Post-traumatic stress disorder and depressive symptoms following a Herdsmen attack: The role of life meaning in mediating trait mindfulness

It is well established that mindfulness is beneficial in decreasing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression symptoms, but the explanatory pathway and processes through which this happens are still not clear. The present study investigated two mediation models that explored the psychological process of presence of meaning in life as a mechanism connecting mindfulness to reduced PTSD and depressive symptoms in survivors of a violent attack. A sample of 577 survivors of the Fulani herdsmen attack completed relevant self-report measures and the bootstrap method was used to test the models for direct, indirect and total effects. Results revealed that mindfulness was negatively associated to PTSD symptoms, and that this association was fully mediated by the ability to find meaning in life. Mindfulness was also indirectly associated to depression through a greater sense of meaning in life. The findings of this study suggest that the presence of meaning in life is the pathway through which mindfulness alleviates PTSD and depression symptoms, and could therefore serve as an intervention target to decrease such negative outcomes in trauma survivors

Investigations on the emission in the extreme ultraviolet of a pseudospark based discharge light source

A new concept of a discharge based extreme ultraviolet radiation source is presented. This concept is based on an electrode system that consists of two consecutive pseudospark discharge stages. The first stage is used to create a pinch plasma as emitter in the extreme ultraviolet and soft X-ray range and the second stage is used as a high current switch between the storage capacity and the first stage. First results on the emission characteristics for the working gases nitrogen, krypton, and xenon, with focus on the emission at 2.88 nm, 6–7 nm, and around 13.5 nm, respectively, are disclosed under the aspect of the access to a larger discharge parameter range. It is shown that this increased range opens a path to a higher spectral peak brightness

The empathetic landscape: Examining the role of empathy in the well-being of counsellors and psychotherapists working with trauma

Counsellors and psychotherapists working with trauma experience constant exposure to clients’ adverse events, placing their well-being in jeopardy. The pivotal role of empathy in maintaining their well-being is underscored, given the imperative for these professionals to sustain empathetic engagement with clients. However, prior research has solely focused on other helping professions. The present study employed semi-structured interviews to explore the subjective experiences of fourteen psychotherapists and counsellors in trauma-informed settings regarding the role of empathy and its implications for well-being. Reflexive thematic analysis identified three main themes: empathy is crucial, empathy as a risk factor and empathy can be regulated and developed. The study’s findings reinforce previous research and provide new insights into empathy’s development and management in the context of professional trauma work

Alternative ways of enriching the human diet with iodine

Based on the literature, this study presents the main problems associated with introducing iodine into food. The problem of iodization of table salt and its use in the production of processed food is analysed. This method of enriching the human diet with iodine is linked to the over-consumption of salt, and thus to the risk of hypertension and kidney disease. Because of the need to reduce consumption of table salt, alternative methods of supplying the body with iodine are gaining in popularity. Described are attempts to fortify foods of plant origin with iodine. One alternative method of enriching food with iodine is the cultivation of plants fertilized with iodine. The results are presented of experiments aimed at the cultivation of vegetables enriched with iodine and analysed methods of iodine fertilization: foliar application, soil application and hydroponic cultures. Also discussed are the problem of the effects of iodine, not only on yield, but also on selected physiological processes taking place in plants which are responsible for the biological quality of the crop

Keep the bounce in your step: Developing resilience as a Mental Health Psychology Practitioner during Covid -19.

During times of excessive stress, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to examine factors that might enhance resilience in Mental Health Psychology Practitioners, as their role in fighting off the negative psychological effects of COVID-19, is crucial. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to investigate how the pandemic affected the mental health and wellbeing of Mental Health Psychology Practitioners and the strategies they employed to demonstrate resilience. The study used an exploratory, inductive, qualitative approach, featuring semi-structured interviews with nine MHPPs who performed their duties during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thematically analysed data (Braun & Clarke, 2013) identified three main themes (consisting of two subthemes each), ranging from experiences of vicarious traumatisation, personal vs. professional identity, through to the strategies participants employ to demonstrate resilience and maintain their wellbeing. This paper focuses on the latter theme, exploring the role of internal coping mechanisms and external factors in helping MHPPS maintaining positive wellbeing and developing resilience during these unprecedented times. Participants reported that strategies, such as meditation and mindfulness, helped them in managing their emotions and increased self-awareness, whereas frequent, systematic supervision sessions and collegial support were described as key factors affecting their wellbeing in a positive way. The results of this study can inform the development of resources and interventions for this group of professionals to render them less susceptible to occupational risks and, therefore, be of better assistance to the service users

Individual factors in the relationship between stress and resilience in mental health psychology practitioners during the COVID-19 pandemic

Utilising an online survey, this study aimed to investigate the concurrent effects of pre-pandemic and COVID-19 stress on resilience in Mental Health Psychology Practitioners (MHPPs) (n= 325), focusing on the mediation effects of specific individual factors. Optimism, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress, but not coping strategies, self-efficacy or self-compassion, mediated both the relationship between pre-pandemic stress and resilience and COVID-19 stress and resilience. Increased job demands caused by the pandemic, the nature and duration of COVID-19 stress may explain this finding. Training and supervision practices can help MHPPs deal with job demands under circumstances of general and extreme stress

Undoing Gendered Identities? Centrality and Meanings of Parental and Work Identities in Semi-Traditional, Equal-Sharing and Role-Reversed Couples

This mixed-methods study explored the centrality and meanings of men’s and women’s parental and work-related identities by comparing semi-traditional, equal-sharing, and role-reversed couples. Quantitative analysis involved 2,813 British parents (1,380 men, 1,433 women) who were primary caregivers, primary breadwinners, or equal sharers with at least one child aged 11 or under. Qualitative analysis drew on 60 in-depth interviews with 10 couples from each of the three groups. Results indicated that the centrality of parental and work identities varied by role rather than gender, as both male and female caregivers reported less central work identities and more central parental identities compared to breadwinners and equal-sharers. Equal-sharers and role-reversers were characterized by women’s central work identity and men’s low centrality of work identity. In these couples, a `half and half` parenting ideology underlined the construction of mothering and fathering as equivalent interchangeable identities, each forming only one half of a child’s parenting. Intertwining their maternal identity with an equivalent construction of their partners’ identity allowed women to reconcile a good mother ideal with central work identities, by redefining mothering as a responsibility for only half of the caregiving

Croissance et aptitude au gavage d'oies de 3 génotypes

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