Search Results (41)

The mental and emotional health of an athlete is crucial for their performance and well-being. Sports-related stress can significantly impair their mental health. Further, there were minimal tools available to measure Sports resilience, specifically during COVID-19 restrictions or earlier. This study reports the preliminary validation of the Sports Mind Inventory (SMI) in athletes from different geographical areas (n = 66), with the majority of participants from Mauritius, and tests the SMI in elite athletes practicing the Yoga of Immortals (YOI). YOI is a unique combination of specific yogic postures, breathing exercises, sound therapy & meditation, which has demonstrated benefit in improving measures of mental health. The exploratory factor analysis of the 24-item SMI resulted in a six-factor inventory. The confirmatory factor analysis of these six-factor SMI showed goodness-of-fit index (0.935), and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient (α) of 0.949, showing good fit and reliability. The correlation between overall scale and individual factors showed diverse degree of positive correlations. This validated SMI was then tested to investigate whether YOI can enhance athletes’ resilience to sports-related stress. Participants were a diverse set of athletes based in Mauritius who routinely engage in a wide range of athletic activities. Participants were randomly assigned to receive four weeks of YOI or no intervention. Both groups completed the SMI questionnaire at baseline and again after four weeks. The YOI intervention significantly increased (p = 0.002) the total mean SMI scores, and underlying factors, i.e., Factor 1: Positive and Competitive sports mindset (p = 0.014), Factor 2: Social relatedness and adaptability (p = 0.008), Factor 3: Resilient mindset and self-confidence (p = 0.036), Factor 4: Sports Resilience and Emotional Responses (p = 0.001). This indicated improved sports resilience and psychological health. No improvement was observed in the control group. The correlation analysis in YOI group at week-4 showed positive correlation between overall scales and underlying construct. In conclusion, SMI showed acceptable fitness to measure sport resilience. This YOI intervention helped in improving sports-related stress and improved athletes’ resilience. Full article

Understanding the mindset of people who die by suicide remains a key research challenge. We map conceptual and emotional word–word co-occurrences in 139 genuine suicide notes and in reference word lists, an Emotional Recall Task, from 200 individuals grouped by high/low depression, anxiety, and stress levels on DASS-21. Positive words cover most of the suicide notes’ vocabulary; however, co-occurrences in suicide notes overlap mostly with those produced by individuals with low anxiety (Jaccard index of 0.42 for valence and 0.38 for arousal). We introduce a “words not said” method: It removes every word that corpus A shares with a comparison corpus B and then checks the emotions of “residual” words in $A-B$. With no leftover emotions, A and B are similar in expressing the same emotions. Simulations indicate this method can classify high/low levels of depression, anxiety and stress with 80% accuracy in a balanced task. After subtracting suicide note words, only the high-anxiety corpus displays no significant residual emotions. Our findings thus pin anxiety as a key latent feature of suicidal psychology and offer an interpretable language-based marker for suicide risk detection. Full article

Drawing on Antonovsky’s salutogenic model, this study investigated how stressful life events relate to university students’ sense of coherence (SOC), focusing on the potential mediating roles of coping style and general self-efficacy, and the moderating role of stress mindset. An analysis of data collected from 2454 Chinese college students (63.6% males, 36.4% females) revealed that stressful life events negatively predicted SOC, with coping style and general self-efficacy significantly sequentially mediating this relationship. Furthermore, stress mindset moderated the relationship between stressful life events and coping style, such that a more positive mindset was associated with more adaptive coping under stress. These findings support the dual-pathway structure of the salutogenic model by illustrating both behavioral and perceptual mechanisms. Importantly, they also underscore the idea that stress, when cognitively reappraised and effectively managed, may contribute to the development of SOC—rather than simply undermining it. This highlights the potential value of stress itself within salutogenic processes. The study offers theoretical insights and preliminary directions for strength-based mental health promotion in higher education settings. Full article

Benzophenone UV absorbers (BPs), a widely used family of organic UV absorbers (UVAs), have attracted considerable attention for their effects on organisms in recent years. Previous research has been unable to illuminate the intricate situation of BP pollution. To address this knowledge gap, we devised a BAPG-chain model that surpasses existing approaches based on biochemical detection, antioxidant defense systems, proteins, and genes to investigate the biological mechanisms of benzophenone-1 (BP-1) and benzophenone-3 (BP-3) within human hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells as model organisms. The BAPG-chain model links the cellular model, molecular level, macroscopic scale, and microscopic phenomena by adopting a global assessment mindset. Our findings indicate that BPs induce apoptosis via the excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial and nuclear damage, and disruption of the antioxidant stress system. Notably, BPs induce apoptosis via alterations in the expression of genes and proteins associated with apoptosis in the mitochondria. Our experimental evidence sheds light on the biological effects of BPs and highlights the need for further research in this area. Full article

This paper explores the use of wearable technology (Garmin Fenix 7) to monitor physiological and psychological factors contributing to attrition during basic military training. Attrition, or the voluntary departure of recruits from the military, often results from physical and psychological challenges, such as fatigue, injury, and stress, which lead to significant costs for the military. To better understand and mitigate attrition, we designed and implemented a comprehensive and continuous data-capturing methodology to monitor 63 recruits during their basic infantry training. It’s optimized for military use by being minimally invasive (for both recruits and operators), preventing data leakage, and being built for scale. We analysed data collected from two test phases, focusing on seven key psychometric and physical features derived from baseline questionnaires and physiological measurements from wearable devices. The preliminary results revealed that recruits at risk of attrition tend to cluster in specific areas of the feature space in both Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Key indicators of attrition included low motivation, low resilience, and a stress mindset. Furthermore, we developed a predictive model using physiological data, such as sleep scores and step counts from Garmin devices, achieving a macro mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.74. This model suggests the potential to reduce the burden of daily wellness questionnaires by relying on continuous, unobtrusive monitoring. Full article

Background/Objectives: Emerging adults live in a time of rapid technological change, with social media playing a central role in their daily lives. While frequent use of social media is linked to reduced well-being, it also supports personal growth and the pursuit of individual goals. This study aims to identify the relationships between attitudes toward social media and psychological well-being in the context of the mediating roles of Facebook addiction and perceived stress in emerging adulthood. Methods: The study included 294 participants, with a mean age of 23.76 years (SD = 3.23). The following tools were used to measure the variables: the Social Media Mindsets Scale (translated by the authors), the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale, the Psychological Well-Being Scale, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. Correlation and mediation analyses were conducted. Results: The findings confirmed most of the assumptions. Attitudes toward social media were positively correlated with psychological well-being. Furthermore, Facebook addiction and perceived stress serve as serial mediators between attitudes toward social media and well-being. Conclusions: Based on the results, practical interventions can be developed to prevent addictions and reinforce stress management, which will help young people maintain their well-being and mental health. Full article

This study investigates the relationship between stress and depression among postgraduate students, with a focus on the mediating role of research self-efficacy and the moderating role of growth mindset. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 2278 graduate students nationwide, utilizing the Mindset Scale, Depression–Anxiety–Stress Scale, and Research Self-Efficacy Scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS 27.0 and AMOS 24.0. The results indicate the following: (1) Stress has a significant positive relationship with depression, while stress is negatively related to research self-efficacy, and research self-efficacy is negatively related to depression. (2) Research self-efficacy partially mediates the relationship between stress and depression, accounting for 35.6% of the total effect. (3) Growth mindset moderates both the relationship between stress and research self-efficacy and the relationship between research self-efficacy and depression. These findings reveal the mechanisms through which stress affects depression among graduate students, underscore the importance of mental health education, and provide scientific evidence for universities and educational institutions to design targeted prevention and intervention measures. Full article

Workplace hazing remains a critical concern in the hospitality sector, known for its high-pressure environments and hierarchical dynamics. Drawing on transactional stress theory, this study explores the intricate relationships between workplace hazing, emotional exhaustion, and deviant behavior, with a focus on the moderating roles of hope and optimism. The research aims to examine how these psychological factors buffer the negative impacts of workplace hazing on employee behavior. Using a quantitative approach, data were collected from 494 valid responses comprising employees and supervisors from four- and five-star hotels in Aqaba, Amman, and Petra, Jordan. Convenience sampling was employed, and the data were analyzed using SPSS 29 and AMOS 26. The findings reveal that workplace hazing significantly predicts emotional exhaustion and deviant behavior, with emotional exhaustion mediating this relationship. Hope and optimism were found to moderate these effects, suggesting employees who maintain an optimistic outlook are better equipped to handle stress, which, in turn, reinforces their positive mindset, ultimately fostering healthier workplace cultures. The study offers both theoretical and practical implications. Theoretically, it extends the transaction theory of stress by integrating emotional exhaustion and deviant behavior. Practically, it suggests that hospitality organizations should focus on mitigating hazing practices, addressing emotional exhaustion through support mechanisms, and fostering positive psychological traits like hope and optimism to enhance employee well-being and minimize deviant behavior. Full article

Passive cyber incivility, with its ambiguity and offensive nature, can have a detrimental impact on employees’ well-being and negative work consequences. To explore passive cyber incivility in depth, we examined its effects through both motivational and affective channels. Over the course of a month, this study conducted a three-wave survey across industries, involving a sample of 306 employees. Results showed that passive cyber incivility has no direct impact on work engagement. Instead, it hampered work engagement through the serial mediation of intrinsic motivation and emotional exhaustion. Overall, this study aims not only to raise awareness of the risks associated with passive cyber incivility but also to contribute to the existing literature on work engagement by investigating the mediating processes that have not been sufficiently studied. Full article

In the context of sustainable agricultural development and rural revitalization in China, understanding and addressing psychological poverty traps among rural farm households is crucial. The poverty mindset represents a crucial factor affecting rural poverty. This study focuses on two key questions: first, whether and how material poverty influences the poverty mindset; and second, whether this psychological state affects economic behavior, potentially intensifying material poverty. Using data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) spanning 2014–2018, the data collection employed a multi-stage stratified sampling approach. Multiple methods, including questionnaire surveys and in-depth interviews, were utilized to gather information. Through matching and merging processes based on personal questionnaire IDs, a total of 30,143 observations were obtained over a three-year period. We employ Causal Mediation Analysis (CMA) to examine the micro-level mechanisms between material and psychological poverty among rural farm households. Our findings reveal three key insights. First, material poverty significantly reduces aspiration levels and behavioral capabilities of rural farm households, with impoverished groups scoring approximately 10% lower than non-poor groups. Second, this negative impact operates through two primary channels: stigma effects (self-stigmatization 11.29%, social stigma 4.71%) and psychological resource depletion (negative emotions 1.5%, psychological stress 1.27%). Third, psychological poverty reinforces material poverty through aspiration failure (72.3%) and capability deficiency (75.68%), creating a self-perpetuating “psychological poverty trap” that particularly affects agricultural production efficiency. These findings suggest that sustainable agricultural development requires addressing both material and psychological dimensions of rural poverty. Policy recommendations include strengthening psychological support for farm households, enhancing agricultural capacity building, mitigating stigma effects in rural communities, and reconstructing psychological resources for sustainable development. This integrated approach can help break psychological poverty traps, improve agricultural productivity, and support rural revitalization in China. Full article

As Generation Z youth grow up with the Internet, problematic smartphone use is growing more prevalent. This study administered questionnaires containing measures such as the Mobile Phone Addiction Index, the Research Self-Efficacy Scale, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, and the Stress Mindset Measure. The survey targeted 2278 graduate students and explored the mechanism through which problematic smartphone use affects research self-efficacy (RSE). The results reveal that problematic smartphone use has significant negative effects on self-efficacy, with mental stress playing a mediating role in this process; that is, problematic smartphone use lowers RSE by increasing mental stress. Meanwhile, the aforementioned negative impacts caused by problematic smartphone use are moderated by stress mindsets: the “stress-is-enhancing” mindset reduces the negative effects of smartphone use on RSE, whereas the “stress-is-debilitating” mindset amplifies these negative effects by enhancing the mediating effect of mental stress. Full article

Heart failure (HF) is a complex syndrome that significantly affects patients’ physical, psychological, and socioeconomic well-being. Despite advances in guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT), such as ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, and SGLT2 inhibitors, HF continues to have a high global burden, with over 64 million affected worldwide and a five-year mortality rate of 50%. HF disrupts various life aspects, especially for younger patients (aged 35–55), who often face career interruptions due to severe symptoms like fatigue and frequent hospitalizations. These patients may struggle to maintain employment, resulting in financial instability compounded by high healthcare costs. Moreover, reduced exercise capacity and sexual dysfunction negatively impact patients’ quality of life. The psychological toll of HF is profound, with many patients experiencing depression, anxiety, and stress. However, a positive mindset has been shown to improve survival rates, underscoring the need for holistic management approaches. Interventions like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and remote monitoring technologies such as CardioMEMS offer promising avenues to improve quality of life and reduce hospitalizations. This review highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary, patient-centered approach to HF management. Tailoring care to align with individual goals, integrating psychosocial support, and enhancing patient education are vital in addressing both the clinical and personal challenges of HF. By adopting a comprehensive approach, healthcare providers can significantly improve long-term outcomes and quality of life for HF patients. Full article

Objective: To better understand the strategies family caregivers of children with medical complexity (CMC) utilize to deal with the stress and challenges associated with caregiving. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional qualitative study among family caregivers of CMC receiving medical care at a children’s hospital in Western Pennsylvania. Participants completed in-depth, semi-structured interviews focused on how CMC family caregivers approach and manage caregiving-related challenges and stress. Using constant comparative methodology, we inductively analyzed deidentified transcripts for emergent themes. Results: We interviewed 19 participants (89.4% female) with a mean age of 43 years (range 32–54 years). The mean age of the participants’ children was 10.8 years (range 1–20 years). Twelve participants’ children identified as white and four identified as Black. Three central themes regarding CMC caregivers’ stress-coping strategies emerged: (1) maintaining a positive mindset, (2) developing and relying on interpersonal support networks, and (3) making time for self-preservation. All three themes were universally reported (n = 19/19) by our participants. The most common subthemes for each theme, respectively, focused on staying hopeful and celebrating moments of joy; cultivating supportive relationships with family, friends, and fellow CMC family caregivers; and finding pleasure in “little things” (e.g., everyday activities and hobbies). Conclusion: Family caregivers of CMC utilize a multi-faceted approach to cope with the stress and challenges routinely encountered in caring for CMC. This study’s findings could be used to inform future clinical efforts and research directions aiming to improve clinicians’ ability to support CMC caregivers’ well-being. Full article

Previous studies have mainly focused on the detrimental effects of illegitimate tasks as ubiquitous workplace stressors while ignoring the appraisal measures for such tasks. The term “illegitimate” is used by employees to describe the alignment of a task with their job role rather than the inherent qualities of the task itself. Thus, drawing on the transactional theory of stress, this study examines the moderating effect of the stress mindset on the relationship between illegitimate tasks and the appraisal of such tasks. On this basis, this study further explores when cognitive appraisal mediates the effects of illegitimate tasks on coping behaviors (task crafting and cyberloafing). Data were collected from 285 employees from an energy company in Shandong, China, by using a time-lagged research design. The findings indicate that employees react differently to illegitimate tasks depending on their stress mindset. Specifically, for employees with a stress-is-enhancing mindset, illegitimate tasks induce their challenge appraisal, which leads to task crafting. In addition, illegitimate tasks induce hindrance appraisal in employees with a stress-is-debilitating mindset, which leads to cyberloafing. In practice, this research study suggests that when illegitimate tasks cannot be eliminated, organizations should consider employees’ stress mindset when assigning such tasks. Full article

This research paper investigates the effectiveness of a virtual reality (VR) game-based intervention using real-time biofeedback for stress management and performance among fire-fighting trainees from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). Forty-seven trainees were enrolled in this study and randomly assigned into three groups: control, placebo, and intervention. The participants’ physiological responses, psychological responses, and training performances were evaluated during specific times over the standard 22-week training regimen. Participants from the control and placebo groups showed a similar overall perceived stress profile, with an initial increase in the early stages that was subsequently maintained over the remaining training period. Participants from the intervention group had a significantly lower level of perceived stress compared to the control and placebo groups, and their stress-is-enhancing mindset was significantly increased before the game in week 12 compared to week 3. Cortisol levels remained comparable between pre-game and post-game for the placebo group at week 12, but there was a significant reduction in cortisol levels post-game in comparison to pre-game for the intervention group. The biofeedback data as a measurement of root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD) during the gameplay were also significantly increased at week 12 when compared to week 3. Notably, the intervention group had a significant improvement in the final exercise assessment when compared to the control based on the participants’ role as duty officers. In conclusion, a VR game-based intervention with real-time biofeedback shows promise as an engaging and effective way of training firefighting trainees to enhance their stress mindset and reduce their perceived stress, which may enable them to perform better in the daily emergencies that they respond to. Full article