Focusing on Resilience and Renewal From Stress: The Role of Emotional and Social Intelligence Competencies

Resilience and social isolation in people living with HIV: a case study in Iran

OBJECTIVE

People living with HIV (PLHIV) often face increased vulnerability due to factors like social isolation and reduced resilience. These factors can negatively impact health outcomes, quality of life, and well-being for both PLHIV and their families. Therefore, healthcare providers should carefully assess these variables when providing care for PLHIV. This study evaluated the levels of resilience and social isolation among PLHIV.

RESULTS

PLHIV demonstrated high levels of resilience (77.16 ± 18.78) and moderate levels of social isolation (52.77 ± 6.63). Additionally, a strong inverse correlation was found between resilience and social isolation (r = -0.60, p < 0.001). Given the results, it is imperative for health policymakers, healthcare providers, and psychologists to prioritize strategies that enhance resilience and reduce social isolation among PLHIV.

Cognitive and Emotional Resilience in Parents with Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder During COVID-19: The Role of Promoting Variables

The pandemic resulting from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has entailed social and psychological consequences for the Spanish population, with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) being particularly vulnerable due to their genetic characteristics. The present study focuses on the efforts of parents of children with autism spectrum disorder to improve their situation during the pandemic. In particular, the objective is to identify promoting variables (subjective well-being, positive mental health, social support, humour, cognitive reappraisal, and self-esteem) and sociodemographic variables that predict resilience, marking positive coping with this adverse situation. Furthermore, the study conceptually explores the potential role of emotional intelligence in resilience-building processes. We hypothesised that higher scores in these promoting variables would predict greater resilience, with emotional intelligence potentially serving as an underlying framework. The methodology employed in this study is as follows: A cross-sectional predictive study was conducted on a sample of 799 parents using an online questionnaire administered during the social confinement resulting from the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The information analysed is based on data provided by the parents. Statistical methods included Student's t-tests, Pearson's correlations, and stepwise multivariate regression analysis to identify predictors of resilience. The results of the study are presented below. Significant resilience scores and resilience prediction were identified in participants based on positive mental health, emotion regulation, sense of humour, social support, age, and employment status (self-employed). Relations with emotional intelligence were identified, particularly in the domains of emotion regulation, cognitive reappraisal, and positive mental health. Discussion: The necessity of an intervention that prioritises the empowerment of resilience in the target population is substantiated. Practical implications suggest leveraging emotional intelligence strategies to enhance resilience in this population. This study highlights the importance the aforementioned variables, in addition to potential strategies for enhancing the sociodemographic circumstances of the families.

High-fidelity simulation versus case-based tutorial sessions for teaching pharmacology: Convergent mixed methods research investigating undergraduate medical students' performance and perception

INTRODUCTION

Medical educators strive to improve their curricula to enhance the student learning experience. The use of high-fidelity simulation within basic and clinical medical science subjects has been one of these initiatives. However, there is paucity of evidence on using simulation for teaching pharmacology, especially in the Middle East and North Africa region, and the effectiveness of this teaching modality, relative to more traditional ones, have not been sufficiently investigated. Accordingly, this study compares the effects of high-fidelity simulation, which is designed in alignment with adult and experiential learning theories, and traditional case-based tutorial sessions on the performance and perception of undergraduate Year 2 medical students in pharmacology in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

METHODS

This study employed a convergent mixed methods approach. Forty-nine medical students were randomly assigned to one of two groups during the 16-week pharmacology course. Each group underwent one session delivered via high-fidelity simulation and another via a case-based tutorial. A short multiple-choice question quiz was administered twice (immediately upon completion of the respective sessions and 5 weeks afterwards) to assess knowledge retention. Furthermore, to explore the students' perceptions regarding the two modes of learning delivery (independently and in relation to each other), an evaluation survey was administered following the delivery of each session. Thereafter, the iterative joint display analysis was used to develop a holistic understanding of the effect of high-fidelity simulation in comparison to traditional case-based tutorial sessions on pharmacology learning in the context of the study.

RESULTS

There was no statistically significant difference in students' knowledge retention between high-fidelity simulation and case-based tutorial sessions. Yet, students expressed a greater preference for high-fidelity simulation, describing the corresponding sessions as more varied, better at reinforcing learning, and closer to reality. As such, the meta-inferences led to expansion of the overall understanding around students' satisfaction, to both confirmation and expansion of the systemic viewpoint around students' preferences, and lastly to refinement in relation to the perspective around retained knowledge.

CONCLUSION

High-fidelity simulation was found to be as effective as case-based tutorial sessions in terms of students' retention of knowledge. Nonetheless, students demonstrated a greater preference for high-fidelity simulation. The study advocates caution in adapting high-fidelity simulation, where careful appraisal can lend itself to identifying contexts where it is most effective.

Social intelligence and pathological gaming: a longitudinal study of the associations among negative emotions, social intelligence, aggression, and pathological gaming in adolescents

Introduction

Pathological gaming continues to be highlighted as one of the most critical issues concerning adolescents. Numerous studies have aimed to elucidate the relationships between adolescents' negative emotions (e.g., peer stress, anxiety, loneliness) and social factors (e.g., social skills and relationships) with pathological gaming. Despite the recognition of social intelligence as a crucial factor related to social factors in adolescents, there is a paucity of research examining pathological gaming and social intelligence through longitudinal analyses.

Method

This study focuses on exploring the factors that induce or inhibit pathological gaming among adolescents by analysing three-year longitudinal data from Korean adolescent gamers (N=968). Using a structural equation model, the study examines the relationships between adolescents' negative emotions (e.g., peer stress, anxiety, loneliness), social intelligence, and pathological gaming to elucidate their associations.

Results

The results indicate that negative emotions can potentially reduce levels of social intelligence and increase aggression. Increased aggression, in turn, appears to be associated with higher levels of pathological gaming. Social intelligence was found to impact pathological gaming potentially negatively and may exert a significantly stronger influence on aggression compared to negative emotions.

Discussion

The study's findings suggest that bolstering adolescents' social aptitude and addressing mental health concerns could serve as beneficial interventions in tackling issues associated with excessive media engagement among youth. These findings suggest that, within the context of adolescent pathological gaming, social intelligence could significantly affect aggression and emerge as a key variable that may lead to pathological gaming.

[Working in a team and mental health]

Humans have always naturally lived in groups, which has a significant impact on the well-being and mental stability of the individual. Various physiological processes are coregulated via the closeness of other persons. About one third of our adulthood is spent at work where social relationships often play an important role, because we are typically working with other individuals in groups or a team. In these situations, mutual support and successful cooperation can develop, which promotes the mental and physical health of the employees of a company ("social capital"). From various perspectives it becomes obvious that the quality of relationships at the workplace is a key factor for the satisfaction and health of individual employees as well as for the cohesion, resilience and performance of the entire team. This is confirmed by empirical findings that still need to be expanded, especially with respect to the neurobiological associations of the cooperation in teams and individual health.

Quantitative changes in mental health measures with 3MDR treatment for Canadian military members and veterans

OBJECTIVE

Military members and veterans are at elevated risk of treatment-resistant posttraumatic stress disorder (TR-PTSD) due to higher rates of exposure to potentially traumatic events during the course of duty. Knowledge of TR-PTSD is limited, and specific protocols or evidence-based TR-PTSD therapies are lacking. Multimodal motion-assisted memory desensitization and reconsolidation (3MDR) therapy is an emerging intervention for combat-related TR-PTSD. The purpose of this study was to preliminarily assess the effectiveness of 3MDR in addressing TR-PTSD in Canadian military members and veterans.

METHODS

This study is a longitudinal mixed-methods clinical trial. English-speaking military members and veterans aged 18-60 with TR-PTSD were recruited to participate. The intervention consisted of six sessions of 3MDR therapy. Quantitative data were collected pretreatment, posttreatment, and longitudinally at 1, 3, and 6 months after completion of 3MDR.

RESULTS

Results from the first 11 participants to complete the 3MDR protocol exhibited statistically significant improvement (surviving multiple comparison correction) in clinically administered and self-reported scores for PTSD (CAPS-5 and PCL-5), moral injury (MISS-M-SF), depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), emotional regulation (DERS-18), and resilience (CD-RS-25).

CONCLUSION

The preliminary and exploratory results from this clinical trial support the growing body of literature illustrating 3MDR as an effective treatment for military-related TR-PTSD. These results are notable given participants' previous lack of success with frontline psychotherapeutic and pharmacological interventions. Given that there are currently very limited treatment options for TR-PTSD, 3MDR could prove to be a valuable treatment option for military members and veterans with TR-PTSD.