The influence of emotional intelligence on academic stress among medical students in Neyshabur, Iran

BACKGROUND

Although, several novel strategies related to coping with stress dominate the possible vicissitudes that may occur, academic stress and its mental and physical outcomes remain a serious public concern among college students. Available data on how/where intervention-based novel strategies and emotional intelligence skills can influence students' ability to deal with stress and crisis situations is still unclear. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of an educational intervention based on emotional intelligence on the level of academic stress components among Iranian medical students.

METHODS

This research has been done in two descriptive and quasi-experimental sections in the academic year 2018-2019. To determine the effect of emotional intelligence components on stress levels, this descriptive study was performed on 200 students. Then, a quasi-experimental study was then conducted to determine the impact of an emotional intelligence component-based educational intervention on academic stress-coping skills. Data were collected through a personal information questionnaire, Bradbury and Graves's emotional intelligence questionnaire, and Gadzella's academic stress questionnaire.

RESULTS

Most of the participants were female (72.3%) married (72%), non-native (62.1%), and second or third academic years (78.5%). The mean number of academic years of employment was 9.5. The mean age of students were 23 ± 3.5 years old. Intervention based on emotional intelligence significantly (p < 0.05) improved students' emotional intelligence skills and decreased their academic stress and reactions to stressors in the intervention group.

CONCLUSION

It appears that emotional intelligence training is a feasible and highly acceptable way to develop coping skills with academic stress; therefore, such training is essential to be considered as part of university education to improve students' education quality and their skills to study without academic stress.

The status of depression literacy and its relationship with quality of life among Iranian public population: a cross sectional study

BACKGROUND

This study was designed and conducted to determine the status of depression literacy (D-Lit) and its relationship with the quality of life across the Iranian population.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2020 among 1382 participating from the general population in Gonabad, Iran. Participants were selected and recruited using a multistage sampling method. Data were collected using three sets of questionnaires (demographic section, D-Lit scale, and quality of life questionnaire). Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 24 and using independent samples t- test, Chi-square test, One-way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation.

RESULTS

Based on the results, the mean (± standard deviation) of D-Lit and quality of life were 44.14 (± 4.69) and 35.81 (± 5.17), respectively. Based on the results of Pearson correlation coefficient, there was a significant positive correlation between D-Lit and quality of life (r = 0.104, p < 0.001). D-Lit was significantly higher in those who reported having consulted with a psychiatrist compared with those who did not (p < 0.001). Participants with a family history of mental illness and those whose family members were referred to a psychologist for psychological issues had significantly higher levels of D-Lit than others (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Based on the results of this study, some D-Lit projects should be improved. Also, the results revealed that D-Lit is a potential factor that can affect people's mental health status and enhance their quality of life. Therefore, it is necessary to develop appropriate educational programs to enhance D-Lit in the community and ultimately improve the quality of life in the community by reducing mental illness.

Exploration factors on smoking among female adolescents based on the viewpoints of Iranian adolescent girls

Background

In recent years, the prevalence of smoking in women has increased significantly. This study aimed to explain the effective factors in the tendency to smoke in female adolescents, employing a qualitative method of content analysis in Mashhad, Iran.

Methods

The data for this conventional content analysis were obtained by conducting semi‑structured interviews with 20 female adolescent smokers. For open coding, integrating codes, creating main category and subcategories, and extracting quotation associated with codes and subcategories, MAXQDA software version 10 was used.

Results

Based on the results of the study, one main category and six subcategories were identified to influence the decision to smoke. The main category was interconnection of psychological and gender experiences. The subcategories included self-management weakness, ignoring the side effects, gender orientation, negative psychological experiences, the attraction of cigarettes, and positive psychological experiences.

Conclusion

Psychological and gender factors play an important role in initiating people's behavior and tendency to smoke and smoking prevention programs in educational settings need to focus efforts around what is known about young women smokers.

The predictors of the use of complementary and alternative medicine among type 2 diabetes patients based on the health belief model

Objective

The aim of this study was to determine the predictors of the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in patients with type 2 diabetes based on the health belief model (HBM).

Methods

This cross-sectional study was performed in 2019 (from April to September) on 837 type 2 diabetic patients by multi-stage sampling method. Valid and reliable tools (questionnaire of using CAM modalities based on the HBM, self-care behavior section, and use of CAM section) were used to collect data. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 24.

Results

Based on the results, the constructs of the HBM were able to predict 37% of the variance of behavior using CAM. Constructs of perceived threat, perceived barriers, and cues to action had the most significant effect on predicting the behavior of using CAM (p < 0.001). In this study, the mean (±SD) of patients' self-care behaviors were 26.72 (±3.21) (out of a score of 40). Based on the results of the Pearson correlation, a significant positive correlation was observed between perceived threat (r = 0.374) and cues to action (r = 0.303) with using CAM modalities (p < 0.001). There was also a significant negative correlation between perceived barriers and using of CAM (r = -0.589, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Based on the obtained results, the HBM is useful in predicting the use of CAM, and due to the significant impact constructs of perceived threat, perceived barriers, and cues to action, it is better to pay more attention to these constructs in educational programs for patients with type 2 diabetes.