Physiological and Psychological Responses to Coding Combined with Horticultural Activity

This study was conducted to determine the physiological and psychological benefits of integrating software coding and horticultural activity. Participants included 30 adults in their 20s. The subjects randomly engaged in activities—namely, connecting Arduino components, coding, planting, and a combined coding and horticultural activities. During the activity, two subjective evaluations were conducted at the end of each activity, and participants’ brain waves were measured. The spectral edge frequency 50% of alpha spectrum band (ASEF50) and ratio of sensorimotor rhythm from mid beta to theta (RSMT) were activated in the prefrontal lobe as participants performed combined coding and horticultural activities. When performing these combined activities, relative beta (RB) increased, and relative theta (RT) decreased in the prefrontal lobe. In addition, ASEF50, relative low beta (RLB), and relative mid beta (RMB) were activated during plant-based activities (planting and a combined coding and horticultural activities). The subjective evaluations revealed that the plant-based activities had a positive effect on participants’ emotions. This study shows that activities combining coding and horticulture had a positive impact on physiological relaxation and increased concentration in adults compared with other activities and was also linked with positive subjectively reported emotions.

The Psychological and Behavioral Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Ways to Cope With Them

The COVID-19 pandemic and the life after the outbreak introduced numerous changes and uncertainties that led to elevated stress levels in the societies and caused the emergence of various psychological responses for people of all ages to deal with this unprecedented transformation. Throughout this period, the children and adolescents were mostly influenced by being away from school and their peers while the adults had to struggle with the economic crisis and the increased workload both at home and at work. The older adults, on the other hand, had to contend with loneliness, feeling useless, and ageism. In this chapter, considering different age groups, how people are affected by the pandemic-related changes and their common psychological and behavioral responses and coping strategies will be presented. Some recommendations and common solutions to adapt to the “new normal” brought by the pandemic will be also emphasized separately for each age group.

Portrait of liberal chaos: RT’s antagonistic strategic narration about the Netherlands

Hostile political actors can use antagonistic strategic narration as a means of marring the image of targeted states in the international arena. The current article presents a content analysis of narratives about the Netherlands that were published by Russian state-sponsored media outlet RT between 2018 and 2020, capturing a period of heightened tension between the states. The authors distil and describe six overarching narratives used to portray the Netherlands as a state of liberal chaos. They analyse them using a framework of strategies underpinning Russian state-sponsored media’s narration, and interpret their strategic functions within the context of recent Dutch–Russian relations. Finally, they provide directions for future research, such as expanding on nuances within Russian media’s negative portrayals of different states or exploring the possible psychological responses this narration may elicit in the Dutch domestic audience.

Medical students’ psychological and behavioral responses to the COVID-19 pandemic: A descriptive phenomenological study

On February 19, 2020, the Iranian government officially confirmed the first deaths due to COVID-19 and within a week, all universities were closed. The purpose of this study is to explore Iranian medical students' psychological and behavioral responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. This descriptive phenomenological study was conducted on 52 medical students. Data were collected using a purposive sampling method by means of synchronous virtual focus group discussions which were conducted using the WhatsApp messaging application. Data were analyzed using the MAXQDA software version 2020. Data analysis resulted in the emergence of three categories consisting of psychological responses to the pandemic and the behavioral and psychological responses to the quarantine. Most of the extracted themes are related to students’ psychological reactions to the pandemic. During the quarantine period, students suffered from uncertainty, experienced boredom, worried about delay in their graduation, and were concerned about losing employment opportunities. Medical students must be prepared for crisis situations like the present pandemic. We recommend that online courses and training programs be developed with the aim of offsetting the negative effects of university closure on students’ education and skill training.

Perceptions of Family Caregivers of People With Dementia Regarding Symptom Management and the COVID-19 Pandemic

Nearly 98% of older adults with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) experience behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). Although BPSD are linked to caregiver burden, perceptions of family caregivers on the impact of BPSD and their experiences addressing them in the home are unclear, and little is known about the impact of the pandemic on these experiences. Study aims were to explore: 1) the experiences of family caregivers of community dwelling older adults with ADRD regarding BPSD and how they manage BPSD in the home, and 2) how the pandemic impacted family caregivers’ experiences, BPSD of their relatives, and BPSD management. A qualitative, exploratory approach was used; 21 family caregivers were interviewed virtually. Content analysis and constant comparative methods were used. Ten major themes emerged: 1) Emotional and psychological responses of caregiver, 2) Loss, 3) Anticipation, 4) Reliance, 5) Learning to caregive, 6) Rewarding, 7) Emotional and psychological responses of care recipient 8) Cognition of care recipient, 9) Care strategies, 10) Caregiver perspectives. Caregivers did not use terms “behaviors” or “symptoms”, instead they described their relatives’ and their own experiences interdependently. Caregiving challenges presented before the pandemic (e.g. equivocal effects of medications, increasing care demands), many of which were compounded by the pandemic. Future research should explore the experiences of caregivers from a range of backgrounds. Findings illustrate communication barriers exist between clinicians, community services, people with ADRD and their families which may be addressed through clinician education, family-centered care planning, and policies to expand support service access.

Analysis of Psychological Impact on Diabetes Patients in The Era of Pandemic Covid-19: A Literature Review

Introduction: Diabetics have several psychological problems associated with diabetes and its complications, which could be exacerbated during the Covid-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study is to analyze the types of psychological responses, efforts to prevent and overcome psychological impacts, and the results of efforts to deal with the psychological impacts experienced by diabetes in the Covid-19 pandemic era based on empirical studies in the last two years.Method: Journal search using a database Scopus, Science Direct. Proquest, and PubMed. The framework used to review is PICOS with inclusion criteria, namely English-language journals from 2019 to 2020. The study is divided into three major themes.Results: Of the ten studies that met the inclusion criteria, it was found that the types of psychological responses experienced by people with diabetes during the Covid-19 pandemic were stress, depression, and anxiety. Efforts to deal with psychological problems include telepsychiatry, telemedicine, telehealth, teleconsultation, self-care, and social support. The results obtained were in the form of low satisfaction levels, lifestyle changes, an increase in glycemic control, low anxiety levels, and high optimism with the Covid-19 situation, and a minimal impact on the psychological status of people with diabetes.Conclusion: It is important to pay attention to the psychological health of diabetics during the Covid-19 pandemic, and serious resources, planning, and action are needed to tackle this problem.