological Symptoms ◽

Symptom Burden ◽

Well Being ◽

Physical Symptoms ◽

External Beam Radiation ◽

Beam Radiation ◽

Positive Attitudes ◽

Intent To Treat ◽

High Level

e20607 Background: Animal-assisted visits (AAV) are known to affect blood pressure, mood and anxiety, yet their effects in cancer remained unexamined. Methods: 42 subjects signed IRB-approved informed consent to have AAVs daily during multi-modal chemotherapy and radiation therapy for head & neck cancer. 37 subjects completed at least baseline assessment visits for an intent to treat analysis. Assessments included FACT-Head and Neck scale; Satisfaction with AAV Intervention (SAAVI) assessing bi-weekly motivation to attend appointments, tolerance of waits, ability to withstand treatment, lingering effect of AAV after treatment and perception of social support. Subject characteristics: 25 (68%) male, mean age 57 years (57.22 ±8.44); (57%) white, 8 (22%) Hispanic, 6 (16%) black and 2 (5%) Asian. Cancer sites: oropharynx 23 (62%), hypopharynx 4 (11%), esophagus 3 (8%), laryngopharynx 2 (5%) and nasal cavity 2 (5%). Stage: stage II: 1 (3%), III: 6 (16%), IV: 30 (81%). All subjects received concomitant external beam radiation therapy with periodic cis-platin (23 pts, 57%), weekly carboplatin (7 pts; 16%) or cetuximab (5; 11%). Results: Comparing baseline, week 3 and week 7 assessments, FACT Physical Well-being (PWB; p<0.001) and Functional Well-Being (FWB; (p=0.003) showed significant declines; in contrast, Social Well-Being (SWB; p = 0.03) showed significant gains. Controlling for declines in PWB, increases in EWB were also significant (p = 0.004). Satisfaction was measured after the first and last AAV. Mean scores for satisfaction related to psychological symptoms, generally liking animals/pets, and positive attitudes towards pets at both times were significantly better than “Neutral” or “Unsure” (all p < 0.001), and did not change from first to last AAV. Mean scores for physical symptoms were not significantly different from “Neutral.” Conclusions: FACT analysis showed significant increase in EWB in the face of clinically evident and expected declines in PWB and FWB in spite of high symptom burden. The SAAVI assessment further supports the utility of the AAV intervention. Though self-selected for an affinity to pets and animals, subjects endorsed a high level of satisfaction with the intervention.

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The Physical, Psychological, and Social Day-to-Day Experience of Women Living With Endometriosis Compared to Healthy Age-Matched Controls—A Mixed-Methods Study

Frontiers in Global Women's Health ◽

10.3389/fgwh.2021.767114 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 ◽

Author(s):

Elisabeth Olliges ◽

Alina Bobinger ◽

Annemarie Weber ◽

Verena Hoffmann ◽

Timo Schmitz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mixed Methods ◽

Everyday Life ◽

Short Form ◽

Well Being ◽

Physical Symptoms ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Starting Point ◽

Holistic Understanding ◽

Pain Ratings ◽

Mental Symptoms

Background: Endometriosis is characterized by lesions of endometrial tissue outside the uterus. Chronic pain is considered as main symptom, but challenges can relate to various physical, mental, and social aspects of the women's lives. The aim of our study was to gain a holistic understanding of the everyday reality of women with endometriosis compared to healthy controls.Methods: The total sample comprised 12 hormone-free endometriosis patients (EP) and 11 age-matched healthy women (HC). A mixed-methods design was used comprising semi-structured interviews, standardized questionnaires and a comprehensive diary to assess pain ratings and various mental and physical symptoms over the course of a menstrual cycle. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and evaluated according to phenomenological analysis using the MAXQDA software.Results: Interviews showed that living with endometriosis was associated with an impairment in everyday life. Physical strains, especially pain, high levels of psychological distress, and social limitations have been reported. Living with endometriosis affected the patients' personality and they “no longer felt like themselves.” Physical and psychological symptoms were reported to interfere with social interaction and participation. Evaluation of the standardized questionnaires revealed significant impairments in EP compared to HC in regard to anxiety and depression scores (both p < 0.001; Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), mental and physical quality of life (both p < 0.001; Short-Form Health Survey-12), stress ratings (p < 0.001; Patient Health Questionnaire-15) and functional well-being (p < 0.001; Functional Well-being-7). The highest levels of mean pelvic pain and dyschezia were observed in EP during menstruation, but mean pain ratings and dyschezia were increased in EPs compared to HP during the whole cycle. EP reported mental symptoms (e.g., depressed mood or anxiety) mainly during menstruation, while HC did not show any mental symptoms during the cycle. In addition, physical symptoms were elevated during the entire cycle in EPs (all p < 0.01).Discussion: The mixed-methods approach enabled to interpret the interviews, the standardized questionnaires, and the symptom diary in a broader context of everyday life. The symptoms do not appear to act independently, but rather influence each other. This leads to a complex interplay of physical, mental, and social impairments, with pain often being the starting point.

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How workplace bullying affects nurses’ well-being? The roles of burnout and passive avoidant leadership

International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare ◽

10.1108/ijhrh-05-2021-0113 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Talat Islam ◽

Muhammad Ali ◽

Saqib Jamil ◽

Hafiz Fawad Ali

Keyword(s):

Structural Equation ◽

Workplace Bullying ◽

Positive Association ◽

Well Being ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

Negative Consequences ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Content Type ◽

Passive Avoidant

Purpose This study aims to investigate individual-related consequences of workplace bullying among the health-care section. Specifically, this study examined the mediating role of burnout between workplace bullying and nurses’ well-being. Moreover, passive avoidant leadership is examined as a conditional variable between workplace bullying and burnout. Design/methodology/approach This study collected data from 314 nurses working in various hospitals through a questionnaire-based survey using Google Form in two waves. Findings Structural equation modeling confirmed the negative effect of workplace bullying on nurses’ well-being, whereas burnout mediates this relationship. In addition, passive avoidant leadership was identified as a conditional variable that strengthens the positive association between workplace bullying and burnout. Research limitations/implications Although data for the study were collected in two waves, still cross-sectional design limits causality. Practical implications This study suggests management to focus on developing and implementing counter-bullying rules to avoid the adverse consequences of workplace bullying (e.g. capital loss, recruitment costs, burnout, well-being, etc.). In addition, leaders/supervisors must be trained to fulfill their responsibilities to reduce negative consequences. Originality/value Studies on workplace bullying in high-power distance cultures are scant. Therefore, drawing upon conservation of resource theory, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that has investigated the moderating role of passive avoidant leadership on the association between workplace bullying and burnout.

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Canadian Adolescents’ Internalized Symptoms in Pandemic Times: Sex Differences and Association with Sociodemographic Characteristics, Confinement Habits, and Support

10.21203/rs.3.rs-93849/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Kristel Tardif-Grenier ◽

Isabelle Archambault ◽

Véronique Dupéré ◽

Amy Marks ◽

Elizabeth Olivier

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Sex Differences ◽

Sleep Duration ◽

Online Survey ◽

Physical Symptoms ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Sociodemographic Characteristics ◽

Negative Consequences ◽

Internalized Symptoms

Abstract Background Adolescents, especially girls, are more at risk of developing anxiety and depression symptoms and it can be assumed that the stress and social isolation experienced during confinement has had negative consequences on adolescents’ mental health. However, not all of them experienced confinement in the same way. This study is aimed at determining which sociodemographic characteristics (age, family composition, achievement), confinement habits (schedule, new hobby, sleep duration, cellphone and computer use, sports, schoolwork), and sources of support (parents and teachers) are associated with more or less internalized symptoms (anxiety and depression) in Canadian adolescents. Given the increased vulnerability of girls, the results take gender into account. Methods Between April 8 and 30 (2020) and through an online survey, 895 Canadian adolescents (74% girls) aged between 12 and 17 years (M = 14.73) were recruited. Path analysis was performed to identify significant associations between sociodemographic characteristics, confinement habits, and support variables with internalized symptoms. Independent samples t-tests and invariance tests were conducted to compare boys and girls. Data was analyzed with Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 27 and Mplus8. Results Certain confinement habits (time spent using cellphones, doing sports and schoolwork, finding a new hobby) and support (parents working outside the home) variables were significantly and negatively associated with anxiety and/or depressive symptoms. Regarding the sex differences, girls had higher levels of anxiety and depression symptoms, used their cellphones more, while boys used their computers more. Only the association between sleep duration and physical symptoms of anxiety significantly differed between boys and girls. However, it was not significant for both groups. Conclusions The results of this study help to better understand the experience of adolescents in confinement and how it is different for boys and girls. It sheds light on the characteristics and habits likely to characterize those who are more at risk of experiencing distress and thus make it possible to better support adolescents during this difficult period.

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sLORETA neurofeedback in fibromyalgia

Neuroscience Research Notes ◽

10.31117/neuroscirn.v3i1.40 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Ruben Pérez-Elvira ◽

Ana Jiménez Gómez

Keyword(s):

Clinical Improvement ◽

Cognitive Deficits ◽

Physical State ◽

Psychological Symptoms ◽

Physical Symptoms ◽

Experimental Subject ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Pharmacological Treatments ◽

Psychometric Scales ◽

Positive Results

Fibromyalgia is a chronic and incapacitating condition that produces, as main symptoms, pain, and stiffness. In addition to these physical symptoms, it is also accompanied by psychological symptoms such as cognitive deficits, anxiety, and depression. One of the non-pharmacological treatments that have been used in this pathology in recent years is neurofeedback. In this study, we analyze the efficacy of sLORETA Neurofeedback in the case of fibromyalgia. The experimental subject was a 37-year-old patient. Quantified electroencephalography studies were applied on three occasions, one initial, another after fifteen days of waiting list, and another after treatment. Psychometric scales were also applied at the same time to evaluate the patient's psychological and physical state. The treatment consisted of 5 sessions of Neurofeedback LORETA in Brodmann area 2. After the treatment, a neurometric, psychometric, and clinical improvement were found. The improvement of the patient after 5 sessions is relevant since previous studies using neurofeedback in fibromyalgia, despite finding positive results, needed a higher number of sessions to achieve relevant results. Therefore, the intervention with neurofeedback LORETA in fibromyalgia patients could be an alternative or complement to current treatments.

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