How mindfulness, self-compassion, and experiential avoidance are related to perceived stress in a sample of university students

The effectiveness of stress management training given to first-class health major students in perceiving and coping with stress and developing resilience: A randomized controlled trial

Stress management plays a vital role in protecting students' mental health. Effective stress management helps them to recognize sources of stress and cope with the problems caused by stress, helping them to become more mentally resilient in the long run. This study was a pretest-posttest randomized controlled psychoeducational intervention in which the effect of stress management training given to first-class health major students on their perceived stress, coping methods and psychological resilience was examined. The study was conducted with 102 associate degree first-class health major students, 51 intervention, and 51 control. Intervention group received stress management training consisting of seven modules for 7 weeks. No intervention was given to the control group. Data were collected using sociodemographic form, perceived stress scale, stress coping methods scale, and short psychological resilience scale. Pre-test and post-tests were administered to both groups. In the analysis of within-group differences of the intervention group, there was a significant decrease in perceived stress scores and a significant increase in coping methods and psychological resilience scores. Between the groups, there was a significant difference in the post-test scores of the intervention group compared to the control group. In the Covariance analysis in which the pre-test effect was controlled, it was determined that the effect of the stress management training on the perceived stress level of the students was 22.1% (large effect), the effect on coping methods with stress was 5.1% (medium effect), and the effect on psychological resilience was 22.6% (large effect) in favor of the intervention group. As a result, stress management training given to health major students decreased their perceived stress levels, improved their coping methods with stress, and increased psychological resilience levels.

Exploring the longitudinal dynamics of self-criticism, self-compassion, psychological flexibility, and mental health in a three-wave study

Self-compassion has been emphasized in its association with reducing anxiety, narcissism, and self-criticism. At the same time, self-judgment as the counter side of self-kindness tends to interchange with the description of self-criticism, which can lead to potential stress and mental illness. Meanwhile, psychological flexibility enhanced through Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) emerges and is engaged as a therapeutic action after self-compassion. Hence, based on The Transactional Model of Stress and Coping, this three-wave longitudinal study examined longitudinal connections between (1) cognitive appraisal - self-criticism (comparative self-criticism and internalized self-criticism); (2) coping - self-compassion and psychological flexibility (acceptance and action), and (3) outcome - mental health. Regarding the results, at baseline, 412 participants (M age = 39.73, SD = 12.75; 83% female) were enrolled; follow-up rates were 56% at 6 months and 28%(N=115, M age = 40.88, SD = 13.00, 78.3% female) at 12 months. Using the Repeated Measures Panel Analysis Framework, the model investigation with the good fit model index supports the hypothesized pathways based on the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping. Self-compassion and psychological flexibility have been examined to be consistent and stable coping strategies negatively associated with self-criticism. Hence, the current study outcome serves as a theoretical foundation that supports the development of the intervention, evidenced by the potential mediating role or function of self-compassion or compassion-focused therapy and enhancing psychological flexibility through acceptance and commitment therapy.

Factors affecting occupational burnout in medical staff: a path analysis based on the job demands-resources perspective

Objective

To assess occupational burnout conditions and work-related factors among frontline medical staff during the COVID-19 pandemic and analyse the relationships among these factors utilizing the job demands-resources (JD-R) model as a theoretical framework.

Methods

An online survey was distributed to medical staff in one city via convenience sampling during 12/29/2022-1/10/2023. Path analysis was utilized to explore the relationship between work-related factors and occupational burnout among frontline medical staff during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Results

Among 474 respondents, 455 frontline medical staff (female=79.56%) were included in the final analysis. Medical staff aged <35 exhibited higher levels of occupational burnout than did older staff. Depression/anxiety and workload were positively correlated with occupational burnout and negatively correlated with self-compassion, workplace health/safety, and workplace support. Path analysis indicated the direct effects of workplace support, depression/anxiety, workplace health/safety, self-compassion, and workload on occupational burnout. There were also partial mediating effects of workplace support, depression/anxiety, workplace health/safety, and self-compassion on occupational burnout. The model demonstrated good fit.

Conclusion

Workplace support, a crucial job resource, can improve occupational burnout among frontline medical staff in various ways. Reducing anxiety, depression, and workload and improving workplace support, health/safety, and self-compassion are practical and effective measures for mitigating occupational burnout.

Impact of mindfulness versus supportive sex education on stress in women with sexual interest/arousal disorder

Low desire in women is the most common sexual difficulty, and stress has been identified as a significant predictor of symptoms. We evaluated a mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) group treatment versus a sex education comparison group treatment (STEP) on self-reported stress and on the physiological stress response measured via morning-to-evening cortisol slope in 148 women with a diagnosis of sexual interest/arousal disorder (SIAD). Perceived stress decreased following treatment in both groups, and significantly more after MBCT. The cortisol slope was steeper (indicative of better stress system regulation) from pre-treatment to 6-month follow-up, with no differences between the groups. As an exploratory analysis, we found that the reduction in perceived stress predicted increases in sexual desire and decreases in sex-related distress for participants after MBCT only. These findings suggest that group mindfulness targeting women with low sexual desire leads to improvements in self-reported and physiological stress, with improvements in self-reported stress partially accounting for improvements in sexual desire and distress.

The relationship between perfectionism and interpersonal sensitivity with self-compassion in university students: the mediation of repetitive negative thinking

Self-compassion is a construct of positive psychology related to personality and cognitive factors. Perfectionism and interpersonal sensitivity are prevalent personality traits among university students and are associated with low self-compassion. Further research is required to comprehend how these mechanisms work in creating self-compassion. Consequently, the current study investigated the direct and indirect relationship between perfectionism and interpersonal sensitivity with self-compassion via repetitive negative thinking. To this end, a sample of 450 students studying in Tehran during the 2022 academic year was selected as the study sample. The results indicated that perfectionism and interpersonal sensitivity demonstrate a negative direct relationship with self-compassion, while perfectionism and interpersonal sensitivity exhibit an indirect relationship with self-compassion via repetitive negative thinking. Based on the findings, it can be concluded that the relationship between perfectionism and interpersonal sensitivity with self-compassion is not straightforward and that repetitive negative thinking can mediate this relationship. The results can be used to improve methods for increasing self-compassion and paying attention to personality, and cognitive factors can be an important step toward more effective self-compassion interventions.

Potential Correlation Between Self-Compassion and Bedtime Procrastination: The Mediating Role of Emotion Regulation

Purpose

The present research aims to investigate the potential correlations between self-compassion and bedtime procrastination, a significant behavior related to sleep. In this research, we put forward the hypothesis that a reduction in negative affect and the implementation of adaptative emotion regulation strategies can elucidate the established connections between self-compassion and a decreased tendency for bedtime procrastination.

Methods

Two cross-sectional online surveys (Survey I: n=241 and Survey II: n=546) were carried out via a convenient sampling method. Prior to their inclusion, all participants underwent a thorough assessment to confirm no evidence of clinical insomnia. The study participants in both survey investigations were asked to complete various psychometric assessments, including self-compassion, positive and negative affect, and bedtime procrastination; however, the study participants in Survey II additionally underwent the administration of a cognitive reappraisal assessment.

Results

In Survey I, a multiple mediation analysis was conducted to examine the mediating effects of self-compassion on reducing bedtime procrastination through a reduction in negative affect. The results supported the hypothesized relationships, indicating that self-compassion had the expected mediated effects by mitigating negative affective states. However, contrary to expectations, higher positive affect did not mediate the relationship between self-compassion and reduced bedtime procrastination. The findings of Survey II were confirmed through the utilization of path analysis. Moreover, this analysis provided additional evidence to suggest that the mechanism of cognitive reappraisal could account for the observed decrease in negative affect associated with self-compassion. The present study found a notable and sustained impact of self-compassion on reducing instances of delaying bedtime activities.

Conclusion

The present research contributes novel empirical evidence suggesting a negative association between self-compassion and the propensity to engage in bedtime procrastination. This relationship can be attributed partly to the implementation of an adaptative emotion regulation mechanism that effectively alleviates negative affect.