Search Results (783)

Background/Objectives: University students commonly experience psychological distress driven by academic demands, social transitions, and financial pressures. Mindfulness-based interventions have emerged as scalable approaches to improve mental health. However, evidence comparing their effectiveness across delivery formats remains limited. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions in reducing stress, anxiety, and depression and to compare outcomes across in-person, digital, and hybrid modalities. Methods: This review followed PRISMA 2020 guidelines and included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between January 2020 and December 2025 on mindfulness-based interventions among university students aged 18 years and older. Intervention duration ranged from 3 days to 12 weeks, with most lasting 4 to 8 weeks, and outcomes included validated measures of stress, anxiety, or depression. Literature research was conducted in PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Scopus, and Web of Science, and two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed methodological quality using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist. Results: A total of 24 RCTs were included, with the highest representation from the United States and China (n = 4 each), followed by the United Kingdom and Canada. Mindfulness-based interventions demonstrated consistent reductions in depression and generally positive effects on anxiety, while effects on stress were more variable. Digital interventions demonstrated effectiveness comparable to in-person programs, though outcomes varied by intervention structure and level of guidance. Conclusions: Mindfulness-based interventions are effective in improving mental health among university students, particularly for depression and anxiety. Multi-week programs and guided digital delivery appear to enhance effectiveness and scalability. Full article

Background: The rapid use of social media (SM) has become a central part of university students’ everyday habits. However, its extensive SM surfing, frequently conceptualized as Social Media Addiction (SMA), is accountable for growing worries about the potential relationship with mental health symptoms (MHS). This research paper aimed to explore the interrelationships between SMA and MHS in the Saudi Arabia (SA) context. The paper explored the role of study discipline as a moderator. Methods: Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) technique was used to analyze a set of data collected from 600 university students in SA. Results: The PLS-SEM results showed that Time Management & Performance (TM&P) and Social Comfort (SC) were significantly and positively correlated with stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms among SA university students. TM&P exhibited the strongest association with distress symptoms, while SC also displayed significant positive associations with all mental health symptoms. In contrast, Withdrawal & Health Problems (W&HP) demonstrated weak, negative and significant correlations with stress and anxiety and a non-significant correlation with depression, indicating that different aspects of SMA might be associated with mental health outcomes differently. Moreover, study discipline can significantly moderate several relationships between SMA dimensions and mental health outcomes, signalling that the psychological associations of compulsive social media use vary across disciplinary settings. Conclusion: This research contributes to the growing body of knowledge on the association between digital addiction and psychological well-being and provides a culturally grounded perspective from the Saudi Arabian context. Full article

Adolescents growing up in multilingual regions experience diverse educational contexts that may shape their daily routines and psychosocial environments, but their independent relevance for mental health remains unclear. South Tyrol, with its parallel German-, Italian-, and Ladin-language school systems, provides a unique setting to examine these associations. This study assessed whether school language and home–school language mismatch are associated with mental health, psychosomatic symptoms, and health-related behaviors among adolescents. We analyzed data from a population-based survey of 2005 adolescents aged 11–19 years who provided self-reported information on mental health, psychosomatic complaints, school stress, social support, digital behaviors, lifestyle, and sleep. Multivariable regression analyses examined the independent association of home–school language mismatch with mental health outcomes, adjusting for sociodemographic and educational factors and further incorporating sleep-related behaviors. Mental health outcomes, psychosomatic symptoms, and most health-related behaviors showed little variation by school language, with generally small effect sizes. Home–school language mismatch was associated with slightly higher depressive symptom scores in unadjusted analyses but was not independently associated with mental health outcomes after adjustment. In contrast, weekly sleep problems emerged as the strongest correlate of depressive symptoms, accounting for a substantial proportion of explained variance. These findings indicate that adolescent mental health in this multilingual context is associated less with the language of schooling itself than with broader behavioral and developmental factors, highlighting sleep-related behaviors as a central and modifiable target for prevention. Full article

As global populations grow and technology advances, daily life is increasingly shaped by digital systems such as computers and smart devices. However, prolonged device use has contributed to increasing physical and mental health concerns, particularly those associated with poor sitting posture. Posture-related strain is frequently overlooked and contributes to musculoskeletal discomfort, including back, neck, shoulder, and wrist pain, and may also be associated with sleep disturbances and elevated stress levels. To the best of our knowledge and based on the existing literature, this is the first study to introduce a machine learning-based framework for advanced muscle strain severity classification using Internet of Things (IoT) devices that integrates posture monitoring and muscle strain detection into a unified low-cost framework ($23 hardware cost). The primary objective of this work is accurate classification of muscle strain severity, while real-time alerts serve as a secondary ergonomic feedback mechanism. Specifically, this study makes four major contributions. First, we created a novel dataset through real-time acquisition of electromyography (EMG) and posture signals from participants in hospital and industrial environments, capturing diverse muscle strain patterns validated against clinical assessment procedures. Second, we designed a two-part hardware architecture consisting of posture detection (PD) and strain detection (SD) modules using a NodeMCU ESP8266, HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor, EMG sensor, and buzzer for real-time physiological monitoring, incorporating EMG-specific preprocessing including band-pass filtering, rectification, and RMS smoothing. Third, we proposed and evaluated a hybrid machine learning framework integrating Vision Transformer (ViT) and XGBoost to classify strain severity into three study-specific categories: baseline (EMG RMS < 40 µV), compensatory strain (40–59 µV), and overload (≥60 µV). These categories were used as reproducible severity proxies for machine learning annotation and should not be interpreted as universal biomarkers of structural tissue damage. Finally, the proposed framework achieved a classification accuracy of 99.0% (95% CI: 98.5–99.5%) with an inference latency of 15.2 ms. Full article

Background/Objectives: Adolescent mental health problems have increased in recent years, with growing concern about the impact of digital behaviors such as problematic video game use and gambling. Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) and Problem Gambling Symptoms may share psychological risk markers, but evidence in Spanish adolescents is limited. This study aimed to examine the relationship between IGD, problem gambling symptoms, and mental health, and to identify sociodemographic, psychological, and behavioral factors associated, including microtransactions and loot boxes. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with secondary education students from Extremadura (Spain). The final sample included 343 participants. Measures included an ad hoc questionnaire on video game use, the IGDS9-SF, SOGS-RA, and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Descriptive analyses, Spearman correlations, and multivariable regression (Poisson and negative binomial) were performed. Results: IGD and gambling were positively correlated (Spearman’s ρ = 0.386, p < 0.001) and associated with higher mental health difficulty scores (IGD: ρ = 0.299, p < 0.001; gambling: ρ = 0.214, p < 0.001). Male gender was associated with both outcomes (IGD: incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 1.21 [95% Confidence Interval: 1.13–1.30]; gambling: IRR = 2.90 [1.85–4.60]). Microtransactions were associated with both behaviors (IGD: IRR = 1.17 [1.09–1.25]; gambling: IRR = 1.74 [1.19–2.54]), while loot box use was related only to IGD (IRR = 1.13 [1.05–1.21]). Total SDQ score was positively associated with both IGD (IRR = 1.02 [1.02–1.03]) and gambling (IRR = 1.10 [1.06–1.13]). Younger age was associated with higher IGD scores (IRR = 0.97 [0.96–0.99]). Conclusions: There are similarities in the associations among the examined factors and increased scores of IGD and gambling in adolescents, particularly male gender, higher mental health difficulties scores, and involvement in monetized gaming systems. School-based, family, and public health prevention strategies may benefit from addressing the importance of psychological well-being and increase awareness of the potential risks associated with digital gaming practices. Full article

Background/Objectives: The rapid expansion of social media platforms has profoundly changed the way adolescents access reproductive health information. While digital environments increase accessibility to contraceptive content, they also facilitate the dissemination of misinformation, potentially influencing both contraceptive literacy and psychological well-being. The present study aimed to evaluate the relationship between sources of contraceptive information, contraceptive misinformation endorsement, contraceptive knowledge, and mental health indicators among Romanian adolescents and young adults. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in a cohort of 210 Romanian adolescents and young adults. Participants completed a structured self-administered questionnaire assessing demographic characteristics, contraceptive information sources, digital health behaviors, contraceptive misconceptions, and contraceptive knowledge. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scales. Correlation analyses and multivariable logistic regression models were performed to identify factors associated with poor contraceptive knowledge and moderate-to-severe anxiety. Results: Social media represented the primary source of contraceptive information for 58.1% of participants. Individuals relying predominantly on social media demonstrated significantly lower contraceptive knowledge questionnaire (CKQ) scores compared to those obtaining information from healthcare professionals (5.9 ± 1.8 vs. 8.1 ± 1.7, p < 0.001). Contraceptive misinformation endorsement was inversely correlated with CKQ scores (r = −0.44, p < 0.001) and positively associated with anxiety (r = 0.47, p < 0.001) and depressive symptoms (r = 0.41, p < 0.001). In multivariable analyses, primary reliance on social media (OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.12–4.34, p = 0.022) and low digital health literacy (OR 2.94, 95% CI 1.51–5.71, p = 0.001) were independently associated with poor contraceptive knowledge. Higher misinformation endorsement, infertility-related fears, and high social media exposure were independently associated with moderate-to-severe anxiety. Conclusions: Contraceptive misinformation endorsement was associated with lower contraceptive literacy and poorer psychological outcomes among adolescents and young adults. These findings highlight the growing importance of digital health literacy. However, given the cross-sectional design, the observed relationships should be interpreted as associations rather than causal effects, and longitudinal studies are required to clarify their directionality. Full article

Background/Objectives: Health literacy (HL) is recognized as an important social determinant of health. It supports healthy behaviors and effective health management throughout one’s life. For children and adolescents, developing HL influences their well-being, development, and ability to make informed health decisions. Nurses are strategically positioned to promote HL from an early age. To our knowledge, no prior synthesis has specifically examined nurse-led HL interventions targeting pediatric populations, highlighting the originality and relevance of this scoping review. The purpose of this review was to map and characterize nursing interventions aimed at improving HL outcomes in children and adolescents. Methods: A scoping review was conducted according to the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology, using a three-step search strategy, and reported in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Searches were conducted in MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, and ProQuest with no date restriction, including studies published in Portuguese, English, or Spanish. Studies involving children and adolescents (ages 0–18) in any healthcare or community setting were eligible. Data on intervention characteristics and HL outcomes were extracted and analyzed descriptively, and no critical appraisal of the included sources was conducted. Results: A total of 44 studies were included. Interventions were predominantly school-based and focused on adolescents (n = 26), with a clear gap in early childhood (n = 2). Studies of early childhood primarily used storytelling and reading activities, whereas interventions targeting older children and adolescents more often employed participatory educational strategies, group-based approaches and digital platforms. The most frequently addressed topics were chronic disease management (n = 12), mental health (n = 7), and nutrition (n = 5). HL domains mainly focused on healthcare and health promotion, with fewer studies addressing disease prevention. Most interventions were conducted in school settings (n = 24), highlighting this context over those in primary care, community, and hospital settings. Conclusions: The results revealed nursing interventions used to promote HL, particularly in the management of chronic diseases, mental health and nutrition. However, the existing body of research is still limited. Key gaps include the absence of standardized measurement tools and the scarcity of longitudinal studies evaluating long-term outcomes. These limitations constrain the comparability and generalizability of findings, highlighting the necessity of more rigorous, methodologically robust research to support evidence-based practices. This scoping review comprehensively maps nurse-led interventions that promote HL among children and adolescents, identifying key priorities to guide future research in this area. Full article

Background: Cervical cancer remains a significant health issue in Indonesia, where structural barriers, fragmented information, and sociocultural norms continue to hinder timely diagnosis and treatment. Families play a central role throughout the illness journey, yet their perspectives are often overlooked in the development of digital patient navigation systems. This study explored family experiences, caregiving challenges, and expectations for a family-centered digital navigation model, DIVA.ID, by integrating Digital Health frameworks and Family Systems Theory. Methods: A qualitative descriptive approach was employed through semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 18 purposively selected family caregivers of women with cervical cancer at a major referral hospital in West Java. Participants were selected because they were directly involved in daily care, treatment decisions, logistical support, or emotional assistance. Interviews were conducted between August and October 2025 and continued until thematic saturation was reached, as indicated by repetition of categories and the absence of new major codes in the final interviews. Data were analyzed using inductive–deductive content analysis guided by Elo and Kyngäs, with five researchers conducting independent coding, iterative code comparison, consensus meetings, and theoretical mapping. Results: Four main themes emerged: (1) family involvement in decision-making, including collective discussion, shifting authority roles, and patient autonomy; (2) caregiver burden, involving physical exhaustion, psychological distress, social restriction, stigma, financial pressure, and employment disruption; (3) psycho-spiritual coping mechanisms, including emotional sharing, prayer, crying, patience, and surrender to God; and (4) digital healthcare needs, covering BPJS guidance, treatment information, scheduling, communication pathways, shelter support, and mental–spiritual support. Mapping these themes to Digital Health frameworks and Family Systems Theory clarified how DIVA.ID could translate family experiences into practical navigation functions. Conclusions: This study provides empirical foundations for a culturally sensitive, family-centered digital navigation model in Indonesia. Rather than demonstrating effectiveness, the findings identify design requirements for DIVA.ID that should be tested in subsequent feasibility, usability, and intervention studies. Full article

When women choose a contraceptive method, the decision depends not only on what they prefer but also on the quality of the information they encounter online and on how confident they feel about using a method. We examined how exposure to inaccurate online contraceptive information (“digital misinformation”) and uncertainty about contraceptive decisions (“decisional conflict”) related to mental health and quality of life in women with and without a history of abortion. This was a cross-sectional study of 134 women aged 18–42 years attending obstetrics–gynecology or family-planning services at one Romanian tertiary center. Women were grouped as having no prior abortion (n = 41), one prior abortion (n = 53), or repeat abortion (n = 40). We measured a study-specific digital misinformation index, an access barrier index, contraceptive self-efficacy, reproductive autonomy, depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), well-being (WHO-5), quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF), and current use of highly effective contraception. We compared groups and used regression, mediation, and exploratory profiling. Women with repeat abortion reported the most online misinformation (10.0 ± 2.0), the most decisional conflict (43.9 ± 9.3), the lowest quality of life (61.3 ± 5.6), and the lowest use of highly effective contraception (45.0%). More misinformation and more access barriers were each associated with greater decisional conflict, while higher self-efficacy was associated with less. In this cross-sectional sample, online misinformation and decisional uncertainty were associated with reproductive vulnerability more closely than abortion count alone. Findings are associational and require prospective confirmation. Full article

The present integrative umbrella review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the evidence and practices related to mental health and career transitions in elite sport toward the implementation of service provision through digital interventions. Following PRIO guidelines, an extensive search across five databases (2015–2025) identified 52 eligible manuscripts (e.g., conceptual, review, and position studies). Data extraction focused on mental health, dual-career pathways, career transition challenges and needs, and identity-related issues among high-performance athletes. The findings revealed a strong consensus that athlete well-being is shaped by the dynamic interaction of mental health symptoms, sport-specific stressors, identity processes, and structural conditions across the athletic lifespan. Mental health vulnerabilities (e.g., anxiety, depression, disordered eating, and distress) were consistently reported, particularly during injury, deselection, and retirement. Dual-career engagement, diversified identities, and proactive career planning emerged as key protective factors, while stigma, limited literacy, and uneven access to psychological services remained persistent barriers. Five main thematic areas (Matrix 1) operationalized in ten higher-order intervention domains (e.g., Matrix 2, screening, monitoring, literacy, and others) and 14 potential online implementation strategies (Matrix 3) were identified. However, the evidence highlights fragmented implementation and a lack of scalable, cross-national tools to support athletes during and beyond their competitive careers. Therefore, a harmonized, evidence-based, multidimensional framework for the development and implementation of digital support resources has been proposed. This integrative review underscores the need for integrated, culturally sensitive, and digitally enabled support systems to promote sustainable transitions and long-term athlete well-being. Full article

Background/Objectives: The family constitutes a primary ecological system shaping infant emotional and mental health. Parent responsiveness in particular shapes early regulatory capacities in the developing child. Added contextual stress such as that associated with natural disasters may strain caregiving relationships. Brief, universally accessible parenting interventions offer scalable support for strengthening early relational health and may be useful in contexts of natural disaster-related stress as well as in the general population. This qualitative study examined the perceived impact and contextual relevance of MERTIL (My Early Relational Trust-Informed Learning) for Parents, a brief digital psychoeducational parenting program targeting early relational health, among families raising young children in disaster-affected communities. Methods: Fourteen parents residing in the Hunter New England and Central Coast region of New South Wales, Australia, with young children aged 0–5 years, participated in semi-structured interviews conducted approximately 6 months after completing MERTIL for Parents. Interviews explored lived experiences of parenting in the context of natural disaster (analysed via applied phenomenological methods) and parents’ perceptions of program components that supported everyday caregiving (analysed via reflexive thematic analysis and content analysis). Results: Parents described interconnected personal, relational, and environmental stressors that influenced aspects of the parent–infant relationship. Key retained knowledge from the program included a normalisation of parenting challenges, a strengthened understanding of attachment, trust, safety and repair, and attuned, emotion-focused parenting practices. Conclusions: This pilot study illuminates the lived experience of parenting in disaster prone regions and highlights the potential for this brief, universal digital parenting program to provide support for early relational health in such contexts. Full article

Background and objectives: Social media use has become pervasive among the general population, with growing concern regarding its potential effects on mental health and sleep. While existing studies report associations between social media engagement and psychological outcomes, limited attention has been given to users’ self-perceived impact. To assess the self-perceived impact of social media use on mental health and sleep-related outcomes among healthy adolescents and adults aged 16–50 years old, and to identify associated demographic and behavioral factors. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among residents of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, aged 16–50 years without a history of psychiatric or chronic sleep disorders, using a structured online questionnaire. Perceived mental health impact was assessed using a six-item study-specific questionnaire evaluating participants’ subjective perceptions regarding emotional and psychological responses to social media exposure. Higher perceived impact was defined as a composite score of 12–24 points on the study-specific scale. Data included sociodemographic characteristics, patterns of social media use, perceived mental health impact assessed through a 6-item Likert scale, and sleep-related outcomes. Associations were evaluated using chi-square tests and logistic regression analysis. Results: Most participants reported daily social media use exceeding 3 h, with 44.9% engaging in late-night use and 87.6% using devices within 30 min before sleep. Overall, 18.6% exhibited higher perceived mental health impact. Higher odds were observed among younger participants, students, and single individuals. Snapchat and YouTube use, and late-night engagement were independently associated with increased perceived impact. Approximately one-third reported insomnia after social media use, and 44.3% perceived improved sleep with reduced usage. Conclusions: Social media use is widely prevalent and commonly perceived to negatively affect mental well-being and sleep, particularly with intensive and late-night use. Self-awareness of these effects may represent a valuable leverage point for prevention, supporting the need for targeted digital wellness strategies and public health interventions. Full article

Digital isolation represents a contemporary paradox in which increased connectivity through social media and digital technologies does not necessarily translate into improved social integration or psychological well-being. This review synthesizes current evidence on the relationship between digital environments and mental health, with a focus on mechanisms underlying loneliness, anxiety, depression, and related outcomes. The findings indicate that problematic and passive use of social media—particularly when associated with social comparison processes and Fear of Missing Out (FoMO)—is consistently linked to increased levels of depressive symptoms, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and reduced well-being. At the same time, the evidence highlights substantial heterogeneity, suggesting that the impact of digital technologies is moderated by user characteristics, age, patterns of engagement, and psychosocial context. Importantly, digital technologies may also serve compensatory and protective functions by facilitating social support, especially in conditions of objective isolation. Key mediating mechanisms include cyberbullying, social exclusion, emotional contagion, and internalization of body image standards. The concept of “digital loneliness” emerges as a useful framework for understanding the discrepancy between constant connectivity and perceived relational insufficiency. Practical implications emphasize the need for targeted interventions focusing on digital literacy, healthy usage patterns, and psychosocial support rather than simplistic reduction in screen time. Overall, digital isolation should be conceptualized as a qualitative dysfunction of mediated social interaction rather than a purely quantitative effect of technology exposure. Full article

Technical higher education in the Philippines is a government priority, as it equips learners with the technical knowledge and practical skills necessary to develop industry and technology-ready human capital. In parts of Mindanao, the Philippines, where socio-economic and technological challenges are significant, Industrial Technology Education (ITE) learners must be equipped with relevant, comprehensive knowledge of industry trends. A sequential explanatory mixed-methods design was employed in this research, combining quantitative surveys with qualitative interviews to provide a comprehensive analysis. Five hundred twenty-six learners participated in the survey, and six were selected for in-depth interviews. The findings highlight the significant impact of familial and peer support on fostering confidence, encouraging academic perseverance, and improving mental health. However, financial hardships and inadequate emotional support remain significant obstacles. The study emphasizes the importance of cultivating an inclusive campus atmosphere via awareness efforts, accessible services, and mentorship programs to guarantee fair educational opportunities. For this reason, the implementation of personalized education plans, flexible learning, digital access, academic and educational support, and an institutional support system is highly encouraged to address learners’ essential needs. The research findings also suggest integrating mentorship programs, adopting inclusive learning practices, developing an adaptable curriculum, and providing mental health support services for learners, particularly those with disabilities. By aligning the curriculum with industry specifications and standards and providing well-planned support frameworks, higher education institutions in Mindanao can produce graduates who are professionally qualified, highly skilled, well-mannered, and career-prepared, fully equipped to meet the demands of the dynamic workforce. Full article

Population ageing presents growing challenges for health and social care systems, particularly in supporting older adults to remain independent and involved in decisions concerning their own health and wellbeing. The EMPOWERing individuals and communities to manage their own CARE (EMPOWERCARE) project evaluated asset-based initiatives designed to support older adults in managing their health and wellbeing across seven pilot sites in Belgium, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Initiatives were categorised as caring technologies, which focused on digital tools and assistive technologies to improve autonomy, promote self-management, and support independent living, and social mobilisation initiatives aimed at building stronger community networks, reducing loneliness, and fostering engagement. A multi-site, embedded case study design combined quantitative and qualitative methods. Survey data were collected at baseline (T0; n = 187) and endpoint (T2; n = 105) between July 2021 and January 2023. Outcomes included self-efficacy, mental wellbeing, loneliness and digital literacy. Descriptive statistics and repeated-measures t-tests were conducted, while Photovoice and focus group data were analysed using summative content analysis. Findings indicated improvements in self-efficacy and mental health among some participants, alongside positive trends in digital literacy and internet-based health-seeking behaviour. Qualitative findings further highlighted increased confidence, social connectedness and empowerment among participants. Full article