Perceived Stress and Coping Strategies of Healthcare Workers in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic

In 2020, the world faced the COVID-19 pandemic. Medical workers who are fighting for the lives and health of patients in the "red zones" were on the front line in this struggle. The huge level of responsibility, the increasing duration of shifts, difficult working conditions, fears for their health and the health of their loved ones, and many other factors determined the fact that doctors themselves began to need support for their physical and psychological well-being. The purpose of our work was to study the level of perceived stress in the context of the features of coping strategies in medical professionals with different practical experience (students, practicing doctors) in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. The total number of study participants was 59 people, including 35 experienced medical workers aged 33 to 72 years (M=47,88; SD=9,44) and 24 medical students aged 20 to 29 years (M=24,16; SD=3,21) without professional experience, but who voluntarily went to work in the "red zones" during the pandemic. As a result of the study, data were obtained on high levels of perceived stress and overstrain by medical professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic, which is especially pronounced in students. The differences between experienced doctors and medical students were revealed according to the criterion of their preference for certain coping strategies, namely, the predominance of "Escape–avoidance" coping among students. The connection of dominant coping behavior strategies with the level of perceived stress is also established: students who resort to confrontational coping experience a higher level of perceived stress, and a decrease in their level of overexertion is associated with a greater degree of self-control strategy. Experienced doctors do not have both of these connections.

Receptive Language in Primary-School-Aged Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The objective of the present study is to investigate the relationship between the receptive language, and the index of non-verbal intelligence and the level of severity of autistic disorders in primary-school-aged children with Autism spectrum disorder. One of the main areas influenced by autistic disorders is communication. Therefore, the study of the language abilities of such children and factors that affect them provides a better approach to the therapy and education. The sample included 50 children aged 7–11 years diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders. Children were tested using the KORABLIK method (basic linguistic skills), the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (KABC-II) or the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children ― Third Edition (WISC-III) (non-verbal intelligence), the Autism Diagnosis Observation Schedule ― Second Edition (ADOS-II) (autistic traits). The results support the hypothesis of the relationship between receptive language skills, the index of non-verbal intelligence, and symptoms of autism. The severity of autistic traits is negatively associated with some phonological and lexical levels of the receptive speech, as well as with understanding of discourse. The non-verbal intelligence index is positively associated with speech comprehension at all levels. A specific feature of receptive language in children with Autism spectrum disorder aged 7–11 years is the uneven development, which is associated with the severity of autistic traits and is not associated with the intelligence level.

The Phenomenon of Anti-Doping Policy Legitimacy in the Social Psychology of Sports

Anti-doping represents a global system where an athlete is in the center of a control and regulations. The perception of legitimacy is important for compliance with rules and regulation within the anti-doping system. However, the concept of legitimacy in anti-doping is not sufficiently defined, which makes it difficult to develop psychodiagnostic tools for its assessment within the framework of relevant psychological theories. The aim of this study is to review psychological literature on legitimacy perception and identify a framework within which legitimacy can be studied in anti-doping area. Reviewed data were structured by three categories of legitimacy: “proper”, “just” and “appropriate” and a respective matrix for a focus group interview had been developed. Four focus-group interviews had been conducted among Russian competitive athletes (N=22). The focus-group interviews revealed three main themes: trust to anti-doping organizations, equal and transparent anti-doping rules and possibility for athletes to influence anti-doping policy. Legitimacy of anti-doping is an important psychological construct that may be operationalized through the perception that anti-doping is functioning proper, just and appropriate. In addition, athletes voiced their concerns on the transparent and equal implementation of the anti-doping rules and possibility to influence anti-doping policy.

Tutor Support of Learners with Special Educational Needs in Conditions of Inclusive Education

Authors of the study analyze key characteristics of tutor support for students with special educational needs in the context of inclusive education. An activity model of tutor support based on the analysis of foreign and domestic research is proposed. The main goal of presented model is to create conditions for the development of active position of the individual. Individual cases of tutor support for students with autism spectrum disorders and behavioral and mental characteristics that determine various difficulties of their inclusion in the educational process are considered in the article. Due to the mentioned aspects, the problem of tutor support is actualized. Case analysis shows the relevance of a tutor's work within the framework of an activity-based approach to provide conditions for the development of a conscious involvement of students in the educational process as well as the development of an active position. Present situation requires additional research.

The Indicators of Psychological Adaptation in Patients with Cardiovascular Pathology Against the Background of Connective Tissue Dysplasia

The article presents the results of a study of psychological adaptation in patients with cardiac pathology against the background of connective tissue dysplasia, conducted at the Regional Clinical Center for Specialized Types of Medical Care in Vladivostok. It was hypothesized that patients with concomitant connective tissue dysplasia will have lower adaptive capacity than patients without this syndrome. The study involved 32 girls 16–18 years old (M=16.72; SD=0.41) with cardiovascular pathology on the background of connective tissue dysplasia and 32 girls of the same age (M=16.78; SD=0.40) with cardiovascular disease without connective tissue dysplasia. To assess the severity of adaptive capabilities, the following methods were used: the Questionnaire of socio-psychological adaptation (A.K. Osnitsky, 2004), the Multi-level Personality Questionnaire "Adaptability" developed by А.G. Maklakov and S.V. Chermyanin, the Communicative Tolerance Questionnaire (V.V. Boyko), K. Ryff's scale of Psychological Well-being adapted by N.N. Lepeshinsky, the Oxford Happiness Inventory adapted by A. Lisitsina (2003). The significant intergroup differences (p<0.05) were revealed in terms of neuropsychic and emotional stability, working capacity, self-esteem, need for communication, behavioral features, experiences of psychological well-being, feelings of happiness, socialization and adaptation, motivation for activity, tolerance to adverse factors environment, as well as indicators of the communicative capabilities of the individual. The results obtained indicate reduced indicators of psychological adaptation in adolescent patients with cardiac pathology against the background of connective tissue dysplasia. These results can be used in the development of individual psychocorrectional programs to improve the social adaptation of girls with connective tissue dysplasia syndrome.

Competency-Based Approach in Early Interventions Aimed to Children and Families

The article outlines the theoretical basis of the competence approach in early intervention aimed to children and their families, developed by the author. The concept, structural and functional aspects of competence are considered from the perspective of the theory of procedural analysis. Seven levels of competence development are identified: situational interest, pre-competence, minimal, initial, extended, adaptive and advanced competence. The main types of competencies in young children have been determined, including individually oriented, socially oriented, executive, universal and complex ones. A description of the properties of competencies is shown, including spontaneous activation, associated positive affect, openness and flexibility, the tendency towards explicitness, the ability to combine with other competencies. The following principles of the development of competencies were revealed: naturalness, involvement, autonomy, explicitness, balance, complexity and de-contextualization. The application of the approach is illustrated by 2 cases. The possibilities and limitations of the approaches are being discussed.

Features of the Interaction of Cognitive Functions with the Work of the Magnocellular and Parvocellular Systems in Patients with Schizophrenia and Endogenous Depression.

The article presents a study devoted to the study of cognitive dysfunctions in patients with schizophrenia and endogenous depression in their relationship with the functioning of the magnocellular and parvocellular systems. Mismatch in the work of neural systems leads to violations of the integrity of visual perception and to a violation of the selectivity of thinking in endogenous patients, which makes it difficult to assess and select meaningful, essential information in the formation of judgments. 60 patients with schizophrenia (43 (75%) male and 17 (25%) female; mean age ― 34.0±12.0 years) and 25 patients with endogenous depression (11 (44%) male and 14 (56%) female, mean age ― 38.0±13.6 years) with the use of psychophysiological (the method of visocontrastometry with an assessment of the contrast sensitivity of the visual system, the method of assessing the noise immunity of the visual system) and experimental psychological methods (Trial-Making test by Reitan, Memorizing 10 words, Poppelreiter's figures, Incomplete images, Excluding the 4th superfluous). The established features of cognitive dysfunctions in endogenous depression and schizophrenia are associated with the features of the functional state of the magnocellular and parvocellular neuronal systems and the nature of the interaction of these systems. The specificity of impairments in cognitive functions in patients with endogenous depression is due to changes in the dynamic component of cognitive activity, while the specificity of impairments in cognitive functions in patients with schizophrenia is associated with changes in the selectivity of information and early sensory defects. The data obtained make it possible to develop an idea of the profiles of sensory-cognitive impairments in endogenous depression and schizophrenia, which is of particular importance for differential diagnosis.

Emotion Dysregulation and Body Dissatisfaction in Female Population

The study investigated the relations between body dissatisfaction and emotional dysregulation. This is the first research focusing on the mediating effect of emotional dysregulation on the relationship between negative affect and body dissatisfaction in a Russian female population. It is particularly relevant given that both emotional dysregulation and body dissatisfaction may lead to the emergence of psychopathological symptoms (e.g., depression, self-injurious behavior, and eating disorders). 778 girls and women aged 14–40 years (M=19,8; SE=3,31) participated in the study. The following measures were used: Body Image Questionnaire (Skugarevsky, 2006), Emotional Dysregulation Questionnaire (Polskaya, Razvaliaeva, 2017), Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (Gross, John, 2003; Russian version by Pankratova, Kornienko, 2017) and Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (Watson et al., 1988; Russian version by Osin, 2012). High level of body dissatisfaction was significantly associated with high scores of rumination, avoidance and difficulties in mentalizing from the Emotional Dysregulation Questionnaire, high level of negative affect and low level of positive affect. Respondents with high body dissatisfaction also preferred expressive suppression to cognitive reappraisal for emotion regulation. Regression analysis showed that negative affect (b=0,20; p<0,001) and emotion dysregulation scales — rumination (b=0,66; p<0,001), avoidance (b=0,69; p<0,001) and difficulties in mentalizing (b=0,33; p<0,001) — significantly predicted body dissatisfaction (F(4, 773)=130,8, p<0,001; R2=0,405; R2adj=0,402). Emotion dysregulation scales mediated the effect of negative affect on body dissatisfaction.

Unembodiment in the Internet. Part 2. Psychometric Verification of the Questionnaire

The purpose of present study is to develop and verify the questionnaire aimed at assessing the degree of unembodiment in the Internet as a consequence of using modern information technologies. The use of modern information technologies is associated with disembodiment, liberation of the Self from the body and related experiences. Immersion in virtual reality and “disembodiment” can cause the existential position of “unembodiement”, the features of which, according to the concept of the English psychologist R. Lang, are most clearly manifested in the clinic of schizoids. The study was conducted in the form of a psychodiagnostic survey, during which the reliability and validity of the developed method for assessing unembodiement on the Internet was tested. The main sample of the study was 809 people (31% of males), mostly university students, aged 17 to 25 years (M=18.73; SD=0.98). Smaller samples were used to study convergent and discriminant validity: 423, 324, 148 and 128 people. Correlations with measures of psychological consequences of Internet use, self-efficacy and life-meaning orientations reported convergent validity, and correlations with measures of intelligence and creativity reported discriminant validity. The results of principal component analysis and confirmatory factor analysis (CFI=0.936, TLI=0.925, RMSEA=0.055, SRMR=0.059) confirm the construct validity of the method, which includes three subscales (Unembodiment as Virtualization, The Preference of the Internet, and Vitality of the Embodied Self) and a general scale (Unembodiment in the Internet). The one-step reliability of the scales varied from 0.7 to 0.9. The scales Vitality of the Embodied Self and The Preference of the Internet had a high level of discrimination, the scale Unembodiment as virtualization ― moderate. The developed questionnaire meets the requirements of validity and reliability and can be used to study the phenomenon of unembodiment on the Internet.

Coping Strategies and Coping Styles of Adolescents with Congenital and Acquired Disabilities (Cerebral Palsy, Oncology or Rheumatic Diseases Diagnosis)

The study aims to compare adolescents coping strategies and coping styles depending on their gender and health status. Sample was subdivided into 3 groups: 1) healthy, 2) adolescents with cerebral palsy (congenital disability), 3) adolescents with oncology and rheumatic diseases (acquired disability). The sample size is 244 adolescents from 13 to 18 years old. 86 healthy subjects (37 boys and 24 girls, M=15.03+1.39 y.o.), 61 with oncology of the brain and spinal cord (46 boys and 40 girls, M=14.96+1.52 y.o.), 46 with rheumatic diseases (17 boys and 29 girls, M=14.70+1.50 y.o.), and 51 with cerebral palsy (28 boys and 23 girls, M=15.30+1.17 y.o.). The R. Carver' COPE questionnaire, adapted by Ye.I. Rasskazova, T.O. Gordeyeva, Ye.N. Osin was used. It is found that adolescents with acquired disabilities use coping strategies similar to healthy peers, in contrast to adolescents with cerebral palsy, whose coping strategies are diverse. Adolescents in two clinical groups are more likely seeking support in religion than healthy ones, which reduces the stress impact by disability. Cognitively oriented coping styles is higher among healthy sample, emotionally oriented ones among adolescents with acquired disabilities, and dysfunctional ones among adolescents with cerebral palsy. Different trends in the intensity of coping strategies in clinical and healthy groups depending on gender are revealed.